Corporate Retirement Plans

At Capital Planning Partners our Advisors work to provide premier Consulting & Investment Advisory Services for corporate retirement plans. As an independent firm, we pride ourselves on the fact that our model provides our clients with unbiased advice. Our retirement plan advisory team guides our corporate clients on plan design and administration, investment selection and monitoring, and ongoing fiduciary support.

We assist companies on all types of retirement plans such as:

  • 401(k) Plans
  • Profit Sharing Plans
  • Defined Benefit & Other Pension Plans
  • Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plans
business professionals walking

Plan Design, Fiduciary Compliance & Fee Disclosure

The retirement plan industry has evolved substantially over the past few years. Regulations are becoming more difficult to understand and compliance with them more challenging than ever. Unfortunately, many plan sponsors are not fully aware of their plan design options and fiduciary responsibilities. As a result, they are seeking guidance and support from experienced financial professionals. We understand the unique needs of business owners and help plan sponsors navigate requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

The legislative landscape is changing rapidly with new regulations requiring full fee disclosure. Effective July 2012, regulation 408(b)(2) requires service providers to disclose all fees at the plan level. As a plan sponsor, you have a fiduciary responsibility to be aware of every fee in your plan—both disclosed and undisclosed. Furthermore, Section 404(a)(5) will require plan fiduciaries to disclose all fees to participants on their quarterly statements. As participants become aware of these previously “hidden” fees, this will no doubt create turmoil for organizations ill-equipped to handle this change.

In the spirit of complete transparency, we fully disclose all fees and expenses in compliance with the upcoming regulations. Historically, the industry has been plagued with conflicts of interest, excessive fees, and poor investment performance. In fact, in most instances revenue-sharing fees built into the plan’s investment options have served as under-the-table compensation for brokers and providers. In our model, we capture, document, and rebate any revenue-sharing fees back to the plan. This enables us to remain objective and helps insulate plan sponsors from any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

financial skyscrapers
business man with calculator

Investment Advisory Services

Our independent, open-architecture platform enables us to provide our corporate clients with a full array of investment options. We have no proprietary products and have unrestricted access to the universe of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). We seek to populate the plan’s investment menu with the lowest-cost share class to deliver the most efficient cost structure.

We engage in a rigorous, continuous process of research and due diligence to identify superior investment options. Our selection process adheres to a strict criteria outlined in the Investment Policy Statement for the Plan. In addition, we create risk-based model portfolios (conservative, moderate, aggressive) constructed from the Plan’s investment menu. Participants have the option of selecting one of the model portfolios or constructing their own.

With Capital Planning Partners, investment due diligence isn’t confined to the selection stage. It’s an ongoing process. Our Investment Committee carefully monitors every investment recommendation to ensure they continue to adhere to our strict criteria for ownership and facilitate changes when necessary.

Employee Education

We assist you in designing and implementing an employee education program specifically for your company. In addition, we provide custom communication and educational materials for your employees, and conduct enrollment meetings and ongoing participant meetings.

Ongoing Monitoring & Performance Reporting

We provide quarterly performance reports and global market commentary. Additionally, we meet with plan sponsors and the investment committee on a quarterly basis to formally review the investments, discuss portfolio allocations and performance, and recommended any changes to the plan’s investment menu. As part of this process, we establish a score carding system to document that you are fulfilling your fiduciary obligation regarding investment selection and monitoring.

Second Opinion

Our advisory team will take your company through our process by providing a high-level analysis and review of your retirement plan—at no cost. This analysis will identify any fiduciary considerations your firm may need to address to maintain compliance. In addition, we conduct an in-depth fee benchmarking analysis and comprehensive investment review, enabling your team to assess the true cost of your plan and evaluate the quality of the investment options.

Contact us at 408-999-0696 to schedule an introductory meeting and complimentary review.