Read our new paper on how a managed account program represents the most realistic solution for plan sponsors looking to address the long-term retirement income needs of plan participants.
The Supreme Court ruled that plan participants can sue plan fiduciaries under ERISA Section 404(c) to recover investment losses to their individual 401(k) accounts. However, Section 404(c) also provides plan sponsors some protection, and The Standard can help. Read or download Participants and Fiduciary Lawsuits, the LaRue Decision or the Plan Sponsor's Guide to ERISA 404(c) for more information.
Read or download "Get to Know the Facts" to see how the most comprehensive set of regulations in the last 40 years affects 403(b) sponsors. You can also download our new paper titled, "Fixing Your 403(b) Plan: Adopting a Best Practices Approach."
Check out or download The Standard's recently updated report
"The Universal Appeal of a Managed Account Solution".
Check out or download The Standard's position paper "A Participant-Centric Approach: Everybody Wins".
The Standard has recently created a comprehensive retirement plan fee education campaign for both Plan Sponsors and Plan Participants. Two brochures are now available to help educate each of these audiences on one of the most important issues in our industry today. Available for Plan Sponsors is: "Plan Sponsor´s Guide to Retirement Plan Fees." Available for Plan Participants is: "Getting the Most from Your Plan: a Participant´s Guide to Retirement Plan Fees".
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The Standard has been rated as a top-tier provider in both PLANSPONSOR Magazine's DC Survey (Micro and Small Market categories) and Boston Research Group's DCP Survey (under $5 million in assets category).
In Boston Research Group's survey of defined contribution plan sponsors with less than $5 million in assets, The Standard was ranked the number one retirement plan provider in terms of overall client satisfaction. The Standard has annually been ranked as a top-five provider for overall satisfaction since it began participating in the survey in 2004.
In the PLANSPONSOR survey, The Standard scored a total of 32 Best in Class Awards in the Micro (under $5 million) and Small ($5-50 million) categories combined. Breaking it down by category, we had 16 Best in Class awards in the Micro Market category and 16 Best in Class Awards in the Small Market category.
The PLANSPONSOR survey was conducted with employee benefits decision-makers from companies throughout the United States during 2006, either by telephone or through a Web-based medium. Benefits representatives, who were provided anonymity, were asked to rate their satisfaction with their plan providers in 23 service categories. Providers were rated on such criteria as employee education, participant Web site, recordkeeping, ERISA services, plan sponsor Web site, participant statement, investment selection and performance, and satisfaction with value for cost. Best in Class awards were given to top quartile scores in each service category within each asset size. To qualify for a rating, providers needed a minimum of 30 total client responses, and at least 10 client responses in any asset category to be rated in that category. The Standard was rated among 37 other providers in the Micro market and 46 other providers in the Small market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments are subject to market risk and fluctuate in value.
The Boston Research Group's DCP 2007 is a nationwide survey of 1,475 401(k) plan sponsors with less than $5 million in plan assets. The plan sponsors anonymously rated their satisfaction with their plan providers in a wide range of categories. The Standard was rated among 25 other providers. Survey respondents are identified using Form 5500 filings to provide statistically reliable samples. All responses are anonymous. To be included in the survey, retirement plan providers had to receive a minimum number of client responses. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.