➤ What does ATLAS-RIA cost?
There is never a cost to your RIA to partner with us. Our services – just like yours – are paid by the plan sponsor or collected directly from 401(k) plan assets.
➤ Can I provide combinations of my money management and consulting services other than those shown in the previous four Partnership Themes?
Yes. ATLAS-RIA is a highly customizable platform allowing your desired RIA services to be individually configured for each of your plan sponsor clients. Don’t worry, we’ll help you, of course!
➤ Will my clients remain my clients?
Yes! You will always be the Relationship Manager and the sole owner of your individual and plan sponsor clients.
➤ Do I have to learn anything about the ERISA tax code, or about designing and running 401(k) plans in general?
Nope. All you have to do is continue providing the money management and advisory services that your clients know and trust. Our experts will take care of ERISA.
➤ Will I be taking on any additional fiduciary risk?
Only if you want to. We offer optional service configurations that allow your RIA to provide support to the plan sponsor that is not fiduciary in nature. Alternatively, your RIA may act as either an ERISA Section 3(21) or 3(38) fiduciary.
➤ Will I have the opportunity to promote my investment advisory services to qualified individual 401(k) plan participants?
Most certainly! You tell us the participant profile that interests you - minimum 401(k) account balance, for example - and we will direct all such plan participant inquiries received by our service representatives directly to you. First, the embedded 401(k) plan Financial Wellness tools garner plan participants’ interest – and then all qualified participant inquiries are forwarded to you to build your core investment advisory or wealth management business. More AUM in two new ways!
➤ Can I customize the lineup of 401(k) plan Designated Investment Alternatives?
Yes. In addition to separately allocating any of your managed portfolios, you are also able to select the 401(k) plan’s core investment options – as long as we are in agreement as the plan’s ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary.
➤ Will I be able to offer my managed portfolios to all 401(k) plan participants?
Yes. In addition to offering your account management services to individual plan participants via no-cost brokerage window accounts, you can manage pooled accounts utilizing mutual funds and ETF’s that are part of the 401(k) plan’s core investment options. You allocate your portfolios from the thousands of mutual funds and ETF’s available through Charles Schwab Bank.
➤ Since I deliver money management services utilizing individual stocks & bonds, will I be able to offer these portfolios to all 401(k) plan participants as well?
Yes. In addition to supporting mutual fund and ETF portfolios managed by you as core 401(k) plan investment options, we can unitize and support your managed stock & bond portfolios as well. They too are available to all plan participants – even those with small personal 401(k) account balances. And as always, you control your ongoing pooled account allocations and the fees you charge.
➤ What if my RIA is not currently associated with Charles Schwab?
Charles Schwab provides 401(k) custody services and participant brokerage-window accounts that are easily accessible by any RIA via a Limited Power of Attorney from your plan participant clients. Your RIA has direct access to those specific participant accounts for trading, collecting advisory fees, etc. For your RIA to provide plan-wide money management and advisory services, please contact us.
➤ I don’t know how to present a 401(k) plan to prospective plan sponsors or how to enroll the plan participants. What should I do?
Nothing! We are always available to help you with 401(k) plan sponsor presentations, host enrollment meetings, or assist with other plan sponsor support. All the while, we showcase your money management and other services to the plan sponsor and participants too.
➤ How do I become an ATLAS-RIA Partner?
We make it easy to partner with us, just like we make everything else easy for you! Just give us a call or go to our Next Steps Page.