The Retirement Plan Consultant will serve as a trusted advisor and specialist supporting employer-sponsored retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), profit-sharing, defined benefit, etc.). You will combine deep technical expertise in plan design, compliance, and investments with strong client-relationship skills to deliver holistic solutions for plan sponsors and their participants. You will also work closely with internal teams and other advisors at PWA to integrate retirement-plan strategy into broader wealth-planning engagements.
Job Duties and ResponsibilitiesTechnical Responsibilities- Provide expert analysis and consultation on plan design options, including qualified and non-qualified plans, participant investment menus, fiduciary overlays, and plan fee benchmarking.
- Stay current on legislation, regulatory developments (e.g., ERISA, SECURE Act), record-keeper platforms, and investment trends impacting retirement plans.
- Conduct plan reviews and audits: ADP/ACP testing, Top-Heavy, 403(b) compliance, Form 5500 preparation and filing oversight.
- Develop, document and present investment policy statements (IPS) and investment menu architecture in accordance with fiduciary standards.
- Monitor plan performance, participant engagement metrics, and service provider effectiveness; identify opportunities for plan enhancement and cost optimization.
- Manage retirement-plan clients and maintain accurate records, proposals, and analyses in CRM/planning tools.
Client-Facing Responsibilities- Serve as primary consultant for assigned plan sponsor clients: lead or colead client meetings, present findings, make strategic recommendations, and coordinate implementation.
- Deliver participant education and engagement programs (group meetings, webinars, one-on-one sessions) to enhance retirement readiness and plan utilization.
- Support advisors and plan sponsors in onboarding new retirement plan clients: perform discovery, design plan structure, facilitate RFPs, recordkeeper selection, and transition logistics.
- Build strong, long-term relationships with plan sponsor decisionmakers, third-party administrators, trustees, and recordkeepers.
- Maintain high service standards: respond to client questions, resolve issues quickly, ensure plan compliance and administration meet expectations of PWA and clients.
Team Responsibilities
- Partner with internal PWA teams; Advisory, Investment Research, Operations, Legal, Compliance, to integrate retirement plan consulting into broader client wealth planning engagements.
- Work closely with the Head of Retirement Planning and peers to define strategy, enhance service offerings, refine workflows, and improve efficiency of the retirement practice.
- Mentor and support junior staff or associates assigned to retirement plan engagements; share knowledge and help build overall team capability.
- Participate in business development initiatives: contribute to RFP responses, thought leadership content (white papers, seminars), internal training sessions, and cross-referrals within the firm.
- Creates and delivers educational curriculum presentations tailored for webinars and employee meetings to enhance engagement and knowledge sharing.
- Cultivates strategic partnerships with vendor wholesalers to enhance collaboration and drive mutual business growth.
Work environment- This role is based in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
- Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings, conferences, and client engagements.
- The role requires the ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- The role requires the ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive company and client information.
Education/Experience- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in retirement plan consulting, advisory, or administration with employer-sponsored plans (401(k), 403(b), DB, etc.).
- Strong knowledge of ERISA, DOL/IRS regulations, fiduciary standards, plan design, benchmarking, and investment menus.
- Series 65 or 66 (or equivalent) (or ability to obtain within 90 days), as required by role and firm.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to educate plan sponsors and participants effectively.
- Analytical mindset, attention to detail, high professional ethic, and ability to manage multiple plan-sponsor relationships concurrently.
- Proficiency with CRM systems, financial planning/analysis tools, Microsoft Excel, and/or plan-administration platforms.
