• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Google News Channel
IRA vs 401k

IRA vs 401k

Retirement Options

  • Home
  • Roth IRA
  • Roth 401k
  • SEP IRA
  • Simple IRA
  • 401K
  • Finanace
You are here: Home / 401K / What Raymond James’ purchase of NWPS means for 401(k) industry

What Raymond James’ purchase of NWPS means for 401(k) industry

January 26, 2021 by Retirement

As the defined-contribution industry turns its focus to plan participants, Raymond James’ purchase of NWPS, a small record keeper based in the Northwest, may be a harbinger of the future for other distributors.

Many broker-dealers and mutual fund companies had record-keeping offerings in the past, but most have let them go. Does Raymond James see opportunities to monetize participants in retirement plans, especially given the launch of pooled employer plans, or PEPs? Is it that simple?

It is not simple because of potential conflicts of interests involved in offering proprietary services. Regardless, best-in-breed record keepers have been developing financial wellness tools to build their relationships with participants.

At the 2020 InvestmentNews RPA Convergence Broker-Dealer Roundtable, many broker-dealers were not clear on the definition of financial wellness and were concerned that each record keeper had its own financial wellness offering and that those differences could complicate the ability to service plans and participants. The most common definitions included products like managed accounts, rollovers, health savings accounts and those dealing with student loan debt, most of which did not necessarily provide a revenue stream to the adviser or firm, especially in a consulting relationship.

[ESG Video: Making of ‘Flowers in the River’]

Now let’s look at what wellness means to the record keepers’ revenue streams. Getting to participants as early as possible in their careers works best for this cradle-to-grave model:

  • Managed accounts
  • Student debt repayment
  • Student debt refinancing
  • Credit cards
  • Home mortgage and refinancing
  • Homeowners and auto insurance
  • 529 college savings
  • Life insurance and estate planning
  • Personal savings
  • Inherited assets in the coming wealth transfer between generations
  • Disability insurance
  • Consolidating retirement accounts
  • Retirement income
  • Annuities

Record keepers get a revenue stream on most of these products, and earn more on their own or through partnerships, which is a model that consulting firms like McKinsey are recommending. This is epitomized by Empower’s purchase of Personal Capital. The adviser can only share in a part of these revenue streams, assuming the record keeper is willing.

Could it be that Raymond James’ Institutional Fiduciary Solutions, whose senior managers have had a long career in record keeping, sees a way to cut to the front of the revenue line with the NWPS acquisition? Regardless of the offering — financial wellness in a PEP or a stand-alone plan — the revenue opportunity centers around the participant, with record keepers currently in the best position since they control the participant’s digital experience as well as the data.

Is the purchase of a record keeper by a broker-dealer now an anomaly or a trend? The rise of startup fintech record keepers that are willing to white-label and share data may push this from being an interesting experiment to a realistic method for advisers and broker-dealers to capture new revenue in the plan.

Several large broker-dealers have kicked the tires on either building, partnering or buying record keeping. The aggregators will need to invest to have a unique offering.

George and Abigail Revoir work at AMRev Consulting, where George Revoir is a principal.

Filed Under: 401K

Primary Sidebar

E-mail Newsletter

More to See

Maximizing Your Retirement Savings: Expert Insights on IRAs and 401(k)s

November 23, 2024 By Roth

IRA vs 401(k): Key Differences to Help You Choose the Best Retirement Plan for 2024

November 21, 2024 By Roth

Real Estate Syndication in Indianapolis: Unlocking Investment Potential

November 15, 2024 By Retirement

Maximizing Your 401k at 55 | Retirement Strategies for Growth

October 15, 2024 By Roth

401(k) savings

Retirement Savings Options: Navigating the Path to a Secure Future

August 15, 2024 By SEO Robot

Retirement Planning

August 13, 2024 By Roth

Infographic comparing IRA vs 401(k) retirement options.

IRA and 401(k): Compare Your Retirement Options

May 20, 2024 By SEO Robot

Tags

401(k) 401(k) advantages 401(k) insights 401k at 55 401k growth strategies best retirement plan catch-up contributions exclusive listings Financial Planning financial planning 2024 Financial Security future planning Indianapolis property market Investing Investment Investment Options Investment Strategies IRA IRA benefits IRA strategies IRA vs 401k Labrosse Real Estate luxury homes luxury real estate maximize retirement savings multi-family investment Indianapolis passive income through real estate Personal Finance premium properties property syndication real estate investment real estate syndication Indianapolis Retirement retirement advice retirement investment Retirement Planning retirement planning 2024 Retirement Savings retirement savings tips retirement strategies retirement tips Savings secure retirement secure retirement funds Wealth Management

Footer

  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Google News

Recent

  • Roth IRA Contribution and Income Limits for 2025
  • Maximizing Your Retirement Savings: Expert Insights on IRAs and 401(k)s
  • IRA vs 401(k): Key Differences to Help You Choose the Best Retirement Plan for 2024
  • Real Estate Syndication in Indianapolis: Unlocking Investment Potential
  • Maximizing Your 401k at 55 | Retirement Strategies for Growth