Can anyone recommend a good investment company/TPA alliance program av

[R. Butler]

Can anyone recommend a good investment company/TPA alliance program that is available for small plans? We currently have a relationship with an investment company whereby we do the administration (i.e. nondiscrimination testing, 5500, document, etc.) and the investment company does daily valuation record keeping, provides a toll free number, internet access, etc. The program is good, but its not avaiable unless certain asset/contribuion requirements are met. We are looking for similar type programs available to small plans.

Any help is appreciated.

[Guest benji]

Federated has a nice program. They do a lot of work for small Trust companies.

[Guest michaelv]

R. Butler - I am with Federated and we do have business arrangements that might fit the small plan niche you inquired about. Feel free to call me: 1-888-367-3777, opt 5, ext 2165.

[Guest CHALL]

Lincoln Financial Group also has a very nice program for small employers. We work with many TPA's where we do the recordkeeping on the participant level, make available toll-free and Internet access and the TPA does the administration. If you have questions I can be reached at 800-248-0838, ext. 6147.

[Bill Berke]

From your question , it seems you are dealing with a 401(k) plan. If this is true, Charles Schwab has small plan arrangement where they will tie in all the separate accounts to the identified trustee. Check with your local Schwab office (and make sure you get a Schwab One retirement account which has a free checking account for the trustee to write checks). Thus, the TPA does its normal admin/compliance and the employees can direct/change investments, but only the trustee can authorize/make distributions (or direct account transfers). Although, Schwab does not have enrollers/support, etc. like the insurance companies/mutual fund outfits. Then the only issue is whether each participant has accumulated enough money to do meet the requirements of the desired purchase e.g. $1000 or $2500 for some mutual funds (or park in money market account temporarily). You can also allow the employees to pick from the full range of options, including individual stocks. And I don't work for Schwab (I am a shareholder - I am also a TPA who doesn't sell any products nor do I have any alliances). We have found this to be a great and inexpensive way for small plans to have excellent, quality 401(k) choices.