Press Release

The Standard Introduces Accelerate for Small Retirement Plans

Issued by The Standard

Sept. 28, 2021

Accelerate builds on The Standard’s suite of solutions for retirement plans with up to $2 million in assets

PORTLAND, Ore. Standard Retirement Services, Inc., (The Standard) has announced Accelerate, a new 401(k) recordkeeping solution designed to meet the needs of retirement plans with up to $2 million in assets. Offering best-in-class service at a competitive price, Accelerate enables small plans to seamlessly grow on the same platform as large plans.

“We conducted market research that revealed a significant opportunity for us to scale our expertise and service-first culture to meet the needs of small plans,” said Rob Baumgarten, vice president of Retirement Plan Sales at The Standard. “There is a big opportunity to enhance small plan relationships that might have felt limited in their retirement plan options. Through partnerships with TPAs, Accelerate provides peace of mind by creating efficiencies and delivering a superior experience for our clients.”

Accelerate leverages The Standard’s service-first culture to give clients a large-plan experience, with a streamlined design that allows advisors to manage small plans efficiently and accurately. Key features of Accelerate include:

• The Standard’s consistent best-in-class service as recognized by PLANSPONSOR
• A scalable platform that can accommodate plan growth without time-consuming conversions
• An intuitive online Quick Start Tool for quick and easy plan quoting
• Flexibility in providing a range of competitive investment options
• Optional investment fiduciary services from Morningstar
• A designated account manager for a consistent point-of-contact
• The Standard’s proven history of delivering a seamless experience regardless of plan size

“Accelerate was created with ease of use in mind, allowing advisors and TPAs to use thoughtfully designed resources for their small plan clients,” said Jody Meth, senior director of Retirement Plan Product Management at The Standard. “In addition to its intuitive quoting process and streamlined onboarding and reporting tools, Accelerate is powered by our clean data technology to ensure errors are caught early — increasing accuracy, saving time and reducing risks.”

Baumgarten added, “Serving small retirement plans is nothing new for The Standard, but with Accelerate we can provide small plans a level of service typically reserved for larger plans at a competitive price."

Since 1932, The Standard has provided recordkeeping and investment services for retirement plans including 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase, 403(b), 457, defined benefit and cash balance plans. The Standard works closely with advisors and third-party administrators to deliver high-quality solutions to a wide range of employers including corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. For more information on how Accelerate can help your business, visit standard.com/accelerate.

About The Standard

The Standard is a family of companies dedicated to helping customers achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. In business since 1906, we are a leading provider of financial protection products and services for employers and individuals. Our products include group and individual disability insurance, group life, dental and vision insurance, voluntary (employee-paid) benefits, absence management services, and retirement plans and annuities for employers and individuals. For more information about The Standard, visit standard.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries. StanCorp Equities, Inc., member FINRA, wholesales a group annuity contract issued by Standard Insurance Company and a mutual fund trust platform for retirement plans. Standard Retirement Services, Inc., provides financial recordkeeping and plan administrative services. Investment advisory services are provided by StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor. StanCorp Equities, Inc., Standard Insurance Company, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., and StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., are subsidiaries of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and all are Oregon corporations.

Editor's note: This press release has been issued by the company named above, not BenefitsLink. Reliance on information in this press release might be prudent only after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by BenefitsLink.