"[Although DOL Advisory Opinion AO 2017-01A] specifically opines on health plans, ... [it] matters much in the retirement market: it demonstrates that the scale we seek is not exclusively the purview of the MEP. Vendors have the ability to safely 'bundle administrative services' to the same effect of a MEP, provided that they have enough scale on their own to negotiate the sort of investment pricing and expert services which the market seeks. There are product designs which can facilitate these types of arrangements as well, such as insurance company pooled separate accounts and collective trust arrangements, if they are properly priced."  MORE >>