Sample Analysis
Our reports provide you with a comprehensive, rigorous analysis. Some of the key measures we look at are:
- Diversification of Plan Assets
- Monitoring Investment Options
- Reasonableness of Plan Costs
- Plan Design Competitiveness
Diversification of Plan Assets
Your fiduciary responsibility
Offer your participants an adequate spectrum of investment options with different risk and return profiles.
Our analysis
- Compares the number and variety of investment options you offer relative to your peers and the universe.
- Examines your plan's aggregate asset mix and total plan returns relative to your peers and the universe.
- Reviews your contribution matching policy and its impact on aggregate asset mix.
Monitoring Investment Options
Your fiduciary responsibility
Ensure that your investment options continue to be appropriate and prudent choices for your plan.
Our analysis
We measure the return, value added, risk and cost for each of your investment options. Your results are then compared to your peer group and the universe.
Reasonableness of Plan Costs
Your fiduciary responsibility
Ensure that plan costs are reasonable because participants generally pay the majority, if not all, of plan costs.
Our analysis
- Compares the costs of each of your investment options to those of your peer group and the universe.
- Estimates your total plan costs and helps you understand where and how your costs differ.
- Quantifies the 'value received' relative to your costs.
Plan Design Competitiveness
If one of your goals is to provide your participants with a competitive and valued plan, you should know how your plan design compares to that of other plans and how they have changed over time. Our analysis includes an assessment of your plan’s competitiveness to your peers and our universe and takes into consideration whether the plan is your employees’ primary benefit or whether it supplements a DB plan. Some of the plan features that we examine include:
Employee participation and contribution rates: Are your plan's participation and contribution rates increasing?
Company stock: Is your policy concerning investment in company stock in line with that of other plans?
Default investment option: What is your default investment option and how does it compare to other plans?
Customer service: Are your customer service, communication and education efforts in line with those of other plans?
Employer contribution and matching policies: Are your policies competitive relative to other plans?