It seems that the race to the bottom for 401(k) and 403(b) advisory fees
will not slow down anytime
soon. But some plan advisers have found a way not
only to halt the trend, but actually increase fees.
The first step advisers can take to maintain or even increase fees is to
move away from acting purely as a so-called "Triple F"
adviser — one focused on fees, funds and fiduciary services — while charging an
asset-based fee. This approach leaves advisers vulnerable to less experienced
practitioners willing to perform these services for less money — or, even
worse, low-cost robo-advisers.
Savvy advisers like Jania Stout of Fiduciary Plan Advisors are
positioning themselves as strategic consultants.
"We act as an extension of our clients' team, being paid to be a
thought leader coordinating all of their vendors," Ms. Stout said.
"Triple F functions are viewed as tactical," she warned.
In the institutional defined-contribution-plan market, the "outsourced
chief investment officer" is one of the hottest trends. In the retail DC
market, plan sponsors need more than just investment services, and are more
likely to respond to "outsourced chief retirement officer" services
instead.
"We've been acting as an OCRO for years, overseeing the plan's
record keeper to make sure they are performing their duties properly,"
said Barbara Delaney of StoneStreet Advisor Group. "We know the history
in case of a problem or a Department of Labor audit."
DC plan sponsors are used to paying their benefits broker a flat fee for
services rendered, so why not their retirement adviser?
"Plan sponsors are not pushing back when I charge for projects like
evaluating the need for a nonqualified plan," Ms. Stout said. "They
actually expect it."
Jamie Greenleaf of Cafaro Greenleaf focuses on value added for clients
in the form of more employees being better prepared to retire. "In the
absence of value, the focus is on fees," Ms. Greenleaf said.
"Our clients rely on us for everything, from handling a DOL audit,
overseeing the record keeper and payroll vendor, to communicating with the
board," she added.
Ms. Delaney includes financial wellness services in her fee for existing
clients, but charges extra for those services for new clients.
"In order to get buy-in for financial wellness, we need someone to
write a check," she said.
Private-equity firms value record keepers in part because of their
access to millions of consumers, so why not advisers who actually have more
personal contact with those consumers? But the keys for advisers trying to
create a "blue ocean strategy" are to act as their clients' OCRO and
position their services as strategic, not tactical.
Otherwise, advisers will continue to compete on fees in the bloody
"red ocean."
Click here for the original article from Investment News.