Defined Contribution Plan Provider Listings ADP Retirement Services Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion 14% 44% 39% 3% 46% 37% 10% 6% 135 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable American Funds Distributors Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to micro plans 2 Overall service to small plans 3 Adviser support post-sale 3 Fee structure for advisers 3 Value for price 6 Plan sponsor support 7 Wholesalers 7 Value-added adviser services 9 Adviser sales/marketing support 10 Participant education materials 20 votes 6 votes 5 votes 5 votes 5 votes 4 votes 3 votes 3 votes 2 votes 1 vote 32% 45% 18% 5% Ascensus 113 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with 41% 40% 8% 11% Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to micro plans 2 Adviser sales/marketing support 3 Overall service to small plans 3 Adviser support post-sale 3 Participant education materials 3 Supporting materials 7 Plan sponsor education materials 8 Value for price 8 Wholesalers 8 Value-added adviser services 12 votes 7 votes 5 votes 5 votes 5 votes 5 votes 4 votes 3 votes 3 votes 3 votes 22% 34% 38% 5% 116 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with 38% 40% 10% 12% Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to micro plans 2 Value for price 3 Fee structure for advisers 4 Wholesalers 5 Plan sponsor support 6 Adviser sales/marketing support 6 Overall service to small plans 6 Plan sponsor education materials 9 Participant education materials 9 Reputation 16 votes 12 votes 8 votes 6 votes 3 votes 2 votes 2 votes 2 votes 1 vote 1 vote Bank of America Merrill Lynch Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion 25% 25% 39% 10% Charles Schwab 59 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with 8% 32% 11% 49% Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to large plans 2 Overall service to midsize plans 3 Overall service to small plans 4 Plan sponsor support 4 Adviser sales/marketing support 4 Overall service to mega plans 7 Reputation 7 Adviser support post-sale 9 Plan participant support 10 Value for price 11 votes 10 votes 7 votes 6 votes 6 votes 6 votes 5 votes 5 votes 2 votes 1 vote 29% 57% 9% 5% 21% 26% 16% 37% 77 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable Empower Retirement Qualified plan adviser votes Somewhat favorable Not favorable No opinion Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to midsize plans 2 Overall service to large plans 3 Plan sponsor education materials 4 Overall service to small plans 4 Plan participant support 4 Value for price 4 Fee structure for advisers 8 Plan sponsor support 8 Overall service to mega plans 8 Reputation 7 votes 6 votes 5 votes 3 votes 3 votes 3 votes 3 votes 2 votes 2 votes 2 votes 58% 37% 6% 0% 145 Overall perception among qualified advisers Very favorable Plan adviser experience with provider Worked with many times Worked with a few times Worked with once Never worked with 60% 26% 8% 6% Top 10 service categories 1 Overall service to small plans 2 Value for price 3 Adviser support post-sale 3 Wholesalers 5 Fee structure for advisers 6 Plan sponsor support 7 Participant education materials 7 Supporting materials 9 Plan participant support 9 Value-added adviser services 47 votes 35 votes 30 votes 30 votes 29 votes 24 votes 23 votes 23 votes 22 votes 22 votes 44 | planadviser.com september-october 2017http://www.planadviser.com