IAR will assist the plan in the preparation or review of an investment policy statement (IPS) for the plan based upon consultation with the client.
IAR will recommend, for consideration and selection by the client, specific investments to be held by the plan, or in the case of a participant-directed defined contribution plan, to be made available as investment options under the plan. IAR will recommend, for consideration and selection by client, investment replacements if an existing investment is determined by the client to no longer be suitable as an investment option.
IAR will perform ongoing monitoring of investment options in relation to the criteria provided by the client to the IAR. Qualified Default Investment Alternative Assistance. IAR may assist the client with selecting investment products or managed accounts offered by third parties in connection with the definition of a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) under ERISA (for plans subject to ERISA).
IAR will recommend, for consideration and approval by the client, (i) asset allocation target-date or risk-based model portfolios for the plan to make available to plan participants, and (ii) funds from the lineup of investment options chosen by the client to include in such model portfolios.
IAR will prepare periodic reports reviewing the performance of all plan investment options, as well as comparing the performance thereof to benchmarks with the client. The information used to generate the reports will be derived directly from information such as statements provided by the client, investment providers, and/or third parties.
IAR shall assist the plan by acting as a liaison between the plan and service providers, product sponsors, and/or vendors. In such cases, IAR shall act only in accordance with instructions from the client on investment or plan administration matters and shall not exercise judgment or discretion.
IAR will provide education, training, and/or guidance for the members of the Plan Committee with regard to plan features, retirement readiness matters, or duties and responsibilities of the committee, including education with respect to fiduciary.
IAR will assist the client in enrolling plan participants in the plan, including conducting an agreed upon number of enrollment meetings. As part of such meetings, IAR will provide participants with information about the plan, which may include information on the benefits of plan participation, the benefits of increasing plan contributions, the impact of pre-retirement withdrawals on retirement income, the terms of the plan, and the operation of the plan.
IAR will assist with participant education, which may include preparation of education materials and/or conducting investment education seminars and meetings for plan participants. Such meetings may be on a group or individual basis, and may include information about the investment options under the plan (e.g., investment objectives, risk/return characteristics, and historical performance); investment concepts (e.g., diversification, asset classes, and risk and return); and how to determine investment time horizons and assess risk tolerance. Such meetings shall not include specific investment advice about investment options under the plan as being appropriate for a particular participant, but may include use of educational investment models.
IAR will assist with the preparation, distribution, and evaluation of Request for Proposals, finalist interviews, and conversion support.
IAR will provide the client with comparisons of plan data (e.g., regarding fees, services, participant enrollment, and contributions) to data from the plan’s prior years and/or a benchmark group of similar plans.
IAR will assist the client in identifying the fees and other costs borne by the plan for, as specified by the client, investment management, recordkeeping, participant education, participant communication, and/or other services provided with respect to the plan.