Forté believes your company’s retirement plan should benefit from the same institutional money management practices and fiduciary protections available to “big” companies.
Whether your business is law or a medical practice, high-tech, manufacturing or research, minding the details that drive 401(k) management can make a big difference in participant outcomes.
Forté offers its experience and expertise for your 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan due to our unique combination of liability mitigation, open plan architecture and fee-transparency, investment expertise, participant education and customer service.
Top reasons businesses hire Forté to run their 401(k) Plans
1) Fiduciary Protection
As a Registered Investment Advisor and named ERISA fiduciary, Forté shares fiduciary responsibility with Plan Trustees—resulting in reduced potential liability for the Trustees.
2) Independent Investment Counsel
Because Forté charges no commissions and receives no compensation from the providers of investment products included in plans, we are able to provide investment consultation and advice to Plan Trustees and Participants. Our interests are closely aligned with yours.
3) Meaningful Participant-Level Investment Assistance
The best possible outcome for a Plan Sponsor is broad, informed and enthusiastic participation by employees. Forté provides a risk profile questionnaire to all Plan Participants, enabling them to pursue a self-directed investment plan or to be matched with an appropriate model portfolio. One-on-one meetings with Forté staff assist each Plan Participant with appropriate investment choices matching their individual risk and investment profile.
4) Service Quality and Cost Control through Transparent, Modular Plan Design
Every plan requires a team of service provider partners including Record Keepers, Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and Custodians. While many other 401(k) administrators never show you these various providers (or how they are paid), Forté’s transparent, modular structure unbundles the various service providers—resulting in clarity about fees paid.
5) “Revenue-Sharing” from the Investments in Your Plan are Credited Back to the Plan
As the popularity of 401(k) Plans has grown, so has the specter of hidden costs which inevitably reduce participants’ investment returns. Forté’s promise to you: any rebates or other revenue sharing generated by Plan investments will be credited to the Plan and used to offset Plan expenses.
6) A Written Investment Policy Statement to Protect Plan Trustees and Participants
The Department of Labor (as authorized by ERISA) requires that every 401(k) Plan must have a written investment policy that specifies the process for selecting and monitoring the investment choices available to Plan Participants. Properly prepared and followed, this Investment Policy can provide protection for Plan Trustees and Participants. Forté can perform a no-cost, no-obligation review of your current investment policy to see if appropriate protections are in place.