“Over the last ten years I have seen a number of well intentioned “training” programs designed to help advisors and consultants better serve their 401(k) clients but none of them hit the mark. The 401K Service Training Program doesn’t just hit the mark, it goes right through it. The content is deep yet easy to understand, and is delivered in a well-organized and engaging format. Whether you are a sole practitioner looking to get into the 401k business or the business leader of a larger organization looking to enhance your team’s skills you really should take a very close look at this offering from Financial Service Standards.”
- David Huntley
President
401ksource.com
"Not only is this program educational, it provides
you with the necessary tools to go out and actually
use the material and achieve your goals. This program
has been implemented to work towards the greater good...successful,
meaningful retirements."
- Heather Turns
Business Development
Fiduciary 360
"Servicing the 401k plans has always been a challenge
and this program will eliminate any service issues /
problems. Finally, someone has developed a course to
efficiently service the 401k marketplace."
- Keith Warmbein
Investment Advisor
PrimeSolutions Advisors
"This program was an enlightening experience for
me. It brought to my attention the areas that we are
servicing our clients well and the areas that need much
improvement."
- Diane Pearson
Director of Financial Planning
Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.
"This is a very beneficial tool because it provides
the "Process" to achieve what we know needs
to be done with our 401k clients. This is truly an item
that the 401k broker is missing in the industry today."
- Peter A. Hirsch
Investment Analyst for Retirement Plans & 529 Plans
AIG Advisor Group
"Turn the key and start the engine with the definitive tool that puts you on top of the huge 401k opportunity for advisors."
- Gerald T. Garrett
Senior Partner
Keeler Thomas Inc., Retirement & Investment Advisors
What PPCs Using The Tools Have To Say…
“Dear Don, Sharon and the rest of the support staff and Financial Service Standards, I wanted to provide a brief comment on how your program has helped propel us into the forefront of Company Retirement Consulting. Before your program, we developed an outstanding product. Even with my 29 years in the asset management industry as an owner, it was difficult to convince plan trustees that we truly had a superior product. Your training program in 2005 opened my eyes as to how firms will compete in the future. Your Best Practice Standards have a strong foundation because they are based on the fiduciary principles established by the Center for Fiduciary Studies. Applying your Best Practice Standards in our Retirement Plan program, has enabled us to differentiate ourselves from the competition. We have become process driven in all aspects of our program. This has allowed us to target even $50 million plans. You not only changed the direction of our company, but will also help thousands of participants properly plan for their retirement rather than default into it.
"I wish you much success.”
- Bud Verfaillie, AIFA, PPC, CFP
CEO Victory Asset Management Co. Inc.
“We used the planning administration calendar and the employee report card at one of the presentations to a company in NY that has 35 employees and 2 million in assets back in August when we did the initial presentation. Since then, we have signed up this company for Jan 1st, 2007. Thank you for your training and the materials you have made available to us.”
- John DiRoma
Owner
Newlight Financial Services
“The 401k Service Solution has changed my initial conversations with prospective clients. Instead of asking about features and benefits or whether there is anything they are unhappy about, I now ask “How do you define a Successful Retirement Plan?”. I often receive a response of ‘I don’t know.” Or “I’ve never thought of that”. It truly takes our conversation to a whole new level. Inevitably, they ask me what it means to have a successful retirement plan. We then get into the discussion of Vision, Goals and Objectives, etc. With most of our clients – this is maximizing the owners’ contributions and ensuring plan participation are on the right track for retirement.
"By following the processes in the 401k Service Solution, we have been
able to ensure we are keeping plan sponsors compliant
and able to prove our value in ways other than gross
investment returns.”
- Mario GiGanti
Managing Director
Azsure Fiduciary Services
“I have been able to use the 401k Service Solution in many ways thus far. The two most useful tools so far have been the Employer/Employee Report Cards and the Plan Review and Monitoring courses. These two vital areas, trustee/participant education and monitoring compliance, are at the forefront of what the Pension Protection Act of 2006 spells out – that 401k plans must follow the prudent process that is laid out in the Investment Policy and that the participants must be better educated and better suited to prepare for their own retirements. These themes are resonating strongly with our current and prospective clients.”
“Businessmen are not experts on 401(k) plans. Most of us struggle to keep our personal investments in order, let alone dealing with the complexities of establishing plan objectives, providing plan participants with adequate training to prepare for retirement, meeting ERISA standards as well as substantiating plan particulars to public auditors.
"The 401k Service Solution initially brought a
dose of reality to me and my partners by highlighting
our ignorance in many areas. It then proceeded to educate
us and provided an understandable process through which
we could accomplish our objectives in a timely fashion.
Thank you for your help.”
- Charlie Zak
President and CEO
CCMA
“The 401k Service Solution has been an excellent learning tool. It has helped to give me more depth and understanding of the different aspects of our plan and the administration process that will ensure we are in compliance and fulfilling our responsibilities as fiduciaries.”
- Kathleen Pouch
Manager of Payroll & Human Resource Services
Investment Committee Member
ESM Group, Inc.
“The Vision session has helped me more clearly understand our role and what we want to achieve with the plan for our employees. The continuing education that The Service Solution has provided to me has been invaluable. It is extremely important that I do the best I can for my employees' futures. These sessions have helped enrich my tools to keep doing the best job in the correct way for my employees.”
- Chuck Wright
Investment Committee Member
ESM Group, Inc.
“Having had no formal Investment Training, except for a few business
courses in college 25 years ago, I am basically a self-taught
investor. These courses have helped to solidify my overall
Investment Education and Foundation.
"The Seven-Step Process for Creating a Clear Vision
of Plan Success’ is an excellent game plan for
establishing education goals.
"Prior to taking (A Solid Foundation) this course,
I did not totally understand what an IPS was or how
vital it can be to a plan. This course explained all
aspects of an IPS.
"In The Portfolio Builder – it is interesting
to review specific costs, plan expenses, etc. associated
with our plan. Also, comparing our plan expenses with
national averages of other plans is informative.
"The Advanced Investor Series – my favorite
course. Gets into the intricate nature of our plan,
addressing both fiduciaries and participants.”
- Paul B. Dorsch, Jr.
Investment Committee Member
Chapman Corporation
from our prior classes.
