Through hands on experience, Focused Wealth Management finds that a retirement plan’s participant education policy is just as important as the investment policy. We recognize that the success of a retirement plan is largely driven by the level of understanding and appreciation participants have for the program. The plan education policy will lay out, with calendar regularity, when and how we are going to meet with plan participants, our main goals (that we establish at our Five Step Focused Fiduciary meeting), and the details of our communication plan. Frequent access to high quality investing and financial planning education undoubtedly has a positive effect on employee retirement readiness by developing the high level of commitment needed from plan participants to be retirement ready.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PARTICIPANTS SPANS MULTIPLE FRONTS:

Meeting with participants before the conversion of the plan

Monthly on-site meetings for the first three months, then quarterly thereafter

Plan hotline to reach an Focused Wealth Management advisor

Without question – on-site, face-to-face meetings are the most important driver of a successful education program. Our local presence is a differentiating factor in terms of the quality and frequency of interaction we can deliver to your plan.

1. Participation rates

2. Deferral rates

3. Account balances

4. Asset allocations

The plan’s education policy is also an extremely valuable plan management tool from a fiduciary standpoint, as it also allows us to document our employee education efforts.

Focused Wealth Management’s commitment to onsite education:

  1. Initial Phase
    • Meeting with your participants at the outset of our relationship to introduce the new program and give participants a comfort level with Focused Wealth Management as their new provider
    • Explaining the benefits of the plan: advantages of participation, reviewing plan highlights, discussing investment basics and examining the new investment options
  2. Ongoing Education
    • Meet with your participants one-on-one on a quarterly basis
      • This is an incredible value added service that generates great excitement among plan participants
      • Gives participants a chance to discuss their personal financial situation in a private setting
    • Meet quarterly in larger groups to explore the plan in more depth, discuss recent market and economic trends and revisit the concept of asset allocation.
      • Through these meetings we reinforce participants’ understanding across all facets of the plan and help them use it as a wealth creation tool.
      • We stress an open, informal approach in our on-site meetings. We stimulate discussion and facilitate interaction so participants can get the most out of each meeting. We keep group sizes small whenever possible. This is important to reduce participants’ sense of “intimidation” that can come from being in large group settings, which can make them reluctant to ask questions.
  3. Supplemental Communications
    • We are able to consult with individual participants as needed. This may be by scheduling time between meetings or after meetings, having participants visit at your offices or through separate phone consultation during the year. We are not afraid to veer from our standard process if your plan demands more flexibility. We will hold meetings via conference call for participants who cannot attend an on-site meeting. We have had materials translated into Spanish and other languages, and created other custom pieces. We have the flexibility and expertise to meet your needs in the critical area of participant education, and understand that a successful campaign requires a lot more than simply conducting periodic meetings and “handing out brochures”.