Retirement Plan Consultant, FuturePlan

Ascensus; New Jersey; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional Development

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid time off

Medical benefits

Health Savings Account

401(k) & 529 match

Volunteer programs

Business casual dress

Job summary

Ascensus in New Jersey seeks a Retirement Plan Consultant to serve as a single point of contact for plan sponsors and financial advisors. You will handle ERISA compliance, plan testing (5500), loans and distributions, and assist in plan design and operation for its retirement plans.

The role requires 3–5+ years ERISA experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and proficiency with Excel and Word.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 3-5+ years ERISA experience in retirement industry.
• Experience in analysis of financial data.
• Strong Word, Excel, and Outlook skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, exceptional customer service, including problem solving and issue resolution with minimal inconvenience to clients.
• Provide effective verbal and written communications in a clear, concise and informative manner.
• Act as a mentor to Retirement Plan Coordinators, collaborating to meet or exceed defined business objectives, firm goals and client obligations, as applicable.
• Assist clients with all initial and ongoing plan design and document needs, including promoting awareness and educating all clients in regards to their obligations with the IRS and DoL regulations.
• Assist clients in meeting all IRS and Department of Labor deadlines necessary for qualified retirement plan.
• Assist clients with Service and IRS Plan terminations.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of present legislation and proposed legislative changes with regard to ERISA law through self-study and company-sponsored training sessions.
• Complete/Assist with payroll processing as required by the products assigned.
• Accountable for all aspects of valuation reports, participant statements and annual testing.
• Review or perform, as needed, the annual testing for plans, including ADP/ACP, Top Heavy, 410(b), 415, 401(a)(4),deductibility, and 402(g).
• Work with assigned coordinator(s) to provide compliant and accurate valuation reports, participant statements, trust accounting, annual testing and reporting as applicable.
• Review distribution paperwork and coordinate processing of distributions with asset holder.
• Review loan paperwork and coordinate processing of loans with asset holder.
• Review or prepares Form 5500 and coordinate with plan sponsor to help ensure timely filing.
• Assist auditors if a plan is subject to an audit.
• Assist IRS and DOL auditors, if the plan is subject to an IRS or DOL audit.
• Coordinate with all applicable parties, both internal and external, to ensure accurate conversion process for new clients (including but not limited to actuaries, financial advisors, attorneys).
• As applicable, work with assistant to coordinate and oversee activities that will ensure timely and accurate completion of book of business.
• Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned.
• Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients.

Skills

ERISA experience

Communication skills

Analytical mindset

Excel

Word

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Relius

Job description

FuturePlan is the nation’s largest third-party administrator (TPA) of retirement plans, partnering with advisors in all 50 states. FuturePlan delivers the best of both worlds: high-touch personalized service from local TPAs backed by the strength and security of a large national firm, Ascensus. Our roots go back decades, with nearly 30 outstanding legacy firms now joined together to deliver unmatched levels of service, innovation and expertise to a fast-growing client base from coast to coast. The FuturePlan team includes more than 500 credentialed plan professionals, 60 actuaries, and one of the industry’s largest in-house ERISA teams. Learn more at FuturePlan.com.

Position Summary

Serve as a resource to plan sponsors and financial advisors for matters related to ERISA compliance, plan design and governmental reporting. This person is the single point of contact for employer, financial profession and plan sponsor for their accounts. A Retirement Plan Consultant is able to handle client meetings both in person and via phone. This position serves as the retirement Plan expert on testing, 5500, loans and distributions. Additionally, this individual can easily grasp plan design with the ability to assist in plan operation and document updates.

Job Functions, Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide timely, exceptional customer service, including problem solving and issue resolution with minimal inconvenience to clients
• Provide effective verbal and written communications in a clear, concise and informative manner
• Act as a mentor to Retirement Plan Coordinators, collaborating to meet or exceed defined business objectives, firm goals and client obligations, as applicable
• Assist clients with all initial and ongoing plan design and document needs, including promoting awareness and educating all clients in regards to their obligations with the IRS and DoL regulations.
• Assist clients in meeting all IRS and Department of Labor deadlines necessary for qualified retirement plan
• Assist clients with Service and IRS Plan terminations
• Maintain up to date knowledge of present legislation and proposed legislative changes with regard to ERISA law through self-study and company-sponsored training sessions
• Complete/Assist with payroll processing as required by the products assigned
• Accountable for all aspects of valuation reports, participant statements and annual testing
• Review or perform, as needed, the annual testing for plans, including ADP/ACP, Top Heavy, 410(b), 415, 401(a)(4),deductibility, and 402(g)
• Work with assigned coordinator(s) to provide compliant and accurate valuation reports, participant statements, trust accounting, annual testing and reporting as applicable
• Review distribution paperwork and coordinate processing of distributions with asset holder
• Review loan paperwork and coordinate processing of loans with asset holder
• Review or prepares Form 5500 and coordinate with plan sponsor to help ensure timely filing
• Assist auditors if a plan is subject to an audit
• Assist IRS and DOL auditors, if the plan is subject to an IRS or DOL audit
• Coordinate with all applicable parties, both internal and external, to ensure accurate conversion process for new clients (including but not limited to actuaries, financial advisors, attorneys)
• As applicable, work with assistant to coordinate and oversee activities that will ensure timely and accurate completion of book of business
• Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned
• Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients.
• Our I-Client service philosophy and our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always® should be visible in your actions on a day to day basis showing your support of our organizational culture.
• Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned

Experience, Skills, Knowledge Requirements

• Bachelors degree preferred
• 3-5 or more years ERISA experience in the retirement industry
• Experience in analysis of financial data required
• Experience in Relius software desirable, but not required
• Strong Word, Excel, and Outlook skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytic mentality associated with problem solving skills
• Detail oriented with the ability to prioritize and manage tasks to partner with business operations, including related ERISA compliance matters
• Ability to effectively plan and assign work to and oversee plan associates that are qualified to assist with plan modifications

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Ascensus helps millions of people save for a better future.

What makes any career at Ascensus so rewarding?

• Collaborative, idea-sharing environment
• Professional Development with in-house training and tuition reimbursement
• Generous reward programs
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental & vision benefits
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution up to $1,100
• 401(k) & 529 college savings match programs
• Volunteer and charitable-giving programs
• Business casual dress