Tomorrow’s 401(k)… Today!®
Central Florida’s First, Low Cost PEP Provider
As Central Florida’s only PEP Provider, Certified Financial Group offers cost-conscious organizations of any size in any industry access to establishing a 401(k) plan for their employees.
The Future of Retirement Savings
Once out of reach for many organizations due to cost or requirements, the newly debuted Pooled Employer Plans made possible by the SECURE Act allow any organization to establish a 401(k) plan for their employees for very low cost.
PEP Plans are only available through pooled plan providers, of which there are not many yet. It can also be difficult for employers to find reputable providers in the sea of new information that the PEP has brought with it.
At Certified Financial Group, we are passionate about the new PEP offering and its ability to help organizations provide an invaluable path to saving for retirement that to which they previously did not have access.
That’s the Certified 401(k) Plan and The Certified Difference®: it’s about you.
What is a PEP?
Similar to a Multiple Employer Plan, the Certified 401(k) Plan™ (our PEP plan offering) allows multiple, unrelated employers to participate in a single plan trust, achieving economies of scale typically only attained by larger plans. Through the SECURE Act, unrelated employers of any size can participate in a competitive and affordable plan – the Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) – reducing the administrative burden and mitigating fiduciary risk. The arrangement enables employers to outsource the primary fiduciary roles of the plan to industry experts.
Easy, Simple Administration
Each employer client who joins the Certified 401(k) Plan™ has online access to their plan through the Plan Sponsor Web (PSW) portal, including numerous reports and plan data. In addition, the monthly Sponsor Express email provides each adopting employer with a snapshot of their plan’s compliance testing results, as well as plan financial and demographic data, and educational content. This communication provides clients in the Certified 401(k) Plan an “at-a-glance” way to view their testing pass/fail status without having to drill into the underlying data.
Reduced Fiduciary Risk
Our turnkey PEP solution meets the criteria of the Department of Labor and the IRS criteria, making it easy for you to offer a valuable 401(k) retirement savings plan to your employees. We partnered with Slavic401k to provide the administration and recordkeeping services for the plan and Fidelity Investments to provide custodial and trading services. Slavic401k assumes the ERISA 3(16) Plan Administrator role and principal fiduciary for administrative functions of the plan. Certified Advisory Corp serves as the ERISA 3(38) Investment Manager, taking full fiduciary responsibility and discretion regarding selecting and monitoring of investment options offered under the plan.
Participant Portal with Planning & Education Tools
The Certified 401(k) Plan™ provides participants with a robust, fully mobile-responsive website with an educational blog & resources, as well as retirement savings tools & calculators. Each Friday, participants receive an account update with balance information, 401(k) tips and insights, and retirement savings education through a weekly email service called Email Express.
CEFEX Certified
Slavic401k is certified by CEFEX and ASPPA as an Investment Advisor and Type II Recordkeeping TPA. All of the elements and processes of the administration and recordkeeping platform are covered by an SSAE18 audit. As a certified record-keeper, Slavic401k stands with Certified Advisory Corp, also a CEFEX certified Registered Investment Advisor, shouldering the ongoing fiduciary responsibilities and liabilities associated with the plan. The Slavic401k staff of CPA and ASPPA-certified administrators and representatives look to guide each PEP client carefully.
Fast, Simple Enrollment
Certified Advisory Corp makes it easy to set up your 401(k) plan with Express Plan Setup. The guided, step-by-step process can be completed online in about 15 minutes without the hassle of paperwork. Express Plan Setup guides you every step of the way to ensure you are choosing the right 401(k) plan for you and your employees. It provides options for flexible plan design, including Safe Harbor and standard matching contributions, and a deferral-only option. From matching contributions, vesting schedules, entry and eligibility requirements, and more, you will have a complete look at your entire plan from start to finish. Our 401(k) specialists are always on standby should you need assistance along the way.
Cost Savings
Certified Advisory Corp and Slavic401k have access to the absolute lowest cost funds available based upon total plan assets. Institutional share classes are used whenever possible. Our policy of reimbursing all 12-B1 / Sub-TA mutual fund revenue back to the participant further contributes to the overall low cost of our investment platform. The reimbursement policy eliminates advisor bias because there is no revenue tied to the investment selection.
New to PEPs? We love to help!
Schedule your no-obligation phone call with a Certified 401(k) Plan PEP advisor to have all your questions answered.