Browse 20+ providers in this category.
Featured Providers
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Heacock & Jones Financial Services, Inc. - Dubuque, IA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Founded in 2000 in Dubuque on the Iowa–Illinois–Wisconsin tri-state, Heacock & Jones Financial Services, Inc. is a fee-only Registered Investme... -
401(k) & 403(b) Fiduciary Advisors, Inc. - San Jose, CA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Fee benchmarking and fiduciary process work sit at the center of 401(k) & 403(b) Fiduciary Advisors, Inc., a small SEC-registered RIA founded i... -
5c Capital Management, LLC - Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Across the New York City metro area, 5c Capital Management, LLC advises individuals, business owners, and institutions on investing and long-term p... -
Abound Wealth Management, LLC - Franklin, TN
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>With $1.4B in AUM (2026) and a 34-person team, Abound Wealth Management, LLC works with clients from its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, in th... -
Accordant Advisory Group, Inc. - Annapolis, MD
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>In the state capital of Annapolis, Accordant Advisory Group, Inc. works with individuals and business owners across the Baltimore–Washington region... -
Adams Brown Wealth Consultants, LLC - Great Bend, KS
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Built around close coordination with tax and accounting professionals, Adams Brown Wealth Consultants, LLC brings retirement plan advice and wealth... -
Aegis Financial - Phoenix, AZ
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Built around its in-house “ALIGN System,” Aegis Financial coordinates tax strategy, compensation decisions, and retirement planning for privately h... -
Akre Capital Management, LLC - Middleburg, VA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Known for its “three-legged stool” investment framework, Akre Capital Management, LLC runs portfolios built around extraordinary businesses, strong... -
Alera Investment Advisors, LLC - Deerfield, IL
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Started in 2017 as part of Alera Group, Alera Investment Advisors, LLC brings retirement plan and wealth management work together with access to em... -
Allmerits - Buena Park, CA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Founded in 2015, Allmerits has a 12-person team that works with employers and individuals on retirement planning and related financial needs. The f... -
American Wealth Management - Reno, NV
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Founded in 2006, American Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Reno in northern Nevada’s Truckee Meadows, ser... -
Andesa Financial Management, Inc. - Allentown, PA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Founded in 2004 by Paul C. Barbehenn, Andesa Financial Management, Inc. grew from the Lehigh Valley area as a Registered Investment Advisor headqua... -
Bcm Advisors, LLC - Lafayette, LA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Investment management and fiduciary plan support are the core of BCM Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Lafayette... -
Bridgewealth Advisory Group, LLC
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Founded in 2018, Bridgewealth Advisory Group, LLC works with union members and skilled trades alongside retirees, pre-retirees, small business owne... -
Antoine Williams & Associates Wealth Management, LLC - Shelburne, VT
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>In the Burlington–South Burlington metro area, Antoine Williams & Associates Wealth Management, LLC works as a fee-only registered investment a... -
Bcs Wealth Managment, LLC - Johnson City, TN
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>In the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee, Bcs Wealth Managment, LLC works with employers and families on investment management and financial planni... -
Argent Advisors, Inc. - Monroe, LA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>From Monroe in northeast Louisiana to a second office in Ruston, Argent Advisors, Inc. works with clients across the Ark-La-Tex and beyond on inves... -
Asset Planning Corporation - Knoxville, TN
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Financial planning and investment management are the focus at this registered investment advisor based in Knoxville, in East Tennessee’s Knoxville ... -
Assuredpartners Investment Advisors - Tampa, FL
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Launched in 2020, AssuredPartners Investment Advisors is a retirement plan advisory firm that pairs plan design work with hands-on fiduciary suppor... -
Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. - Dubuque, IA
Retirement Plan Advisor
<p>Built around a CPA-firm partnership model, Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser within the Cetera Financial Group, he...
Partner with Top ERISA 3(21) Investment Advisors
Managing a corporate retirement plan requires navigating a complex landscape of investment choices, regulatory obligations, and fiduciary liabilities. For plan sponsors who want to retain final authority over their plan's investment menu but require professional expertise to make informed decisions, hiring an ERISA 3(21) investment advisor is the ideal strategy. These professionals act as "co-fiduciaries," working alongside you to ensure your plan remains competitive, compliant, and beneficial for your employees.
What is a 3(21) Fiduciary Advisor?
Under ERISA Section 3(21), an advisor is defined as a fiduciary if they render investment advice for a fee. Unlike a 3(38) manager who takes full discretion, a 3(21) advisor serves as a strategic partner. They provide the research, due diligence, and recommendations, but the plan sponsor (typically the investment committee) retains the final say on which funds to add, keep, or remove. This "help me do it" model is perfect for organizations that want to stay involved in the process without shouldering the burden of investment analysis alone.
Key services provided by qualified 3(21) advisors include:
- Investment Screening: Rigorous analysis of mutual funds and ETFs to ensure they meet performance and cost benchmarks.
- Quarterly Monitoring: Ongoing review of the investment lineup to identify underperforming funds or style drift.
- Fiduciary Training: Educating your investment committee on their responsibilities to minimize personal liability.
- Fee Benchmarking: helping you evaluate costs against industry standards, often coordinating with retirement plan providers to negotiate better rates.
The Difference Between 3(21) and 3(38) Advisors
Choosing between a 3(21) and a 3(38) advisor comes down to how much control—and liability—you wish to delegate. While a 3(21) advisor shares the fiduciary risk with you, a 3(38) investment manager assumes the bulk of the liability for investment selection. Many of the firms listed in our Plan Advisors directory offer both levels of service, allowing you to scale your engagement as your company's needs evolve.
Mitigating Risk and Ensuring Compliance
One of the primary reasons to engage a 3(21) advisor is risk mitigation. The Department of Labor focuses heavily on procedural prudence—not just investment results. A 3(21) advisor helps you document your decision-making process, creating a paper trail that is vital during regulatory reviews. They often collaborate with other professionals, such as ERISA attorneys and auditors, to ensure that your plan's governance structure is legally sound.
Explore our comprehensive list of ERISA 3(21) investment advisors to find a partner who aligns with your fiduciary goals and helps you build a retirement plan that empowers your workforce.