What Pentegra Retirement Services does

Pentegra Retirement Services (legal entity Pentegra Services Inc.) is a US-based, privately held fiduciary outsourcing firm founded in 1943 and headquartered in the New York metro area (White Plains / Port Chester). It provides ERISA 3(16) Named Plan fiduciary services, Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) and Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) administration, cash balance plan solutions, 403(b) MEP administration, third-party administration, and consulting services to plan sponsors, financial advisors and broker/dealers, banks and financial institutions, and recordkeepers/TPAs. The company positions itself as one of America's oldest independent fiduciaries, CEFEX-certified as a Pooled Plan Provider and 3(16) administrative fiduciary, and operates a multi-portal platform (Participant, Pension Participant, Plan Sponsor, Advisor, Partner) plus Pentegra SmartPath.

The core offering is outsourced fiduciary responsibility: Pentegra assumes legal liability as Named Plan Administrator, manages Form 5500 compliance, plan operations, participant communications, and ongoing regulatory monitoring. Its technology is operational rather than AI-driven, consisting of proprietary administrative systems and partner-integrated data flows (notably real-time sync with ADP for the Save4Retirement PEP, where Mesirow serves as ERISA 3(38) investment manager). The Save4Retirement PEP, launched in partnership with ADP in December 2025, is a flagship channel play that embeds Pentegra's 3(16) services inside ADP's payroll and recordkeeping footprint.

Pentegra generates revenue primarily through recurring subscription-based fiduciary administration fees billed per plan or per participant on an annual cadence, supplemented by PEP administration fees and professional consulting revenue. GTM is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales to plan sponsors and banks, paired with channel partnerships through ADP, Mesirow, independent advisors, broker/dealers, and recordkeepers. Revenue and ARR are not publicly disclosed; the firm is privately held with no external funding rounds recorded. In December 2025 the company received final approval of a $48.5 million class-action settlement related to a 401(k) excessive-fee lawsuit, which is a material item for any investor or acquirer to diligence.

Name

Pentegra Retirement Services

Legal name

Pentegra Services Inc.

Website

https://pentegra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pentegra Retirement Services is a privately held US firm, founded in 1943, providing outsourced ERISA 3(16) fiduciary, MEP/PEP administration, and cash balance plan services to employers, financial advisors, banks, and recordkeepers nationwide via direct sales and channel partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Plan Services

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Pension Funds (52511), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Other Insurance Funds (52519)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Retirement Plan Advisory RIAs (ERISA 401(k)/403(b)) (FSAAACAF), Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC), Liability-Driven Investment (LDI) & Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) Asset Management (FSAAAGAI)

Keywords

• Retirement plan administration
• Fiduciary outsourcing services
• Pooled employer plans
• ERISA 3(16) fiduciary
• Cash balance plans

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fiduciary Administration Services: Recurring fiduciary outsourcing fees charged to plan sponsors for ERISA 3(16) plan administration services, including compliance oversight, Form 5500 preparation, participant communications, and ongoing regulatory monitoring. Revenue is subscription-based, typically billed per plan on an annual or per-participant basis.
2. Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) Administration: Fees for administering PEPs where Pentegra serves as pooled plan provider handling primary administrative fiduciary duties for multiple unrelated employers in a single managed 401(k) plan.
3. Plan Consulting and Advisory Services: Professional consulting services for plan design, compliance, cash balance plans, and retirement plan strategy for advisors and plan sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pentegra Retirement Services provides outsourced ERISA 3(16) fiduciary services, retirement plan administration, Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) and Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) administration, cash balance plan solutions, 403(b) MEP solutions, third-party administration, and retirement plan consulting to plan sponsors, financial advisors, recordkeepers, banks, and financial institutions. As an independent Named Plan fiduciary, the company shoulders legal and administrative responsibility for retirement plan operations, compliance filings, and ongoing regulatory oversight.

Product overview

Pentegra Retirement Services is a fiduciary-first retirement plan provider offering a comprehensive suite of retirement plan and fiduciary outsourcing solutions. The company's product portfolio centers on ERISA 3(16) fiduciary services as a Named Plan Administrator, supplemented by Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) and Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) solutions. Key product modules include 3(16) Fiduciary Overlay Solutions, TPA & 3(16) Solutions, MEP & PEP Solutions, 403(b) MEP Solutions, Cash Balance Solutions, and Consulting Solutions. The company also provides the Save4Retirement PEP in partnership with ADP, where Pentegra serves as the pooled plan provider handling primary administrative fiduciary duties. Access to services is provided through multiple web portals including Participant Portal (Pentegra Online), Plan Sponsor Portal, Advisor Portal, Pension Participant Portal, and Partner Portal. Pentegra's offerings also include educational resources such as PENTalk webcasts, whitepapers on fiduciary outsourcing and retirement planning topics, and continuing education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3(16) Fiduciary Overlay Solutions ERISA Section 3(16) fiduciary services providing independent plan administration and oversight; Pentegra assumes legal responsibility as Named Plan Administrator, manages compliance filings and audits, oversees plan operations, handles participant communications, and monitors legislative/regulatory changes. For plan sponsors seeking to outsource fiduciary responsibility.
• MEP & PEP Solutions Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) and Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) solutions allowing multiple unrelated employers to combine resources under a single professionally managed retirement plan, reducing administrative burden and fiduciary risk. For employers, advisors, and financial institutions.
• 403(b) MEP Solutions Multiple Employer Plan solutions for 403(b) retirement plans serving nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and other eligible employers seeking pooled administration.
• Cash Balance Solutions Cash balance defined benefit plan solutions for employers, providing higher contribution limits and participants with hypothetical account balances that show accrued benefits with guaranteed interest rate crediting.
• TPA & 3(16) Solutions Third Party Administrator services combined with 3(16) fiduciary responsibilities, providing comprehensive plan administration and compliance for plan sponsors.
• Consulting Solutions Retirement plan consulting services helping plan sponsors with plan design, compliance, and fiduciary governance; also supports advisors serving plan sponsor clients.
• Save4Retirement Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) A 401(k) pooled employer plan offered in partnership with ADP, allowing multiple unrelated employers to join a single professionally managed retirement plan. Pentegra serves as the pooled plan provider handling primary administrative fiduciary duties, integrated with ADP's payroll and recordkeeping systems; Mesirow serves as the ERISA 3(38) investment manager.
• Participant Portal (Pentegra Online) Online portal enabling plan participants to access retirement accounts, view balances, and manage account settings.
• Plan Sponsor Portal Online portal for plan sponsors to administer retirement plans, view reports, and access compliance tools.
• Advisor Portal Online portal for financial advisors to manage client retirement plans and access plan data.
• Pension Participant Portal Dedicated online portal for pension participants to access their defined benefit pension accounts.
• Partner Portal Online portal for business partners to access plan information and administrative tools supporting joint client service delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Four out of five banks now partner with an external fiduciary to manage plan governance and administration
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ADPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025ADP partnered with Pentegra as the pooled plan provider for the Save4Retirement Pooled Employer Plan (PEP). Pentegra handles primary administrative fiduciary duties while ADP provides embedded payroll and recordkeeping systems with real-time data synchronization to verify employee deferrals and investment elections. Mesirow serves as ERISA 3(38) investment manager.
• MesirowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Mesirow acts as the ERISA 3(38) investment manager overseeing the investment lineup for ADP's Save4Retirement PEP. Partnered with Pentegra as the pooled plan provider handling administrative fiduciary responsibilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Empower Retirement: Empower is the second-largest U.S. retirement plan recordkeeper by participants and offers 3(16)/3(21)/3(38) fiduciary services alongside pooled plan provider capabilities, directly competing with Pentegra for plan sponsor and advisor-sourced mandates, including in the PEP/MEP category.
• Ascensus: Ascensus is the largest independent retirement TPA and a major Pooled Plan Provider (Ascent, an Ascensus company) with dedicated 3(16)/3(38) services and a 403(b) MEP franchise, making it the closest direct competitor to Pentegra across TPA, PEP, and fiduciary outsourcing.
• T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services: T. Rowe Price provides full-service recordkeeping with 3(16)/3(38) fiduciary options and pooled plan capabilities for mid-to-large plan sponsors and the advisor channel, closely comparable to Pentegra's fiduciary outsourcing stack.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Workplace Investing: Fidelity is the largest U.S. workplace recordkeeper and increasingly offers 3(16) administrative fiduciary and pooled plan solutions as part of its bundled platform, competing with Pentegra for mid-to-large plan sponsors while leveraging massive scale advantages.
• Vanguard Institutional: Vanguard provides recordkeeping, 3(38) investment management, and pooled plan solutions to plan sponsors and advisors, competing with Pentegra's 3(16) overlay and PEP offerings across the mid-market.
• Schwab Retirement Plan Services: Charles Schwab's retirement plan services division offers recordkeeping and bundled 3(16)/3(38) fiduciary solutions to plan sponsors via advisors, directly addressing the same fiduciary outsourcing pain points Pentegra targets.
• Principal Financial Group: Principal is a top-5 U.S. retirement provider offering recordkeeping, pooled plan solutions, and full-stack fiduciary services (3(16), 3(21), 3(38)) to plan sponsors and advisors across small, mid, and large markets.
• Voya Financial: Voya offers retirement plan recordkeeping, 3(16)/3(21)/3(38) services, and pooled plan solutions across corporate, healthcare, and education markets, competing head-to-head with Pentegra in the mid-market and tax-exempt segments.

Emerging players

• SageView Advisory Group: SageView is an independent RIA specializing in retirement plan advisory and 3(16)/3(38) fiduciary services for mid-market plans, overlapping Pentegra's advisor- and plan-sponsor-facing value proposition at a smaller scale.
• OneDigital: OneDigital is a national insurance, benefits, and retirement platform bundling fiduciary, advisory, and PEP/MEP offerings for mid-market employers — overlapping Pentegra on multi-employer pooled plans and 3(16) outsourcing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pentegra_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/pentegra-retirement-services-184106485077908
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pentegra-retirement-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pentegra Retirement Services