Retirement Plan Advisors
Retirement Plan Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser specializing in retirement plan consulting and 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary services for U.S. public sector employers, serving 600+ plan sponsors and 95,000+ participants across $5.9 billion in assets under advisement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Retirement Plan Advisors does
Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA) is an independent, federally registered investment adviser founded in 2000 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with a partial-ownership relationship with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. The firm specializes exclusively in employer-sponsored retirement plans for public sector entities, including cities, counties, school districts, fire and ambulance districts, and other governmental employers. RPA delivers both 3(21) co-fiduciary investment advice and 3(38) full-discretionary investment management, alongside plan design and implementation, recordkeeper search and oversight, fee benchmarking, RFP/Q/I services, and compliance monitoring.
RPA's core product surface comprises In-Plan Investment Solutions (a research-based, tiered investment menu built on behavioral economics principles, spanning Target Date Funds, Goals-Based Models, a Core Menu of active and passive index funds, and In-Retirement options) and Individual Investment Solutions (fee-based financial planning and investment management for plan participants and individuals, including IRAs, 529 education planning, and retirement income planning). Supporting services include onsite participant enrollment, one-on-one retirement counseling, quarterly market commentary, and personalized investment advice delivered by field advisors through regional offices across the Midwest, South, and Northeast. The firm holds no AI/ML infrastructure of note and relies on licensed human advisors (CFA, CFP, AIF, CAIA, CRC designations) operating under FINRA registrations through Cambridge.
RPA's business model is fee-based investment advisory revenue billed annually, with pricing negotiated through fee benchmarking and transparency processes rather than publicly disclosed tiers. The firm reports 600+ plan sponsor clients, 580+ unique public sector employers, 95,000+ participants, and $5.9 billion in assets under advisement as of March 31, 2026, with a 99% client retention rate. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with regional offices, supplemented by industry event participation (NAGDCA, NAPA) and partner-led webinars with organizations such as Broadridge Fi360.
Retirement Plan Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retirement Plan Advisors
- Legal name
- Retirement Plan Advisors, LLC
- Website
- https://retirementplanadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Retirement Plan Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser specializing in retirement plan consulting and 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary services for U.S. public sector employers, serving 600+ plan sponsors and 95,000+ participants across $5.9 billion in assets under advisement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retirement Plan Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retirement Plan Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- 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), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF)
Keywords
Where Retirement Plan Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Retirement Plan Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Advisory Services: Fee-based investment advisory services provided as a federally registered investment adviser. Services include plan and participant investment advisory and fiduciary services. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Fee-based advisory services with transparent fee structures |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Retirement Plan Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Retirement Plan Advisors is an independent federally registered investment adviser that provides 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services, plan design and implementation, recordkeeper search and oversight, fee benchmarking and negotiation, and onsite participant enrollment and counseling for employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm specializes in public sector plan sponsors (cities, counties, fire/ambulance districts, school districts) and also delivers fee-based individual investment solutions covering retirement income planning, IRAs, 529 education planning, and generational wealth planning.
Product overview
Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA) is an independent registered investment adviser offering a unified platform of retirement plan services and investment solutions. The core offering consists of two main product lines: In-Plan Investment Solutions (investment menu design using a tiered approach with Target Date Funds, Goals-Based Models, Core Menu, and In-Retirement options) and Individual Investment Solutions (comprehensive financial planning and fee-based investment management). These are supported by Participant Services (onsite employee outreach, enrollment, education workshops, and one-on-one counseling) and Plan Sponsor Services (3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services, fee benchmarking, RFP/Q/I services, and recordkeeper oversight). Additional resources include financial calculators, quarterly market commentary videos, and annual tax guides. The firm specializes in serving public sector employers and their employees with personalized retirement planning services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Plan Investment Solutions
- Individual Investment Solutions
- Participant Services
- Plan Sponsor Services
- 3(21) Fiduciary Services
- 3(38) Fiduciary Services
- 401(a) Plan Consulting
- 403(b) Plan Services
- 457(b) Plan Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% client retention rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Retirement Plan Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Retirement Plan Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature3 records
Retirement Plan Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Broadridge Fi360minorJoint webinar partnership for CEO Josh Schwartz to present on governmental plan fiduciary advisory opportunities. The webinar was approved for continuing education credits for Fi360, CFP Board, and IWI Designations.
- Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.coreSecurities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge is a partial owner of Retirement Plan Advisors, LLC. Cambridge provides securities distribution capabilities and is a strategic capital partner.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Retirement Plan Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CAPTRUST: One of the largest U.S. retirement plan advisory firms, offering 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary services, investment menu design, and participant services to corporate and public sector plan sponsors. Directly comparable in service model and target market.
- SageView Advisory Group: Independent retirement plan consulting and wealth management firm serving corporate and government plans. Directly comparable as a fee-based RIA providing fiduciary advisory, investment due diligence, and participant services.
- OneDigital: Large national benefits and retirement advisory firm providing 3(38) investment management, plan design, and participant services to corporate and public sector employers. Comparable in service breadth, though broader in scope than RPA.
- DWC - The 401(k) Specialists: Independent retirement plan advisory firm specializing in 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans for government, education, and nonprofit employers. Closely comparable given similar public-sector/education niche and RIA structure.
- Edelman Financial Engines: Large independent RIA providing retirement plan advisory and participant advice, including to public sector plans. Comparable in offering investment advisory and participant-level engagement, but operates at materially greater scale.
- NFP Retirement: Retirement plan advisory practice within NFP (now part of Aon), serving corporate and public sector plan sponsors with fiduciary and consulting services. Directly comparable in advisory model and target segments.
Broad incumbents
- Empower Retirement: Largest U.S. retirement plan recordkeeper with growing in-house 3(38) advisory and investment management capabilities. Serves public sector plans and is both a competitor and integration partner to RPA.
- Voya Financial: Major retirement plan provider with recordkeeping, investment management, and advisory capabilities serving public sector employers. Functions as both integration partner and potential competitive bundler.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Retirement Plan Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceRetirement Plan Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retirement Plan Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Retirement Plan Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retirement Plan Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Retirement Plan Advisors
What does Retirement Plan Advisors do?
Retirement Plan Advisors is an independent federally registered investment adviser that provides 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services, plan design and implementation, recordkeeper search and oversight, fee benchmarking and negotiation, and onsite participant enrollment and counseling for employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm specializes in public sector plan sponsors (cities, counties, fire/ambulance districts, school districts) and also delivers fee-based individual investment solutions covering retirement income planning, IRAs, 529 education planning, and generational wealth planning.
Is Retirement Plan Advisors a public or private company?
Retirement Plan Advisors is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Retirement Plan Advisors founded?
Retirement Plan Advisors was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Retirement Plan Advisors based?
Retirement Plan Advisors is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Retirement Plan Advisors make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Advisory Services.
Who are Retirement Plan Advisors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CAPTRUST, SageView Advisory Group, OneDigital, DWC - The 401(k) Specialists, Edelman Financial Engines and NFP Retirement. Broad incumbents are Empower Retirement and Voya Financial.
Does Retirement Plan Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Retirement Plan Advisors.
What industry is Retirement Plan Advisors in?
Retirement Plan Advisors's product category is Retirement Plan Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEABAE, Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension), with a secondary code of FSAAACAF, Corporate Retirement Plan Advisory RIAs (ERISA 401(k)/403(b)). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.