Retirement Plan Advisors

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.

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

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

• Retirement plan advisory
• Fiduciary investment services
• Public sector retirement plans
• Plan sponsor consulting
• Individual financial planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Broadridge Fi360minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 October 2024Joint 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.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurities 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCndzTbHkyCelZsHcvYq4L2g
• Facebookfacebook.com/RPARetirementPlanAdvisors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retirement-plan-advisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Retirement Plan Advisors