CoSource Financial Group

What CoSource Financial Group does

CoSource Financial Group, LLC is a private, Louisiana-based financial services firm founded in 2001 that specializes in the implementation, maintenance, and ongoing servicing of employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. The firm operates as an affiliate of Avantax Inc., a distinct community within Cetera Wealth Services LLC, with securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) and advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. CoSource provides a suite of services including 401(k) plan management, fiduciary services (acting as a 3(21) co-fiduciary advisor), Pelican PEP (a pooled employer plan), executive benefits / non-qualified deferred compensation, workplace financial wellness programs, and wealth management, serving plan sponsors, business owners, HR directors, plan administrators, executives, and plan participants primarily across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.

The firm's core business model is relationship-driven and field-based: advisors operate a 'boots on the ground' sales motion, traveling to client offices to meet plan sponsors and participants directly rather than relying on digital channels. Revenue is generated through a recurring mix of brokerage commissions (transaction-based compensation for registered representatives) and fee-based advisory services (AUM-based fees for investment adviser representatives), supported by multi-year contracts; specific fee schedules are not publicly disclosed, with a complimentary no-obligation benchmark plan review offered as the entry-point acquisition mechanism. CoSource works across 10+ third-party 401(k) recordkeeping platforms (Voya, John Hancock, Empower, Fidelity, American Funds, Nationwide, RSG, July 401k, AdviceWorks, and Pelican PEP), and uses Fi360 software for investment due diligence and monitoring—no proprietary technology platform is referenced. The firm has approximately 8 named advisors/team members across four Louisiana offices (Lafayette HQ, New Iberia, Thibodaux, New Orleans) with vertical specialization in oilfield, car dealership, and sugar industries, and was recognized as an exceptional affiliate at the Avantax Elite Summit 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Name

CoSource Financial Group

Legal name

CoSource Financial Group, LLC

Website

https://cosourcefinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CoSource Financial Group is a Louisiana-based, privately held affiliate of Avantax/Cetera Wealth Services that delivers 401(k) management, fiduciary, Pelican PEP, executive benefits, and wealth management services to plan sponsors and participants across the Gulf Coast region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Plan Services

NAICS

Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF)

Keywords

• 401(k) plan services
• Retirement plan advisory
• Fiduciary services
• Pooled employer plans
• Executive benefits planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory & Brokerage Services: CoSource Financial Group operates as an affiliate of Cetera Wealth Services LLC, offering securities and investment advisory services. The firm provides 401(k) plan services, fiduciary advisory, executive benefits, wealth management, and financial wellness services to plan sponsors and individuals. Revenue is generated through a combination of brokerage commissions (transaction-based compensation for registered representatives) and fee-based advisory services (fees based on assets under management for investment adviser representatives). Some affiliated advisors may offer both brokerage and advisory services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CoSource Financial Group is a Louisiana-based financial advisory firm that designs, implements, and services qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans — primarily 401(k)s and Pooled Employer Plans — alongside fiduciary advisory, executive benefits, workplace financial wellness, and personal wealth management. Delivered as a 3(21) co-fiduciary under the broker-dealer and RIA infrastructure of Cetera Wealth Services LLC (via its Avantax affiliate), with investment due diligence supported by Fi360 software and participant access through multiple major 401(k) recordkeepers.

Product overview

CoSource Financial Group is a financial services firm offering a comprehensive suite of retirement plan and wealth management services. The core offerings center on 401(k) Services and Pelican PEP (Pooled Employer Plan), with supporting modules including Fiduciary Services, Executive Benefits, Financial Wellness For The Workplace, and Wealth Management. The firm operates as a 3(21) fiduciary advisor, providing guidance to plan sponsors while they retain final decision-making authority over investment lineups. Services are delivered through multiple 401(k) recordkeeping platforms including Voya, John Hancock, Empower, Fidelity, American Funds, Nationwide, and others, with a focus on serving plan sponsors, administrators, business owners, and HR managers primarily in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 401(k) Services Comprehensive 401(k) plan management services including plan design, fiduciary services, compliance monitoring, and participant education for employer-sponsored retirement plans, delivered as a 3(21) co-fiduciary advisor to plan sponsors.
• Pelican PEP Pooled Employer Plan that lets multiple employers participate in a single 401(k) plan, reducing administrative burden and providing cost efficiencies through shared plan administration and sponsor dashboards accessible via MyPlanConnection.
• Fiduciary Services Fiduciary responsibility guidance and support for plan sponsors, including investment policy statement development, ongoing fund monitoring using Fi360 software, and 3(21) co-fiduciary advisory services that allow plan sponsors to retain final decision-making authority.
• Executive Benefits Non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans and executive benefit solutions for recruiting and retaining highly compensated employees, providing tax-efficient compensation strategies for business owners and executives.
• Financial Wellness For The Workplace Employee financial wellness programs providing education on retirement planning, Social Security, and financial literacy to improve retirement readiness and participant outcomes for plan sponsors' workforces.
• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management and tax-focused financial planning services offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC for individual clients and business owners, supporting personal retirement readiness, IRA rollovers, and wealth transfer.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Avantax Inc. / Cetera HoldingscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2024CoSource Financial Group operates as an affiliate of Avantax Inc., a distinct community within Cetera Wealth Services LLC. Avantax is a leader in tax-focused financial planning and wealth management. CoSource was recognized as an exceptional affiliate at the Avantax Elite Summit 2024, where firms are celebrated for exemplary client service and business achievements. Avantax had $92.8 billion in total client assets as of December 31, 2023. Securities are offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) and advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Vestwell: Fast-growing 401(k) and IRA fintech platform targeting small/mid-market plan sponsors and advisors with an automated, lower-fee alternative to traditional advisory relationships. Direct competitive threat to CoSource's small-plan advisory segment.
• Guideline: Technology-driven 401(k) provider targeting small businesses with automated plan administration. Represents the fintech-led disruption model competing against traditional advisor-led firms like CoSource in the small-plan segment.

Broad incumbents

• Empower Retirement: One of the largest US retirement plan recordkeepers and advisor service providers. Competes with CoSource indirectly through recordkeeper-level advisory services and as one of the integrated recordkeepers CoSource's clients use.
• OneDigital: Large national benefits and retirement advisory firm offering 401(k) advisory, executive benefits, and broader HR/benefits consulting. Overlaps with CoSource on retirement advisory and executive benefits but operates at much larger scale with broader HR/insurance offerings.
• Fidelity Institutional Retirement Services: Large incumbent retirement plan recordkeeper and advisor partner. While primarily a recordkeeper, Fidelity's advisor services and workplace consulting overlap with CoSource's plan sponsor advisory offerings.

Direct peers

• Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group: Mid-size retirement plan advisory firm serving employer-sponsored plans with fiduciary, plan design, and participant services. Closely matches CoSource's mid-market employer-sponsor focus and advisory-led model.
• CAPTRUST: One of the largest US independent retirement plan advisory firms, providing 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary advisory, plan design, and investment due diligence to plan sponsors. Directly comparable to CoSource in service model and target customer (employer plan sponsors), but at materially larger national scale.
• SageView Advisory Group: National retirement plan and wealth advisory firm specializing in fiduciary advisory for corporate plan sponsors. Highly comparable business model to CoSource, scaled nationally with similar service offerings.
• Alliance Benefit Group: Mid-size retirement plan consulting and administration firm providing plan design, fiduciary, and recordkeeping coordination services to mid-market employers. Similar profile to CoSource in size, service mix, and target customer.

Others

• Cetera Advisor Networks (Affiliates): CoSource's parent broker-dealer/RIA community. Other independent advisor affiliates operating under Cetera provide comparable retirement plan services through the same infrastructure, making them natural comparables for benchmarking business model and economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

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 CoSource Financial Group