Regularly reviewing your retirement plan advisor is one of the smartest moves a plan sponsor can make. It ensures the person guiding your plan is truly acting in your employees’ best interests—not just checking boxes or collecting fees. By consistently evaluating advisor performance, fees, and services, plan sponsors can identify issues early, confirm they’re getting real value, and stay compliant with fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA. Think of it as a financial health check for your retirement plan—one that protects your company, strengthens participant outcomes, and builds lasting confidence in plan management.
At a recent TPSU program held at Marquette University in Milwaukee, TPSU Founder and CEO Fred Barstein spoke with Stephanie, a plan sponsor who decided it was time for a change. After years of working with the same retirement plan advisor, her organization realized their plan had grown stagnant and needed a fresh perspective.
That’s when Stephanie connected with TPSU Adjunct Lecturer Todd Barden, whose proactive approach and deep expertise immediately stood out. Within a short time, Todd helped the organization reduce plan fees, strengthen plan structure, and enhance participant education—delivering measurable results and renewed confidence in their retirement program.
“Having fresh eyes on the plan brought a lot of positive change,” Stephanie shared. “Sometimes there’s complacency—‘this is just the way the plan works’—but not anymore.”
The results speak for themselves: greater engagement, lower costs, and a renewed focus on helping employees make informed financial decisions. It’s a powerful reminder that even well-established plans benefit from regular review—and that the right advisor partnership can make all the difference.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred:
Greetings! This is Fred Barstein, founder and CEO of TPSU and 401kTV. I’ve just completed a program here in Milwaukee on the Marquette University campus, and I am here with Stephanie. Welcome, Stephanie.
Stephanie:
Thank you.
Fred:
Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Stephanie:
Sure.
Fred:
One of the things we discussed is that you recently went through an advisor change — which happened to be our TPSU lecturer, Todd Ban. So, congratulations on that; he’s a great advisor. What prompted you to think, “I need to change advisors?”
Stephanie:
I think our plan was in place for so long that it really needed a review. Todd brought a level of expertise and was also offering the kind of education for our group that we were looking for. He was able to do that.
Fred:
Did you talk to other advisors, or was it just Todd?
Stephanie:
Just Todd.
Fred:
So, he impressed you that much! And how has that worked out? How long have you been working with Todd?
Stephanie:
It’s just a recent change, but even the changes that have been put in place have already benefited us. We’ve saved on fees and are looking forward to reaching our employee level to do face-to-face education with them. Having fresh eyes on the plan has enforced a lot of positive change. Sometimes there’s complacency — “this is just the way the plan works” — but not anymore.
Fred:
Great. Final question — what’s something you learned today, and would you recommend TPSU?
Stephanie:
Oh, I would definitely recommend it. It was a great day filled with excellent education. I think it takes things to a different level — from just plan administration to really getting into the weeds, understanding it, and revamping it in a way that benefits your employees.
Fred:
Well, thank you for your time, Stephanie.
Stephanie:
Thank you.
Fred:
And thank you for watching 401kTV.
