Managing a company retirement plan isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about making smart, strategic decisions that impact your employees’ futures. Without a qualified advisor in your corner, even the most well-intentioned plan sponsors can find themselves lost in a maze of compliance rules, plan design challenges, and fiduciary risks. A skilled advisor doesn’t just guide you through it—they simplify the process, elevate your strategy, and help you stay confidently compliant.
But the real value of a great advisor goes far beyond compliance. They educate both plan sponsors and participants, help drive better retirement outcomes, and keep your plan ahead of the curve as laws and best practices evolve. They’re your strategic partner in creating a retirement plan that’s not only effective, but also meaningful.
At a recent TPSU program hosted on the campus of Fordham Law School, CEO Fred Barstein sat down with adjunct lecturer Burak Alpaslan, who offered a powerful analogy: working without an advisor is like flying a plane through a storm—without a pilot. You may have the tools, but it’s the steady hand of experience and ongoing training that ensures a smooth and successful flight. In retirement planning, as in aviation, it’s not just about getting off the ground—it’s about arriving safely at your destination.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred Barstein:
Greetings. My name is Fred Barstein. I’m the CEO and founder of TPSU, where we just completed a program here at Fordham Law School. I’m here with my esteemed adjunct lecturer, Burak Alpaslan, and he is with vital planning there. So welcome, Burak.
Burak Alpaslan:
Thank you for having me.
Fred Barstein:
Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Burak Alpaslan:
Absolutely. You bet.
Fred Barstein:
Very good. So first thing, one of the things which was surprising to me today, we had a number of people that didn’t have an advisor. And you gave an analogy that I thought was really good about the value of an advisor. Can you explain that?
Burak Alpaslan:
The best example I can give you is the analogy when you’re planning a trip. So imagine you saved money, made reservations, but the only way to get your destination, which happens to be a beautiful tropical island, is by taking a plane. As such, you will be flying there with your family and you’re offered two choices. First one is a state-of-the-art Cessna with top-of-the-line electronical equipment, flight simulator, cockpit, the avionics, the whole nine yards, but you are the pilot. You will be expected to fly that plane. Second plane is identical to the first one, but it comes with a pilot with 20 years of experience.
Now, close your eyes and picture this. On the morning of your trip, the weather is miserable. It’s windy, chances of thunderstorms and showers are very high. As a result, you are kind of worried about if you will be able to get there safely. Would you feel comfortable getting behind the wheel and driving? Would your spouse be comfortable you actually flying that plane? So accordingly, if you actually said I don’t know how to take off with a plane, land this plane safely or go around the adverse weather and navigate adversities and hurricanes, whatnot, you tell me which plane you would feel comfortable with.
Fred Barstein:
Plus, not only do you want a pilot, you want a pilot who is proficient and trained and keeps up to date like you do.
Burak Alpaslan:
Absolutely. Pilots require re-registration and continuing education as well.
Fred Barstein:
As do financial advisors.
Burak Alpaslan:
As do financial advisors.
Fred Barstein:
Especially specialists, RPA. Well, that’s great. It’s a great analogy and it really resonated. Final question for you, Burak is why should a plan sponsor attend a TPSU program? What’s the greatest value?
Burak Alpaslan:
See, the saying goes, you may not know what you don’t know. So as a result, the only way for you to identify and decide what you don’t know is if you attend education sessions and actually take your time to identify what you don’t know. Because it’s okay not to know. It’s not okay not to learn or do something about it. And once you know what you don’t know, it is also okay to just say, you know what? I don’t have to do everything. I will hire a professional who is very apt in terms of doing this role, this function, whatever it may be, as it comes to qualified plans. So you can delegate, you can automate, you can eliminate.
Fred Barstein:
Right. Always a good one. Well, good. Well, thanks for your time. Thanks for being at TPSU.
Burak Alpaslan:
Absolutely. It is my pleasure. Thank you. Always a privilege. Thank you, Fred.
Fred Barstein:
And thank you for watching 401kTV. Please stay tuned.
