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A group plan solution built for simplicity and growth opportunities

Nationwide RetireAssist ConnectSM helps you offer group plan solutions with more ease, flexibility and support.

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Nationwide RetireAssist ConnectSM is a group plan solution that makes it easier for employers to offer a strong employee benefits package while reducing the work and risk that comes with running a plan on their own. It brings simplicity to 
group plan solutions with the flexibility and support you need to serve a wide range of clients, while also helping deepen 
client relationships and uncover growth opportunities through access to more participants and broader wealth 
management conversations.

RetireAssist Connect helps you to reduce complexity, adapt to client needs and keep moving forward with confidence.

Why consider Nationwide RetireAssist Connect?

Support that helps reduce burden

Employers can entrust a majority of their fiduciary and 3(16) responsibilities to an outside fiduciary, reducing their workload and potential risk.

More flexibility for more clients

RetireAssist Connect offers pooled employer plan (PEP) and group of plans (GoP) options in one solution to align with client-specific needs and retirement goals.

Built to support growth over time

Plan-level flexibility supports customization in its design and pricing approach, giving employers more choice in how their plan is structured.

Broad investment choice

RetireAssist Connect offers a 3(38) selected and monitored core investment lineup, participant access to the Fund Window and a self-directed brokerage account (SDBA).

Advisor value and business growth

When you support a company’s retirement plan with RetireAssist Connect, you become a central part of the client’s financial ecosystem, which creates opportunities to deepen relationships, grow your business efficiently, and help clients delegate more and worry less.

Deepen client relationships

Retirement plans can create natural entry points to talk with employees about consolidating assets, income strategies and other financial needs.

Build your business efficiently

A simpler plan structure lets you add group plans through a single structure without creating extra work.

Help clients delegate more and worry less

Outside fiduciary support can reduce plan sponsor workload and potential risk.

Retain your expertise

You bring deep knowledge of your client, and the RetireAssist Connect Team supplies plan expertise, tools and execution.

Plan support that reduces your responsibilities

With a single coordinated provider team handling day-to-day administration, your clients can spend more time focusing on their business and employees.

Responsibilities for your client on their own
ERISA 402(a) ERISA 3(16)
  • ERISA 404(c) checklist
  • Working with IRS, DOL and participant grievances
  • Working with IRS, DOL and participant grievances
  • Managing procedural prudence
  • Holding plan administrative committee meetings
  • Monitoring service providers
  • Monitoring core investments
  • Adhering to changing ERISA regulations
  • ERISA 408(b)(2) requirements
  • Approving proper education for and communication to plan participants
  • Reviewing plan design
  • Interpreting plan documentation
  • Reviewing, signing and submitting Form 5500 and all associated forms
  • Approving loans
  • Approving hardships
  • Approving other distributions
  • Approving QDROs
  • Approving vesting issues
  • Doing compliance testing
  • Providing audit assistance
  • Providing lost earnings calculations
  • Reviewing and approving the following required or optional notices: ERISA 404(a)(5), ERISA 404(c), blackout notice, SPD, SAR and spousal consent, as needed
  • Handling employee questions, claims and appeals
Your client’s responsibilities with RetireAssist Connect
  • Monitoring Fiduciary Wise, the pooled plan provider
  • Providing plan information
  • Making contribution deposits in a timely manner
  • Participating in plan administrative committee meetings, as requested
  • ERISA bond

2 options to fit the plan to the client

Pooled employer plan (PEP) vs. group of plans (GoP)

The right option depends on the client's size, structure and needs. Both solutions allow the plan to retain their financial professional.

PEP

PEP is best for audit-size plans (more than 100 participants) or clients who want shared audit costs and a turnkey solution with added support and shared governance.

GoP

GoP is best for plans below audit size that want to keep their own structure and design while still gaining group-plan efficiencies and support.

Why it matters

The unique structure of RetireAssist Connect allows you to offer your clients a group plan solution that provides autonomy, support and simplicity, all while reducing risk and providing simplified management and full-service support.
Ready to get started?
Talk with a Nationwide® representative to learn how RetireAssist Connect can support you.
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