Retirement Plan Design Consultant

Job Overview

The Retirement Plan Design Consultant will support the field wholesaling team and collaborate with our onboarding, document, administration, and client experience teams. In addition to working with Blue Ridge team members, the Retirement Plan Design Consultant will also collaborate with our record-keeping partners and financial professional referral partners. You will impact the growth of our organization by helping clients evaluate and implement the most appropriate custom retirement plan solutions for their needs.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Plan Sponsors, Financial Professionals, Recordkeepers, CPA’s, etc.
• Consult with Plan Sponsors and advisors on custom retirement plan design, administration, compliance, and operational issues.
• Review, interpret, and explain plan documents, amendments, notices, Summary Plan Descriptions, and IRS/DOL regulations.
• Analyze plan provisions, eligibility requirements, highly compensated/key employee status, and plan features.
• Participate in virtual (or in person) sales meetings, finalist presentations, and financial advisor meetings.
• Identify and resolve plan compliance issues, including testing and correction matters.
• Understand and discuss: ADP/ACP testing, cross-testing and other profit-sharing allocation methods, cash balance and 401(k) plan design coordination.
• Work with our Onboarding team to facilitate obtaining required client data and follow-up on missing items.
• Send service agreements to trustees via DocuSign, monitor completion, and maintain organized client records.
• Communicate effectively across internal departments including Sales, Documents, Onboarding and Relationship Management Teams.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in the retirement plan industry, preferably in defined contribution administration and/or Third-Party Administration (TPA) consulting.
• Strong experience working with: 401(k) and 403(b) Plans, Profit Sharing, Cash Balance and Defined Benefit Plans, PEPs, MEPs and/or Groups of Plans.
• Proven ability to work directly with clients, advisors, and recordkeepers in a consultative capacity.
• Experience interpreting plan documents and applying ERISA, IRS, and DOL guidance.
• Prior experience with plan compliance testing, corrections, and plan design analysis.

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• ASPPA, NIPA, ERPA, or similar retirement plan credentials preferred (or willingness to obtain).

Skills and Competencies

• Strong consultative and relationship-management skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to simplify complex retirement plan concepts for clients and advisors.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
• Professional, positive, and client-focused demeanor.
• Must be able to provide and maintain a distraction-free work environment, a professional workspace, and reliable high-speed internet connection.

Preferred

• QKA, QKC, or other ASPPA credentials (or progress toward certification).
• Experience with FT William document software.
• Experience working with various recordkeeping platforms.