Advisors & TPAs

Why work with NextStep?

When it comes to selecting a recordkeeping and solutions partner, hundreds of advisors and TPAs throughout country have chosen NextStep. Here’s why …

We’re independent.
As an independent recordkeeper, the services and solutions we provide are not limited, restricted and or influenced by mutual fund companies, broker/dealers, or other financial institutions. We work closely with advisors and TPAs to deliver solutions that make sense for their clients.

We have a national presence.
We provide service and support to nearly 1,400 plan sponsors throughout the country, so NextStep can support your needs wherever they might be.

We’re advisor-centric.
NextStep is a recordkeeper, not a registered investment advisor. Our services and solutions are “advisor-sold” – we never solicit plan sponsors directly and do not compete for advisory business. Within our business model, advisors are a key component to our success. As such we do everything we can to help them succeed in the defined contribution space.

We’re TPA-friendly.
NextStep is interested in partnering with local TPAs and regional TPA groups across the country in providing coordinated services for defined contribution clients.

We’re SAS 70 Type II certified.
The SAS 70 Type II certification specifies that NextStep has created and maintains a fully responsive, secure, reliable and effective operating environment – with proper controls and safeguards in place – to ensure the continuous delivery of high quality operations. These standards are an important consideration for any organization working with a service provider responsible for hosting or processing a client’s financial data.

We offer a “zero alpha” alternative.
NextStep empowers and supports advisors and TPAs who wish to offer their DC clients an investment alternative beyond the traditional mutual fund approach. We offer a compelling “zero alpha” solution that promotes transparency and addresses excessive investment costs while providing access to high quality investment options such as enhanced index funds, traditional index funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

We use leading-edge technology.
NextStep maintains a partnership with Sungard/Relius, one of the world’s leading software and IT services companies. Today, Sungard systems process over 30 million retirement accounts, and its Relius ASP platform serves more than 1 million retirement plan participants. So as a NextStep partner, you get the very best the industry has to offer in terms of security, stability, compliance, functionality and content.

We offer a true open architecture platform.
NextStep’s open architecture approach provides access to thousands of mutual fund options that can be used in constructing a plan’s investment menu, and never limits you to only those offered by a single source fund family or an insurance company. As a result, advisors and TPAs can virtually choose from the universe of fund options, including institutional class funds, high quality index and enhanced index funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

We provide key tools and resources.
NextStep provides a suite of tools and resources that helps advisors and TPAs simplify their workload and enhance the value they provide to plan sponsor clients and participants. With round-the-clock access to accounts via the web, online plan management and modeling tools, and detailed reporting capabilities, the NextStep offering is a compelling choice.

We deliver high-quality customer service and support.
Providing quality customer service is a key component of NextStep’s mission. As a NextStep partner, advisors and TPAs are assigned a Client Services Specialist that manages your day-to-day needs and requests.

To learn more about NextStep’s recordkeeping services and solutions, please call 888-913-3600 or send an email to sales@nextstepdc.com.