Partners

FA Associates works with some of the country's leading providers to the U.S. defined contribution marketplace, whose generous financial support makes the Fiduciary Awareness Seminar Series possible.  We share a common goal, which is to provide guidance to help businesses make more informed and better decisions about their 401(k) plans.

Financial Independence is one of metro Detroit’s most trusted financial management firms specializing in retirees, pre-retirees and business owners. We provide educational programs and customized, long term financial strategies to help individuals and business owners work toward achieving financial independence. Our commitment to the educational process helps to ensure our clients make informed decisions designed to reach their long-term financial goals, and move down the road toward financial independence.  For more information, please visit www.financial-independence.com.

Wilmington Trust’s Wealth Advisory Services (WAS) business offers a comprehensive array of personal trust, wealth planning, fiduciary, asset management, and family office services that help clients grow, preserve, and transfer wealth. WAS maintains 20 offices throughout the United States and serves families with whom it can build long-term relationships, including many that have lasted for several generations. Wilmington Trust Corporation (NYSE: WL) is a financial services holding company that provides Regional Banking services throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Wealth Advisory services to high-net-worth clients in 36 countries, and Corporate Client services to institutional clients in 89 countries. Its wholly owned bank subsidiary, Wilmington Trust Company, which was founded in 1903, is one of the largest personal trust providers in the United States and the leading retail and commercial bank in Delaware. Wilmington Trust Corporation and its affiliates have offices in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam. For more information, visit http://www.wilmingtontrust.com/.

Avatar Associates is a New York based, independent investment manager and asset allocator, specializing in risk reduction investment strategies. Since 1970, institutional and private clients have entrusted Avatar to help them participate in market advances and protect them against market losses. Avatar was founded by Ned Babbitt and his first associate, Marty Zweig, a noted investment leader of the day. They pioneered a number of now widely accepted investment disciplines -- Avatar's monetary research was summarized by the financial world as "Don't fight the Fed" and our respect for market information became known as "Don't fight the tape." Today Avatar, a leader in implementing asset allocation strategies with Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), works with institutions, wrap brokerage accounts, financial planners and advisors, and private clients. Avatar employs a quantitative, top-down, macro-economic model, refined qualitatively by a seasoned research and portfolio management team. For more information about Avatar Associates, please visit www.avatar-associates.com.

ePlan Services provides innovative solutions for the design, provision and management of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Our mission is to help our partners win new business and deepen their existing client relationships by focusing on effective retirement solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses. Our proprietary software applications have an unparalleled ability to provide cost-effective solutions, for both product sponsors and their employer clients. In addition, our unique suite of applications enables our partners to determine the appropriate level of outsourcing, from a bundled outsource solution to simple transaction management services. For more information about ePlan Services, please visit www.eplanservices.com.

Fiduciary Benchmarks, Inc. (FBi) is the industry’s leading provider of comprehensive qualitative and quantitative benchmarking for defined contribution plans. Founding partners include Tom Kmak, former CEO of JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services, Ron Eisen, President of Investment Management Consultants, and Olena Berg Lacy, former Assistant Secretary of Labor and currently Director and Senior Advisor for Financial Engines. For more information about FBi, please visit www.fiduciarybenchmarks.com.

Smart401k, LLC, is a web-based, independent investment adviser that is focused solely on providing unbiased advice and investing education to employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. Smart401k’s clients represent more than 5,000 different employer-sponsored retirement plans. The Smart401k investment advice service consists of three components: (1) Online Advice Access – Each employee has the opportunity to create an online account that will give them access to advice at their convenience. (2) Direct Access to Advisers – All employees have access to the Smart401k team of investment advisers by phone, email or live chat. Advisers will be prepared to answer questions regarding advice, the funds in plans and any general retirement questions your employees may have. (3) Ongoing Investor Education & Communications – Employees receive, at their discretion, retirement investing focused quarterly newsletters, monthly emails and blog posts. In addition, they will be able to read and interact with Smart401k “Insight” articles, retirement calculators and client discussion forums. For additional information, visit www.Smart401k.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Financial Independence, LLC and NPC are separate and unrelated companies.