Retirement Plan Consultant

Retirement Plan Consultant

Founded in 2015, Shepherd Financial is an independent firm, utilizing a thorough and highly efficient team approach to retirement plan consulting and wealth management. Our mission is helping people and companies thrive through empowered financial solutions. Our vision is to grow in a meaningful way, becoming a nationally recognized name as a trusted financial partner and industry leader.

Established in 2023, Shepherd Plan Partners is our most recent service expansion, created to enhance the quality of care we provide to our unbundled retirement plan clients. Shepherd Plan Partners is a third-party administration (TPA) firm specializing in the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of employer-sponsored retirement plans. We provide expert support in plan document preparation, compliance testing, contribution calculations, and government filings. Our team works closely with plan sponsors, financial advisors, and recordkeepers to ensure plans remain compliant, efficient, and aligned with organizational goals. With a focus on accuracy, responsiveness, and strategic guidance, Shepherd Plan Partners adds value by helping employers manage plan complexity and deliver a high-quality retirement benefit to their employees.

While we are proud of the work we do, it is clearly fueled by the team we have built. It is evident our team structure and environment set us apart in this industry. Each team member is invested in the well-being of others, offering support and assistance in any way possible. We genuinely care for one another, and that ultimately extends to every client we serve.

Our Core Values

• Integrity: We thoughtfully serve our clients and one another with trusted, dedicated, and highly responsive care.
• Service: We regularly and generously share our time, expertise, and money to positively impact the well-being of our clients, community, and one another.
• Empathy: We genuinely value people, honor their unique experiences and capabilities, and create inclusive, collaborative environments.
• Innovation: We are engaged and passionately curious, generating creative and flexible solutions for our clients and team.
• Quality: We provide consistent service and resources, offering unmatched value and accountability to our clients and the financial industry.
• Growth: We intentionally seek opportunities to learn, develop, and flourish, emphasizing individual and team health.

Position Description

The Retirement Plan Consultant helps promote organizational growth through the delivery of exceptional, timely support to our clients. The ability to work independently is essential to your success in this role. This position requires a strong work ethic with high levels of self-motivation, enthusiasm, professionalism, and integrity. You will need strong organizational skills to produce work quickly and efficiently while maintaining an acute focus on detail and excellence.

Core Responsibilities

Client Support

• Act as the single point of contact for employers, plan sponsors, and financial professionals for their accounts
• Provide superior client service with minimal inconvenience to clients through timely problem solving and issue resolution
• Coordinate with all applicable parties, both internal and external, to ensure an accurate conversion process for new clients
• Serve as a resource to plan sponsors and financial professionals for matters related to ERISA compliance, plan design, and governmental reporting
• Use understanding of plan design to assist with plan operations and document updates
• Provide effective verbal and written communications in a clear, concise, and informative manner
• Assist clients with all initial and ongoing plan design and document support, including helping them understand their responsibilities in meeting IRS and DOL regulations and deadlines necessary for qualified retirement plans
• Assist clients with service and IRS plan terminations
• Conduct all aspects of valuation reports and annual testing, including ADP/ACP, Top Heavy, 410(b), 415, 401(a)(4), Deductibility, and 402(g)
• Review or prepare Form 5500 and coordinate with plan sponsor to ensure timely filing
• Assist IRS and DOL auditors if the plan is subject to an IRS or DOL audit
• Review distribution paperwork and coordinate processing of distributions with asset holder
• Review loan paperwork and coordinate processing of loans with asset holder

Internal Shepherd Plan Partners Support

• Act as subject matter expert for FT William, our third party administrator software
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of present legislation and proposed legislative changes with regard to ERISA law through self-study and company-sponsored training sessions
• Serve as the retirement plan expert on testing, Form 5500s, loans, and distributions
• Assist with additional tasks and projects as assigned
• Protect, secure, and properly handle all confidential data held by Shepherd Plan Partners to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Shepherd Plan Partners or our clients

Position Expectations

• Three or more years of ERISA experience within the retirement industry
• Experience in analysis of financial data
• An advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Acute analytical and problem solving skills
• High attention to detail
• The abilities to prioritize, manage tasks, and meet deadlines in connection with business operations, including related ERISA compliance matters
• Compliance with Shepherd Financial's internal policies
• Return or acknowledge emails and phone calls from clients within 24 hours
• Document all client interactions in Redtail within 24 hours
• Enter all follow-up items in the appropriate Redtail workflow within 72 hours of the client meeting, as applicable
• This position is fully remote, but onsite attendance at various team events throughout the year is expected

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary plus incentive-based salary enhancement for new annualized recurring revenue from either retirement plans or wealth management referrals
• Discretionary year-end performance bonus
• Paid time off (Holidays, PTO, Volunteer days), 401(k) match, and medical, term life, and disability insurance
• Additional benefit options: dental, vision, voluntary life, critical illness and accident, LifeLock
• Financial support for professional accreditation/license fees and continuing education