Fiduciary Oversight for Plans Record-Kept on the Empower Platform

Empower is a national 401(k) recordkeeper and retirement plan platform. As with any platform-based solution, plan outcomes depend on how the plan is designed, priced, governed, and monitored over time.

An Empower 401(k) plan review is designed for plan sponsors and fiduciaries who want an objective assessment of how their plan is functioning today, and whether common issues have emerged as the plan has evolved.

At Holland Capital Management, we review Empower-based plans through a fiduciary lens, focusing on structure, oversight, and decision-making rather than unnecessary provider replacement.

This service may be appropriate if you:

  • Oversee a 401(k) plan record-kept by Empower
  • Are unsure whether the plan remains competitive or cost-effective
  • Have received participant questions or concerns
  • Want an independent fiduciary perspective on your current plan

What an Empower Plan Review Covers

This engagement focuses on evaluating how your plan operates within the Empower platform, including:

  • Plan design and investment structure
  • Fee arrangements and cost transparency
  • Fiduciary roles, delegation, and documentation
  • Participant experience and plan usability
  • Alignment between plan design and organizational objectives

 

Empower serves as the recordkeeper. Our role is to assess how the plan has been implemented and maintained on that platform.

Common Issues Identified in Empower-Based Plans

Plan sponsors often request a review due to concerns such as:

  • Legacy pricing that no longer reflects plan size or complexity
  • Investment menus that have not been reviewed in years
  • Unclear fiduciary delegation or documentation gaps
  • Plan growth that has outpaced original pricing assumptions

In many cases, these issues can be addressed without changing platforms or disrupting participants.

Our Fiduciary Approach

Holland Capital Management operates under a fiduciary standard. This means:

  • Guidance is provided in the best interest of the plan and its participants, consistent with our fiduciary obligations
  • Compensation is transparent
  • No proprietary platforms or recordkeeping incentives
  • Analysis comes before any discussion of potential changes

The objective is clarity and fiduciary defensibility, not disruption.

Who This Is Typically For

Empower plan reviews are commonly used by:

  • Business owners and plan sponsors
  • Retirement plan committees
  • Executives with named fiduciary responsibility
  • Organizations preparing for benchmarking or audit review

You do not need to change recordkeepers or service providers to engage this service.

What the Process Looks Like

  • Introductory conversation to understand the plan context
  • Review of the Empower plan documents and disclosures
  • Evaluation of plan structure, fees, and fiduciary considerations
  • Discussion outlining observations and potential next steps

There is no obligation to implement any recommendation.

How This Leads to More Targeted Reviews

Depending on what is identified, this review may lead to a more focused evaluation, such as:

Each issue can be addressed individually and deliberately.

Can Holland Capital Management Help You Achieve Your Goals?  Schedule a complimentary, no-obligation second opinion. 

 

Let’s Talk 

Locations Where Empower 401(k) Plan Reviews Are Offered

Holland Capital Management provides Empower 401(k) plan reviews to clients in the following cities and regions:

Empower 401k Plan Quality for Medical Practices

Empower 401k Plan Quality

Getting Started

If you oversee an Empower-record-kept 401(k) plan and want an objective fiduciary review, the first step is a brief conversation to determine whether this service is appropriate for your situation.