Looking for a way to scale your business? Most advisors build their retirement portfolio one plan at a time. When you introduce a 401GO Syndicate™ to an organization, such as a business association, chamber of commerce, PEO or franchise group, you open the door to dozens of businesses at once.
Never heard of 401GO’s Syndicate™? That is because it is a unique, one-of-a-kind program that allows you to group loosely related businesses together, resulting in better pricing while keeping flexibility intact. Gone are the days of chasing each retirement plan individually. Now, you can access an entire client base at once.
What is a Syndicate?
A 401(k) Syndicate™ offers a new approach, a modern alternative to traditional group retirement plans. It maintains the structure of a group offering while allowing employers to support their own plan.
While Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) and 401GO’s Syndicate both aim to reduce barriers for small businesses offering retirement benefits, the structure behind each is very different. A PEP consolidates multiple employers into a single pooled plan, with one trust, one Form 5500 filing, and a central fiduciary. That efficiency comes with tradeoffs: every adopting employer must conform to the same plan design rules, and it can be complicated if an employer later wants to leave the arrangement.
By contrast, Syndicate keeps each employer’s 401(k) plan distinct but bundles them together for shared pricing, streamlined administration, and fiduciary support. This means advisors can offer clients the benefits of scale without forcing them into a one-size-fits-all plan. Employers maintain flexibility to customize eligibility, matches, and vesting schedules, while still enjoying the ease of modern recordkeeping and compliance technology.
For advisors, the key distinction is that Syndicate preserves the advisor’s role and deepens the client relationship. Unlike some PEP structures, where the pooled provider may take center stage, Syndicate ensures that each employer’s plan remains tailored, portable, and advisor-driven — giving you more flexibility to serve your clients’ unique needs while still delivering efficiency at scale.
The Benefits of a Syndicate
A Syndicate combines group buying power with the flexibility of individual plans. Unlike traditional group plans, businesses in a Syndicate are not tied together to create shared fiduciary responsibilities. Each employer maintains their own plan, meaning separate fiduciary responsibility to avoid potential conflicts between members.
For employers with 100 or more employees, one of the biggest administrative burdens is the requirement for an independent plan audit, which can cost thousands of dollars each year. A PEP eliminates that expense by consolidating all adopting employers into a single plan with one audit, dramatically reducing costs for larger groups. For smaller employers, however, audits aren’t required until they cross that 100-participant threshold — so the audit savings of a PEP don’t apply. In those cases, Syndicate is the better fit: it delivers scale and efficiency benefits without the restrictions of a pooled plan, while giving small businesses the flexibility to customize their plan design and keep costs low.
Companies that already work with a financial advisor don’t have to give up that relationship to participate. In fact, Syndicates open the door to new potential clients as connected organizations share a plan.
Organizations that sponsor a Syndicate also have the option to co-brand the platform. This provides members with a cohesive experience and gives the sponsoring organization extra visibility and credibility.
Why This Matters
Access to retirement benefits is a key factor in helping small businesses attract and retain talent. Yet for many the hurdles of cost and complexity are simply too high.
A 401(k) Syndicate™ provides a unique solution. By combining 401GO’s automation, affordability, and flexibility, it opens the door for more businesses to offer retirement plans without giving up the relationships that matter to them. As their advisor, you have the chance to provide additional services to elevate your offerings through the Syndicate program.
For employers, advisors, and beyond the Syndicate model offers a smarter, more practical approach to group retirement benefits. Contact us here to learn more.
