Compliance
Approved Legal Documents
GBA Retirement Services’ Master Plan Documents have received IRS approval which allows GBA members to sponsor a qualified plan under a master arrangement with confidence.
Plan Design Assistance
An important part of sponsoring a successful retirement plan is establishing and maintaining a well-designed plan. GBARS will help its members design a plan that is fitting for the company’s needs while also considering the opportunity for success for the participants of the plan.
Plan Document Preparation
Plan document preparation is a service that is often billed additionally; however, GBARS offers this as a free service to its members. We will not bill for plan document preparation which includes plan establishment, plan amendments, and board resolutions.
Education
Financial Planning Sessions
GBARS offers a personal financial planning session through a technology provided by our trusted partners at American Trust called the UnifiedPlan. The UnifiedPlan takes several factors into consideration and helps make a plan for all retirement plan participants.
Investment Education
GBARS provides investment education for all plan sponsors on an annual basis. We take this opportunity to inform participants of investment strategy options, changes from the previous year and an outlook of what the future may look like.
HR Training
GBARS hosts an annual Human Resources Training Seminar. At these seminars we review current requirements in retirement plan administration and address important issues such as fiduciary duties of plan sponsors, forms and procedures, testing, year-end data requirements, investment overview, legal updates, and safe harbor and plan design options.
Fiduciary and Fees
Lower Negotiated Service Provider Fees
Being part of a Master Arrangement allows for a plan sponsor to share in a larger pool of plan assets that lowers investment and administrative fees for all plan sponsors. This allows smaller companies to take advantage of an exceptional program that they may not otherwise have access to.
Low-Cost Investment Class
Again, due to a large pool of plan assets, our investment managers at American Trust can purchase low cost investment funds that others would not have access to. GBARS currently offers a low-cost institutional share class fund lineup.
3(38) Fiduciary and Investment Advisor
American Trust Company acts as a 3(38) discretionary trustee. This means that American Trust alone is responsible for choosing the investments and managing their Unified Plan and model portfolios. This offers significant protection in today’s litigious market.