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July 13, 2003 at 08:00 PM
Half of U.S. small business owners who sponsor retirement plans say fiduciary and legal responsibilities are a top concern, but only one-fifth of the owners have consulted with professionals, switched plan providers or taken other steps in the past year to increase fiduciary oversight, according to results of a survey released by Nationwide Financial Services Inc., Columbus, Ohio.
Researchers from TechnoMetrica, Oradell, N.J., conducted the survey by polling 501 owners and operators of small businesses that were at least two years old, produced more than $100,000 in annual revenue and had a maximum of 50 employees.
Many of the owners were unaware that they hold primary fiduciary responsibility for their companies retirement plans, and fewer than half of the owners with 401(k) plans in place said they had set up a formal process for evaluating investment selections on a regular basis.
“Retirement plan education is a major and immediate need among small business owners that financial advisors can help fulfill,” said Michael Butler, senior vice president of NFS Distributors Inc., a division of Nationwide Financial.
“It can be a good way for financial advisors to demonstrate their expertise and service capabilities to prospects or clients.
“Many business owners are unaware of legal responsibilities, and are at risk both personally and professionally. The financial advisor who can help identify risk factors and help clients mitigate them can deepen relationships and potentially grow their business,” he added.
The survey, “Financial Advice Today: A Small Business Perspective,” found that the majority of small business owners cannot accurately answer basic questions about their retirement plan responsibilities, yet more than four in five owners say they are comfortable that they are meeting them.
