Pontera unveils 401(k) mega-partnership with Stifel

The collaboration will let over 2,400 advisors manage retirement plan assets for more than 200,000 clients across the wealth giant’s enterprise.

Pontera, a fintech firm specializing in retirement account management, has just secured a massive chunk of business through a newly announced collaboration with Stifel.

Under the strategic partnership, revealed at Stifel’s annual Blueprint 2024 conference in Las Vegas, more than 2,400 advisors at the firm will use the platform to manage 401(k) advisory services for over 200,000 clients.

During a mainstage presentation, Ron Kruszewski, chairman and chief executive of Stifel, emphasized the transformative impact of the new service.

“When clients turn to their advisor for investment advice, they’re looking for help managing all of their assets — not just some,” Kruszewski said in a statement.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Pontera and help our advisors answer this call for help by giving them tools to securely and efficiently manage their clients’ workplace retirement accounts,” he said.

Aside from being ISO 27001-certified, Pontera’s platform has earned a valuable cybersecurity seal of approval with its SOC 2 Type II certification.

While it’s uncharted territory for a large proportion of the wealth industry, the 401(k) space offers a substantial opportunity for advisors, with one Bank of America report showing a double digit-percentage increase in the average 401(k) account balance last year. Citing the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, Pontera says that out of all available retirement accounts, the 401(k) is the most popular vehicle for working individuals.

This partnership significantly expands Pontera’s reach in the retirement planning sector, connecting its platform with Stifel’s existing advisor-driven technology stack. Currently, the firm’s enterprise tech ecosystem includes Addepar, a holistic performance reporting solution, and Salesforce CRM, which offers streamlined client-account visibility.

“Americans need and want professional help managing their 401(k)s and other workplace retirement accounts,” said David Goldman, chief business officer at Pontera, who emphasized the platform’s ability to help people “optimize their hard-earned savings and get the most of their retirement plan benefits.”

Pontera’s partnership with Stifel builds on its existing network of integrations, including an alliance with Ameritas it announced in April.