Plan Member Services - Planning your future...today.

Advisor FAQs

Is PlanMember owned by a large corporation, or is PlanMember truly independent? For more than two decades PlanMember has been independently owned and a completely independent broker/dealer. We are not owned by an insurance company or other type of corporation.

I am an independent rep and want to remain independent. Can I when I join the team of a PlanMember Financial Center? When you join PlanMember, you will always retain complete ownership of your book of business and have control over your clients.

What is PlanMember's focus? PlanMember has a retirement planning focus, and expertise in qualified retirement plan business, including 403(b), 401(k), 457, IRA, SEP and SIMPLE plans. We also provide a complete spectrum of investment products and solutions, including mutual funds and fixed accounts.

How many reps and employees does PlanMember have? We have a growing team of nearly 400 reps and 100 home office employees, for an employee/rep ratio of about 4/1. PlanMember Financial Centers are currently operating across the country and more are planned.

Why should I consider a fee-based business model? By converting from commission to a primarily fee-based/managed platform, PlanMember reps that have embraced PlanMember's approach find they work less and earn more. PlanMember's fee-based platform of products allows you more time to nurture your existing client relationships and cultivate new ones because you no longer deal with the daily responsibilities of asset management. Imagine knowing in January what your income will be for the entire year. A fee-based practice allows for the assurance of timely income that a commission-based practice cannot. Having a steady stream of income is one of the most powerful reasons to consider moving to a fee-based practice with PlanMember.

I've heard transition horror stories. Why will mine be different with PlanMember? Experienced transition and business conversion teams will get you and your business up and running quickly. Our goal is to have at least 90% of your business moved within 60 days of your broker/dealer change. We understand that every rep and every transition is unique. Your transition will be tailored to you, your business and clients. If and when we encounter challenges, they are handled professionally and efficiently.

How do I convert my business from commission to fee-based? PlanMember offers and administers a proven business conversion program as part of your transition that will move existing clients from non-managed to managed accounts, including out-of-surrender fixed annuity business.

Tell me about PlanMember's payouts. PlanMember offers the competitive securities payouts you expect, commensurate with the growth of your practice and with no haircut on fixed business, including fixed index annuities.

Does PlanMember have a toll-free Service Center? Yes. Our Service Center is staffed with securities licensed professionals to support you and your clients by directly handling client inquiries. You are notified when your clients contact the service center in order to keep you in the loop while we do the work of answering their questions. This support is unique to the industry.

Does PlanMember help reps navigate compliance issues related to marketing? Co-branded and personalized with your business information, our proprietary marketing programs are turnkey and easy to use because they have been pre-approved by compliance.

What kind of sales support do reps get? Experienced Business Development Specialists provide comprehensive and detailed training for all new reps and their staff. The training covers every aspect of doing business with PlanMember, from processes to products, compliance to commission, technology to tactics. And every rep is assigned a Business Development Specialist that is available to help develop business strategy, share best practices and provide sales and marketing support.

Do reps have access to PlanMember's investment professionals? Not only reps, but even clients have access to PlanMember's investment team who oversee more than $1.5 billion in PlanMember participant assets.

Will I have a website, and how much will it cost? Every rep is provided at no coast a co-branded website for clients and prospects that features their personalized professional information, photo and contact information. More dynamic and user friendly than most sites in the industry, your co-branded site is the only place your prospects and clients need to go for information about you, their investment options and other services. Secure account access for clients and helpful retirement planning and lifestyle information are just some of the features available, and we're constantly adding new content to keep your site fresh.

Is there an incentive plan for reps? PlanMember offers trips to desirable national and international locations for top producers and regularly holds national and regional sales conferences. Performing reps can earn PlanMember Bucks that can be used toward conference attendance and marketing campaigns.

What about health benefits? Group health, dental and vision plans are available to all PlanMember representatives with no pre-existing condition restrictions.

Does PlanMember have a retirement and exit strategy for reps? Our innovative rep retirement strategy is the most generous in the industry. We provide up to a 75% annual payout of your book's residual income upon your retirement, with payouts up to 20 years after retirement, disability or death, including the ability to transfer to your beneficiaries. And, you vest immediately.