This year our finalists have been selected among four categories, based on the size of their offices. Advisers could choose to be judged as an individual or were segmented into one of three team sizes (small, large and mega) based on the size of the practice. If a practice has 10 people or less (including advisers and support staff) it is small, 11-25 people is considered a large team, and more than 25 people is categorized as a mega team.

However, regardless of the changes to the categories, one thing remains the same: Our judges look for advisers that represent the best service to plan sponsors and their participants. Retirement Plan Advisers of the Year are not necessarily those with the most plans or assets under advisement (AUA). They are advisers who are doing their part to improve Americans’ retirement readiness.

This year, to be eligible to be a finalist, advisers had to meet the following minimum criteria: having a majority of business revenue derived from employer-sponsored retirement plans, serving as a fiduciary, being committed to fee-based compensation and using outcome-based metrics of plan success with clients.

We are pleased to showcase the very best practices from the nation’s very best advisers and adviser teams, who—by their example—help set new standards for excellence in working with and advising workplace retirement plans.