RESEARCH | September 26, 2016 2016 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey Advisers assess investment managers and recordkeepers Reported by PLANADVISER | Art by David Jien Providers Navigation StorySurvey DataTop 20 fund families preferred by plan advisers*Top criteria used in deciding which recordkeepers are appropriate for plan sponsor clients (360 responses)Top-Rated Investment Firms (290 advisers voting)Mutual funds most recommended by advisers for plan sponsors (286 advisers voting; 1,214 total votes)Top-Rated Defined Contribution (DC) ProvidersRetirement Plan Adviser Experience vs. Perception of Plan Providers*Top criteria used to decide which funds are appropriate for plansProvidersADP Retirement ServicesAmerican Funds DistributorsAscensusBank of America Merrill LynchCharles SchwabCUNA Mutual GroupEmpower RetirementFidelity InvestmentsJohn Hancock Retirement Plan ServicesLincoln FinancialMassMutual Financial GroupMilliman, Inc.Nationwide FinancialNewport GroupOneAmericaPaychexPrincipal Financial GroupPrudential RetirementSecurian Financial Group, Inc.The StandardTIAATransamerica Retirement SolutionsT. Rowe PriceVALICVanguardVoya FinancialWells Fargo & Co.Methodology Select a year 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 PURCHASE REPRINTWANT MORE INFO? Providers List of ProvidersADP Retirement ServicesAmerican Funds DistributorsAscensusBank of America Merrill LynchCharles SchwabCUNA Mutual GroupEmpower RetirementFidelity InvestmentsJohn Hancock Retirement Plan ServicesLincoln FinancialMassMutual Financial GroupMilliman, Inc.Nationwide FinancialNewport GroupOneAmericaPaychexPrincipal Financial GroupPrudential RetirementSecurian Financial Group, Inc.The StandardTIAATransamerica Retirement SolutionsT. Rowe PriceVALICVanguardVoya FinancialWells Fargo & Co.