RESEARCH | October 12, 2018 2018 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey Reported by PLANADVISER | Art by Muhammad Mustafa Providers Navigation StorySurvey DataTop Criteria Used to Decide Which Funds Are Appropriate for PlansTop 20 Fund Families Preferred by Plan Advisers*Mutual Funds Advisers Most Often Recommend to Plan Sponsors (168 advisers voting; 773 total votes)Top Criteria Used to Decide Which Recordkeepers Are Appropriate for Plans Top-Rated Investment Firms (150 advisers voting)Top-Rated Defined Contribution Plan ProvidersRetirement Plan Adviser Experience With vs. Perception of Plan Providers*ProvidersADP Retirement ServicesAmerican Funds DistributorsAscensusBank of America Merrill LynchCharles SchwabEmpower RetirementFidelity InvestmentsJohn Hancock Retirement Plan ServicesLincoln Financial GroupMassMutual Financial GroupNationwide FinancialNewport GroupOneAmericaPaychexPrincipal Financial GroupPrudential RetirementThe StandardTIAATransamerica Retirement SolutionsT. Rowe PriceVanguardVoya 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 SchwabEmpower RetirementFidelity InvestmentsJohn Hancock Retirement Plan ServicesLincoln Financial GroupMassMutual Financial GroupNationwide FinancialNewport GroupOneAmericaPaychexPrincipal Financial GroupPrudential RetirementThe StandardTIAATransamerica Retirement SolutionsT. Rowe PriceVanguardVoya FinancialWells Fargo & Co.