Third Quarter 2026 Review and Fourth Quarter 2026 Economic and Market Outlook
Defined Benefit Plans
Comprehensive advice for whatever stage your plan is at—active, frozen, or terminating
Navigating the Complexities of Pension Plans
You face a myriad of challenges as the administrator of your company’s defined benefit plan— funding liabilities, shifting regulations, escalating costs, and longer life expectancies, just to name a few. Addressing these challenges is essential for minimizing the impact on your company’s financials.
Our defined benefit plan advisors understand the intricacies of managing active, frozen, and terminating plans, and work closely with you to develop a course of action to mitigate risk, reduce costs, and drive better results.
- Plan diagnostic and goals assessment
- Investment policy statement development
- Comprehensive portfolio management services
- Risk transfer consulting and portfolio de-risking strategies
- Funding monitoring and gap analysis
- Plan termination analysis
- Vendor searches, evaluation, monitoring, and benchmarking
Increased Fiduciary Protection
We can serve as your Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) , 3(21) co-fiduciary, or 3(38) fiduciary investment manager, assuming some or all of the responsibility for selecting and monitoring your plan’s investments. We’ll help you determine which level of delegation is right for you based on your plan committee’s investment knowledge, preferred involvement, and risk exposure.
Streamlined Execution and Coordination
Our finance, HR, and benefits teams have many responsibilities as they take care of the company and its employees. We coordinate and help execute all the investment and administrative tasks related to your defined benefit plan—giving them more time for their other priorities.
Cost Efficiencies
Between the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums, investment fees, and third-party vendors, the cost to maintain your defined benefit plan can quickly add up. Our defined benefit plan consultants analyze your current fee structure to identify cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing value. These cost reductions can decrease the time it takes to fully fund or terminate your plan, potentially saving years in plan administration.
We work with open, closed, and frozen pension plans of all sizes and complexity. Even if your plan is fully funded and on its way to being terminated, there are many chances for missteps that can cost time and money, if you don’t understand all your options."Steve Malbasa, Partner
Explore all of our Retirement Plan Consulting services
Defined Benefit Plans >
Our retirement plan consultants understand the intricacies of managing active, frozen, and terminating defined benefit plans. They work closely with you to develop a course of action to mitigate risk, reduce costs, and drive better results.
Defined Contribution Services >
With increasing attention focused on fiduciary roles and responsibilities, maintaining a sound retirement plan is more important than ever before. We help you measure five critical dimensions of plan success to increase your plan’s effectiveness and the retirement readiness of your employees.
Nonqualified Plan Management >
We work with your board of directors, HR, and executive compensation teams to develop powerful nonqualified plan solutions that positively impact your recruitment, retention, and bottom line.
The Cerity Partners Pooled Employer Plan >
A retirement plan benefit, without the retirement plan hassle. Provide a retirement plan benefit for your employees, that also makes sense for your business.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans >
Implementing and growing successful ESOPs that drive employee engagement through an active ownership culture.
We believe in people, encourage diverse perspectives, and foster a culture of excellence.
Projecting Wealth Across Generations
October 9, 2026 — The families whose wealth does last aren’t simply lucky, and they aren’t necessarily better investors. They tend to do a handful of things differently, in a fairly predictable order, and very few of those things are primarily about the money.
Diversification Strategies for AI Concentration Across Asset Classes
October 8, 2026 — AI-linked companies now represent roughly half of S&P 500 market capitalization. And the concentration doesn’t stop at the technology sector.
What makes a great financial advisor?
October 8, 2026 — In this video, Chris Cook describes what makes a great financial advisor, focusing on the human side of the relationship. Great advice is rooted in deep, enduring personal relationships and a focus on the client's whole life and the people in it, not just their wealth.
