Director of Retirement Plan Services

Allworth Financial (www.allworthfinancial.com) is an independent investment financial advisory firm that specializes in retirement planning, investment advising, and 401(k) management with a direct approach to financial planning. Allworth Financial delivers long- and short-term investment planning solutions and advice to help clients achieve their goals and plan strategically for retirement.

Allworth Financial is a high growth, private equity backed, multi branch Registered Investment Advisor. Founded in Sacramento, California, in 1993 Allworth is primarily a fee-based, employee-centric fiduciary advisory firm, that prides itself on emphasizing client well-being and education. The business is a multi-billion dollar firm and is on track for continued growth through both acquisitions and strong organic growth. Allworth is considered a great place to work and was once again given the prestigious “Circle of Excellence” award by the National Business Research Institute for employee and client satisfaction in 2021, placing it among the best-loved brands in America. Allworth Financial was also recognized as a Barron's Top 40 RIA in 2024.

SUMMARY:

Allworth’s Retirement Plan Services (RPS) business partners with plan sponsors to design, improve, and govern employer-sponsored retirement programs, including 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit, and non-qualified plans, while helping participants make confident decisions.

The Director of RPS  is responsible for stabilizing, leading, and optimizing the established RPS business line while serving as a key partner to advisors delivering retirement plan solutions to their clients.This role is primarily focused on protecting and enhancing an existing business by creating structure, accountability, and consistency across a function that has operated without consistent leadership. This includes establishing operating rhythm, clear ownership, and performance visibility, and disciplined execution against business goals.

In addition, this role will support growth by enabling advisors to win and expand retirement plan relationships through strong plan design, RFP support, and consistent execution, helping improve conversion, retention, and overall performance of the RPS business.

This leader will ensure strong execution against business targets by:

• Effectively managing and retaining the current book of business
• Supporting advisors in winning and servicing retirement plans
• Providing leadership and direction to a small internal RPS team
• Bringing discipline and clarity to a function operating without a defined strategy

This is a critical role in protecting an important revenue stream for the firm and ensuring RPS effectively supports broader advisor-driven growth.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

 

RPS Business Leadership & Execution

• Provide leadership and direction to the RPS function, establishing clarity in priorities, roles, and expectations
• Own execution against the RPS annual growth goal ensuring accountability, clear tracking, forecasting and intervention when performance is off-track.
• Bring structure and discipline to a function that currently lacks defined strategy and operating rhythm
• Monitor performance and proactively address gaps to ensure targets are met

Advisor Support & Plan Growth Enablement

• Partner closely with advisors to support retirement plan opportunities, including RFPs, plan design, and positioning
• Serve as a subject matter expert to help advisors win and retain retirement plan business
• Ensure RPS is effectively integrated into the advisor workflow as a support function
• Improve consistency and quality of proposal and client-facing materials

Client & Plan Management

• Oversee management of approximately $1B in retirement plan assets across ~200 plans
• Ensure high-quality servicing, governance, and client experience across all plans
• Drive retention of existing plans through proactive engagement and service delivery
• Standardize service models and expectations across clients

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a small team (relationship managers and administrative support)
• Operate as a player-coach—willing to engage directly in plan support, advisor enablement, and client situations when needed
• Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and accountability standards
• Provide coaching and day-to-day leadership to improve team effectiveness
• Ensure appropriate resource allocation to support advisor needs and client demands

Operational Discipline & Process Improvement

• Implement consistent processes for plan management, advisor support, and internal coordination
• Improve efficiency and clarity in how work flows through the RPS function
• Identify and address operational gaps impacting performance or client experience

Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to ERISA, DOL, and IRS requirements in partnership with Compliance and Legal
• Maintain strong fiduciary standards, documentation practices, and governance processes

 

REQUIREMENTS: 

• 10+ years in retirement plan services, institutional consulting, or related field
• Experience managing and servicing retirement plan business (not solely sales-focused roles)
• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams and drive execution in under-structured environments
• Proven ability to step into under-structured environments and create clarity, process, and accountability
• Experience working in advisor-led or distributed sales models (preferred)
• Strong understanding of ERISA, fiduciary standards, and plan governance
• Ability to partner effectively with advisors and act as a technical expert in retirement plans
• Strong organizational and execution skills; able to bring structure and discipline to ambiguous situations
• AIF / AIFA, CPFA, CEBS, CFA, CFP, or comparable retirement/benefits designations (Preferred)

 

Success Profile

What Success Looks Like in 6–12 Months

Business Performance

• RPS meets or exceeds ~$175M annual objective
• Clear visibility into pipeline, plan retention, and performance drivers

Stability & Structure

• Defined operating rhythm (reporting, pipeline reviews, advisor engagement)
• Clear roles and accountability across the RPS team
• Reduced dependency on ad hoc or reactive work

Advisor Enablement

• Advisors consistently engage RPS earlier and more effectively
• Improved win rates and quality of plan proposals
• RPS is seen as a value-add partner—not an administrative function

Client Retention & Experience

• Strong retention across ~200 plans
• Consistent service model and client experience
• Fewer escalations or service gaps

Team Effectiveness

• Team operates with clarity, ownership, and improved output
• Leader successfully balances coaching with execution

 

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Operator first, strategist second
• Comfortable in ambiguity; creates structure quickly
• Strong retirement plan expertise (ERISA, fiduciary, plan design)
• Collaborative and advisor-friendly (not territorial or sales-driven)
• Willing to be hands-on and solve problems directly
• Brings calm, disciplined leadership to an under-defined environment

 

 

 The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job.  Typical reporting relationships are described, but actual relationships may vary in some instances.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or knowledge required of personnel classified in this job.

 

 

 

 

BENEFITS

We value our associates’ time and effort. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive base pay and an extensive benefits package, including:

• Medical: Blue Shield (PPOs and HDHP with HSA) plans and Kaiser (HMO) plans for California associates
• Dental insurance with MetLife
• Vision insurance with VSP
• Optional supplemental benefits
• Healthcare savings accounts with company contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous 401K contributions 
• Exempt associates qualify for our flexible paid time off policy
• Non-Exempt associates will receive 15 days of paid time off annually during the first three years of employment
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Option to participate in our Equity Purchase Program (Contract, intern, and part-time employees are not eligible)
• Future growth opportunities within the company

In addition, we work to maintain the best possible environment for our associates, where people can learn and grow with the firm. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning and culture.

Benefits are available to full-time associates who work more than 30 hours a week.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. Typical reporting relationships are described, but actual relationships may vary in some instances. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or knowledge required of personnel classified in this job.

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