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401(k) Brief |
Our 401(k) plan is a sophisticated, easy to use tool for acquiring retirement savings at low cost and competitive returns. Our seventeen years of experience guides participant assets through the peaks and troughs and our ethics assure clients that their interests will always be paramount with us. The following features differentiate us from the competition.
Most plans offer an array of investments for participants, but we go farther. All we ask is that participants identify the risk level that is appropriate for their circumstances; we do the rest. Through Charles Schwab & Co., we construct participant accounts around four general risk themes, from aggressive to very conservative. Participants enjoy the benefits of professional management, secure in the knowledge that their money is working for them in a market-wise way. Remember, a retirement plan can be evaluated at retirement by one thing - account balance. It is investment return and the timing and amount of purchases that build balances.
With the Gaia 401(k) plan, you may use us exclusively as your investment manager or you may add us alongside your current vendor. Thus, professional management can be added to self-direction without a major change.
Our office facilitates plan installation, providing an interface with Retirement Essentials, our plan administrator. Retirement Essentials maintains the IRS approved plan document and sends participants quarterly statements.
We assist in the design process by giving employers the latest information to help choose the right features for them and their employees.
Since the Gaia 401(k) plan is non-exclusive, employers may add us to an existing plan by naming us as one or more investment options. Configured thus, the plan will offer self-direction and professional management under one design. In most cases, the NPIN plan document and administration must be used, as many vendor-based 401(k) plans do not allow for another vendor to work alongside.
Retirement Essentials fees are among the lowest available for high quality plan administration. Schwab charges no fee. Schwab makes its money from shareholder servicing fees. Our fee for plan design, administrative facilitation and investment management begins at just 1% per year on account balances and has break points with lower fees beginning at $100,000.
There are no commissions, hidden fees, surrender charges or any other fee not specifically mentioned in easy to read agreements.
Between 1997and 2001, our four risk strategies produced average annualized returns ranging from 13.2% to 18.9%. The most conservative strategy did not have a losing year. A table of historical performance is available on request.
Retirement Essentials mails participant statements quarterly. Our office mails the employer a quarterly report that shows returns for the four risk strategies and discusses events that impinged on results. We email these reports to participants, too, provided that the required email addresses are provided to us.
Gaia Capital Management considers it a privilege and responsibility to guide people's plans and dreams into manifestation through investment management. We use our seventeen years of experience to ferret out truth from fiction and to maintain balance between risk and reward.
Our vision and code of ethics keeps client interest paramount at all times. We cannot promise perfection, but we try to get as close as we can.
Please email jim.pursley@gaiacapital.com or call him at 800-395-6636 or 503-324-4040 in the Portland, OR metropolitan area. We will prepare a design specific to your needs.