Pontera Launches 401(k) Guidance Tool for Advisors, Offering September Alternative to Direct Account Control
Updated
Updated · Wealth Management · Aug 19
Pontera Launches 401(k) Guidance Tool for Advisors, Offering September Alternative to Direct Account Control
3 articles · Updated · Wealth Management · Aug 19
Summary
September will bring Pontera’s new non-discretionary 401(k) advice service, letting advisors view held-away retirement accounts and recommend allocation changes without directly executing trades.
Advisors using the tool cannot access client credentials, withdraw funds, make contributions or change beneficiaries; participants instead follow guided workflows tied to advisor recommendations.
Pontera says the launch answers demand from advisors and savers who want more control, while preserving its existing discretionary model for clients who prefer advisors to implement decisions.
The rollout lands after Fidelity—administrator of $17.9 trillion in workplace retirement assets—moved in 2024 to curb credential-sharing systems, though Pontera says the product is not a response to that dispute.
One industry executive called the shift a "white flag" in Pontera’s fight for direct account access, while the company said it remains open to working with record keepers through APIs or custom integrations.