NAPA Net - Polling Places 022219

Which Wholesalers Have Your Attention - and How Often?

This week, a NAPA-Net readers poses an intriguing question; “How often do you meet with DCIO & recordkeeper wholesalers? Who makes the cut?”

The reality is that those wholesalers meet with thousands of advisors per year, and they not only see – but have access to - some pretty cool stuff.

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* 1. How many wholesalers do you meet with in the course of a year?

5-10

10-15

1-5

None.

More than 15.

Any comments?

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* 2. What criteria, if any, do you use to decide which to meet with (check all that apply).

Schedule availability.

Which firm they represent.

Personal relationship with the wholesaler.

Compelling ask from wholesaler.

Something else (please specify)?

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* 3. Has that changed in the past two years?

Yes, because my practice has changed.

Yes, because the wholesaler support has changed.

Yes, because the wholesaler(s) has changed.

Not really.

Something else (please specify)?

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* 4. What kind of support do you get from your key wholesalers?

Market intel.

Product insights.

Prospect introductions.

Client support.

Marketing materials.

Something else (please specify)?

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* 5. How important are these wholesaler resources to your practice?

	Take it or leave it	Depends on the day	Six of one, half dozen of another	Appreciated more often than not.	Absolutely Essential
Market intel.	Market intel. Take it or leave it	Market intel. Depends on the day	Market intel. Six of one, half dozen of another	Market intel. Appreciated more often than not.	Market intel. Absolutely Essential
Product insights.	Product insights. Take it or leave it	Product insights. Depends on the day	Product insights. Six of one, half dozen of another	Product insights. Appreciated more often than not.	Product insights. Absolutely Essential
Prospect introductions.	Prospect introductions. Take it or leave it	Prospect introductions. Depends on the day	Prospect introductions. Six of one, half dozen of another	Prospect introductions. Appreciated more often than not.	Prospect introductions. Absolutely Essential
Client support.	Client support. Take it or leave it	Client support. Depends on the day	Client support. Six of one, half dozen of another	Client support. Appreciated more often than not.	Client support. Absolutely Essential
Marketing materials.	Marketing materials. Take it or leave it	Marketing materials. Depends on the day	Marketing materials. Six of one, half dozen of another	Marketing materials. Appreciated more often than not.	Marketing materials. Absolutely Essential

Something else (please specify)?

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* 6. Who has the best ideas (person or firm)?

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* 7. Are there wholesalers you refuse to meet with?

Good in the short-term, not as sure about the long-term.

Yes.

Well, maybe not exactly "refuse", but I'll try to avoid them...

No.

Bad in the short-term, but ok in the final analysis.

If so, why?

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* 8. What, if anything, do wholesalers try to do for you that you'd just as soon they didn't...

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* 9. Other comments about wholesalers, wholesaler support (or lack thereof), things you'd like to get from wholesalers, things you no longer want from wholesalers, the criteria you use to decide which wholesalers to meet with, or life in general?

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* 10. What is your role working with retirement plans?

Advisor

Provider

TPA

Plan sponsor

Recordkeeper

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What size plans do you PRIMARILY work with?

Under $10 million in assets

$10-$20 million

$20-$50 million

$50-100 million

$100 million - $250 million

$250 million - $500 million

Above $500 million

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Suggestions for future survey questions?

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* 13. All responses are anonymous and confidential, of course - but if you'd like me to know who you are, or allow for a response, you can leave your email below...