Independent RIA

A reciprocal referral partnership. Keep 100% of your firm while we serve as 3(38) fiduciary on every plan you send.

Affiliation model Scroll

The Independent RIA model is a structured, bidirectional referral partnership between Navigate 401K and an established RIA or wealth firm. Neither side takes equity in the other. You refer 401(k) opportunities; we manage them entirely as the 3(38) investment fiduciary — so you carry zero ERISA investment liability — and we refer participant wealth back to you.

01 | How it works

How the Independent RIA model works

You refer plansIntroduce 401(k) opportunities from your existing client base and professional network. No plan expertise required on your side.

We manage them fullyProvider selection, investment menu, compliance, and servicing — and as sole 3(38) fiduciary, we carry the investment liability, not you.

We refer wealth backAs we service the plan, we identify participants above your minimum and hand them off warm to your wealth practice.

Both sides earnOngoing plan-fee splits and ongoing wealth-fee splits for the life of every relationship — reciprocal by design.

02 | What you get

Why established RIAs partner with us

No equity, no dilution

100% independence retained. This is a partnership, not an acquisition or a co-advisory arrangement.

Zero ERISA liability

We are the sole named investment fiduciary on plan assets. You are never on the plan documents.

Reciprocal economics

Earn from the plans you refer and from the wealth clients we refer back — both for the life of the relationship.

Succession for the plan book

A durable home for a retirement-plan book you would rather not administer yourself, with right-of-first-refusal terms.

TrailGuide serves the participants you can’t

Every plan holds participants below your wealth-management minimum — clients you would normally have to turn away. We route those $10K–$250K participants to TrailGuide’s managed platform, and you receive an ongoing fee. You participate in the full economics of the relationship, even for the people you couldn’t profitably serve yourself.

Below minimum Participants under your WM threshold get real guidance instead of being ignored.

Ongoing fee You share in TrailGuide revenue on referred participants.

Warm handoff Participants who cross your minimum are introduced back to your practice.

Whole plan Monetize the entire census, not just the high-asset few.

03 | Who it's for

Is this the right fit?

The Independent RIA model fits established wealth practices that want the economics of a 401(k) partnership without the operational lift.

RIA firms with $100M+ AUM

Firms with an existing or growing 401(k) practice

Advisors who want to serve participants below their minimums

Principals seeking succession for a plan book

Independent RIA

A reciprocal referral partnership where we handle the plan and the fiduciary role, you keep your firm and your clients, and revenue flows both ways for the life of every relationship.