Nationwide Launches RetireAssist Connect for Flexible Group Retirement Plans

Nationwide Retirement Solutions has introduced RetireAssist Connect℠, a pooled plan solution designed to enhance retirement plan management for financial advisors and plan sponsors.

This product aims to provide a scalable, efficient retirement plan option that maintains customization, fiduciary support, and cost-effectiveness. RetireAssist Connect allows advisors to leverage a pooled structure while retaining the ability to tailor plan design, investment options, and pricing to the specific needs of employers and participants. Nationwide acts as the recordkeeper, custodian, and corporate trustee for this solution, partnering with Kovitz Investment Group Partners as the 3(38) investment fiduciary, Fiduciary Wise as the pooled plan provider under section 402(a), and Strongpoint as the plan administrator. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans with approximately $200 billion in participant assets, serving more than 2.7 million participants.

The company has significant presence in governmental 457 plans and growing footprints in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets. This launch reflects Nationwide’s response to evolving market demands for retirement products that balance administrative simplicity with fiduciary responsibility and flexibility. The addition of RetireAssist Connect supplements the existing RetireAssist suite designed to improve participant experience and operational efficiency in retirement plan administration. The industry impact lies in its potential to streamline plan administration, reduce costs, and provide fiduciary clarity, which are critical concerns for plan sponsors and advisors in the competitive retirement services market.