OPT Retirement Plan Consultant Jobs
Retirement Plan Consultant jobs on OPT involve advising organizations on 401(k), pension, and defined benefit plan design and compliance. Most roles require a finance or business degree, making them a strong fit for STEM OPT holders in financial services. Cap-gap protection applies if your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
FuturePlan is the nation’s largest third-party administrator (TPA) of retirement plans, partnering with advisors in all 50 states. FuturePlan delivers the best of both worlds: high-touch personalized service from local TPAs backed by the strength and security of a large national firm, Ascensus. Our roots go back decades, with nearly 30 outstanding legacy firms now joined together to deliver unmatched levels of service, innovation and expertise to a fast-growing client base from coast to coast. The FuturePlan team includes more than 500 credentialed plan professionals, 60 actuaries, and one of the industry’s largest in-house ERISA teams. Learn more at FuturePlan.com.
Position Summary
Serve as a resource to plan sponsors and financial advisors for matters related to ERISA compliance, plan design and governmental reporting. This person is the single point of contact for employer, financial profession and plan sponsor for their accounts. A Retirement Plan Consultant is able to handle client meetings both on video and via phone. This position requires advanced knowledge of plan design, testing, 5500’s, loans and distributions and can assist on plan operation and document updates.
JOB FUNCTIONS, ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide timely, exceptional customer service, including problem solving and issue resolution with minimal inconvenience to clients
- Provide effective verbal and written communications in a clear, concise and informative manner
- Act as a mentor to Retirement Plan Coordinators to meet or exceed defined business targets, firm goals and client obligations, as applicable
- Assist clients initial and ongoing plan design and document support, including comprehending their obligations with IRS and Department of Labor regulations
- Assist clients in meeting all IRS and Department of Labor deadlines necessary for qualified retirement plan
- Maintain up-to date knowledge of present legislation and proposed legislative changes with regard to ERISA law through self-study and company-sponsored training sessions
- Accountable for communicating valuation reports, participant statements and annual testing results to clients
- Review or perform, as needed, the annual testing for plans and communicate results with clients
- Work with assigned coordinator(s) to provide compliant and accurate valuation reports, participant statements, trust accounting, annual testing and reporting as applicable
- Accountable for coordinating work performed by FuturePlan operations on behalf of their client(s) for Audit requirements
- Coordinate with all applicable parties, both internal and external, to ensure accurate conversion process for new clients (including but not limited to actuaries, financial advisors, attorneys)
- As applicable, work with assistant to coordinate and oversee activities that will ensure timely and accurate completion of book of business
- Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned
- Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients
- Our I-Client service philosophy and our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always® should be visible in your actions on a day to day basis showing your support of our organizational culture
- Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelors degree preferred
- 3-5 or more years ERISA experience in the retirement industry
- Experience in evaluating financial data required
- Experience in Relius software desirable, but not required
- Strong Word, Excel, and Outlook skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Strong evaluation and problem solving skills
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize, manage tasks and meet in conjunction with business operations, including related ERISA compliance matters
- Ability to effectively plan and assign work and supervise staff
- Ability to work in a team environment to ensure common goal of providing exceptional customer service
- Ability to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned
- Ability to work well under pressure with multiple priorities and deadlines in a high stress environment
- Ability to make reliable judgments concerning issues which, if mishandled, have the potential to create substantial financial and client relations liabilities for the company
- Must possess strong facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple priorities
- Ability to escalate issues to appropriate levels within an organization
- Ability to work additional hours as necessary to meet business needs
Be aware of employment fraud. All email communications from Ascensus or its hiring managers originate from @ascensus.com or @futureplan.com email addresses. We will never ask you for payment or require you to purchase any equipment. If you are suspicious or unsure about validity of a job posting, we strongly encourage you to apply directly through our website.
INTRODUCTION
FuturePlan is the nation’s largest third-party administrator (TPA) of retirement plans, partnering with advisors in all 50 states. FuturePlan delivers the best of both worlds: high-touch personalized service from local TPAs backed by the strength and security of a large national firm, Ascensus. Our roots go back decades, with nearly 30 outstanding legacy firms now joined together to deliver unmatched levels of service, innovation and expertise to a fast-growing client base from coast to coast. The FuturePlan team includes more than 500 credentialed plan professionals, 60 actuaries, and one of the industry’s largest in-house ERISA teams. Learn more at FuturePlan.com.
Position Summary
Serve as a resource to plan sponsors and financial advisors for matters related to ERISA compliance, plan design and governmental reporting. This person is the single point of contact for employer, financial profession and plan sponsor for their accounts. A Retirement Plan Consultant is able to handle client meetings both on video and via phone. This position requires advanced knowledge of plan design, testing, 5500’s, loans and distributions and can assist on plan operation and document updates.
JOB FUNCTIONS, ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide timely, exceptional customer service, including problem solving and issue resolution with minimal inconvenience to clients
- Provide effective verbal and written communications in a clear, concise and informative manner
- Act as a mentor to Retirement Plan Coordinators to meet or exceed defined business targets, firm goals and client obligations, as applicable
- Assist clients initial and ongoing plan design and document support, including comprehending their obligations with IRS and Department of Labor regulations
- Assist clients in meeting all IRS and Department of Labor deadlines necessary for qualified retirement plan
- Maintain up-to date knowledge of present legislation and proposed legislative changes with regard to ERISA law through self-study and company-sponsored training sessions
- Accountable for communicating valuation reports, participant statements and annual testing results to clients
- Review or perform, as needed, the annual testing for plans and communicate results with clients
- Work with assigned coordinator(s) to provide compliant and accurate valuation reports, participant statements, trust accounting, annual testing and reporting as applicable
- Accountable for coordinating work performed by FuturePlan operations on behalf of their client(s) for Audit requirements
- Coordinate with all applicable parties, both internal and external, to ensure accurate conversion process for new clients (including but not limited to actuaries, financial advisors, attorneys)
- As applicable, work with assistant to coordinate and oversee activities that will ensure timely and accurate completion of book of business
- Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned
- Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients
- Our I-Client service philosophy and our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always® should be visible in your actions on a day to day basis showing your support of our organizational culture
- Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelors degree preferred
- 3-5 or more years ERISA experience in the retirement industry
- Experience in evaluating financial data required
- Experience in Relius software desirable, but not required
- Strong Word, Excel, and Outlook skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Strong evaluation and problem solving skills
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize, manage tasks and meet in conjunction with business operations, including related ERISA compliance matters
- Ability to effectively plan and assign work and supervise staff
- Ability to work in a team environment to ensure common goal of providing exceptional customer service
- Ability to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned
- Ability to work well under pressure with multiple priorities and deadlines in a high stress environment
- Ability to make reliable judgments concerning issues which, if mishandled, have the potential to create substantial financial and client relations liabilities for the company
- Must possess strong facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple priorities
- Ability to escalate issues to appropriate levels within an organization
- Ability to work additional hours as necessary to meet business needs
Be aware of employment fraud. All email communications from Ascensus or its hiring managers originate from @ascensus.com or @futureplan.com email addresses. We will never ask you for payment or require you to purchase any equipment. If you are suspicious or unsure about validity of a job posting, we strongly encourage you to apply directly through our website.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Retirement Plan Consultant
Target ERISA-fluent employers
Recordkeepers, third-party administrators, and actuarial firms hire Retirement Plan Consultants regularly and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. These firms understand H-1B visa requirements and are far more likely to sponsor than general financial advisory boutiques.
Certify early to strengthen your profile
Pursuing the QKA, ASPPA, or CEBS designation signals long-term commitment to the retirement industry. Employers considering H-1B sponsorship want candidates who are investing in the field, not just passing through on OPT authorization.
Frame your OPT timeline in applications
State your authorization type and end date directly in your cover letter or during recruiter screening. Employers appreciate transparency, and it filters out companies that won't sponsor before you invest time in their hiring process.
Focus on plan compliance and testing skills
Nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 preparation, and plan document review are specialized skills with genuine labor market shortages. Demonstrating these competencies strengthens the specialty occupation argument employers need for H-1B sponsorship approval.
Prioritize roles tied to a finance or actuarial degree
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and job duties for H-1B specialty occupation classification. Roles explicitly requiring finance, economics, or actuarial science degrees map cleanly to most OPT students in this field.
Engage employers before your OPT expires
H-1B petitions for the October 1 start date must be filed in April. If your OPT expires before October, ensure your employer files early enough for cap-gap protection to bridge the gap without a lapse in work authorization.
Retirement Plan Consultant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Retirement Plan Consultant roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Retirement Plan Consultant positions tied to finance, actuarial science, or economics typically meet this standard, particularly at recordkeepers, TPA firms, and plan advisory practices where a degree in a specific discipline is a genuine job requirement, not just a preference.
Can I work as a Retirement Plan Consultant on OPT without STEM extension eligibility?
Yes, but your authorized period will be limited to 12 months. If your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field such as actuarial science, finance with a qualifying CIP code, or applied mathematics, you may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you significantly more time to secure H-1B sponsorship. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying.
Where can I find Retirement Plan Consultant jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings by visa sponsorship willingness, saving you from applying to employers who won't support your authorization. Searching Migrate Mate for Retirement Plan Consultant roles lets you focus your effort on employers already open to sponsoring candidates through OPT and into H-1B status.
What happens to my work authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition before my OPT expires?
You're covered by cap-gap protection. If your F-1 OPT expires between April 1 and September 30 and your employer files a timely, non-frivolous H-1B cap-subject petition before your OPT ends, your status and work authorization are automatically extended through September 30. You can continue working in your Retirement Plan Consultant role during this bridging period without interruption.
Do part-time Retirement Plan Consultant positions satisfy OPT employment requirements?
OPT requires employment of at least 20 hours per week in a role directly related to your field of study. Part-time consulting positions can satisfy this threshold if the duties align with your degree. However, most employers filing H-1B petitions prefer full-time arrangements, as it simplifies the prevailing wage certification and strengthens the specialty occupation argument with USCIS.