Retirement Plan Consulting

Fiduciary expertise
for institutional
retirement plans

We provide independent strategic advice for defined benefit, defined contribution, and liability-driven investing mandates — grounded in two decades of plan sponsor experience and backed by CFA, FSA, and MBA credentials.

DB · DC · LDI
Full Spectrum Coverage
20+
Years Fiduciary Practice
Independent
No Products · No Affiliation

Built on fiduciary depth

We work where plan complexity demands genuine expertise — asset-liability management, investment governance, plan restructuring, and ERISA fiduciary oversight. Our work is analytically rigorous and delivered with institutional precision.

01
Defined Benefit Consulting

Comprehensive strategic advice for corporate and public pension plans navigating funding, investment, and risk management decisions.

  • Funded status analysis & de-risking strategy
  • Asset allocation & SAA design
  • Investment policy statement development
  • Actuarial assumption coordination
  • Pension risk transfer (PRT) readiness
  • Governance & fiduciary review
02
Defined Contribution Consulting

Evidence-based guidance for sponsors seeking to optimize investment menus, participant outcomes, and plan design in an evolving regulatory landscape.

  • Menu construction & fund due diligence
  • Target-date fund evaluation & selection
  • QDIA strategy & design
  • Managed account & personalization frameworks
  • Fee benchmarking & vendor oversight
  • Plan design & fiduciary governance
03
Liability-Driven Investing

Sophisticated LDI program design and oversight, helping plans match assets to liabilities and navigate interest rate and credit risk with precision.

  • Liability modeling & hedging strategy
  • Fixed income portfolio design
  • Duration & convexity management
  • Glide path construction
  • Credit risk assessment
  • LDI manager search & monitoring
04
Fiduciary Advisory

Independent fiduciary consulting under ERISA Sections 3(21) and 3(38) frameworks, supporting committees seeking documented, defensible governance.

  • Named fiduciary & co-fiduciary support
  • Investment committee governance
  • DOL audit preparedness
  • Prudent process documentation
  • Conflict-of-interest analysis
05
Manager Search & Oversight

Rigorous qualitative and quantitative manager evaluation across public and private markets — from initial screening through ongoing monitoring.

  • RFP design & manager search
  • Quantitative & qualitative due diligence
  • Performance attribution analysis
  • Watch list & termination frameworks
  • Alternatives & private market assessment
06
Plan Design & Restructuring

Strategic advice on plan design changes, benefit modifications, freeze decisions, and the transition from active to terminated vested status.

  • Plan freeze & termination strategy
  • Benefit design analysis
  • Participant communication frameworks
  • Regulatory & PBGC coordination
  • Transition to DC or hybrid structures

"Credentialed expertise that can withstand the rigors of deposition, cross-examination, and judicial scrutiny."

ERISA
Litigation
Support
Fiduciary
Breach Analysis
& Testimony

Analysis that holds up
under adversarial scrutiny

ERISA litigation often turns on whether a fiduciary's conduct met the standard of a prudent expert — a standard that requires genuine institutional knowledge. Zentrust Financial provides expert witness services and litigation support grounded in two decades of hands-on fiduciary practice. We are engaged by plaintiff and defense counsel across a range of ERISA disputes.

  • Breach of fiduciary duty — investment process & prudence standard
  • Fee reasonableness & prohibited transaction opinions
  • Target-date fund selection & monitoring disputes
  • Plan investment menu construction adequacy
  • Defined benefit funding & asset allocation decisions
  • LDI program design & implementation review
  • Pension risk transfer (annuity purchase) suitability
Discuss a Matter

A structured, transparent process

Every engagement begins with a clear understanding of objectives and ends with documented, defensible recommendations. No black boxes.

I
Discovery

In-depth intake covering plan structure, governance, investment beliefs, risk budget, and specific advisory objectives.

II
Analysis

Rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis drawing on deep institutional experience and current market research.

III
Recommendation

Clear, prioritized recommendations presented to investment committees in accessible, documented formats.

IV
Governance

Documentation, monitoring calendars, and ongoing oversight to ensure decisions are implemented and maintained with integrity.

Begin a conversation

We welcome inquiries from plan sponsors, investment committees, and ERISA counsel. Initial consultations are confidential and without obligation.

FirmZentrust Financial LLC
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
PracticeDB · DC · LDI · Expert Witness · Fiduciary
Send an Inquiry

Zentrust Financial LLC is a registered investment adviser. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or actuarial advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please review our Form ADV for important disclosures.