Our Role as Pooled Plan Provider (PPP)

In our capacity as PPP, GPS serves as the independent operational fiduciary behind every plan we support—providing the structure, accountability, and administrative expertise employers need to confidently deliver strong retirement benefits to their employees.

Under ERISA and Internal Revenue Code employers are responsible for ensuring their retirement plan is operated correctly. That means overseeing dozens of complex duties—many of which carry significant liability if not executed properly.

As the plan’s Named Fiduciary, GPS steps into that responsibility on behalf of the employer. We oversee the operational processes that determine whether the plan is running the way the law requires.
This includes:

• Establishing and maintaining the plan’s compliance structure
• Monitoring the Recordkeeper and Third-Party Administrator (TPA}
• Sampling required tasks to assess compliance with requirements
• Managing operational errors and coordinating corrections
• Maintaining documentation to support prudent decision-making

GPS is not affiliated with a recordkeeper, asset manager, TPA, or advisory firm.
That independence means:

• We answer only to the employer and to the Plan—not to product or distribution incentives.
• We do not typically hire the investment fiduciary or replace the existing advisor—your role and relationship stay intact.
• We oversee service delivery rather than produce services, giving us greater objectivity when identifying issues, determining corrective actions, and holding providers accountable.

This separation of roles strengthens the entire fiduciary structure:

• Advisors select the investments available to participants without requirements imposed by GPS.
• We work with recordkeepers and TPAs to manage the operational compliance requirements.
• Employers receive a complete, coordinated solution.

The value of an independent fiduciary