NEPC Rolls Out ‘Stratum One’ Pooled Employer Plan
Investment consultant and outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) provider NEPC today announced the launch of a new a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) called Stratum One, which will be available beginning May 1, 2026.
Stratum One brings together a group of specialized partners to deliver a cohesive, institutionally governed defined contribution solution. NEPC will serve as the Pooled Plan Provider and 3(38) investment fiduciary, Empower will provide recordkeeping and advanced technology capabilities, and National Professional Planning Group (NPPG) will act as the independent 3(16) administrative fiduciary.
By leveraging the scale of NEPC’s OCIO platform, the company said Stratum One will provide access to competitive investment pricing and disciplined oversight of plan investments, supporting better long-term outcomes for participants.
Together, the firms provide an integrated solution that addresses the growing complexity, risk, and internal resource demands associated with managing defined contribution plans, reducing administrative burdens for plan sponsors and advisors and allowing more time to focus on strategic advice, client relationships, and participant outcomes.
“Retirement plans have become increasingly complex for both employers and advisors to manage, and Stratum One was designed leveraging NEPC’s three decades of managing defined contribution plans across market cycles,” said Mikaylee O’Connor, Partner and Defined Contribution Team Leader at NEPC. “We’re excited to partner with Empower and NPPG to provide a true end-to-end offering spanning investments, recordkeeping, administration, and compliance within a single, well-governed framework that can accommodate varying plan designs and evolving employer needs.”
Boston-based NEPC serves over 400 retainer clients and $1.9 trillion in total assets as of January 1, 2026. Denver-based Empower administers approximately $2.0 trillion in assets for almost 20 million individuals through the provision of workplace and individual retirement plans, advice, financial planning, and investments. NPPG and its affiliate companies offer full-service employee benefit consulting, retirement planning, actuarial consulting and ERISA 3(16) administrative fiduciary services.
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Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.