How to Free Advisors to Do What They Do Best
Deane Mayerhofer, Strategic Retirement Partners’ Chief Operating Officer, describes the firm’s “secret sauce,” and how advisors (and participants) benefit from partnering with the firm.
In this interview from the EXCEL 401(k) conference in Dallas, John Sullivan speaks with Deane Mayerhofer of Strategic Retirement Partners (SRP) about their approach to helping financial advisors focus on what they do best: client service and fiduciary responsibilities.
SRP’s core philosophy is to outsource everything advisors aren’t great at, such as compliance, investment changes, and other back-office functions. Their “secret sauce” lies in a blend of people, processes, and technology. SRP hires experienced professionals from the retirement industry and builds consistent, scalable processes around them—everything from plan conversions to installations is handled uniformly.
To scale this model, SRP wraps these processes in cloud-based technology, automating many functions and freeing both advisors and SRP staff to focus on high-value tasks. This cloud-based approach allows flexibility, remote work, and avoids the inefficiencies of a traditional, paper-based office.
The Eureka moment for SRP came in 2008 when the founders realized they wanted to avoid traditional corporate life and instead create a nimble, scalable company that prioritizes both family life and advisor support.
The solution they created, tested locally, was met with strong demand nationwide. Advisors wanted exactly this type of support system—and SRP’s model is now gaining traction across the country.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of 401(k) Specialist and Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots. Experienced financial services content executive specializing in creative new media delivery. He joined the American Retirement Association in 2023 as Chief Content Officer, overseeing communications for the organization, as well as its sister organizations.
