What is Pontera:

Pontera is a platform that enables advisors to provide discretionary advice (including trading and billing) on assets in held away accounts without triggering custody. The easy-to-use platform feeds directly into Orion for billing and reporting.

 

With Pontera, advisors can:

·         Improve client outcomes: studies show that professionally managed 401(k) accounts outperform self-directed by 3% or more per year, net of fees.

·         Grow AUM: on average, advisors see an AUM growth opportunity of 33% from existing clients by managing their held away accounts.

·         Comply with regulation: by using Pontera, advisors will not trigger custody of client assets. Additionally, by billing on held away AUM, advisors will no longer have a conflict of interest under the DOL when providing rollover recommendations.

·         Pontera supports 401(k), 403(b), Variable Annuity, HSA, 529, TSP, 457, and other self-directed accounts

 

Mutual Paperwork that is required:

·     Financial Planning & Consulting (FP&C) Agreement OR Advisory Agreement including the Pontera Addendum to Advisory Agreement

• If you wish to bill the account as part of the Financial Planning agreement, we’ll just need the FP&C agreement+ Pontera Addendum. Both documents can be e-signed via DocuSign (with KBA method).
• If you wish to bill the account as regular advisory account, we’ll just need the DIAA (we can either apply the existing DIAA, or the rep has a different/new DIAA for this account only) + Pontera Addendum. Both can be e-signed via DocuSign (with KBA method). 

 

 

Billing Options (Depending on type of Account):

·     Non-Qualified (taxable) account (example: Individual, Joint, etc.)

o    Can be paid for by check, ACH, CC, or another NQ account

·                     Qualified (non-taxable) account (example IRA, 457, 403(b), etc.)

·          Mutual does NOT allow a qualified account to pay for fees other than what is attributable to that specific account since this could be treated as a withdrawal and possibly subject to a prohibited transaction

·         Put simply, one qualified account cannot cover the fee for another qualified account (example, an IRA cannot cover the fee for a 457 account)

·     Advisory agreement

• If an advisory agreement is already in place, must notify AS team via email with specific instructions on which non-qualified account to charge

·     FP&C agreement

o    Will use form to process fee

 

Who to contact at Pontera for additional information:

General Email: support@pontera.com

Kevin Werner

Sr. Partner – Engagement Manager

kevin@pontera.com

(609) 710-9192

 

Ben Wirtschafter

Director of National Accounts

benw@pontera.com

(646) 491-0212