Every Saver Deserves an Advisor: Ascensus Launches Industry-First Way to Connect Workplace Savers and Financial Advisors

New offering connects millions of workplace savers with professional advice and creates new opportunities for financial advisors

DRESHER, Pa., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascensus, the engine at the center of America's savings ecosystem, today announced the launch of its workplace-to-wealth platform, a new offering designed to help connect retirement savers with professional financial advisors during some of life's most important financial moments, including job changes, retirement, and other major transitions.

Serving more than 16 million savers, Ascensus is uniquely positioned to help address one of the retirement industry's most persistent challenges: helping individuals access professional financial advice alongside their workplace savings and as their financial needs evolve. According to Cerulli U.S. Retirement End-Investor 2025, 63% of active 401(k) participants do not have access to a financial advisor. Through its advisor-first model, Ascensus helps create connections between savers and trusted financial professionals without competing for those relationships.

"Working Americans need help. We believe every saver deserves an advisor," said Dan Morrison, President of Retirement at Ascensus. "Too many people face critical financial decisions such as changing jobs, preparing for retirement, or rolling over savings, without access to professional financial advice. Ascensus is built differently. We don't compete with the advisors and institutions we serve. With the trust of more than 16 million savers and deep relationships across the retirement industry, we're helping bring advisors and savers together, expanding access to financial advice, and helping more Americans achieve better financial outcomes."

Ascensus' new platform combines participant connectivity, advisor engagement capabilities, referral workflows, and insights designed to connect savers with their plan advisors throughout their financial journeys, particularly at key financial transitions. The offering is intended to create a more connected experience across workplace savings and personal wealth management while preserving the trusted relationships between savers, advisors, employers, and financial institutions, and doing so consistent with data privacy requirements and best practices. Ascensus is also enhancing the participant digital experience to deliver more personalized support, AI-powered assistance, and connected experiences that help savers make informed decisions and connect with the advisor serving their plan when they need guidance.

"Workplace retirement plans represent one of the most important opportunities to expand access to financial advice," said Josh Rundle, Head of Investment and Wealth Solutions at Ascensus. "By connecting advisors, retirement providers, and financial institutions on behalf of retirement savers, we're helping create a more connected pathway between workplace savings and wealth management. This approach enables partners to engage with savers in new ways while preserving the trusted relationships already in place."

The launch reflects a broader shift in the retirement industry as workplace savings and wealth management become increasingly connected. Ascensus is well positioned to help accelerate that shift because its model is built to support, rather than compete with, the advisors and institutions it serves. Partners decide how their participants are served and which options are presented. Ascensus is working with leading advisory firms and financial institutions to expand access to professional financial advice at scale.

The new platform is designed to create value across the savings ecosystem:

• Participants gain greater access to professional financial advice during working years and important life transitions.
• Financial advisors serving the plan or affiliated with an Ascensus partner gain new opportunities to engage and support savers as their needs extend from workplace savings to broader financial planning.
• Plan sponsors can further support participant financial wellness beyond the workplace retirement experience.
• Industry partners and financial institutions gain access to new opportunities that help strengthen participant engagement and long-term retirement outcomes.

Ascensus is launching the new model with select firms and expects to establish connectivity with additional advisory firms and financial institutions in the coming months. The company will share further updates as the initiative expands, including new capabilities and partnerships.

About Ascensus
Ascensus is the engine at the center of America's savings ecosystem. The company makes saving easier by bringing together intuitive technology, AI, and high-touch service to support better financial outcomes for savers, small- to mid-sized businesses, state governments, and leading corporations and financial institutions. Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, as well as fiduciary and total rewards services. The company supports over 16 million savers^[1] and oversees more than $1.3 trillion in assets under administration^[2] as of August 3, 2026. For more information, visit ascensus.com.

^[1] Figure includes American Trust Retirement recordkeeping participants
^[2] Figure includes AmericanTCS AUA

Contact:
Greg Winter
SVP of Communications, Ascensus
[email protected]

SOURCE Ascensus