Birmingham's Trusted 401(k) Advisor for Employers
Advo(k)ate Advisors is a local retirement plan advisor helping Birmingham-area employers reduce plan fees, meet fiduciary responsibilities, and give employees the tools to retire confidently. Independent. Transparent. Plans are all we do.
Everything Birmingham Plan Sponsors Need — Under One Roof
Investment Advice
Independent, transparent guidance to select, monitor, and manage investment lineups that serve participant needs and fiduciary standards.
Retirement Plan Fee Negotiation
We benchmark plan fees and negotiate on your behalf to ensure your plan remains competitive and cost-efficient.
Fiduciary, Governance & Compliance Support
From 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services to governance best practices, we help you meet your obligations without added complexity.
Plan Consulting Services
Holistic consulting across plan design, vendor management, and participant engagement — all tailored to your organization’s goals and workforce needs.
M&A Retirement Plan Consulting
Navigate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures with expert support. We streamline plan consolidation and reduce compliance risk during organizational transitions.
Employee Education Programs
Empower your workforce with clear, actionable education — from enrollment to retirement. We help employees engage with their benefits and make better financial decisions for the future.
Pooled Employer Plan (PEP)
A pooled 401(k) option that can reduce administrative burden and consolidate certain compliance requirements under one plan structure. We help you evaluate fit, compare options, and support implementation and ongoing oversight.
Trusted Advisors. Combined Experience. Proven Results.
Our team brings decades of combined experience across ERISA compliance, retirement plan consulting, and investment advisory services — recognized by PLANADVISER and NAPA among the top retirement plan advisors in the country.
Led by Andrew Blankenship & Renn Williams
Industries That Define Birmingham's Economy
Birmingham’s workforce is anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and a deep nonprofit and education sector. We’ve built our practice around the plan sponsors who run them.
Medical & Healthcare
UAB-adjacent practices, hospital systems, and physician groups managing 401(k), 403(b) plans, defined benefit plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
Manufacturing
Alabama manfacturers and automotive supply chain employers with hourly and salaried participants.
Professional Services
Birmingham law firms, accounting firms, engineering firms, and partner-owned practices.
Nonprofits
Foundations, faith-based organizations, and 501(c)(3)s with 403(b) plans and unique compliance needs.
Education Institutions
Independent schools, colleges, and university-affiliated employers in the Birmingham metro.
Privately Held Businesses
Family-owned and closely held companies — often pairing 401(k) plans with cash balance plans.
Our Trademarked Annual Plan Review
A 360° review of your plan’s design, compliance, and operations — delivered to your committee in plain language with documented recommendations.
Plan Document Review
We review plan documents, fee disclosures, vendor contracts, and committee history in detail.
Fee & Service Analysis
Total plan costs are benchmarked against peer plans of similar size and industry.
Findings Report
Findings presented to your committee with prioritized recommendations and projected impact.
Implementation Support
We coordinate with your recordkeeper, TPA, and counsel to put plan into action.
Three Commitments to Every Birmingham Business
Advocacy
Transparency
Simplicity
Questions Birmingham Plan Sponsors Ask Us
- How do I find a local 401(k) advisor near Birmingham, Alabama?
Start with specialization. Look for an advisor who works only on retirement plans, not one who adds retirement plan work on the side. Ask three questions: Do they serve as a 3(21) or 3(38) fiduciary in writing? Will they benchmark your all-in plan fees against similar plans? Do they have a documented fiduciary process? Advo(k)ate Advisors is a Birmingham-based firm where retirement plans are all we do. Our practice traces back to a 1980 partnership that brought second-generation expertise to Alabama plan sponsors. Our partners Andrew Blankenship and Renn Williams are both 2026 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers.
- What does a 401(k) plan advisor actually do for an employer?
A good 401(k) advisor makes your plan run smoother and your committee’s job easier. That means selecting and monitoring investments, benchmarking fees, supporting your fiduciary committee, coordinating with your recordkeeper and TPA, and educating your employees. At Advo(k)ate, we serve as either a 3(21) or 3(38) fiduciary in writing, and our (k)lean™ Analysis gives your committee a documented, plain-language review of your plan every year.
- When should a Birmingham employer hire or switch their 401(k) advisor?
The most common moments are when your plan has grown and hasn’t been benchmarked in years, your committee feels unsupported during reviews or audits, your current advisor isn’t a documented fiduciary, you’re going through a merger or acquisition, or your employees aren’t engaging with the plan. If any of those sound familiar, a 30-minute conversation will tell you whether it’s time to make a change.
- How much does it cost to hire a local 401(k) advisor in Birmingham?
Advisor fees depend on plan size, complexity, and the services included. Advo(k)ate uses a transparent fee structure with no hidden revenue sharing, so every party’s fees are clearly defined from the start. You’ll always know exactly what you’re paying for and why.
- Do you only work with companies in Birmingham?
No. Birmingham is home base, but we service plan sponsors across Alabama and nationally on more than 20 different recordkeeping platforms. We meet with clients in person or virtually, no matter where they’re located. For clients in Birmingham, in-person visits are especially easy.
- Can you help with a 401(k) plan during a merger or acquisition in Alabama?
Yes. M&A retirement plan consulting is one of our core services. We help buyers and sellers handle pre-close plan due diligence, post-close consolidation, and compliance risk mitigation. For Alabama companies going through a transaction, our independent, fiduciary-first approach means you get unbiased recommendations rather than guidance tied to a particular product or platform.
Let’s Talk About Your Retirement Plan Goals
6801 Cahaba Valley Rd, Suite 206
Birmingham, AL 35242
(659) 238-0010
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm CT