Pontera lands another 401(k) partnership with Hightower Advisors

Pontera lands another 401(k) partnership with Hightower Advisors
The fintech provider's new collaboration will help the $166 billion RIA's advisors holistically manage more of their clients' wealth.
JAN 07, 2025

Pontera, the retirement-focused fintech headquartered in New York City, has added another name to its circle of enterprise clients in the RIA space.

In its latest partnership, the fintech firm is partnering with Hightower Advisors, enabling its advisors to manage client 401(k) accounts more effectively through Pontera's industry-leading software.

With its capability to manage and report on assets held in 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other workplace-sponsored accounts, Pontera said Hightower advisors can offer more comprehensive service, incorporating tax, investment, and estate planning outcomes as they rebalance investment management strategies across client accounts.

In highlighting the partnership, Peter Nolan, VP for enterprise business development at Pontera, pointed to the body of research showing Americans' need for professional guidance in managing their retirement savings.

"In an increasingly demanding marketplace, advisors now can provide a better service by holistically managing more of their clients' wealth," Nolan said in a statement Tuesday.

The Pontera platform integrates with portfolio management software frequently used by Hightower advisors, including Black Diamond and Envestnet Tamarac. The integration also supports Hightower’s broader mission of delivering customized wealth management and retirement planning services to its individual clients, including 401(k) consulting and cash management services for corporations, which all together represent $166.3 billion in assets under management.

"Our mission is to help each client achieve their custom vision of 'well-th,'" said Scott Holsopple, chief growth officer at Hightower Advisors. "A natural extension of that is providing trusted advice on their workplace retirement accounts."

Emphasizing the "new possibilities" for Hightower advisors to deliver recommendations to families while growing their businesses, Holsopple said early advisor uptake of the Pontera platform has been "strong" with positive feedback across the firm.

The partnership with Pontera puts Hightower in league with a relatively small but growing circle of wealth firms exploring the 401(k) opportunity, including broker-dealer giant Stifel, which unveiled its own integration with Pontera last May.

Latest News

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone
RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone

Meanwhile, Rossby Financial's leadership buildout rolls on with a new COO appointment as Balefire Wealth welcomes a distinguished retirement specialist to its national network.

Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500
Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500

With a smaller group of companies driving stock market performance, advisors must work more intentionally to manage concentration risks within client portfolios.

Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker
Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker

Professional athletes are often targets of scam artists and are particularly vulnerable to fraud.

Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day
Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day

The brokerage giant tells Wall Street it will use artificial intelligence to reach clients it has never been able to serve — and turn the technology's perceived threat into a competitive edge.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline