Coming soon
A clearer path from advice to client action
Pontera’s Non-discretionary advice offering is designed to help advisory firms deliver recommendations for held-away retirement accounts through a structured, client-implemented workflow—with visibility for advisors and the home office.
Get updates on timing, availability, and fit for your firm.
One Pontera platform. Two advice models.
Non-discretionary advice at scale. Fewer fragmented workflows.
Before Pontera, non-discretionary advice workflows put a lot of administrative burden on the advisor–paperwork, email chains, statements, and seemingly endless back and forth. And if the advice went implemented, the client missed out on all the long term value anyway. We've solved for all of that—and then some.
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Keep advice connected from plan data to client follow-through
Pontera’s Non-discretionary advice workflow creates one cohesive advice ecosystem: firms provide advice that fits their operating model, and savers take action themselves.
Before
Recommendations communicated through back and forth emails, calls, or video chats
Repeated manual follow-up to learn whether a client acted
Fragmented evidence for supervision and review
With Pontera Non-discretionary
Balances, holdings, and available investment options delivered within one workflow for easy review
Structured recommendations and guided client instructions delivered within the client portal
Status tracking and reminders, while the client retains control
Designed for client control and home-office visibility
Every firm has their own way of working. Pontera Non-discretionary advice opens up the model of advice to help firms provide professional advice while operating in the way that's right for their business.
See whether a non-discretionary advice workflow fits your firm
Join the waitlist to receive updates on timing, availability, and how Pontera’s guided, client-implemented model may support your firm’s advice and supervision approach.
Availability and timing may vary.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Pontera’s Non-discretionary model?
The Non-discretionary workflow for workplace retirement accounts allows advisors to create allocations for end-clients in Pontera, and then enable end-clients to implement those recommendations in a seamless way. Advisors can review account data, create recommendations, and monitor progress, while the end-client remains responsible for submitting the recommended changes. Step-by-step guidance is delivered to end-clients via their personal Pontera client portal, walking them through their workplace retirement account to implement advisor recommendations.
Does Pontera Non-discretionary advice rebalance the client’s account?
No. The advisor proposes the allocation changes, but the client implements them directly in the account. Non-discretionary advice provides guided instructions and notifies the advisor if and when the rebalance is completed.
How does the process work?
The advisor invites the client, the client connects their relevant account(s), the advisor sends recommendations, and the client decides whether to complete the changes using the step-by-step guide.
What information can the advisor view on Pontera?
There will be visibility into account balances, holdings, available investment options, plan documents, and implementation statuses (i.e. did the client make changes). Data can also be reconciled into supported portfolio-management systems.
How does Non-discretionary mode help clients complete recommendations?
Clients receive email notifications and can use the step-by-step instructions, showing where to click and what information to enter on the relevant recordkeeper/custodian website(s).
What happens if the client does not complete the recommendation?
The Non-discretionary workflow will send automated reminders and keep the advisor informed of the recommendation’s status. It is important to note that the client still controls if and when the advisor’s recommendations are implemented. Advisors see this closed-loop follow-up as valuable because it reduces the need for them to repeatedly chase clients.
Which account types and recordkeepers are supported with non-discretionary options?
Same as those supported by our Discretionary mode.
What if the client applies a different allocation than the one recommended?
Automated daily refreshes compare the account against the recommendation. If it detects a mismatch, the advisor is notified by email.
Does auto-rebalance work on non-discretionary accounts?
Yes, with one difference: it cannot apply anything. When auto-rebalance triggers on a non-discretionary account, Pontera sends the auto-rebalance recommendation (based on the advisor’s auto-rebalance parameters) via email to the client, with the advisor copied. The client still has to apply the recommendation themselves.
How does non-discretionary help with compliance and supervision?
All of Pontera’s monitoring and supervision features are available in both modes; Discretionary and Non-discretionary. For Non-discretionary, the platform maintains an audit log of all platform user activities, including advisor rebalancing recommendations, client notifications, and actions taken, among others. Firms can monitor the status of recommendation implementation through a centralized workflow.
Does the non-discretionary option eliminate all regulatory or recordkeeper concerns?
Both of Pontera’s modes, Discretionary and Non-discretionary, have the proper safeguards and reporting to align with existing compliance frameworks today. We designed Pontera so it can be used, and scaled, properly with firms of all sizes. Also, regulators are here to ensure proper use of tools, not approve them.
Will I have a fiduciary responsibility to offer both discretionary and non-discretionary options?
Fiduciary responsibility lies with acting in the best interest of your client, at all times, regarding the investment advice you’re providing. Advisors use different tools all the time to facilitate that advice.
Can firms set up both discretionary and non-discretionary options?
No. At this time, firms must choose one mode (Discretionary or Non-discretionary) to implement. We’ll continue to gather feedback after our launch to determine enhancements and broader optionality.
For firms already leveraging Discretionary mode today, we recommend that you continue to operate in the same fashion as this is what your compliance team already approved.
How is this different from any other aggregator?
From a connectivity standpoint, it works the same as other aggregators work today (eMoneyPro, Yodlee, etc.) The difference is in the use case and functionality. Pontera’s Non-discretionary advice mode helps advisors give comprehensive advice and visibility through the client’s implementation. Not only do we pull in detailed account data, including full fund lineups and prospectuses, but the recommendation output, guidance, and monitoring are very sophisticated. You can build allocations in Pontera, submit those recommendations to your client, and they’ll receive a visual step-by-step guide, tailored to their plan website, showing them how to make the changes with confidence. You’ll also receive notifications when changes are made, then see the adjustments once the data is refreshed, which can be pulled right into your existing portfolio management system.