FAQ
Why choose Rudd and Wisdom (R&W)?
R&W Expertise
We are a firm of consulting actuaries located in Austin, TX. We have longstanding and deep knowledge in all of our practice areas. Our principals have years of expertise in helping our clients understand their position and make effective decisions based on that understanding
R&W Independence
R&W is owned and managed by active members of its professional staff. We are independent from all third parties: insurance companies, software companies, investment managers/advisors and investment funds/options.
R&W Fees
Our fees are transparent and direct. There are no hidden costs.
Does R&W accept payment from anyone other than its clients?
No. Our clients are the sole source of our compensation. We are independent from investment managers/advisors and investment funds/options.
Occasionally, in the DC Recordkeeping practice, a mutual fund will charge sub-transfer fees or similar structures and transfer those funds to the recordkeeper. Whenever that happens, we credit that amount against the client’s recordkeeping fee. If there were any excess, the excess credits would be allocated among participant accounts.
Why choose Rudd and Wisdom record keeping services for Defined Contribution retirement plans?
Retirement Expertise
Our expertise goes well beyond DC plans as we also provide services to pension plans, other post-employment benefit plans and health benefit plans.
We understand plan qualification requirements, nondiscrimination testing across all employee plans and every other facet of plan design.
Attention to Detail
Actuaries pay attention to details, and DC recordkeeping is all about the details.
Schwab Platform
R&W uses Schwab Retirement Technology’s DC recordkeeping platform. You get large company software expertise, support and business continuity systems across multiple locations, with the accessible service of a major regional actuarial firm.
Schwab Bank can serve as the Directed Trustee and/or the custodian for your plan. With Schwab Bank you will receive annual trust and custody statements for your plan and an annual operational and systems control environment SSAE18 (SOC1) review. These services are available but not required. You may choose any trustee and/or custodian you wish.
Open Architecture
You can choose from over 10,000 funds and provide your employees with a diverse range of investment choices from well-known mutual fund companies.
RIA Access
R&W partners with Frost Bank to deliver expert Registered Investment Advisory services, but you may select another investment advisor.
Plan Access
Online account access is available 24/7 for plan participants and the plan sponsor.
What can we expect as we transition to R&W?
The Three Steps to Rudd and Wisdom's Recordkeeping Service.
First we prepare everything with the prior recordkeeper, custodian and investment adviser. We develop a short plan, usually between 8 and 12 weeks’ work.
Then we set up the plan, investments, assets, participants and elections in our record keeping system, and we configure and test the payroll feed.
Finally we announce the blackout period, move the assets over and commence operations.
Illustrative Timeline for Transition to R&W Recordkeeping Services
Why choose Rudd and Wisdom for your career?
Actuarial Science is an Interesting Career
Being an actuary is a great career for graduates with a liking for math and quantitative analysis. The exams are tough, but there is a wide range of opportunity. Rudd and Wisdom is a large, well-established, full-service actuarial firm in central Texas. We are proud of our clients and can offer you a great career. Here are some details of a career as an actuary. https://www.beanactuary.org/why/
Central Texas is a Great Place to Live
Austin is a fast-growing city with a unique lifestyle. https://realestate.usnews.com/places/texas/austin Many graduates want to live here, either because they enjoyed living in Austin at UT, or they want to move to a young, exciting city. If you want to join our great Texan firm of actuaries, we’d love to hear from you! Please see our careers section for details on how to apply.