Granite Group Advisors

💡 Happy employees aren’t just productive, they stay, grow, and thrive. In healthcare and education, staff face unique pressures. Smarter financial systems, like payroll, benefits, and tuition, can reduce stress, simplify life, and help employees focus on what matters most: patient care, student success, and the mission. How is your organization making benefits easier for your team? 📞 Call us at (203) 210-7814, comment below, or DM us. #EmployeeExperience #FinancialWellness #CFO #Benefits #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #Healthcare #Education

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) just got a boost. The Senate unanimously passed two bills that make it easier for companies to offer ESOPs and protect employees who own stock in their company. What this means for employees: 🆕Clearer valuations: Your ESOP shares will have more consistent and transparent valuations. 🆕Better protection: "Safe harbor" rules can reduce risk of lawsuits affecting your stock. 🆕Stronger voice: ESOP representatives will sit on the ERISA Advisory Council. These bills now move to the House. If passed, more employees could benefit from owning a piece of the company they work for. Forward-looking perspective: As employee ownership grows, companies with ESOPs may see stronger engagement, retention, and long-term wealth building for employees. This legislation could set a new standard for how businesses share success with their workforce. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eTw2HCrj #ESOP #EmployeeBenefits #RetirementPlans #HumanResources

Why Fiduciaries Matter: Your Financial Safety Net In today’s retirement landscape, crowded with products, hidden fees, and hidden conflicts of interest, fiduciaries are the true protectors of workers’ savings and long-term financial futures. Here’s why: 🔹 Legal Duty – Unlike brokers under “suitability” rules, fiduciaries are legally bound to act solely in your best interest. 🔹 Ongoing Vigilance – They don’t “set it and forget it.” Fiduciaries must monitor and remove imprudent investments as markets and costs change. 🔹 Protecting Futures – This isn’t just compliance; it’s the backbone safeguarding trillions in retirement dollars from erosion. 👉 Question: Should the fiduciary standard apply to all financial advice, not just retirement plans? If you’re curious how fiduciary oversight works in practice, we’re always happy to share insights. Give us a call at (203) 210-7814, or email [email protected] for a no-obligation, conversation. #wealthmanagement #ria #401k #financialmarkets #retirementplans #ERISA

ℹ️ Reality vs. Perception: Hidden Satisfaction Gaps Among HNW Clients ℹ️ A new report from Wealth Management IQ and BNY Mellon | Pershing (Closing the Perception Gap, May 2025) shows a major disconnect between how HNW and UHNW investors feel about their advisory relationships and how satisfied their advisors think they are. 🔍 On average, investors rated their satisfaction at 49%, while advisors estimated it at 73%, a 25-point gap. Here’s how the gap breaks down across key areas: Investment accounts 📉 Investor: 53% 📈 Advisor guess: 84% Business/professional life 📉 Investor: 51% 📈 Advisor guess: 74% Ethics, values, and priorities 📉 Investor: 50% 📈 Advisor guess: 78% Goals for the future 📉 Investor: 48% 📈 Advisor guess: 82% Coordination with other professionals 📉 Investor: 45% 📈 Advisor guess: 63% Children’s situations & future 📉 Investor: 44% 📈 Advisor guess: 57% Why does this matter? 🤔 Because many HNW investors still work with traditional advisors at major institutions—relationships that may feel "fine," but often lack deep planning, objectivity, or a legally binding fiduciary duty at all times. ✅ Important distinction: CFP® professionals are not the only fiduciaries. ✅ RIAs and Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) are fiduciaries by law when managing portfolios. Fiduciary duty is about how you operate, not just credentials. That’s why it’s so important to work with a firm that doesn’t push proprietary products, avoids hidden conflicts, and acts solely in the client’s best interest. If you're unsure whether your current setup truly aligns with your goals, let's start the conversation. 📞 Call Granite Group Advisors at (203) 210-7814 or send us a message. #HNW #UHNW #WealthManagement #Fiduciary #IndependentAdvisor #RIA #ClientSatisfaction #PerceptionGap #PrivateWealth #GraniteGroupAdvisors

#AI in #RetirementPlans isn’t just a tech issue—it’s a fiduciary one. Fiduciaries must now evaluate how AI tools are being used in recordkeeping systems, investment platforms, and participant communications. Key areas to monitor: 1️⃣ AI-generated advice still requires human oversight 2️⃣ Machine learning can widen cybersecurity exposure 3️⃣ “Black box” algorithms may violate ERISA prudence standards 4️⃣ Vendor contracts should include AI-specific clauses Whether you're scaling operations or managing legacy plans, AI must be integrated into your governance process, not operate outside it. A 3(38) Fiduciary can help assess your setup and reduce exposure. 📞 Call us at (203) 210-7814 or send a quick DM to start the conversation. #CFO #401k #EmployeeBenefits #HumanResources #WealthManagement #ERISA

🌟 A 15-minute conversation won’t change your provider, but it might just change your perspective on the value your plan delivers! 🌟 At Granite, we’re proud to serve as your independent fiduciary partner. Our mission? Protecting your capital with risk-aware, conflict-free strategies that aren’t limited by Wall Street’s packaging. Are you feeling overwhelmed by your benefit programs? The endless paperwork, lack of vendor cooperation, and complexity can be frustrating. We understand... That’s why we’re here to help you boost engagement, streamline operations, and enhance your plan design. Sound familiar? 🤔 We often come in quietly, without the pressure of a sales pitch, to provide clarity on essential questions such as: - Are your plan fees aligned with best practices? - Are your employees utilizing the tools you’re paying for? - Could you delegate more of your fiduciary risk and prove it? No strings attached, just actionable insights based on real data and true independence. Sometimes, all it takes is to see your plan through a new lens. 🔎 “A smarter 401(k) — with fiduciary protection and real engagement” #retirementplans #humanresources #education #ggaretirement #granitegroupadvisors