Hauser Retirement Solutions 2, LLC (“HRS,” “us” or “we”), established in July of 2018, is an investment advisor registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with its principal place of business in Cincinnati, OH. Hauser, Inc. owns 100%
of HRS. Mark Hauser owns 60% of Hauser, Inc. The other 40% of Hauser, Inc. (“HIG”) is owned by the following four irrevocable
trusts.
1. Mark Hauser, Trustee of the Melissa Jane Hauser Irrevocable Trust
2. Mark Hauser, Trustee of the Nicole Wells Hauser Irrevocable Trust
3. Mark Hauser, Trustee of the Katheryn Grace Hauser Irrevocable Trust
4. Mark Hauser, Trustee of the Arthur Eric Hauser Irrevocable Trust
HRS provides investment advisory and consulting services to retirement plans including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457 plans,
profit sharing plans and other ERISA qualified plans (“clients,” “you” or “plan”). HRS currently offers its retirement plan
investment advisory and consulting services to corporate clients, on their own behalf and on behalf of their plan and plan
participants.
HRS provides its services to assist plan sponsors, plan trustees and investment committees to meet their fiduciary
responsibilities under 404(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). These investment advisory
and consulting services range from the development of Investment Policy Statements to the delivery of Participant
Communication services.
Non-Fiduciary Services
In providing the below listed services to plans, HSA is acting in a non-fiduciary capacity.
Participant Communication – HRS may provide group meetings and individual participant meetings for the delivery of participant
education communications and presentations. The schedule, timing and number of meetings shall be determined prior to contract
acceptance. HRS may also assist with the development of participant education presentations and customized communications delivered
through various formats other than individual and group meetings.
Fiduciary Education - HRS will provide fiduciary training as needed for our clients that provides education, documentation and
plan metrics to assist in meeting fiduciary responsibilities and improve operational efficiency.
RFP/Benchmarking – HRS will provide benchmarking of retirement plan fees, services and investments. This process includes
the gathering of plan demographics, the identification and selection of potential bidding providers based upon matching client
goals and objectives, a detailed bidding analysis, finalist presentations and transitional assistance.
Fiduciary Investment Services
HRS may provide investment advisory services to assist plan sponsors, plan trustees and investment committees to meet their
ERISA fiduciary responsibilities. HRS may provide these services under ERISA § 3(21) or ERISA § 3(38). Under these sections, clients
can engage HRS to provide investment advisory services. By doing so, HRS shares fiduciary responsibility with plan trustees and
investment committees as it relates to the assets HRS is under agreement to provide investment management or advisory
services. As a part of a client’s fiduciary team, HRS provides the investment expertise to implement the plans investment policies
and objectives.
Plan Investment Advisory Services
HRS acting as an advisor under ERISA § 3(21)
For the purposes of ERISA § 3(21), HRS does not exercise any discretionary authority or control respecting
management of the plan or management or disposition of its assets or have any discretionary authority or
discretionary responsibility in the administration of the plan. Therefore, HRS is not a “fiduciary” pursuant to
ERISA except to the extent it renders “investment advice” to the plan within the meaning of section 3(21) of
ERISA
and Department of Labor regulations there under.
Under ERISA § 3(21), HRS acts as the advisor making investment recommendations, but it is ultimately up to
the plan sponsor to decide whether and how to implement these recommendations.
Furthermore, under ERISA § 3(21), the participants are responsible for any individual investment selections
made under the plan.
HRS acting as an investment manager under ERISA § 3(38)
For the purposes of ERISA § 3(38), HRS serves as the investment manager, who exercises discretionary
authority with regard to the mutual funds and other investment vehicles that it selects for investment under
the Plan. Therefore, HRS is not a “fiduciary” pursuant to ERISA except to the extent it renders “investment
advice” to the plan within the meaning of section 3(38) of ERISA and Department of Labor regulations there
under. Under ERISA § 3(38), HRS acts as the advisor with discretionary authority with regard to the investments
managed for the plan, allowing the plan sponsor to transfer liability for selecting‚ monitoring‚ and replacing the
investment options to HRS, the investment manager.
Furthermore, under ERISA §3(38), the participants are responsible for any individual investment selections
made under the plan.
Investment and Fiduciary Consulting Services
HRS may also provide the following investment and fiduciary consulting services to plans.
Investment Policy Statement – HRS will assist you in developing an Investment Policy Statement for your
retirement plan that provides the guidelines for selecting and evaluating investments offered in your plan. HRS
will work with plans to create an Investment Policy Statement consistent with ERISA. The Investment Policy
Statement will document the plan’s objectives and set into writing the plan’s investment policies regarding
investment selection, monitoring, benchmarking, and de-selection.
Manager Selection – HRS’s investment manager research and selection process is a fully integrated process
designed to select asset managers for each asset class and style to be represented within the plan. Our
quantitative screening ensures that each manager meets standards for style consistency, risk adjusted
performance, consistency of performance and low expenses. Our experienced analysts further assess the
philosophy behind the numbers, the process by which it is implemented and most importantly - the people who
manage the portfolios.
Monitor & Measure – HRS will establish and manage a process to select, de-select, and monitor investments
offered with retirement plans. HRS will evaluate the plan’s current offering by benchmarking the investment
return, risk, and expenses to its peers and relative indices, by providing an assessment of asset class overlap or gaps,
and by evaluating overall investment offering to the plan’s current Investment Policy Statement.
Trustee & Investment Committee Meetings – HRS meets regularly with the Plan Trustees & Investment
Committees to document the performance of the plan’s investments and to make any recommendations that
may be appropriate for changes. These meetings are documented and become part of the plans due diligence
file.
The plan investment advisory and investment and fiduciary consulting services provided by HRS are tailored to the
specific needs of the plan client. The investment advisory services are provided in accordance with the Investment Policy
Statement, and if one does not exist such similar information or guidance as provided by plan sponsors, plan trustees
and/or investment committees.
HRS does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, HRS managed $965,737,685
in regulatory assets under management, all on a non-discretionary basis.