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Retirement Plans and Asset ManagementDone Right
We help employers take retirement plans seriously and help individuals plan for life beyond work.
Better governance. Better decisions. Better outcomes.
We are honored to have received nationalAwards & Article Features!
Award methodology, selection criteria, and other relevant details
General Award Disclosure Applicable to All Awards Listed
No fee was paid by the advisor or the advisor’s parent company to be nominated for, considered for, or selected for any of the awards listed below. Third-party awards and recognitions are based on criteria determined by the awarding organizations and are not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Awards do not constitute an endorsement by any client and do not guarantee a similar experience for other clients.
NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams
Award Sponsor:
National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), an affiliate organization of the American Retirement Association, a nonprofit association.
Award Established:
2017
Year Awarded:
2024 – BREAKING NEWS! The 2024 NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams Revealed
2025 – Breaking News! Announcing the 2025 NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
Nominees must be individual advisor teams or offices with a defined contribution book of business operating from a single physical location. To be considered, firms were required to submit responses to an application, including information about their practices and defined contribution assets under advisement.
Teams are ranked based on defined contribution assets under advisement, which are self-reported by the advisor teams.
Fees:
No fee was charged to participate, and no fee was paid for nomination or selection.
Limitations:
The award is based on self-reported data and is not indicative of the advisor team’s future performance.
NAPA Top Women of Excellence
Award Sponsor:
National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA)
Year Awarded:
2024 – 2024 NAPA Top Women of Excellence: Honoring Excellence in Retirement Planning
2025 – 2025 NAPA Top Women of Excellence: Honoring Excellence in Retirement Planning
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
Nominees are women retirement plan advisors with their own book of business. Nominees were required to complete a series of quantitative and qualitative questions regarding their experience and professional practices. Responses were anonymized and reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel of judges.
Awards are presented in three categories:
- Captains: Principals, leaders, owners, and producing advisors focused on organizational and business growth
- MVPs: Relationship managers primarily focused on client service and retention
- Rising Stars: Advisors with fewer than five years of industry experience who are emerging leaders or producers
Fees:
No fee was charged to participate, and no fee was paid for nomination or selection.
Limitations:
The recognition is based on subjective and objective criteria and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance.
NAPA Aces: Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40
Award Sponsor:
National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA)
Award Established:
2014
Year Awarded:
2024 – NAPA Aces: Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40
2025- Breaking News! The NAPA 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
The accolade is based on applications submitted by nominees designated by NAPA Broker-Dealer and RIA Firm Partners. Applications are reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel of senior industry professionals using a combination of quantitative data, qualitative information provided by nominees, and a BrokerCheck review.
Fees:
No fee was charged to participate, and no fee was paid for nomination or selection.
Limitations:
The recognition is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance and does not imply a specific level of skill or success.
PLANADVISER Magazine – Top Retirement Plan Adviser
Award Sponsor:
PLANADVISER Magazine
Recipient:
Shane Hanson
Year Awarded:
2025 – 2025 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers | PLANADVISER
Selection Criteria:
The 2025 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers recognition is based solely on self-reported quantitative data regarding an adviser’s practice. To be eligible, advisers were required to meet at least one of the following minimum thresholds as of year-end 2024:
- At least 50 retirement plan clients, or
- At least $400 million in retirement plan assets under advisement
After meeting the minimum thresholds, advisers were further highlighted if they met additional criteria related to the composition of their client base, including concentration in 401(k) plans or a minimum number of other retirement plan types such as 403(b), 457, defined benefit, cash balance, SEP, SIMPLE, or MEP/PEP plans.
There was no subjective judging involved in this recognition.
Fees:
Neither advisory firms nor their employees paid a fee to obtain or promote this recognition.
Limitations:
The recognition is based solely on quantitative data and is not indicative of any adviser’s future performance.
Retirement Plans and Investment Management Simplified
We simplify retirement plan oversight and financial decision-making so employers, plan participants, and individuals can stop guessing and start acting with confidence.
As of 12.31.25
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Participants
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Clients
Fiduciary Support ThatNever Slows Down
We stay engaged before, during, and after key decisions to keep retirement plans and individuals aligned with better outcomes.
Proactive Oversight
We stay involved throughout the year, monitoring plan activity, decisions, and risk so issues are addressed early instead of explained later.
Decision-Point Guidance
Participants receive timely guidance on enrollment, contributions, investments, loans, rollovers, and job changes, right when decisions are made, not months later.
Ongoing Accountability
Every recommendation, action, and process is documented and defensible so plan sponsors can demonstrate fiduciary diligence with confidence.
Through secure, approved API integrations with over 100 top payroll companies, we streamline plan administration while delivering personalized, data-driven participant engagement.API Payroll Partners
A Financial Planning Platform Built forRetirement Plans
We provide a planning and education experience that helps participants understand their options, make informed decisions, and stay engaged throughout their working years and beyond.
Customized Support That Adapts With You
01.
Consultation
We start with a real conversation to understand your plan, goals, and fiduciary responsibilities.
02.
Benchmark Review
We evaluate your current plan against peers, best practices, and fiduciary standards.
03.
Proposal
You receive a clear recommendation outlining scope, roles, responsibilities, and next steps.
04.
Onboarding
We handle setup, coordination, and transitions to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
05.
Go Live
The plan launches with active oversight, participant support, and ongoing accountability.
A ProvenOnboarding Process
Five Simple Steps. No Guesswork.
A clear, disciplined process that moves retirement plans from uncertainty to confident execution.
ClientCase Studies
Freedom Fiduciaries identified that a prospects plan’s fees were significantly out of alignment with the current marketplace. Using objective benchmarking data, FF negotiated directly with existing vendors and achieved a 400% reduction in cost efficiency without changing providers or disrupting participant services.
Investment Menu Redesign and Conflict Removal
Client is a 400 employee manufacturing company
Freedom Fiduciaries restructured the plan’s investment lineup by replacing high cost, revenue sharing funds with lower cost institutional share classes. The updated menu reduced investment expenses by 75 percent, eliminated embedded revenue sharing, and aligned the plan with best practice fiduciary standards.
Enterprise Level Payroll Integration
Client is a 2,500 employee service company
Freedom Fiduciaries managed a complex payroll integration with Paylocity for an organization with 15 payroll divisions, 45 locations, and 2,500 employees. FF coordinated data mapping, testing, and automation while aligning payroll cycles, contribution timing, and compliance controls to streamline payroll feeds, reduce errors, and create a scalable process for long term growth.
M&A Transaction and Plan Transition Support
Client is a 650 employee credit union
Freedom Fiduciaries supported a client through a merger by overseeing the termination of a legacy retirement plan and negotiating with the recordkeeper to facilitate group processing of individual rollovers for 75 employees. The transition minimized participant confusion, preserved assets, and ensured a compliant and efficient outcome during a critical business event.
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Community Based
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Youth Served
Our Community CommitmentFoster Youth
Founded in 2011 by Freedom Fiduciaries CEO Shane Hanson, Freedom Youth Foundation supports youth impacted by foster care by staying engaged before, during, and after critical moments in their lives. Through consistent relationships and meaningful experiences, we help build confidence, stability, and long-term opportunity.
Freedom Fiduciaries donates a portion of revenue to the cause on behalf of our clients.
Financial Literacy
Freedom Youth Foundation equips youth impacted by foster care with practical financial skills for everyday life and long-term stability.
Scholarships
Freedom Youth Foundation provides scholarships to support youth aging out of foster care as they pursue education, training, and a stable path forward.
Experiences
Freedom Youth Foundation creates meaningful experiences for youth impacted by foster care that they might not otherwise have access to.
Meet Our Team
Shane Hanson
President & CEO
Cristina Hansen, CPFA®
VP, Director of Client Service
Leanne Huber, AIF®
Relationship Manager
Brett Hays
Operations Manager
Khristina Conley
Service Associate
Zac Lineman
Software Developer
Kaleó
Administrative Bot
Careers
We welcome professionals who value independence and client-first work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan sponsors have important fiduciary responsibilities, and the rules can feel complex. Below are answers to common questions about how Freedom Fiduciaries helps employers manage retirement plans, reduce fiduciary risk, and support better outcomes for participants.
What does Freedom Fiduciaries do?
Freedom Fiduciaries provides independent fiduciary oversight and investment consulting to help employers manage retirement plans with confidence. We also support participants through education, advice, and access to wealth management solutions that promote informed decisions and long-term financial well-being.
Do you act as a fiduciary to the retirement plan?
Yes. Depending on the engagement, Freedom Fiduciaries can serve as a 3(21) co-fiduciary or a 3(38) discretionary investment fiduciary. In both cases, we accept fiduciary responsibility under ERISA, and make decisions based solely on the best interest of the plan and its participants.
How are you different from a financial advisor or recordkeeper?
Freedom Fiduciaries is independent and does not sell investments, receive commissions, or custody assets. Our sole focus is fiduciary consulting and advisory services. This independence allows us to deliver unbiased guidance, challenge service providers when necessary, and help plan sponsors fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities without conflicts of interest.
Contact Us!
Get In Touch With Us Today
Whether you are looking for an independent plan review, exploring career opportunities, or simply have a question, we are here to help.
Fee Reduction Through Data Driven Negotiation
Client is a 250 employee service company