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Equitable's pooled retirement plans
Pooled retirement plans include pooled employer plans (PEPs) and multiple employer plans (MEPs) that allow multiple employers who want to provide a 401(k) or ERISA 403(b) retirement plan to join a single retirement plan, helping to simplify planning and reduce complexities for your business and your clients.
Benefits of pooled retirement plans
Multiple employer plans (MEPs) and pooled employer plans (PEPs)
MEPs and PEPs are two solid retirement plan options for 401(k) and ERISA 403(b) retirement plans. Choosing the best fit for your client may depend on their needs, available resources and preferences.
Multiple employer plans (MEPs)
- Retirement plan that requires a common nexus between employers
- Retirement plan document managed by MEP sponsor
- QDIA is chosen by the MEP sponsor for all adopters
- Administrative functions at MEP level 3(16)
Pooled employer plans (PEPs)
- Retirement plan that does not require a common nexus between employers
- Retirement plan document managed by PPP for all adopters
- QDIA is chosen by the PPP for all adopters
- Administrative functions at PEP level 3(16)
Explore our pooled employer plans (PEPs)
Equitable offers pooled retirement plan with two options: a 401(k) PEP and an ERISA 403(b) PEP. The retirement plan selected is based on your clients’ business type.
Interested in multiple employer plans (MEPs)? Contact our sales desk to get started
Tools and resources to build retirement plan success
Frequently asked questions
Multiple employer plans (MEPs): employers that typically share a commonality (e.g., association, PEO, trade group) join one plan overseen by a lead plan sponsor; one Form 5500 and one audit at the plan level (when ≥100 participants), with some adopter flexibility (e.g., participation, matching, vesting) and most plan provisions managed by the lead sponsor (e.g., investments, notices, regulatory compliance).
Pooled employer plans (PEPs): introduced by the SECURE Act; unrelated employers can adopt a single plan run by a pooled plan provider (PPP); similar pooled filings/audits and adopter flexibility.
Eligible plan types: Pooled employer plans (PEPs) and multiple employer plans (MEPs) can be structured for 401(k), and (post-SECURE Act expansion) ERISA 403(b) pooled arrangements are increasingly available.
Adopters: MEPs typically require association/PEO commonality; PEPs allow any business to join.
In Pooled structures, many administrative and investment fiduciary duties (e.g., fund lineup selection/monitoring) are centralized at the MEP sponsor or PPP level. Employers still retain fiduciary obligations (e.g., prudent selection/oversight of the PPP/sponsor and timely payroll deferrals).
Pooled plans generally file one Form 5500 for the entire plan; if the plan has ≥100 participants, a single plan level audit is required (cost shared across adopters). Single employer plans file a Form 5500 per employer and bear their own audit costs/thresholds.
Gain: simplified governance, pooled buying power and shared compliance.
Trade-offs: fund menus and account service providers (notice delivery, investment fiduciary, third-party administrator, etc.) must be the same for all adopters and are managed and monitored by the MEP sponsor/PPP.
Costs are affected by pooled administration, centralized fiduciary services and shared audits/filings; many sponsors see lower per participant costs versus standalone plans due to scale and simplified operations, though adopters should compare fees, revenue sharing and service levels carefully.
Pooled plans are designed to simplify adoption, reduce administrative friction and make it easier for smaller employers to offer workplace retirement benefits, which addresses access gaps among workers at small firms.
The SECURE Act formalized PEPs for defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and increased industry interest; internal updates note strong market momentum and growth expectations for new PEP formations over the next several years.
Financial professionals and employers can offer general investment education (plan features, asset classes, retirement income basics, risk tolerance and asset allocation models for hypothetical profiles) consistent with DOL Interpretive Bulletin 961, while clearly not providing individualized advice.
Ideal for pooled retirement plan: employers in PEOs/associations/trade groups (MEPs) or any small/midsized business that values outsourced fiduciary/administrative responsibilities (PEPs), is comfortable with standardized design and wants to accelerate plan launch.
Better as single employer plan: organizations needing extensive customization, proprietary investment menus, or distinct governance preferences.
Work with us
Call our workplace retirement sales desk
(866) 401-3030
Option 1: 401(k) | Option 3: 403(b) | Option 7: MEP and PEP
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
For financial professionals only. If you are an individual investor, please contact your financial professional for more information.
Need help with a group retirement annuity product such as 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) plan or EQUI-VEST® account?
Call (800) 628-6673
For Financial Professional Use Only.
Products funding workplace retirement plans are issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) NY, NY. Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY); Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company with an administrative office in Charlotte, NC; and Equitable Distributors, LLC. The obligations of Equitable Financial and Equitable America are backed solely by their claims-paying abilities.
The Equitable Retirement AccessSM defined contribution program consists of a custodial account offered through Benefit Trust Company, within which plan participants' chosen mutual fund shares are held, as well as a group fixed annuity contract (generic form number 2016FA-MFrev, 2016FA-MF403b) issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial). The Equitable Retirement AccessSM defined contribution program is distributed by Equitable Distributors, LLC (Equitable Distributors) and Equitable Network, LLC (Equitable Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC in CA; Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC in UT; Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc. in PR). Equitable Financial and Equitable Distributors are located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10104, (212) 314-4600. Equitable Network, LLC is located at 8501 IBM Drive, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28262.Equitable Financial is solely responsible for meeting the obligations of the group fixed annuity contract. Equitable Financial and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice or services.
Benefits Trust Company serves as custodian of mutual funds selected by plan participants. MAP Retirement, LLC acts as the pooled plan provider and plan sponsor, 3(16) plan administrator, named fiduciary, and entity responsible for performing all administrative duties. SWBC Retirement Plan Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of SWBC, which was established in 1976. Advisory services are offered by SWBC Investment Advisory Services, LLC, d/b/a SWBC Retirement Plan Services, an SEC-registered investment adviser. MAP Retirement, LLC, Benefit Trust Company, Plan Notice, LLC, and SWBC are not subsidiaries or affiliates of Equitable Holdings, Inc.
GE-8726895.1 (01/2026) (Exp. 01/2030)