Unlock More of Your Clients’ Retirement Assets with AssetMark’s Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts (SDBAs)

Today’s investors expect more from their retirement portfolios. They want more control, better personalization, and smarter strategies that fit their goals. Many are looking to their financial advisors, not only their plan sponsors, for guidance. In Schwab’s national 401(k) Participant Study, nearly three quarters of workers said they want personalized investment advice, and more than half want investments in their 401(k) to reflect their personal values.

To meet evolving demands, Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts (SBDAs) are gaining momentum. When incorporated into your overall strategy, SDBAs can help you manage assets inside employer plans without requiring a rollover or removing assets from the plan. Introducing SDBAs as part of your practice can be a scalable way to grow while adding real value for your clients. Recent industry data also shows that retirement assets represent about one-third of all U.S. household financial assets, which underscores how important these accounts are to clients' total assets.

What Is an SDBA, and Why It Matters

An SDBA is a brokerage window inside an employer-sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457. It gives participants the ability to diversify beyond standard investment selections and tap into potentially higher-growth investment strategies.

With AssetMark’s advisor-directed SDBA, the advisor helps determine and manage the investment strategy. The client receives professional guidance in an area that is often overlooked, and the advisor brings the retirement assets into a more cohesive plan where there is one view of the entire portfolio. As AssetMark CEO Michael Kim puts it: “As advisors look to provide more holistic financial guidance, the ability to manage clients’ retirement accounts is a critical component. Our SDBA solution helps empower advisors to meet that need—seamlessly and at scale.”

Why Advisors Are Taking Notice

Participant demand for advice is real, yet many investors still do not feel confident making 401(k) decisions on their own. Schwab’s 2025 study found only 27% feel very confident investing solo, a level that nearly doubles with professional help.

On the plan side, brokerage windows are now a mainstream feature. PSCA’s most recent questionnaire results indicate about one quarter of 401(k) plans offer a brokerage window, with usage more common among larger plans. Even so, only a small share of eligible participants actually use SDBAs today, which suggests there is room for advisors to add value through education and management. Alight’s recordkeeping data shows roughly 2.4% of actively employed participants use a brokerage window.

Many participants simply don’t know brokerage windows are an option—or they may not understand how an SDBA fits into their overall investment strategy. Others may be unsure about taking on more control or may view SDBAs as too complex. This is where advisors can make a meaningful difference. By helping participants understand what an SDBA is, how it works, and when it makes sense to use one, advisors can bridge the education gap and build confidence.

For added color, Schwab’s SDBA Indicators Report shows the average self-directed 401(k) account balance reached $362,302 in the second quarter of 2025, with advised accounts carrying higher averages than non-advised ones. This suggests participants who work with an advisor are more engaged and better positioned to benefit from broader investment options. By helping participants understand and navigate SDBAs, advisors can deepen relationships, demonstrate value, and help clients make more informed decisions to improve retirement outcomes.

SDBA: A Simple Way to Grow AUM without Adding Clients

Through an SDBA, advisors can grow managed assets and deepen client relationships without the added time and effort of bringing on new clients. By guiding participants in making more informed investment choices within the SDBA, advisors can increase engagement, demonstrate ongoing value, and expand assets under management with minimal administrative lift, all while strengthening trust and client satisfaction. The opportunity is also important because retirement accounts are a significant share of household financial assets, which means these dollars are central to your clients’ long-term outcomes.

What Sets AssetMark’s SDBA Apart

While many platforms offer SDBA access, AssetMark’s solution is built for advisors:

• Advisor-directed control. You drive the strategy and oversight while your clients benefit from professional management.

• Integrated platform access. Manage SDBA assets alongside other accounts in AssetMark’s eWealthManager^® platform, including connections to Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account and Fidelity BrokerageLink.

• Dedicated advisor support. AssetMark provides implementation guidance and resources so you can scale confidently.

If you are looking to:

• Expand AUM without expanding your client base

• Provide more personalized, retirement-aware strategies

• Stand out and add more value in a crowded advisor marketplace

AssetMark’s SDBA can be a valuable addition to your practice. Learn more about how this solution can help you turn previously inaccessible plan assets into a tailored, more integrated part of your client strategy.

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8654228.1. | 12/2025 | EXP 12/31/2027