Benefits September 2, 2008

New 403(b) Administrator Announces First Provider Acquisitions

September 2, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - U.S. Retirement Partners, which recently launched as a 403(b) benefits administrator, announced it has closed on the acquisitions of the first three regional companies that will be part of its national network of providers serving the K-12 teacher market.

Reported by

Rebecca Moore

According to the announcement, the three companies becoming part of U.S. Retirement Partners are: F.R. Owen & Associates of North Carolina, Eschels Financial Group of Michigan, and Stephen H, Greenberg & Associates of Florida.

F.R. Owen & Associates of Charlotte, N.C., was founded in 1980 jointly with Frank R. Owen, Jr. the father of principal Frank Owen III, who is president of the 403(b) trade group called the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association, the announcement said. Eschels Financial Group is a suburban Detroit company that has a longstanding 403(b) business serving southeastern Michigan with about $110 million in assets. Stephen H. Greenberg & Associates serves 3,000 clients in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area from its offices in Weston, Florida.

In June, U.S. Retirement Partners announced it would offer leading 403(b) regional firms a partnership in a national network with access to more advanced administrative products and services, broader best practices expertise, a wide array of investment offerings, sophisticated marketing tools, and other resources (See New Business Gives 403(b) Providers Access to More Tools ).

More information is at www.usretirementpartners.com .

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