2025 Top Retirement Plan Adviser: Phil Senderowitz
This year, PLANADVISER followed up with advisers on the 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers listing to get to know them better. These are the responses from Phil Senderowitz of Strategic Retirement Partners in Maitland, Florida.
PLANADVISER: What does it take to be a successful retirement plan adviser in 2025?
Senderowitz: You need to know your stuff and be able to explain it in a way that doesn’t make the client’s eyes glaze over. Employers are looking for someone who brings order to a chaotic system and takes things off their plate. That means understanding fiduciary rules, payroll integration, participant behavior, plan design and technology—nd knowing how to lead a conversation without making it a lecture.
PLANADVISER: Has the focus or character of your practice shifted meaningfully over time to respond to evolving client demands, market pressures or the emergence of new technologies?
Senderowitz: Absolutely. I’ve always worked with small to midsize businesses, but the tools and expectations have changed. My clients want more support and less homework. So we built a system that anticipates what they need before they ask. We’ve leaned into automation, improved participant engagement and created scalable platforms like WELLthBuilder that simplify the plan sponsor experience without watering it down.
PLANADVISER: What are some of the most important growth strategies that have generated success for your firm? Where do you source new clients most effectively?
Senderowitz: We grow through relationships, not campaigns. Referrals have always been our strongest source of new business, followed closely by education. I speak at conferences, share stories on LinkedIn and respond when someone says, “I heard you’re the person to call when things are messy.” That’s where the real momentum comes from.
PLANADVISER: How do you balance the desire to grow with the need to keep clients happy?
Senderowitz: We make sure growth doesn’t outpace service. That means systems have to be solid, and communication has to be proactive. When a client calls, they get an answer. When a change happens, we explain it. We treat clients like long-term partners, not numbers in a list, because that’s what they are.
PLANADVISER: What is something you or your team learned the hard way about this business?
Senderowitz: Technical accuracy isn’t enough. It has to be understandable and actionable. Early on, I gave clients perfect answers to questions they didn’t understand. Now, I lead with clarity. If a client can’t explain their own plan to their employees, we haven’t done our job.
PLANADVISER: What are the most challenging aspects of the job? What are the most enjoyable?
Senderowitz: The hardest part is watching good people get stuck in bad plans because no one took the time to guide them. The most enjoyable part is fixing that. Seeing an overwhelmed HR manager breathe easier because we took something off her plate or watching participation jump from 30% to 80%—that never gets old.
PLANADVISER: How do you foresee the retirement plan industry evolving in the coming decade? Will your practice look much the same in 10 years, or do you see significant evolution coming?
Senderowitz: The next decade will bring deeper integration, more personalization and higher expectations. Employers will want plug-and-play simplicity. Employees will expect plans that adjust to their lives. My practice is already heading in that direction. We’re building for scale, while staying grounded in what makes plans work for real people.
PLANADVISER: For those plan sponsors looking for a new plan adviser, describe what makes your firm stand out.
Senderowitz: We take ownership. When something goes wrong, we fix it. When a client needs help, we show up. We’re fiduciaries, educators and problem-solvers. We build strong plans that work for sponsors and their employees. And we make sure the people running the company can sleep at night, knowing their retirement plan is handled.
View Other Top Retirement Plan Adviser Profiles Here