Your workplace retirement plan is more than just a box you check during open enrollment. It’s one of the most powerful tools you have for building long-term wealth. For many people, it’s also one of their largest financial assets. Yet, too often, these accounts are left on autopilot, restricted to a limited list of investment choices.

But what if you could open the door to a broader range of investments without moving your money out of your retirement plan? And what if your financial advisor could manage those assets right alongside the rest of your portfolio, creating a truly personalized wealth-building strategy?

That’s exactly what a Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA) can do.

What is a Self-Directed Brokerage Account?

A Self-Directed Brokerage Account is a feature available in many workplace retirement plans, such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans, that allows you to go beyond the standard list of pre-selected investments offered by your employer.

Instead of being limited to a handful of mutual funds or target-date funds, an SDBA gives you access to a much wider universe of investments, often through platforms like Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account® or Fidelity BrokerageLink®.

Think of it as opening a window from your existing retirement plan to the larger investment marketplace. You still keep the tax advantages and convenience of your employer-sponsored plan, but you gain far more flexibility in choosing how your money is invested.

Why Consider an SDBA?

Choosing an SDBA isn’t about replacing your retirement plan — it’s about enhancing it. Here are some of the top reasons investors explore this option:

1. Personalized Investment Strategy

No two investors are alike. With an SDBA, your financial advisor can design a customized portfolio that reflects your unique goals, risk tolerance, and timeline. This means your retirement assets are working in sync with your broader wealth plan, not in isolation.

2. Expanded Investment Options

Traditional retirement plans often offer a small, fixed menu of funds. With an SDBA, you can access a much wider selection, including:

• A broader range of mutual funds

• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

• Individual stocks and bonds

• Specialized investment strategies

This flexibility can help you pursue opportunities that better align with your investment preferences.

3. Holistic Portfolio Management

When your advisor can manage your retirement account alongside your other investment accounts, it creates a more complete picture of your financial life. This holistic approach can help ensure that all your assets are working toward the same goals, with coordinated risk management and investment strategies.

4. Professional Guidance

An SDBA doesn’t mean you’re on your own. In fact, it can mean quite the opposite.  You can partner with your financial advisor to make informed choices, avoid common pitfalls, and adapt your strategy as your life and the markets change.

5. Potential for Greater Growth

By broadening your investment menu, you have the ability to diversify beyond standard plan offerings. You can tap into strategies that may offer higher long-term growth potential while still keeping risk at a level that’s appropriate for you.

Is An SDBA Right For You?

An SDBA can be a valuable tool, but it’s not for everyone. To help determine if it’s worth exploring, ask yourself:

• Do I want my advisor to access a wider range of investment options beyond my plan’s core menu?

• Am I interested in a more personalized investment strategy that’s tailored to my goals?

• Do I want greater flexibility in how my retirement assets are managed?

• Would I benefit from having my retirement account coordinated with my broader financial plan?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, it may be time to talk with your advisor about whether an SDBA fits into your strategy.

The AssetMark Advantage 

At EmVision Capital Advisors, we partner with AssetMark, one of the largest wealth management platforms in the country. This relationship gives our clients seamless access to professional management for their retirement assets through SDBAs.

With AssetMark’s SDBA solution, your advisor can:

• Invest your retirement assets in the same high-quality investment models used for your other accounts

• Align your retirement account with your overall goals and risk profile

• Provide a single, coordinated strategy for all your investments

• Offer ongoing, comprehensive guidance as your needs evolve

The result? A retirement strategy that’s truly integrated with the rest of your financial life.

How To Get Started with an SDBA

Opening an SDBA is easier than you might think. Here’s the typical process:

1. Check Eligibility
   Not all workplace retirement plans offer an SDBA option. Your advisor can help you find out if yours does.

2. Set Up Your Account
   If eligible, your advisor will guide you through the process of opening an SDBA within your plan, often through a provider like Schwab or Fidelity.

3. Implement Your Strategy
   Once your account is open, your advisor can build and manage a personalized investment strategy that’s aligned with your long-term plan.

What to Keep in Mind

While SDBAs can open up new opportunities, they also require careful consideration:

• Investment Risk – With greater choice comes greater responsibility. An SDBA can hold higher-risk assets, so having professional guidance is key.

• Plan Rules – Some employer plans may impose limits on certain investments or transaction types within the SDBA.

• Fees – Depending on your plan and provider, SDBAs may have additional fees for transactions or account maintenance.

• Long-Term Focus – Like any retirement investment, SDBAs work best as part of a long-term strategy, not for short-term trading.

Your advisor can help you navigate these factors and determine whether an SDBA makes sense given your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance.

Why Now Might Be The Right Time

Markets, tax laws, and your personal circumstances are always changing. If you’ve been contributing to your retirement plan for years but have never reviewed your investment options beyond the basic menu, now may be the perfect time to explore your choices.

By unlocking the potential of an SDBA, you can:

• Put more of your retirement dollars to work

• Align your portfolio with your current financial plan

• Access strategies that may help improve long-term growth potential

• Ensure your retirement assets aren’t sitting idle in overly conservative or generic investments

The Bottom Line

Your retirement assets represent years, if not decades, of disciplined saving and investing. They deserve the same level of attention, care, and strategy as the rest of your portfolio.

A Self-Directed Brokerage Account can be a powerful way to:

• Expand your investment options

• Personalize your retirement strategy

• Integrate your retirement plan with your broader financial goals

• Potentially enhance long-term performance

If your employer’s plan offers an SDBA option, it’s worth a conversation with your financial advisor to see how it could fit into your plan. The difference it makes in your retirement lifestyle could be substantial.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

At EmVision, we help clients take control of their retirement future by making the most of every available tool, including SDBAs. If you’d like to learn more about whether an SDBA is right for you, let’s talk.

Johnathon Opet, CFP® is a financial advisor located at EmVision Capital Advisors, 251 W. Garfield Rd. ​Suite 155 Aurora, OH 44202. He offers securities and advisory services as an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. He can be reached at (330) 954-3770 or at info@emvisioncapital.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Fixed insurance products and services are separate from and not offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®.