Cannabis Retirement Solutions
Competitive, compliant, and customized retirement benefits, even without traditional banking access.
Operating a successful cannabis business shouldn’t mean you can’t support your employees’ financial futures. But, with the right Cannabis Retirement Solutions, you can!
Why Retirement Planning Is So Difficult in Cannabis
Cannabis businesses operate under the restrictions of Section 280E, limiting their tax deductions.
Classified as Schedule I or II substances, cannabis-related companies face restricted access to banking and retirement plan providers.
Many providers refuse to work with cannabis employers, making it difficult to establish traditional 401(k) plans or similar retirement benefits.
Give Your Team the Benefits They Deserve!
With skilled labor in high demand, offering retirement plans isn’t just a perk, it’s a necessity for attracting and keeping top talent in the cannabis industry.
Recruit and retain top talent in a competitive market
Foster employee loyalty with long-term financial tools
Elevate your employer brand with meaningful benefits
How Do We Do It?
A Seamless, Step-by-Step Approach
The C.A.N.N.A.B.I.S. System
C — Challenge: Breaking Through Barriers
Cannabis businesses face a distinct regulatory and financial environment:
- Section 280E disqualifies key tax deductions
- Traditional 401(k) providers often refuse to service the industry
- Banking limitations reduce access to payroll and benefit providers
“Just because cannabis is federally restricted doesn’t mean your business can’t support your employees’ futures.”
A — Attract: Compete for Top Talent
Attract and Retain Employees with Competitive Benefits.
- A strong retirement plan helps you stand out in a growing, competitive industry
- Benefits drive recruitment, loyalty, and morale
- Employees want to know their employer is invested in their long-term well-being
N — Navigate: Your Strategic Planning Partner
Asset Strategy’s Retirement Team helps you understand your:
- Business goals and size
- Workforce dynamics
- Compliance requirements
This step sets the foundation for a tailored and sustainable plan.
N — Next Steps: Custom Plan Design
Our team creates a retirement plan that is:
- Fully compliant with IRS and ERISA guidelines
- Aligned with your business’s goals and culture
- Scalable as your cannabis operation grows
We’ll ensure your plan is flexible, efficient, and legally sound.
A — Align: Building Your Retirement Ecosystem
We’ve built relationships with trusted:
- Recordkeepers
- Custodians
- Payroll & HR firms
- Third-party administrators
All of them understand and support cannabis business needs.
B — Build: Seamless Launch Execution
We don’t just create plans—we roll them out successfully. We provide:
- Employee education & communication tools
- Plan enrollment support
- Hands-on implementation with your team
I — Improve: Ongoing Oversight & Optimization
Once your plan is live, we deliver:
- Fiduciary services & risk oversight
- Regular investment lineup reviews
- Plan operations management
- Annual benchmarking & optimization
S — Sustain: A Partner You Can Count On
Sustain and Scale With Confidence! As your cannabis business grows, so will your retirement strategy. We stay with you to:
- Adjust plans with your business lifecycle
- Maintain compliance in a shifting legal environment
- Advise on plan enhancements and employee communications
Your Dedicated Retirement Plan Consulting Team
Tim Black
CPFA
Senior Consultant
Director of Retirement
Kent Fitzpatrick
AIFA®, GFS®, MSCTA©
Managing Director
Kevin Walsh
Retirement Solutions Consultant
Rosario Salamone
MAFM, CIMA®
Director of Investment Research
Partner
What is an OCRO?
Outsourced Chief Retirement Officer
An OCRO is a specialized third-party professional contracted to manage and oversee retirement plans and strategies through expert retirement plan consulting, embodying the responsibilities of an in-house Chief Retirement Officer.
The Retirement Plan Consulting Benefits of Engaging an OCRO?
1) Improved Plan Performance
How do I increase my retirement plan's performance?
The Asset Strategy Retirement Team, acting as your Outsourced Chief Retirement Officer (OCRO), delivers improved plan performance through disciplined investment oversight and ongoing benchmarking. Investment options are regularly reviewed and adjusted to align with participant demographics, control costs, manage risk, and support long-term retirement outcomes.
2) Enhanced Compliance & Fiduciary Risk Management
How do I reduce fiduciary risk and stay compliant with retirement plan regulations?
The Asset Strategy OCRO model provides structured fiduciary oversight, documented governance processes, and proactive monitoring of regulatory requirements. This approach helps plan sponsors stay compliant, reduce exposure to penalties or litigation, and demonstrate prudent fiduciary decision-making.
3) Retirement Plan Design Optimization
How do I design a retirement plan that works for my business and employees?
The Asset Strategy Retirement Team designs customized retirement plans that align with employer objectives and workforce needs. Through its OCRO services, the team evaluates plan features, contribution structures, and tax strategies to improve participation, maximize efficiency, and maintain compliance as organizations evolve.
4) Fiduciary Investment Management
How do I outsource the management of retirement plan investments responsibly?
As OCRO, the Asset Strategy Retirement Team assumes fiduciary responsibility for investment oversight. The team applies a research-driven process to select and monitor investment options, benchmark performance, and make adjustments when investments no longer meet fiduciary standards or participant needs.
5) Financial Wellness, Employee Education & Success
How do I help employees fully benefit from the retirement plan?
The Asset Strategy OCRO approach prioritizes participant education and engagement. The Retirement Team delivers clear, actionable guidance that helps employees understand their benefits, make informed decisions, increase savings behavior, and stay focused on long-term financial security.
6) Access to Specialized Expertise
How do I gain retirement plan expertise without building it in-house?
Through its OCRO services, the Asset Strategy Retirement Team provides access to experienced professionals specializing in retirement plan design, fiduciary governance, investments, and regulatory compliance. This allows plan sponsors to benefit from deep expertise without expanding internal staff.
7) Cost Efficiency
How do I reduce the total cost of managing my retirement plan?
The Asset Strategy Retirement Team conducts regular fee benchmarking and vendor analysis to ensure plan costs remain competitive and transparent. As OCRO, the team identifies cost-saving opportunities across recordkeeping, investment management, and administration — helping plan sponsors maximize value for every dollar spent.
8) Scalability and Flexibility
How do I ensure my retirement plan evolves with my organization?
The Asset Strategy Retirement Team structures OCRO services to adapt as organizations grow and change. Plan governance, investment oversight, and compliance support scale with workforce size and complexity, ensuring the retirement plan remains effective and compliant over time.
Tim Black, CPFA
Director of Retirement & Senior Consultant
Our OCRO Tim, is a retirement industry veteran with over 30 years of experience servicing retirement plan sponsors and participants. With a career beginning on Wall Street, a former CPA at a Big 4 CPA firm, and retirement plan administration, operations and finance experience, Tim has worked with employers ranging in size from 40,000 employees to single employee startup plans. Tim is also a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor with the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). He has degrees in both Economics and Accounting from Boston University.
Ready to enhance your organization’s retirement planning?
Schedule a FREE, NO-OBLIGATION consultation with our OCRO
Take the first step toward optimizing your organization’s retirement plan by scheduling a complimentary Discovery Call with our Outsourced Chief Retirement Officer (OCRO) for expert retirement plan consulting.