The #1 Reason ERISA Attorneys Refer Us — And What They Know That You Don’t
Attorneys See the Risk Before You Feel It
When an ERISA attorney recommends bringing in a third-party evaluator, plan sponsors often hesitate.
“We’ve never had a problem.”
“Our process is solid.”
“We already have a trusted advisor.”
But attorneys don’t refer lightly — their reputation depends on being right.
And they are usually seeing something you don’t yet feel: quiet, accumulating fiduciary risk.
85% of Culpepper RFP’s work comes from ERISA attorney referrals because they know exactly where plans fall short, even when everything seems fine.
What Attorneys Know That Most Plan Sponsors Don’t
ERISA attorneys live in the world of:
Litigation patterns
Regulatory audits
Fee reasonableness challenges
Vendor conflict-of-interest claims
They’ve seen firsthand that the biggest risks come from:
Incomplete documentation
Vendor renewals based on familiarity
Internal RFPs lacking neutrality
Fee benchmarking that hasn’t been updated in years
Silent risk is the most dangerous kind.
And it’s usually hiding in the plan sponsor’s processes — not their providers.
Why Legal Advice Alone Isn’t always Enough
Your attorney can:
Identify risks
Spot procedural gaps
Interpret ERISA requirements
Heavily encourage corrective action
A Third-Party Evaluation Strengthens the Attorney–Client Relationship
When attorneys refer us, we:
Validate the legal concerns they’ve raised
Provide an independent report clients trust
Deliver documentation attorneys can use defensively
Help get reluctant clients to take necessary action
We become an extension of the attorney’s strategy — part shield, part translator, part expert witness if needed.
Clients don’t always listen to legal warnings.
But they always listen to evidence.
Why ERISA Attorneys Choose Culpepper RFP Specifically
Attorneys refer us because:
We are conflict-free.
We aren’t advisors, brokers, or vendors. Our only job is to protect the plan.
We’ve sat on every side of the fiduciary table.
From investment manager to recordkeeper to plan fiduciary.
We produce audit-ready, court-ready documentation.
Our reports strengthen the sponsor’s defense before they ever need one.
We help attorneys protect their clients — and themselves.
If something goes wrong, attorneys want proof that they recommended the right process.
if Your Attorney Is Suggesting an Evaluation, Don’t Ignore the Signal
They are not overreacting.
They are not checking a box.
They are not being “extra cautious.”
They are doing what experienced ERISA attorneys do:
Recognizing risk before the fallout hits.
And they’re trying to keep you off the litigation map.
Want to know what your attorney may already see? Let’s talk.