International Retirement Technology Firm: From Zero to US Market Entry
The Challenge
An international retirement technology company needed to enter the US retirement market. The US market has its own plan types (401(k), 403(b), IRA, defined benefit), its own regulatory framework, its own compliance requirements, and its own operational expectations. The client had no experience with any of them.
They needed a partner who could guide them from no prior US retirement market experience to a competitive market entry, in practice and not only on paper.
Our Approach
Convergent's engagement spanned 8 Statements of Work over 3 years, covering every dimension of US market entry:
Market Assessment. We provided a comprehensive analysis of the US retirement market, including plan types, regulatory requirements, competitive dynamics, and operational standards.
Product Roadmap Development. We helped the client design a product roadmap that could compete in the US market, identifying must-have capabilities across 401(k), 403(b), IRA, and defined benefit plan types.
Platform Capability Assessment. We evaluated the client's existing technology platform against US market requirements, identifying gaps and development priorities.
Acquisition Due Diligence. We conducted two separate acquisition due diligence assessments for potential US retirement technology targets, evaluating platform capabilities, client bases, and integration complexity.
Operating Model Design. We helped design the organizational and operational model for the client's US operations, including staffing plans, service delivery models, and compliance frameworks.
The Results
The client successfully entered the US retirement market with a clear strategy, a validated product roadmap, and the operational framework to compete. The engagement showed that Convergent can serve as a strategic partner, and not only a technical resource, for companies working through the complexities of the US retirement system.
The $800K+ engagement value reflects the depth and duration of Convergent's commitment to the client's success, and the trust they placed in our team to guide their most important strategic initiative.
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