JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, today announced the addition of two new recordkeepers as part of the continued expansion and enhancement of its Retirement Plan Network. The new firms added are 401kDIRECT and Summit Benefit Solutions, with additional providers expected to be added in the months ahead.

The two firms were selected for their ability to provide advisors utilizing Pershing's Retirement Plan Network with a greater range of recordkeeping options, both in terms of client size focus, specialization and geography. The role of the recordkeeper has become increasingly critical, as advisors look to gain easier access to data, attain better oversight of their overall retirement business and respond to new regulatory developments, such as the Department of Labor's proposed Conflict of Interest Rule.

"Having a choice of recordkeepers is important to retirement plan advisors as they define their market niche and client focus," said Marc Caras, director of Pershing's retirement plan business. "In the retirement space, the recordkeeper serves as the key point of contact for critical information, which can facilitate timely service and help advisors streamline their compliance efforts."

Pershing's Retirement Plan Network enables advisors to connect to independent recordkeepers, hold assets in custody, and leverage a fully integrated suite of investment products, retirement plan tools and practice management solutions. In addition, the Retirement Plan Network offers advisors a comprehensive view of plan details across network recordkeepers for all of their business held in custody with Pershing.

"We are personally invested in our clients' success, and these enhancements demonstrate our commitment to serving the retirement space. We expect to announce a number of other key enhancements across the network in the coming months, focusing especially on the areas of data and integrated fiduciary tools, both of which are critically important topics to advisors," Caras added.

For more information about Pershing's Retirement Plan Network, please visit www.pershing.com/rpn.

About 401kDIRECT
401kDIRECT is one of the leading open architecture retirement plan providers in the industry. It is committed to Advisor, RIA and TPA delivered plans that enjoy highly competitive, fully transparent pricing. With over 30 years of experience offering retirement plan solutions, 401kDIRECT is able to deliver customizable plan solutions and access to over 25,000 mutual funds, ETFs, CIFs and more.

About Summit Benefit Solutions
Summit Benefit Solutions, Inc. provides you with an all-encompassing hire to retire solution. Since 1999, we have offered custom plan design consulting for startup and takeover plans, document services, recordkeeping, plan administration and any human capital management needs.  Our specialty is providing small to mid-size businesses with customized benefit plan solutions.  What differentiates us from competitors is how we approach our work with service and flexibility provided by our skilled and knowledgeable team.

About Pershing
Pershing and its affiliates provide global financial business solutions to advisors, asset managers, broker-dealers, family offices, registered investment advisor firms and wealth managers. A financial services firm located in 23 offices worldwide, Pershing provides business-to-business solutions to clients representing 6 million active investor accounts on the U.S. platform. Pershing affiliates are members of every major U.S. securities exchange, and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Börse, Australian Stock Exchange, Irish Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available on pershing.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pershing.

About BNY Mellon
BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of Dec. 31, 2015, BNY Mellon had $28.9 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

Cassandra Osei
+1 201 413 3394
Cassandra.osei@pershing.com

SOURCE BNY Mellon