Broadridge Financial Solutions has acquired iJoin to enhance its retirement services with advanced participant onboarding and engagement tools, aiming for long-term growth in the competitive retirement market.

Broadridge Financial Solutions has announced that it’s acquired iJoin, a tech provider specializing in participant onboarding and engagement, especially within the retirement space. This move aims to boost Broadridge's existing retirement plan services by bringing in iJoin’s advanced managed accounts and data-driven engagement tools. The goal? To offer clients a more all-encompassing suite of retirement solutions. Now, while this acquisition probably won’t cause a big bump in Broadridge’s immediate financial figures, it definitely fits into the company’s long-term strategy for growth, especially in the retirement services arena.

Broadridge is pretty well-known as a major player in investor communication and tech-powered financial solutions. Its clients include banks, brokerages, asset managers, and large corporations. The company spun off from Automatic Data Processing back in 2007, and today, it operates mainly through two segments: investor communication solutions and global tech and operations. Over the past year, Broadridge pulled in close to $6.9 billion in revenue, and it maintains a healthy operating margin of over 17%. Plus, its Altman Z-Score indicates a low risk of bankruptcy, which is reassuring. That said, there’s been some insider selling lately—so, a bit of caution from those close to the company.

Integrating iJoin’s tech should improve Broadridge’s ability to engage participants, especially around rollovers and onboarding, by automating those processes. For instance, iJoin’s IRA Clarity™ tool automates the process of identifying eligible 401(k) participants for rollovers, and it’s supported by Broadridge’s Decision Optimizer, which helps assess suitability, along with the PenChecks NextLevel IRA™ platform for opening accounts. Basically, it creates a seamless, end-to-end workflow that helps retain assets and makes the overall participant experience better. Additionally, iJoin has already teamed up with IPX Retirement and Broadridge to create in-plan retirement income options—like the Allianz Lifetime Income+® Fixed Index Annuity—which really addresses a key need for secure retirement income.

This acquisition doesn’t come out of nowhere—it complements other efforts Broadridge has made to bolster its retirement offerings. For example, in 2019, it bought the retirement plan custody and trust assets from TD Ameritrade Trust. That deal expanded Broadridge’s ability to provide directed trustee, custody, and trading services for mutual funds and ETFs—meaning the company can now address a broader client base in the qualified and non-qualified retirement markets. Altogether, these moves make Broadridge a more integrated provider of retirement solutions, which is pretty smart, if you ask me.

Looking at the market, Broadridge’s shares are trading at a premium valuation, with a price-to-earnings ratio that’s near its historical high. That suggests investors are pretty confident, though maybe with higher expectations, too. The company has shown steady revenue growth—around 8.5% annually over the past five years—and its EPS growth has been consistent as well. But of course, the sector isn’t risk-free. There are always changing tech demands and regulatory shifts that could impact things. Broadridge’s stock is slightly more volatile than the overall market, so some caution is probably wise. Institutional investors hold a big chunk of shares, but insiders own only a modest share, and recent insider sales might be something to keep in mind.

All in all, Broadridge’s purchase of iJoin underlines its commitment to enhancing its retirement platform through tech innovations that promote better participant engagement and help keep assets on the books. Even though the deal probably won’t deliver a quick boost to profits, the expanded capabilities and service options make the company stronger in a pretty competitive, ever-evolving market. As Broadridge moves forward, navigating sector challenges and market expectations, this kind of strategic investment highlights their focus on sustainable growth and staying ahead with innovative solutions for retirement plans. It’s pretty interesting, right?

Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative appears to be original, with no prior publications found. The acquisition of iJoin by Broadridge is a recent development, with no evidence of recycled content. The report includes updated data and specific details, indicating a high freshness score. However, the absence of prior coverage may warrant further scrutiny.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The direct quotes from Steve McCoy, Scott Okrasinski, and John Faustino are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. The wording of the quotes varies slightly from standard press release formats, which may indicate originality.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from GuruFocus, a financial news website. While it provides detailed information, the site's reputation is not as established as major outlets like the Financial Times or Reuters. This raises some uncertainty regarding the source's reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 7

Notes: The claims about Broadridge's acquisition of iJoin and the integration of their technologies are plausible and align with Broadridge's previous acquisition strategies. However, the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets and the absence of prior reporting on this acquisition suggest a need for further verification. The language and tone are consistent with corporate communications, and the report includes specific details that support its plausibility.

Overall assessment

Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents original content regarding Broadridge's acquisition of iJoin, with unique quotes and specific details. However, the lack of prior coverage from established news outlets and the source's moderate reliability raise concerns. Further verification from reputable sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the information.