Can you believe it? Castle Rock Investment Company is officially 20 years old. As I sit down to write this first quarter review for 2026, I can't help but look back at where we started in 2006 and marvel at how far we've come.
When we first opened our doors, the retirement plan landscape looked a lot different. Paper forms were the norm, "automated" meant something very different, and the idea of a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) was still a distant dream for many small to mid-sized business owners. Fast forward two decades, and here we are: leading the charge with the Castle Rock PEP, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and continuing our mission to simplify retirement for everyone.
This Q1 2026 review isn't just a look at the numbers; it's a celebration of momentum. We have fresh funds in the lineup, new tools on our community page, and the same unwavering commitment to your financial security that we had on day one.
In 2006, Castle Rock Investment Company was founded on a simple premise: business owners deserve a retirement plan partner who actually looks out for them. We started with a small committee and a handful of partners who believed that fiduciary oversight shouldn't be a luxury reserved for the Fortune 500.
Over the last 20 years, we've weathered market cycles, regulatory shifts (hello, SECURE 2.0!), and the evolution of the 401(k). That mountain in our logo isn't just for show: it represents the stability we've built for our clients. Whether it was the financial crisis of 2008 or the post-pandemic shifts of the early 2020s, our goal has always been to provide a "castle" of protection for your employees' hard-earned savings.
If you're a visual learner, I've put together a quick summary of our Q1 2026 performance and updates. In this video, we dive into the specifics of the fund changes and the new resources available to you.
The transition from traditional, siloed 401(k) plans to the Castle Rock PEP has been the most significant evolution in our history. By pooling resources, our members gain access to institutional-quality investments and reduced administrative burdens that were previously out of reach.
Part of our job as your fiduciary is to ensure that the funds in your retirement plan are working as hard as you are. This quarter, after rigorous analysis, we made the decision to replace two funds in our lineup.
Why the change? We don't just look at absolute returns; we look at how a fund performs against its peers. For example, we continue to highlight the DFA Large Cap International Fund. It remains a top-tier example of our philosophy: keeping costs low while maintaining a high ranking against comparable international funds. When a fund begins to lag behind its peer group consistently, we move. That's the "active" part of our oversight.
Consistency is key for employee success. We've maintained our commitment to Vanguard Target Retirement Funds as the default investment option. These funds automatically adjust based on an employee's birth year, becoming more conservative as they approach retirement. It's the "set it and forget it" tool that ensures no one is left behind because they didn't know which box to check.
While our roots are in 2006, our eyes are firmly on the future. You might have noticed things running a bit smoother lately: that's thanks to our "AI Crew." By integrating advanced AI tools into our daily operations, we've been able to streamline the boring stuff (like data entry and report generation) so our human team can focus on what matters: talking to you.
Our digital assistants help us monitor 2026 contribution limits in real-time and ensure that our community page is always stocked with the latest tools. Speaking of which...
To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we've completely overhauled the Community Page. Think of this as the "Brain" of Castle Rock. We've taken 20 years of advising experience and distilled it into practical tools you can use right now.
One of the biggest wins this quarter has been the delivery of our full Q1 report. We know that compliance can feel like a burden, but we strive to frame it as an opportunity for transparency. Your Q1 package includes:
By staying proactive with SECURE 2.0 requirements and automated reporting, we ensure your plan remains a gold-standard benefit for your team without you having to stay up late reading tax codes.
Our success hasn't happened in a vacuum. Over the last 20 years, our involvement with organizations like the Western Pension & Benefits Council (WP&BC) has kept us at the forefront of industry trends. These partnerships allow us to benchmark the Castle Rock PEP against the best in the country.
We are proud of the recognition we've received, but we're even prouder of the "thank you" notes we get from employees who finally feel like they have a handle on their future.
Whether you've been with us since the 2006 committee meetings or you just joined the PEP this year, we want you to feel empowered.
We're here to do a deep dive into your goals or just provide a quick "PEP Talk" to keep you on track. Here's to 20 years of momentum, and many more to come.
Simplifying retirement for all. One plan. Every business.
This content was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools and reviewed by Castle Rock Investment Company for accuracy and completeness.