Prudential Investments has launched a tool that aims to help financial advisers and their plan sponsor clients assess whether investments offered through retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, are adhering to the criteria in their investment policy statements.

Prudential Investments is the mutual fund business of Prudential Financial.

The free tool, called the IPS Scorecard, provides financial advisers with information to help plan sponsors determine whether existing investments measure up to their IPS criteria.

“Financial advisers can play a critical role in helping plan sponsors to build and maintain retirement plans for employees,” says Michael Rosenberg, who leads Prudential Investments’ defined contribution plan selling efforts. “Most important, with the right tools, advisors can provide vital information to help their plan sponsor clients decide why they should include or exclude investment choices from retirement plans.”

The IPS Scorecard provides institutional-quality reports that measure a range of selected criteria, including performance risk measures, portfolio manager tenure, expense ratios and others. Prudential created the tool exclusively for financial advisers who are looking to provide their plan sponsor clients with valuable support to defined contribution plans of any size.