ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Newport Group, a national provider of retirement and executive benefit plans, is pleased to announce it has received a record 64 “Best in Class” honors in Plansponsor magazine’s 2013 Defined Contribution Survey. This annual survey is the retirement industry’s leading measure of companies’ satisfaction with their plan providers. Newport’s 64 awards are the firm’s highest-ever total, and place it among the leading retirement and executive benefit plan providers nationwide.

“With this recognition, employers are sending a clear message that they appreciate the services we’re providing—both to them as plan sponsors and to the employees participating in their retirement and executive benefit plans,” said Bryant Kirk, Newport’s Chief Operating Officer. “It is a strong expression of confidence in Newport as a provider, and we’re honored to have earned that trust.”

Newport was recognized across a wide range of plan sizes and in categories including technology, service center, industry knowledge, responsiveness, range of investment options, fee fairness and fee disclosure. And 100% of the plan sponsors surveyed described themselves as “likely” to recommend Newport to others, with 81% saying they were “extremely likely” to do so.

“Client satisfaction has always been our highest priority,” Kirk commented, “and we would like to thank our plan sponsors for this recognition. We would also like to thank the many Newport associates who are committed to providing the best service each and every day.”

About The Newport Group

Founded in 1984, The Newport Group is a leading retirement services firm—specializing in the creative design and administration of retirement and executive benefit plans. Through its innovative and customized solutions, Newport is uniquely positioned to satisfy the distinct financial needs of employers and employees, and has done so for hundreds of the country’s largest and best-known companies.

Newport is headquartered in Heathrow (Orlando), FL, with service centers in Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Greensboro, NC, La Crosse, WI, Los Angeles, CA, Orlando, FL, Richmond, VA, and St. Petersburg, FL. Newport also has offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, New York, NY, San Francisco, and St. Louis, MO. For more information, visit www.newportgroup.com.

About PLANSPONSOR

PLANSPONSOR magazine, an Asset International, Inc. publication, is the USA's leading authority on retirement issues and benefits programs. PLANSPONSOR.com provides comprehensive news and commerce services dedicated solely to helping employers and financial advisers navigate the complex world of retirement plans and benefit programs on behalf of their employees or clients. For more information, see www.plansponsor.com

About Asset International

Asset International is a privately-held provider of information and technology to global pension funds, asset managers, financial advisers, banking service providers, and other financial institutions in the private and public sector. Its industry-leading brands include Strategic Insight, SIMFUND, Plan For Life, PLANSPONSOR, PLANSPONSOR Europe, PLANADVISER, aiCIO, Global Custodian, and The Trade. The company has offices in New York, Boston, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne and Stamford, CT.