GuideStone Adopts Morningstar Platform

Benefits manager GuideStone Financial Resources has decided to offer online retirement planning advice and guidance solutions from Morningstar Associates, the registered investment advisory unit of Chicago-based fund tracker Morningstar Inc. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The solutions will be made available to GuideStone's plan participants in 175,000 Southern Baptist and other evangelical churches, ministries and institutions. The group constitutes $8.2 billion in assets.

"For several years, our participants have been asking for direction and guidance on how to invest for retirement," said John R. Jones, COO of Dallas-based GuideStone. "Morningstar's new Web-based service will offer our participants personalized retirement strategies and resources to help them make the most of the their retirement plan investment options."

Morningstar's online solution provides recommendations for retirement goals, target savings levels, portfolio construction, and the individual investments that are appropriate for the participant's situation. It is designed to appeal to both inexperienced and sophisticated investors.