Protecting Participant Data: A Business Owner's Introduction to 401(k) Cybersecurity
Retirement plan data moves among sponsors, payroll providers, recordkeepers, and TPAs, so sponsors need practical oversight rather than technical expertise. This post covers data flows, shared provider responsibility, internal handling habits, repeatable reviews, and incident preparation. A five-step oversight process and provider questions help sponsors document and revisit cybersecurity governance.
The Safe Harbor 401(k) Adoption Deadline: What Business Owners Should Know
Safe harbor design often comes up as business owners plan for year-end testing and next-year administration.
Coverage Testing Explained: Making Sure Your Plan Serves the Right Employees
A retirement plan is built around eligibility and participation rules, but those rules also create a compliance-testing question: whether the plan is benefiting the employee groups it is designed to serve under applicable requirements.
Highly Compensated Employees: How the Definition Affects Your Testing
During October’s compliance-testing focus, the definition of a highly compensated employee is an important item for business owners to understand at a high level.
Reviewing Preliminary Testing Results Before the Fourth Quarter Rush
October is a useful point in the compliance calendar because preliminary testing information can turn year-end surprises into a planning conversation.
Setting a Plan Design Review Meeting Before Year-End Deadlines Arrive
A plan design review meeting is one of the simplest governance habits a business owner can establish before year-end. It creates dedicated time to look at the 401(k) as part of the company’s total-rewards program rather than as a set of isolated administrative tasks.
Auto-Enrollment and Auto-Escalation: Is It Time to Add These Features?
As benefits season approaches, business owners often review whether their 401(k) plan is easy to explain, administer, and integrate with the company’s broader rewards program.
Auto-Enrollment and Auto-Escalation: Is It Time to Add These Features?
As benefits season approaches, business owners often review whether their 401(k) plan is easy to explain, administer, and integrate with the company’s broader rewards program.
Considering a Safe Harbor 401(k) Design for Next Plan Year: What to Weigh Now
Benefits season is a useful planning window for looking beyond enrollment materials and toward the operating choices that shape next year’s 401(k) plan.
Bundling Your 401(k) Message Into Your Broader Benefits Communication
During open enrollment, employees may receive a large volume of information about medical coverage, flexible spending arrangements, payroll elections, and other workplace benefits.
Why Open Enrollment Season Is a Natural Moment to Revisit Your 401(k)
Open enrollment often concentrates attention on health coverage, payroll elections, and the employer’s overall benefits package.
Is Your 401(k) Investment Menu Still Diversified Enough for an Unstable Market?
Volatile markets often prompt a broad question from business owners: Is our 401(k) investment menu still appropriately diversified?