06.16.21

Sign Your Plan Document, Warns the IRS
Stephanie Zaleski-Braatz

When the IRS audits a retirement plan, it expects the plan sponsor to produce a plan document and amendments that have been signed by the relevant fiduciaries. Except under extraordinary circumstances, an unsigned plan document will not suffice. The IRS recently reiterated this position in a memorandum issued by the Office of Chief Counsel. It […]

05.19.21

Small Business (and All Other Plan Sponsors) Oversight of Retirement Plan Investments

Prudence dictates that qualified plan sponsors periodically re-examine compliance with the fiduciary obligations of their retirement plans. A major area to consider is your fiduciary responsibilities over plan investments. This is essential for all plan sponsors, and in particular, plan sponsors of small businesses that do not have the resources or the time to oversee […]

04.20.21

Is Your Cybersecurity Policy Up to the Task?
James Quaid

Do you have a robust cybersecurity policy to keep your retirement plan safe from cybercriminals? The 2020 Cyber Security Risk Report by Aon finds that, “organizations often have a false sense of confidence regarding data security, particularly when it comes to risks potentially posed by third-party service providers.” The ever-growing magnitude of the threat and […]

03.29.21

Pooled Employer Plans: A Look at How Small Employers Can Benefit
James Pellino

Employers and retirement plan services providers have had a year to mull over their options since the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 paved the way for the launch of pooled employer plans (PEPs). For small businesses, these new plans may fundamentally change the quality of and access to retirement […]

02.08.21

Watch Employee Turnover Rate to Avoid Partial Termination

If you have laid off more than 20% of your plan participants over the course of your plan year — an unfortunate necessity for many employers during the COVID-19 pandemic — the IRS could deem that your retirement plan has undergone a “partial termination.” Such a partial termination would trigger the immediate vesting of all […]

01.28.21

SECURE Act: Changes to 401(k) Plan Eligibility and Vesting for Part-Time Employees

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 contained the most significant legislative changes to the private-sector retirement system in decades. One of the SECURE Act’s provisions changes the 401(k) plan eligibility requirements for part-time employees. Related Read: What You Need to Know About the SECURE Act Understanding the rule Previously, part-time […]

12.29.20

Understanding Private Equity Investments in Defined Contribution Plans
James Pellino

The Department of Labor (DOL) recently released an “information letter” in response to inquiries from the private equity industry as to whether private equity investments can be offered to defined contribution plans. Per the DOL’s response, it will allow defined contribution plans to offer indirect investment in private equity funds. Is this a good fit […]

12.14.20

Remote Work May Be Here to Stay — Are You Ready?
Harry Fox

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to shift gears and focus on ways to conduct business remotely. Many experts believe that the trend toward remote work will continue even after the pandemic is over. Unlike other businesses, manufacturers must continue to rely on workers on the shop floor, such as machinists, assemblers and repair […]

11.05.20

Should You Establish a Retirement Plan Governance Committee?
James Quaid

Retirement plan governance is the system through which key decisions are made about strategy and operations, including plan design, administration and investment choices. Typically, at the core of plan governance is an official plan governance committee. Although the Department of Labor (DOL) and IRS do not require a plan to have a plan governance committee, […]

09.30.20

Budget Planning: Three Things to Ask Before Building Next Year’s Budget
Chris Arndt

It is budget-planning time. After a year that may very well have derailed your budget, and despite how begrudgingly you might enter this process, now is the time to plan next year’s budget. Digging deeper into the essential questions from budgeting and forecasting for high-growth companies is a great place to start. Related Read: Five […]