Growing plan? What to put in place before an audit is required

by JoAnn Cassell | Sep 15, 2026 | 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Preparing for a 401(k) audit

Nobody schedules their first 401(k) audit. It arrives. Growth is gradual. You hire a few people. Then a few more. Auto-enrollment nudges your participation rate up. Employees leave, and their balances stay behind. Nobody wakes up one morning and announces, “We...

Is it time to change your 401(k) plan auditor?

by JoAnn Cassell | Aug 15, 2026 | 401k Audit Firm, Auditor, How to choose an auditor

If you’re like most plan sponsors, you don’t wake up one morning and decide to change your 401(k) plan auditor. It’s usually a slower process. Perhaps first, there’s a delayed response. Then another. Then, an engagement that takes longer than...

Mid-year 401(k) plan check-up: What would an auditor notice right now?

by JoAnn Cassell | Jul 15, 2026 | 401k Compliance, Regulations & Policies

If you’ve ever put off a doctor’s appointment because you felt fine, you’ll understand why some plan sponsors don’t think much about compliance until audit season arrives. Unfortunately, retirement plans have a lot in common with annual...

2026 SECURE checklist: Are you on track with the provisions due this year?

by JoAnn Cassell | Jun 15, 2026 | 401k Compliance, Regulations & Policies, SECURE Act

Every year has its “you really can’t ignore this anymore” compliance items. 2026 is… one of those years. To help, we put together this 2026 SECURE checklist to ensure you are on track with every compliance item due this year. To be fair, most plan sponsors have been...

M&A Q&A: What plan sponsors need to ask to stay compliant

by JoAnn Cassell | May 15, 2026 | 401k Compliance, Merger & Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions tend to create a very specific kind of optimism: “We closed the deal. Everybody survived. The hard part is over.” And then six months later, someone says: “Wait… what do you mean the plan merger was effective last year?” That’s usually when...