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...

Are you retaining your digitally signed payroll Form I-9 correctly? You might not be.

by JoAnn Cassell | Jan 15, 2025 | 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Record Retention, Regulations & Policies

Updating your payroll procedures for paperless, electronic documents? Good. Improperly retaining said documents, putting you out of compliance with federal policy and regulation? Bad. In short, are you retaining your digitally signed payroll Form I-9 correctly? Here’s...

Year-end is coming! Complete these year-end 401(k) plan tasks to stay compliant

by JoAnn Cassell | Nov 15, 2024 | 401k Compliance, 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Audit Deadlines

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” Frozen turkeys go on sale, holiday carols fill the airwaves… and retirement plan sponsors check off those year-end 401(k) plan tasks to stay compliant. (That’s what you were thinking, too, right?) Because by the end of the...

How to prepare for your first 401(k) plan audit

by JoAnn Cassell | Mar 15, 2024 | 401k Plan Audit, 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Audit Deadlines, Audit Procedures, Preparing for a 401(k) audit

For employers or plan sponsors with 401(k) plans with 100 or more participants with balances, here’s how to prepare for your first 401(k) plan audit.  Step One: Determine whether your 401(k) plan requires an independent audit. Firstly, who makes this determination? ...

A quick-and-easy checklist for your next 401(k) plan audit

by JoAnn Cassell | Feb 15, 2024 | 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Plan Sponsors, Preparing for a 401(k) audit, Regulations & Policies

As a seasoned plan sponsor, this is not your first audit. Here is a quick-and-easy checklist for your next 401(k) plan audit so you catch what may have changed—on your side or the regulatory side — to ensure that your next audit is as painless and efficient as...

Stay on top of audits: Document your 401k oversight activities

by JoAnn Cassell | Jun 16, 2021 | 401k Audit Oversight, 401k Plan Audit Documentation, Audit Procedures

We all know that 401k plans provide benefits to employees and employers alike, offering enhanced retirement security for workers and acting as an enticement when recruiting new employees. But for those charged with managing 401k oversight, these popular plans bring...