Before You Send Your Census to Your 401(k) Plan Auditor: A Pre-Testing Checklist

by JoAnn Cassell | Feb 15, 2026 | 401k Communication, Preparing for a 401(k) audit, Record Retention

Census data… I know, exciting! But seriously, before you hit “send” on your employee census to your third-party administrator (TPA) or auditor for testing, double-check the details. An accurate census is the foundation of your 401(k) plan audit, leading to reliable...

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...

Understanding your fiduciary responsibilities as a 401(k) plan sponsor

by JoAnn Cassell | Sep 15, 2024 | 401k Compliance, Fiduciary, Record Retention, Regulations & Policies

Understanding your fiduciary responsibilities as a 401(k) plan sponsor is critical to staying compliant and protecting yourself from personal liability. In short, no matter what, the buck stops with you. (Yes, we made a visual pun! Enjoy.) The Department of Labor...

Effective 1-1-24: New treatment of LTPT employees mandated by IRS

by JoAnn Cassell | Dec 15, 2023 | 401k Compliance, Employee Addition, Plan Sponsors, Record Retention, Regulations & Policies, SECURE Act

It’s official! The IRS (finally!) released guidance on the new treatment of LTPT employees (long-term part-time) vis-a-vis your 401(k) plan. And not a moment too soon! Changes are effective 1-1-24. Here’s what you need to know to treat LTPT employees properly in the...

Got M&A? Don’t forget to consider 401(k) plans in your merger or acquisition.

by JoAnn Cassell | Aug 15, 2023 | 401k Compliance, Merger & Acquisitions, Record Retention, Uncategorized

Don’t get surprised at audit time. Stay compliant when handling the 401(k) or benefits plans during a merger or acquisition. Merging or holding companies? Buying a business? “What will happen to our 401(k)?” is a question that rarely comes up. But the last...

You think you’re in compliance… your tech says otherwise

by JoAnn Cassell | Apr 20, 2022 | 401k Compliance, 401k Plan Mistakes, Record Retention

Today’s cloud-based business systems simplify and streamline processes like never before. They can help teams around the world collaborate as if they were just around the corner. But there’s a drawback: your technology can move faster than your compliance. A Japanese...