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...
by JoAnn Cassell | Oct 15, 2024 | 401k Auto-Enrollment, 401k Communication, 401k Compliance, Employee Addition, Regulations & Policies, Safe Harbor 401(k)
Autumn is well underway, and with it comes those seasonal tasks: Hire the neighborhood kid to rake fallen leaves… Check. Stock up on candy for Halloween trick-or-treaters… Check. Put together this year’s annual 401(k) plan notices… Check?! Consider this a gentle...
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...
by JoAnn Cassell | Aug 15, 2024 | 401k Compliance, 401k Plan Mistakes, Regulations & Policies, Uncategorized
We’ve heard it all, over the 10+ years Cassell Plan Audits has been operating. Excuses like, “It wasn’t that late” and “We didn’t know” when our clients didn’t deposit 401(k) plan contributions and loan payments on time. Unfortunately, getting 401(k) plan...
by JoAnn Cassell | Jul 15, 2024 | 401k Plan Audit, 401k Plan Mistakes, Audit Deadlines, Audit Procedures
As a plan sponsor, you’ve got a lot on your plate, and it’s easy to back-burner certain tasks—like your annual 401(k) audit. If you’re wondering (hypothetically or not), “What happens if I miss a 401k plan audit deadline?” … Here’s your...
by JoAnn Cassell | Jun 15, 2024 | 401k Compliance, 401k Plan Audit, Audit Procedures, Preparing for a 401(k) audit, Regulations & Policies
Here’s how to determine the number of qualifying participants for your 401(k) audit. The total number of participants with balances in your retirement plan drives how the IRS Code and the Department of Labor see your plan. For audit purposes, this definition...
by JoAnn Cassell | May 15, 2024 | 401k Audit Time, 401k Plan Audit, 401k Plan Mistakes, Audit Deadlines, Audit Procedures, Preparing for a 401(k) audit
As a plan sponsor of a 401(k) plan that requires an annual audit, you’ve probably wondered in frustration, “Why does it take so long?” Here’s how to streamline your 401(k) plan audit. Spoiler alert: audits can be time-consuming… but they don’t have to be! Here are...
by JoAnn Cassell | Apr 15, 2024 | 401k Audit Firm, 401k Audit Oversight, Auditor, How to choose an auditor, Preparing for a 401(k) audit
Hiring a 401(k) plan auditing firm is an important decision. Here’s how to ensure that you choose the right auditor for your next benefit plan audit. Did you know that auditors get audited too? I know… Why should I care? Because: The Department of Labor’s findings can...
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? ...
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...
