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...
by JoAnn Cassell | Nov 15, 2025 | 401k Compliance, Gratitude
In celebration of this season of gratitude, it’s a good time to zoom out and look at why we conduct 401(k) plan audits in the first place. Yes, audits are required by the Department of Labor (DOL) for plans with 100 or more participants with balances. Yes, there are...
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 | 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...