July Is Form 5500 Time: Don’t Let an ERISA Bonding Gap Trigger a DOL Audit

When you sponsor a calendar-year retirement plan, July brings more than just summer barbecues—it brings the high-stakes responsibility of filing Form 5500 by the July 31 deadline. While most plan sponsors rely on third-party administrators (TPAs) to prepare this report,...

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The Numbers Don’t Lie : How Your 401(k) Helps Your Business

Good news for retirement plan sponsors — your benefit is working harder than you think. Running a small business is relentless. You’re competing against larger companies for the same talented workers, often without the HR department, the brand recognition, or...

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EBSA Enforcement Priorities

Oversight of ERISA retirement plans, like 401ks, happens through the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). It’s wise for retirement plan sponsors to stay up to speed on the enforcement priorities at EBSA. That’s especially true now, as...

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Reverse Rollover?

When you sponsor a retirement plan, like a 401k, questions come with the turf. Common questions from employees include: “When am I eligible?” “What about the match?” “How can I change my contribution amount?” and “How do I rollover the...

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ERISA Fidelity Bond: Avoiding Mistakes

When you sponsor a retirement plan (like a 401k), you are trusted to safeguard the life savings of employees. That’s why a federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) specifically requires you (and anyone handling plan funds) to...

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Survey Says: Cybersecurity Fatigue?

Frustrated. Confused. Fatalistic. Tuned out. According to a survey by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, though our awareness of cybersecurity threats has increased over the last five years, our motivation to follow safety protocols and best practices has declined. Clearly this...

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It’s Personal: ERISA Requirements for Plan Sponsors

When you sponsor a retirement plan for employees, such as a 401k, you exercise discretion whenever you make decisions about the plan’s management. That’s why, under the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act, you are considered a fiduciary, and can...

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Considering Private Assets For The 401K?

Will private credit and other alternative investments become part of the menu for your 401k plan? For ERISA retirement plan sponsors, as options become available, understanding and diligently adhering to a prudent decision making process is essential. While 3(38) advisors...

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Cybersecurity: A Fiduciary Duty for Plan Sponsors

When you sponsor a retirement plan, it is tempting to assume your service providers have everything covered. However, under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), selecting and monitoring these vendors is a fiduciary act. Because retirement accounts house highly...

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Just An Honest Mistake?

"I didn't mean to." In most areas of business, a genuine oversight can be corrected with a quick fix and an apology. But under ERISA’s standard of prudence, good intentions are not a legal defense. If you sponsor a retirement...

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