Plan Sponsor Q&A - Q2 2022

If your plan has not been recently audited, it is likely only a matter of time before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Department of Labor (DOL) comes knocking. If/when you are notified of an audit, early preparation can help streamline the process, keep the investigation narrow, and avoid potential financial penalties and interest.

You don’t need to be a magician to know what records to keep and for how long. While most providers can supply reports and plan documents, the plan administrator remains ultimately responsible for retaining adequate records that support the plan document reports and filings.

Both ERISA and the IRS require DC plan loans to reflect a “reasonable rate of interest”.

A recent survey of retirement plan participants shines a light on their positive perspectives – which can help inform plan changes you may be considering.

Plan Sponsor Q&A - Q1 2022

Fiduciary Hot Topics - Q1 2022 covers “Alternative Investments” in Retirement Plans, The Department of Labor takes a 180 Degree Turn on ESG Investing and The Schlichter Firm Gets its Hand Slapped.

Ten Things to Know About Your Employer’s Retirement Plan

No one wants to be caught flat-footed when the auditors come calling. With a new standard issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), both auditors and plan sponsors will be subject to new responsibilities.

In the retirement plan industry, all too often we tend to conflate financial wellness with retirement readiness — whether this means confidence in obtaining retirement goals or being on track to reach post-employment financial targets. However, this limited view may fail to paint a complete picture for many participants.

A recent IRS Issue Snapshot (link below) affirms a participant loan is a legally enforceable agreement and terms of the loan agreement must comply with Internal Revenue Code (IRC Section 72(p)(2) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.72(p)-1).

Participant data and financial accounts comprise some of the most sensitive and potentially vulnerable information under a company’s care. These highly valuable assets can be an attractive target for cybercriminals and therefore present considerable security risk.