Plan Sponsor Education Blog

As an employer, you play a direct role in your employees’ well-being. A workplace financial wellness program can help reduce employee financial stress, improve engagement, and support better decision-making—leading to higher productivity and stronger retirement outcomes. 

Managing a retirement plan comes with complex decisions and numerous questions. By combining artificial intelligence with human expertise, see how Ascensus is simplifying processes, providing faster responses, and creating a more intuitive experience for you and your employees.

Dive into the future of retirement plan compliance. In this TechFWD segment, discover how Ascensus utilizes groundbreaking tools and forward-thinking technology to reshape the regulatory landscape, making it smarter, simpler, and more efficient for plan sponsors.

Along with advisors, third party administrators, and participants, plan sponsors are the users who ensure systems truly meet the evolving needs of all involved. When the voices of plan sponsors and employers lead the conversation, everyone benefits, from front-line administration to overall participant outcomes.

Many small business owners think about retirement plans the same way they think about taxes, something to deal with right before the deadline. It’s common to wait until tax season to consider SEP IRA benefits or SIMPLE IRA benefits, once the numbers are final and the pressure is on.

Running a small business often means juggling cash flow, timing, and unexpected expenses. You may need to access money for an emergency or a business opportunity and consider drawing from your retirement savings. Understanding how 401(k) plan loans work can help you borrow from your plan without triggering unnecessary taxes or penalties.

Organizations evolve, markets shift, and employee expectations continue to rise, yet compensation structures often stay the same. Regular reviews help ensure your salary architecture aligns with business goals, supports equitable pay practices, and keeps pace with today’s competitive talent landscape. Without these regular assessments, businesses risk misalignment caused by outdated data or unnoticed pay gaps, which can hinder growth and retention. Implementing a review of your salary structure construct allows you to address these risks proactively and maintain a fair, competitive pay strategy. 

As the financial landscape continues to evolve, the environment for bank mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is becoming more prevalent.

While bank consolidation offers many strategic benefits, it also brings new challenges, including the inheritance of the acquired bank’s bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) program. The long-dated nature of life insurance policies adds ownership complexity, especially when those with product and historical knowledge of the acquired BOLI program are no longer with the bank.

Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Section 404(c) offers retirement plan sponsors a crucial safe harbor—but only if they meet the necessary requirements. This protection shields fiduciaries from liability for investment outcomes as long as plan participants are given sufficient control and information over their investment choices. 

Facing a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (QPAM) audit can feel overwhelming for asset managers. Whether you’re dealing with a compliance issue from an affiliate’s criminal conviction or navigating a deferred prosecution agreement, the process of reinstating your QPAM status requires careful preparation and expert guidance. The good news? You don’t have to navigate this complex QPAM audit journey alone.