Two-Factor Authentication and Other Basics Every Plan Sponsor Should Confirm
This article explains practical cybersecurity safeguards for 401(k) plan sponsors, including multi-factor authentication, role-based access, secure file sharing, and social engineering awareness. It also covers recovery and offboarding processes, plus a five-step checklist to confirm plan-administration security basics.
What to Do If You Suspect a Data Breach Affecting Your Retirement Plan
When a retirement plan sponsor suspects a data breach, the first priority is a coordinated process rather than a rushed diagnosis. This guide covers verifying provider contacts, preserving evidence, limiting speculation in communications, and documenting lessons learned. A practical five-step response checklist and preparation tips round out the guidance.
Building Cybersecurity Awareness into Your Employee Retirement Communications
This article explains how plan sponsors can add clear, neutral cybersecurity reminders to retirement-plan communications without shifting oversight to employees. It covers coordinating with providers, using plain language, avoiding guarantees, and documenting the communication process.
Protecting Participant Data: A Business Owner's Introduction to 401(k) Cybersecurity
Retirement plan data moves among sponsors, payroll providers, recordkeepers, and TPAs, so sponsors need practical oversight rather than technical expertise. This post covers data flows, shared provider responsibility, internal handling habits, repeatable reviews, and incident preparation. A five-step oversight process and provider questions help sponsors document and revisit cybersecurity governance.
The Safe Harbor 401(k) Adoption Deadline: What Business Owners Should Know
Safe harbor design often comes up as business owners plan for year-end testing and next-year administration.
Coverage Testing Explained: Making Sure Your Plan Serves the Right Employees
A retirement plan is built around eligibility and participation rules, but those rules also create a compliance-testing question: whether the plan is benefiting the employee groups it is designed to serve under applicable requirements.
Highly Compensated Employees: How the Definition Affects Your Testing
During October’s compliance-testing focus, the definition of a highly compensated employee is an important item for business owners to understand at a high level.
Reviewing Preliminary Testing Results Before the Fourth Quarter Rush
October is a useful point in the compliance calendar because preliminary testing information can turn year-end surprises into a planning conversation.
Setting a Plan Design Review Meeting Before Year-End Deadlines Arrive
A plan design review meeting is one of the simplest governance habits a business owner can establish before year-end. It creates dedicated time to look at the 401(k) as part of the company’s total-rewards program rather than as a set of isolated administrative tasks.
Auto-Enrollment and Auto-Escalation: Is It Time to Add These Features?
As benefits season approaches, business owners often review whether their 401(k) plan is easy to explain, administer, and integrate with the company’s broader rewards program.
Auto-Enrollment and Auto-Escalation: Is It Time to Add These Features?
As benefits season approaches, business owners often review whether their 401(k) plan is easy to explain, administer, and integrate with the company’s broader rewards program.
Considering a Safe Harbor 401(k) Design for Next Plan Year: What to Weigh Now
Benefits season is a useful planning window for looking beyond enrollment materials and toward the operating choices that shape next year’s 401(k) plan.