Are You Carrying Too Much Retirement Plan Risk?
October 17, 2025
Benefits Administrators Announces Acquisition of GDW Retirement Plan Division
February 25, 2026
As the new year unfolds, take this opportunity as a benefits plan sponsor to reinforce the strength of your retirement plan, address the details that matter most, and partner with a team that is dedicated to your long-term success. If you’re ready to start the year on solid footing, we’re ready to help.
The Importance of Early-Year Planning
Retirement plan administration is a complex responsibility, and every new year brings fresh opportunities to improve compliance, strengthen engagement, and evaluate performance. As 2026 begins, now is the right time to assess whether your plan is positioned for long-term success.
At Benefits Administrators, we specialize in helping plan sponsors and advisors take a proactive approach to plan strategy and operations. With over 30 years of experience, we understand how a strong start in Q1 can impact plan performance for the entire year.
It’s not just about closing the books on the previous year. It is the ideal time to:
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– Identify operational gaps before deadlines stack up
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– Evaluate plan design to better align with organizational goals
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– Ensure new regulatory updates are accounted for, including SECURE 2.0 changes
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– Improve participant education and engagement for the year ahead
This early window offers the time and flexibility to make updates, address compliance, and prepare for a smoother year.
Key Areas to Review at the Start of the Year
1. Plan Documentation
Plan documentation is the foundation of compliance. Begin the year by confirming that plan documents are current, properly amended for regulatory changes, and consistent across internal records and service provider systems.
At Benefits Administrators, we work closely with plan sponsors to review documentation, ensure all required amendments are on file, and identify potential inconsistencies that may require correction. Our plan coordinators invite their plan sponsors for a review meeting every year.
2. Compliance Calendar and Filing Deadlines
Missing a compliance deadline can result in costly penalties and additional administrative burden. Your plan’s compliance calendar should be updated to reflect upcoming deadlines, including Form 5500 filings, required notices, and nondiscrimination testing windows.
We help clients create and manage custom compliance calendars to stay ahead of obligations throughout the year.
3. Contribution and Compensation Definitions
It is critical to confirm that your plan’s definition of compensation aligns with how your payroll system is calculating contributions. Mismatches in this area are a common source of audit findings and operational errors.
Our experienced data coordinators and retirement plan coordinators assist in reconciling payroll data with plan provisions and ensuring accurate deferral handling from day one of the new year.
4. Participant Engagement and Communication
Early in the year is the ideal time to reinforce plan features and savings opportunities with employees. Whether it’s auto-enrollment education, Roth contribution changes, or planning for catch-up contributions, proactive communication improves outcomes.
We provide clients with customized education strategies and support tools to enhance understanding and participation across diverse workforces. That helps build employee satisfaction and contributes to longevity.
5. Fiduciary Responsibilities and Oversight
Maintaining fiduciary oversight is not just an annual task; it is an ongoing responsibility. Start the year with a review of your fiduciary processes, including investment committee meeting schedules, service provider performance, and fee benchmarking.
Benefits Administrators qualifies to serve as a 3(16) fiduciary or support your internal fiduciary team through clear reporting, documentation assistance, and operational consistency.
A Confident Start Begins with the Right Partner
Starting strong means having the right support in place before deadlines arrive. By engaging a retirement plan administrator early, you reduce the risk of errors, improve operational efficiency, and allow more time for strategic decisions.
At Benefits Administrators, we guide our clients through the full life cycle of plan administration, with a proactive approach grounded in accuracy, transparency, and long-term value. Whether you’re navigating SECURE 2.0, managing testing deadlines, or re-evaluating plan features, we’re ready to help.
