When it comes to managing a workplace retirement plan, it seems like we’re always telling you to document everything. Decisions, policies, procedures; you have to write everything down. But, as a preschooler would ask, why? Why is it so important to have everything in writing?
Administrative Efficiency
First of all, it’s a lot easier to run a plan well when things are in writing. Without documentation, you are too reliant on key employees who usually do the work. What happens if they are out sick? Or terminate employment? With things in writing, everyone has access to the necessary knowledge to run the plan.
Having policies in writing also helps keep everyone on the same page. Much greater efficiency can be achieved when team members are doing things the same way and following the same process. Without written instructions there is no cohesion, everyone does things their own way, and chaos ensues. Having documents in writing provides a roadmap for everyone involved to follow so that work can flow seamlessly from one person to the next.
Inform Participants
The law mandates many different disclosures and notifications to retirement plan participants. Also, people are better able to get the most out of their retirement plan if they know what’s going on and how it works. The best way to provide these communications is through writing. Written documents ensure that every person receives the same information and enables them to keep that information to reference later.
Many participants are intimidated by choosing investments. The more information you can provide, the more comfortable they will be and the more they will benefit from their participation in the plan. Having the information in writing also makes it easier for workers to pass on the information to their spouses or others that help them make financial decisions.
Maintain Compliance
As mentioned above, some things need to be in writing simply because the law says so. If you fail to maintain the requisite documentation, you will be out of compliance and subject to fines, penalties, and lawsuits. In any kind of ERISA litigation, your best defense comes in the form of written policies, procedures, decisions, and processes.
Things That Should Be Written
There are a number of things that need to be written down for your retirement plan on the administrative side. The first is the plan document, which gives guidelines on the administration of and participation in the plan. Although not required, if you utilize, and we recommend the use of, an investment policy statement needs to be written as well. Further, documentation of how and why decisions are made should always be done in writing.
There are other items that are required to be in writing for the sake of the plan participants. They need a summary plan description, summary of material modifications, and summary annual report. Most of their written documents are summaries because few plan participants are interested in reading the complete plan documents.
How We Can Help
It can be a bit overwhelming to administer a company retirement plan, given all the documentation nuances let alone the deadlines! At Stonebridge Financial Group, we work exclusively with retirement plans and can help you with everything from designing to running your plan. Delegating fiduciary responsibilities can be a great solution for plan sponsors who lack time and the knowledge of ever-changing requirements to manage a retirement plan. At Stonebridge Financial Group, this is all we've done since our inception back in 2004! Our robust service offering starts with ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) services and is the tip of the iceberg. We are consultants that help you with every aspect of your plan:
- Ensuring participant retirement readiness
- 1:1 and group participant education and retirement readiness meetings
- Financial wellness
- Committee fiduciary training
- Process creation and documentation
- Plan design
- Contribution match modeling
- Annual plan compliance review
- And so much more
We become your outsourced retirement plan officer who dives into the morass of retirement plan details and resolves issues so you don't have to!
Please click here to schedule a short call, give us a call at (855) 530-0500 x601 or email info@stonebridgefinancialgroup.com. We look forward to helping your committee successfully fulfill their fiduciary duties with ease and excellence!