You’ve taken the leap to offer a 401(k) plan for your employees. It’s an added expense and takes administrative hours, but you know that it is well worth the increase in employee well-being and the benefits it provides in recruiting.
But how is your 401(k) doing? Is it everything you dreamed it would be, or are you still unsatisfied? If the customer service, fees, or investment performance are leaving you unsettled, it might be time to change your 401(k) provider.
One of the things employees get most excited about regarding retirement plans is matching contributions. While this is “free money” to the employees, it is not to the company sponsoring the plan. A lot of large companies offer matching contributions, but many small- and mid-size businesses just aren’t financially stable enough to do so.
What can you do if you want to help your employees save towards retirement, but can’t afford to promise a certain percentage every year? Make discretionary contributions.
As a retirement plan sponsor, you know that you have a big responsibility. Most plan sponsors find that the responsibility of running a plan and keeping it compliant with federal law is beyond the scope of their interest and skill level. Luckily, there are many service providers and other professionals that can help you fulfill your duties.
Thanks to the popularity of the Roth IRA, many people are familiar with how Roth accounts work. As opposed to most retirement accounts where contributions are made pre-tax and withdrawals are taxed, Roth accounts are funded with after-tax money and qualified withdrawals are not taxed.
Breaches cause an immense headache for businesses, not to mention the financial toll they can take due to damage control and loss of business. The government has tried to help prevent such breaches through laws and regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and PCI Data Security Standard. They provide guidelines for how to handle, store, and protect sensitive information. Lately, cyber security risk has become an important factor for plan sponsors.