Full-Scope 3(16) Fiduciary Administration for Retirement Plans

Hand us the fiduciary liability you were never meant to carry — we assume administrative responsibility, reduce fiduciary liability, and coordinate with your advisor and recordkeeper, so plan sponsors can get back to running their business.

Admin316 helps employers reduce fiduciary risk, simplify administration, and preserve existing relationships with advisors and recordkeepers.

Step 1 of 2 · Free plan review

Find Out What Your Retirement Plan May Be Missing

Get a complimentary review of your plan’s public Form 5500 filing to identify potential cost, compliance, and fiduciary concerns. No documents to gather. No cost. No obligation.

A confidential review of your retirement plan. For Plan Sponsors, CEOs, Business Owners & HR Professionals. Company retirement plans only.

Step 2 of 2 — Your employer & EIN

Add your legal business name and EIN, and we’ll build your review.

Independent Since

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Plans Administered

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States Served

Trusted by Plan Sponsors Across the United States

Not All 3(16) Fiduciaries Are the Same

A 3(16) title does not tell you how much responsibility has actually been transferred. The service agreement does.

Review your current 3(16) agreement carefully. Many providers accept responsibility for a defined list of administrative tasks while leaving significant responsibilities with the plan sponsor.

Admin316 is structured differently. We don’t believe a plan sponsor should have to know every administrative responsibility that exists in order to know what to delegate. After all, it’s often what you don’t know you’re responsible for that creates the greatest risk.

The Plan Sponsor Retains Three Core Responsibilities

1. Settlor Responsibilities

Employer/business decisions that cannot be delegated as fiduciary administration — such as establishing, amending, freezing, or terminating the plan.

2. Timeliness of Contributions

You must provide and fund employee and employer contributions so they can be deposited within the required timeframes.

3. Accuracy of Census & Payroll Data

You are responsible for providing complete and accurate employee, compensation, payroll, and other required plan data.

Everything Else? Look at the Agreement.

Don’t ask a 3(16) provider only, “What do you do?” Ask:

“After I sign your agreement, what am I still responsible for?”

That is where the difference between 3(16) providers becomes clear.

Admin316 — Transfer the responsibility, not just the work.

We replace the employer as the plan administrator and fiduciary support partner.

Preserve the relationships you value while transferring day-to-day fiduciary responsibility to experienced professionals who have been doing this exclusively since 1997.

We Reduce Your Liability

By assuming fiduciary responsibility under ERISA Section 3(16) and 402(a), we take on the legal accountability that would otherwise rest on your shoulders as the plan sponsor.

We Don’t Replace Your Team

We work alongside your existing advisors and recordkeepers, strengthening your plan’s compliance without disrupting the relationships already in place.

We Are Fully Independent

We sell no investments, earn no commissions, and profit from no plan decisions. Our only obligation is to your plan and its participants.

We Are Proactive, Not Reactive

We monitor regulatory changes, manage filings, and review compliance on an ongoing basis, keeping your plan ahead of IRS and DOL requirements before problems arise.

Fiduciary & Compliance Services

ERISA 3(16) Plan Administration

We assume full administrative responsibility for your retirement plan, handling day-to-day operations, participant notices, compliance filings, and corrections so your team is no longer exposed to plan administration liability.

Plan Operations Oversight

Participant Notices & Disclosures

Form 5500 Filing & Corrections

ERISA 402(a) Named Fiduciary

Admin316 serves as the named fiduciary under your plan document, assuming legal responsibility for plan administration decisions and providing a clear, defensible governance structure for your organization.

Named Fiduciary Designation

Plan Document Governance

Fiduciary Liability Transfer

Plan Benchmarking & Review

We conduct thorough benchmarking reviews of your plan’s fees, investment options, and design, comparing them against industry standards to identify savings opportunities, reduce risk, and fulfill your fiduciary obligation to participants.

Fee Benchmarking

Investment Review

401(k) Audit Support

Industries We Serve

Medical Practices

We handle fiduciary administration so physicians and healthcare professionals can focus entirely on patient care, not plan compliance.

Law Firms

We protect law firm partners from personal fiduciary exposure, managing plan administration so attorneys can focus on their clients.

Construction Companies

We manage fiduciary compliance through every season of your variable workforce, keeping your plan protected year-round.

Manufacturing

We handle fiduciary administration for large, complex workforce, so your operations team stays focused on production, not plan paperwork.

Nonprofits & Closely Held Businesses

We protect mission-driven organizations and family-run businesses alike, delivering the same fiduciary protection large corporations rely on, without the overhead.

Professional Services

We assume the fiduciary burden for consultants, accountants, and service firms, so your leadership team carries none of the compliance risk.

step 1

Schedule a Consultation

Book a free call with an Admin316 fiduciary specialist, no pressure, no sales pitch, just straight answers about your plan’s current exposure.

step 2

Review Your Existing Plan

We assess your current plan documents, fee structure, operations, and compliance posture, identifying every responsibility your organization is currently carrying.

step 3

Receive Recommendations

We deliver a clear, actionable report outlining exactly what we found, what needs to change, and how Admin316 can assume the responsibilities your team shouldn’t be managing alone.

step 4

Implement and Transfer Responsibility

We step in, assume your fiduciary obligations, and get to work, so you can get back to running your business with complete confidence your plan is protected.

client reviews

Admin316 Client Result

Plan Sponsor · Admin316 Client

Over $142,000 in Client Penalties Avoided

"Admin316's analysis of our DOL filings uncovered excessive fees and saved our company more than $142,000 annually."

"Admin316 has made managing our retirement plan significantly easier. Their team is responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive about the administrative responsibilities that used to take time away from our internal team. Having experienced professionals helping oversee the plan gives us greater confidence that important details aren't being overlooked."

Racheal Admin316 Client

"Working with Admin316 has taken a tremendous amount of administrative work off our plate. They understand the responsibilities that come with sponsoring a retirement plan and help make sure things get handled correctly and on time. The biggest benefit for us has been having a team we can rely on instead of trying to manage everything internally."

Ron Admin316 Client

"Admin316 brought structure and accountability to the way we manage our retirement plan. They helped us better understand who was responsible for what and took over many of the administrative responsibilities our team had been handling. Their knowledge and responsiveness have made them a valuable partner to our organization."

Scott Admin316 Client

"One of the best things about working with Admin316 is knowing there is a team focused on the details of our retirement plan every day. They are proactive, accessible, and willing to explain issues in plain English. It has allowed our management team to spend less time worrying about plan administration and more time running our business."

Paul Admin316 Client

"Admin316 helped simplify what had become a complicated and time-consuming responsibility for our company. Their team has been professional, responsive, and easy to work with. I especially appreciate having a clear process and knowing exactly who is responsible for getting things done."

Ryan Admin316 Client

We Work Alongside Leading Recordkeepers & Plan Providers

ERISA Section 3(16)

Plan Administrator

We take over day-to-day plan administration, notices, filings, corrections, and compliance oversight, so your team is no longer personally responsible for plan operations.

ERISA Section 402(a)

Named Fiduciary

We serve as the named fiduciary responsible for plan administration under the plan document, assuming legal accountability so you don’t have to carry it alone.

403(a) Trustee

Directed Trustee Support

We collaborate with your team, advisors, and recordkeepers to align everyone around the plan’s governance framework.

The Fiduciary Partner Employers Have Trusted Since 1997

Since 1997, Admin316 has specialized exclusively in retirement plan administration and fiduciary services. We work with employers nationwide to simplify plan administration, reduce fiduciary exposure, and preserve the advisor and recordkeeper relationships already in place. We don’t replace your team, we assume the responsibility your team was never meant to carry.

our vision

To be the most trusted independent fiduciary firm in the United States, known for assuming the administrative responsibility employers were never meant to bear alone.

our mission

We do not replace your advisor, recordkeeper, payroll company, CPA, or ERISA attorney. Instead, we coordinate these relationships and provide the fiduciary oversight layer that protects your organization and your participants.

975+ Plans Administered

Reducing Fiduciary Liability for Employers Across the United States

What We Handle So You Don't Have To

Responsibility	Employer	Admin316
Eligibility Tracking	➖	🔵
Participant Notices	➖	🔵
Form 5500 Signature	➖	🔵
Compliance Support	➖	🔵
Participant Requests	➖	🔵
Annual Administration	➖	🔵

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a retirement plan fiduciary help minimize liability for plan sponsors?

A qualified 3(16) fiduciary assumes administrative responsibilities including ERISA compliance, government filings, and daily operations, dramatically reducing employer exposure to liability.

What are the benefits of using a 3(16) fiduciary for plan administration?

It reduces sponsor liability, shifts administrative burdens to an expert, ensures timely IRS/DOL compliance, minimizes penalties, and provides professional oversight of all plan documentation.

What is the difference between a 3(16) administrator and a 3(38) investment manager?

A 3(16) administrator handles plan operations and compliance. A 3(38) investment manager holds discretionary authority over the plan's investment menu, both roles can be assumed by Admin316.

How does fiduciary wealth management, led by a fiduciary financial planner, differ from traditional retirement plan administration?

Fiduciary wealth management goes beyond basic administration by combining investment advisory expertise with fiduciary oversight. While traditional plan administration focuses on compliance, filings, and recordkeeping, fiduciary wealth management ensures investment strategies align with participant interests and regulatory standards. When paired with Admin3(16)’s expert plan administration, this dual approach creates a comprehensive solution, balancing both investment performance and administrative excellence.