ERISA Compliance Guidance for Plan Sponsors

Texas Employers and 401(k) Administration: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know

Outline map of Texas linked to 3(16) administration, 3(38) investment and 402(a) named fiduciary roles

Texas 401(k) administration runs on federal ERISA rules, but Texas employers still face state-specific practicalities: payroll timing, multi-site workforces, and no state-run retirement mandate. Here’s what sponsors must own and what can be delegated.

401(k) Plan Audit Readiness: The Employer’s Document Checklist

401(k) plan audit readiness checklist for employer plan sponsors

The documents your independent auditor will ask for, why each one exists, and how plan sponsors keep audit readiness a year-round habit instead of a spring fire drill.

Outsourcing 401(k) Administration: True Cost vs. In-House HR Time

Balance scale comparing in-house HR hours, audit prep and corrections against a single outsourced 3(16) administration fee

Outsourcing 401(k) administration is not just a fee comparison. Here is how plan sponsors price in-house HR hours, compliance rework, and fiduciary risk side by side.

3(16) vs. 3(21) vs. 3(38) vs. 402(a): What Each Fiduciary Role Actually Covers

Chart comparing ERISA 402(a) named fiduciary, 3(16) plan administrator, 3(21) investment advice fiduciary and 3(38) investment manager roles

3(16), 3(21), 3(38) and 402(a) each cover a different job and a different slice of liability. Here is what each role actually transfers — and the one appointment most providers decline.

What 401(k) Management Companies Do — And What They Don’t

Comparison graphic: what 401(k) management companies do versus the fiduciary duties employers still own

401(k) management companies handle recordkeeping, testing and Form 5500 prep — but key fiduciary duties stay with the employer. Here’s the real division of labor.

401(k) Providers vs. 401(k) Administrators: What Employers Actually Need

Side-by-side comparison of 401(k) provider services versus 401(k) administrator fiduciary duties

401(k) providers sell infrastructure; 401(k) administrators perform the compliance work — and only a properly appointed fiduciary takes the duty off the employer. Here’s how to tell which one your plan needs.

How to Choose a 401(k) Administrator: The Employer’s 2026 Checklist

A plan sponsor’s checklist for comparing 401k administrators: fiduciary role, Form 5500 signing, deferral timing, fees, audit support and exit terms.

What Happens if Your 401(k) is Out of Compliance? The 2026 Employer Guide

Most business owners believe their corporate structure protects their personal bank accounts from retirement plan errors, but the Department of Labor…