A: It can. Many significant correction projects begin with a relatively small mistake that affects a large group of participants over an extended period of time. An incorrectly programmed formula, an overlooked plan amendment, a payroll data issue, or a misinterpretation of plan provisions may seem minor at first, but the impact can grow as the error continues undetected.
The challenge is that these issues often don’t reveal themselves immediately. A calculation can appear reasonable on an individual basis while still producing incorrect results across hundreds or thousands of participants. By the time the problem is discovered, plan sponsors may face corrective payments, compliance concerns, participant communications, and substantial administrative costs.
SBA helps plan sponsors identify potential issues before they become widespread problems through operational audits, compliance reviews, calculation testing, and data validation. By comparing plan provisions, administrative procedures, system configurations, and actual results, we can uncover discrepancies early—when they are typically easier, less costly, and less disruptive to resolve.