Vol.10, April 2026
April Benefits Rundown: M&A plan risk, TAFW insights + more
Spring is here, which means it’s time for a little cleaning. Whether it’s washing windows, clearing out closets, or—here in the South—trying to stay ahead of the pollen, this time of year has a way of reminding us what’s been sitting unattended.
The same is often true in benefits. Over time, items build up that are easy to set aside: uncashed checks, suspended payments, missed required distributions, or participants we’ve lost track of. None of it is especially exciting to deal with, but it’s important work.
The good news is that once you take a step back and get your arms around it, these issues become much more manageable. With a clear understanding of what needs attention, you can put a plan in place and work through it piece by piece.
‘Til next time,
Mindy Zatto, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA, MSPA
Founding Principal, SBA
This Month at SBA
A quick look at what’s new, noteworthy, or just plain useful from our team.
Case Study: Navigating retirement plan risk in a corporate acquisition
When a buyer faced unclear retirement plan ownership and potential post-close exposure in a time-pressured acquisition, it needed a fast, defensible path forward. SBA analyzed the seller’s 401(k) structure, identified hidden risks, and built a decision framework to evaluate post-close options. The result was a cleaner transaction, reduced fiduciary risk, and avoidance of long-term administrative entanglement.
Making time away from work benefits easier to manage
Time away from work benefits tend to get attention when something goes wrong—but the complexity is there all along. It’s a topic that comes up often in conversations with plan sponsors, and one I explored in a 2022 article for BenefitsPRO that remains popular today. From coordinating across HR, payroll, and third-party administrators to navigating regulatory requirements and sensitive employee situations, these programs require more structure than they often get. This article walks through a few ways to bring more clarity and consistency to administration, while still supporting the participant experience.
Ask the Principals
Our leadership team tackles tough questions from plan sponsors like you.
A: Even small calculation errors can create outsized problems over time. If errors are identified, underpayments may require corrective contributions with interest, while overpayments can be difficult—or impossible—to recover. In either case, errors can lead to compliance concerns, audit findings, and frustrated participants.
These issues often stem from complex plan provisions, incomplete or inconsistent data, or incorrect application of formulas. And because many plans have years of amendments and special cases built in, errors aren’t always obvious until a benefit is paid or reviewed.
SBA helps plan sponsors address both sides of the issue: prevention and correction. When errors are discovered, we validate the impacted population, underlying data, and applicable plan provisions, then work through appropriate correction strategies and ensure calculations are accurate going forward. We also help plan sponsors proactively reduce risk by periodically reviewing sample sets of calculations to confirm that logic remains accurate and participant data is contextually consistent. This approach helps identify issues early, when they are easier to resolve and less disruptive.
Recommended Reading
Each month, the SBA team curates a selection of standout articles from across the employee benefits landscape. Here’s what caught our attention this month:
Social Security’s crossroads: Big reform or incremental fix? (National Association of Plan Sponsors)
DOL’s 6-factor ‘safe harbor’ could reshape 401(k) fiduciary playbook (401(k) Specialist)
Expect a rise in supplemental benefits (HRO Today)
OPTIONS Act would expand employer contribution options (Plan Sponsor Council of America)