PlanSync

Couldn’t have said it better, Graham Mull, AIF®, CFP®, MBA. TPAs are often underappreciated, but they’re absolutely critical to keeping the 401(k) world running smoothly. Today, we just want to say thank you to all the TPAs who handle the complex compliance work, testing, and problem-solving that make great plans possible. At PlanSync, our mission is to help advisors manage their plans more efficiently — with greater organization, transparency, and quality — and in doing so, strengthen the collaboration between advisors and TPAs that drives better outcomes for everyone involved. Here’s to never forgetting how hard TPAs work to keep the 401(k) world turning. #NationalTPADay #PlanSyncAI #RetirementPlans #401k #TPA

We just launched the Service Provider Directory inside PlanSync. 401(k) plan administration is a team sport. Our goal with this new feature is to bring the entire ecosystem together in one place, so advisors can build their team of providers faster and deliver better outcomes for their plan sponsors and participants. What’s inside: - A searchable directory of providers with their specializations and territories - An interactive map with “Find Near Me” functionality - One-click provider profiles with contact info, bios, and value propositions Advisors can find a full range of specializations, including: - TPA & Recordkeeper Services - Insurance & Funds - 3(16) & 3(38) Services - M&A Consulting - Payroll Integration - Custodial / Trust Services - Compliance & Legal Consulting - Participant Education & Financial Wellness - Plan Audit Services - Technology & Data Providers - Technology Stack / Integrations - RIA Partners / Aggregators - And more! Who it’s for: - New advisors looking for a vetted starting lineup of service partners - Experienced advisors looking to upgrade their partner bench by market or specialty - Providers who want to showcase their expertise to the right advisors, faster You’ll also see “PlanSync Preferred” badges—these highlight partners who’ve been especially instrumental in helping us get PlanSync off the ground. They’re people and firms we trust, and we’re proud to highlight them. If you’re a provider and want to be included, reach out—it’s completely free. We’re not monetizing this; we simply want to bring more value to everyone involved in the plan management process. Also, feel free to reach out if you’re curious about how we assign PlanSync Preferred status. We’ve worked with some truly exceptional people over the years, and this is one way we want to recognize and reward those we believe other advisors should know and work with. At the end of the day, the more we can eliminate every single source of inefficiency in plan management, the better. When the entire ecosystem communicates and collaborates seamlessly, everyone wins. 👉 Want to be listed? Fill out this quick 2-minute form: https://lnkd.in/eBRZc-vY Added Bonus! Providers can offer exclusive first-year PlanSync discounts to their advisor networks through custom referral codes: - PlanSync Preferred Providers → 20% off for their advisors in Year 1 - All other listed providers → 10% off for their advisors in Year 1 This gives providers a tangible value-add to offer their networks while helping advisors access best-in-class tools at a lower cost. #401k #RetirementPlans #PlanManagement #FiduciaryTech #PlanSync #AdvisorTools #RIA #TechnologyStack #Ecosystem #PreferredPartners

We’re excited to welcome Graham Mull, AIF®, CFP®, MBA Mull to the PlanSync team as our new Director of Sales. Graham brings nearly two decades of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in fiduciary plan management. At PlanSync, we’re building a focused team of industry experts and top technical talent to tackle some of the toughest challenges in 401(k) plan management. Graham’s leadership and perspective will be instrumental as we look to shape the future of tech in 401(k) plan management. Welcome Graham! #TeamPlanSync #FiduciaryTech #401kAdvisors #RetirementPlans #TeamAnnouncement #StartupGrowth #PlanManagement

Today we’re excited to announce the launch of PlanSync Teams in a limited beta. Managing a 401(k) plan is never just one person’s job. It takes multiple advisors and admins inside your practice, plus TPAs, recordkeepers, and plan sponsors. But until now, there hasn’t been a secure way to keep everyone aligned in one place. PlanSync Teams changes that. With Teams, the lead advisor can: - Assign responsibilities to TPAs, recordkeepers, plan sponsors, or other advisors/admins—so everyone knows exactly what’s on their plate - Control what each stakeholder can see and do, while keeping sensitive data protected - Link all of your advisors together to gain better oversight across your practice - Track progress in real time, so nothing slips through the cracks And it’s not just about collaboration: - Every completed task flows into your fiduciary reporting, making compliance easier. - Sponsors always have access to the data they need, improving transparency and trust. - Larger firms get the big-picture oversight they need without losing visibility into individual plans. Finally advisors have a way to securely bring every stakeholder together, prove the process, and keep every plan in sync. - Learn more about PlanSync Teams here: https://lnkd.in/dHD89a8w - Ready to see it in action? Schedule a demo here: https://lnkd.in/dEYGJ9ZP #401k #PlanManagement #AdvisorTechnology #Compliance #Collaboration #Transparency

Closing Out the Year: Don’t Miss a Step As the year wraps up, advisors face more than just a handful of tasks — there are dozens of moving parts across compliance, documentation, and stakeholder coordination. Some of the 4th-quarter priorities include: - Preparing census data for year-end testing - Clarifying service and design changes sponsors want for the new year - Finalizing participant education events Reviewing service provider fees for transparency and oversight Of course this is only the start. Luckily PlanSync Fiduciary comes with a built-in year-end checklist. It keeps deadlines, documents, compliance steps, and stakeholder coordination organized in one place — so nothing slips through the cracks. Learn more about PlanSync Fiduciary here - https://lnkd.in/eVUuJBeU #401k #RetirementPlans #PlanManagement #Fiduciary #Compliance

Under ERISA and Department of Labor guidance, fiduciaries must act with the highest standard of care. That duty doesn’t stop at investments—it extends to safeguarding participant data. The DOL has made it clear: plan sponsors and service providers must be able to demonstrate prudent processes for protecting sensitive information. Advisors who don’t adopt best-in-class security practices put themselves and their clients at regulatory, financial, and reputational risk. That’s why certifications like ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 matter: - ISO/IEC 27001 → The world’s gold standard for managing information security, proving your organization follows strict protocols to protect data. - SOC 2 → An audit framework that tests how well your systems and processes safeguard information. When it comes to SOC 2, the distinction matters: - Type 1 confirms controls are in place at a single point in time. - Type 2 goes further, validating that those controls are operating effectively over months of continuous monitoring. It’s not enough for a provider to stop at Type 1—your service providers should all aim for SOC 2 Type 2 certification. At PlanSync, we believe independent advisors deserve the same enterprise-grade protections as the largest institutions. That’s why we: - Achieved ISO 27001 certification - Are currently under audit for SOC 2 Type 2 (not just Type 1)—a process we’ll complete in ~60 days This ensures advisors can confidently tell clients: “Our technology partner meets the highest standards of information security.” Advisors— - How are you addressing cybersecurity as part of your fiduciary oversight? - Have you verified the certifications of your providers? P.S. We’ve learned a lot on our journey toward these certifications—and we don’t want those lessons to stay a secret. If you or your firm would like advice on security best practices, we’re happy to share what has worked for us.

Plan Sponsors Are Supposed to Keep the Records… But Here’s the Truth. ERISA says the plan sponsor is responsible for maintaining the fiduciary file. But most sponsors are business owners or executives already stretched thin. They’re focused on payroll, growth, and people — not building a file that documents every step of how their 401(k) plan is being managed. And almost none of them ever will. That gap creates both a risk and an opportunity. As an advisor, you can step in and take this burden off their plate by documenting how the plan is being managed: - The investment reviews you conduct - The fiduciary decisions you guide with the sponsor - The compliance coordination you handle with the TPA - The ongoing service and data work you manage with the recordkeeper - The participant questions you answer - The plan management requirements you ensure are completed Even the participant conversations that prove you’re driving outcomes This documentation isn’t just paperwork. It’s what auditors want to see. It’s what justifies your fees. And it’s what differentiates you from the advisor down the street who just drops a recordkeeper report on the table. The best part? With PlanSync, this level of documentation doesn’t mean extra work. Our reporting process is done automatically capturing and organizing your actions into audit-ready reports that make you look like the hero to your sponsors. Because in the end, sponsors don’t need more tasks. They need a partner who documents the process for them and proves the value of your work every quarter. Learn more about our automated due-diligence reporting process here: https://lnkd.in/eVUuJBeU

We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about how AI will impact the role of advisors in 401(k) plan management. Here’s our simple rule of thumb: If you’re using AI to make plan management less human, you’re doing it wrong. The firms that get this right will leverage AI to make plan management more human — by clearing the busywork so advisors have more time to focus on relationships. Where AI belongs in an advisor’s workflow ✅ Logging every service touchpoint automatically ✅ Centralizing fiduciary documentation (408(b)(2), 404(a)(5), IPS updates, meeting minutes, etc.) ✅ Instantly finding plan data when you need it ✅ Generating quarterly and annual reports from structured information ✅ Prospecting to identify new plans and opportunities Where AI does not belong ❌ Making fiduciary decisions for you ❌ Choosing investments or building watchlists ❌ Handling participant situations that require empathy and judgment ❌ Building trust with sponsors and committees At the end of the day, advisors win when AI clears the repetitive work that clogs the fiduciary file, so they can do what they do best: - Build relationships - Guide participants - Grow their business This is our take, but we want to hear from you: - Advisors, if you could hand off one task to AI tomorrow, what would it be?

Starting (or scaling) a 401(k) practice can feel overwhelming. Not because it isn’t profitable (it is). But because it often feels like too much to take on: - Regulations that never stop changing - No clear process to follow - Endless administrative and reporting burdens - Competing with more experienced advisors for every new plan For new advisors, it can feel impossible to even get started. For experienced advisors, it’s often the reason they hesitate to take on more plans. At PlanSync, one of our key goals is to make starting and scaling a 401(k) book of business easier — by giving advisors a framework that makes plan management less overwhelming, more transparent, and more efficient. In the graphic below, we’ve highlighted a few fundamentals that can give new advisors a strong foundation. But every practice is different — so we’d love to hear from you: - Experienced 401(k) advisors: What’s the hardest part of taking on more plans? And when you first started, what was the steepest learning curve? - New advisors: What feels like the biggest barrier to getting started? - Wholesalers: What hurdles do you run into when helping new advisors enter the 401(k) space? #401kAdvisors #401kPlans #PlanManagement #FiduciaryResponsibility #ComplianceReporting #PlanEfficiency #RetirementPlanAdvisors #AdvisorGrowth #PracticeManagement #AdvisorTechnology

Our Co-Founder, Ed Secrest’s 401(k) Story Ed has been an advisor for 35 years, and he’s always loved the 401(k) space. But after the 2008 financial crisis, things changed. The Department of Labor made it clear: you must be able to show documentation of your entire plan process and prove fees are reasonable.  That left Ed with two choices: 1) Leave the retirement space. 2) Or figure out how to do it right. Ed chose to stay. He built reporting systems that gave plan sponsors clear reports, auditors full records, and kept everyone on the same page. But these problems forced Ed to spend hundreds of hours every year just keeping up with reporting: - Data spread across emails, spreadsheets, TPAs, and recordkeepers. - Constant struggle to keep plan stakeholders aligned. - New rules, like Secure Act 2.0, changing all the time. - Having to manually log and track every plan interaction. For 15 years, Ed lived this pain. Then one summer, his intern said he had found a way to automate Ed’s reporting and pull all the data into one place. Ed didn’t believe it. But to his surprise, the system worked—and more. In 2024 alone, Ed: - Saved over 500 hours. - Grew his 401(k) business by 25%—just from referrals by TPAs, recordkeepers, sponsors, and payroll providers. That internship project became PlanSync. Today, Ed’s mission is simple: To give every advisor the benefits of his proven reporting process—without the 17 years of pain he went through to build it. That means less time chasing data and compliance work, and more time gaining trust, passing audits, and growing. Advisors—Ed’s story isn’t rare. The 401(k) world is full of scattered data, messy reports, and wasted time. - Have you faced the same struggles Ed did? - How are you handling them today?