The ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings plans. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.
A recent call with a financial advisor from Colorado is representative of a common inquiry related to Pooled Plan Providers. The advisor asked:
“Do you have any statistics about how many Pooled Plan Providers have registered with the Department of Labor, and where they are located?”
Highlights of the Discussion
Yes, we do have some statistics based on a tool on the DOL’s website that shows PPP filings. As of July 27, 2022, the number of PPPs that have registered with the DOL to be able to offer Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) is 114, with several of them offering several plan offerings. Keep in mind the number of PPPs will continue to change. Registering with the IRS and DOL is one of the requirements for a firm to become a PPP of a PEP. Below is a summary of the number of PPPs by state.
Pooled Plan Providers by State*
AL 1
AZ 5
CA 6
CO 2
CT 2
FL 15
GA 4
HI 1
IL 8
IA 2
KS 2
LA 1
MD 2
MA 3
MI 1
MN 4
MS 2
MO 1
NB 1
NV 1
NJ 2
NM 2
NY 11
NC 1
OH 2
OR 2
PA 7
SD 2
TN 6
TX 9
UT 3
VA 1
WA 2
TOTAL 114
*As of July 27, 2022. States without registrants omitted.
The most likely entities to serve as PPPs include financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, recordkeepers, large broker/dealers, registered investment advisor firms, payroll providers and local chambers of commerce.
To encourage more businesses to sponsor workplace retirement plans, Congress created PEPs, available for adoption starting in 2021 through registered PPPs. PEPs are new plan structures created by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. These new plan arrangements allow two or more completely unrelated employers to participate in a single retirement plan administered through a registered PPP. Each employer has the fiduciary duty to prudently select and monitor the PPP and other fiduciaries of the PEP.
The idea behind PEPs is that employers would be more inclined to offer retirement benefits if they could band together to reduce the burdens and costs of plan maintenance. And to sweeten the deal, the special plan startup tax credits in the SECURE Act allow eligible employers to receive up to $5,000 in tax credits for the first three years and offer an additional $500 tax credit for adding an automatic enrollment feature that can be used with PEPs.
Conclusion
PEPs became available for adoption starting in 2021 through registered PPPs. Thanks to a tool on the DOL’s website, the industry can stay up to date on PPP registrants.
Any information provided is for informational purposes only. It cannot be used for the purposes of avoiding penalties and taxes. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation.
©2022, Retirement Learning Center, LLC. Used with permission.
