Plan Sponsor Onboarding — First 90 Days
Set up your plan correctly from day one—clear roles, clean data, confident compliance.
Who does what
Sponsor: Sign engagement; share prior plan files (if takeover); provide census; approve payroll mapping; avoid emailing PII.
TPA: Provide templates; validate mappings; set compliance calendar; train admins; confirm remittance process.
Payroll/Recordkeeper/Advisor: Implement codes and contribution sources; open accounts; assist with employee education.
First 90 days (timeline)
Days 1–7
Kickoff call; portal access; send census baseline and prior plan files; deliver payroll mapping guide.
Days 8–30
Finalize payroll mappings; run a “dummy” payroll test; load eligibility rules; schedule enrollment meetings.
Days 31–60
Go‑live for contributions and loan repayments; validate first cycle; reconcile any exceptions.
Days 61–90
Quarter‑end spot‑check; confirm notices; organize portal folders for document retention.
Foundations that prevent headaches
Identify controlled group & family attribution early.
Agree on compensation definition across payroll and plan.
Document off‑cycle pay rules (bonuses/commissions) for deferrals.
Confirm loan/hardship policy and authorization workflow (if allowed).
Common pitfalls to avoid
Running payroll before mappings are approved.
Missing rehires or part‑timers in the census baseline.
Emailing PII instead of using the secure portal.
Not flagging owners/relatives—affects eligibility, testing, and allocations.