RESOURCES FOR CPAs

A trusted retirement plan partner for CPA firms and their clients 

Since the passage of SECURE 1.0 and SECURE 2.0, business owners are asking more questions than ever about retirement plans. Contribution limits, eligibility rules, new tax credits, automatic enrollment requirements, and changing deadlines have created a level of confusion many clients simply weren’t prepared for. 


For CPAs, that often means fielding complex retirement plan questions during already busy tax seasons. 


While we’ve been working closely with CPAs for more than 55 years, we’ve recently seen a significant increase in the number of CPAs looking for a trusted retirement plan partner, one who can help interpret new legislation, guide clients toward the right strategies, and handle the technical administration. 

How We Work With CPAs

We work alongside CPA firms to provide practical guidance, proactive support, and

retirement plan expertise that helps both you and your clients succeed.

When Should CPAs Bring Us into the Conversation?


Many CPA firms involve us when retirement or general tax planning questions become more technical or strategic. If any of the following situations come up with a client, we can help evaluate the options and provide clear guidance. 


You may want to introduce us when a client: 


  • Is looking for ways to reduce current-year (and/or prior year) taxable income 
  • Is asking whether they should start or upgrade a retirement plan
  • Wants to maximize retirement contributions beyond standard 401(k) limits 
  • Has multiple owners with different income levels
  • Is considering a cash balance or defined benefit plan 
  • Is preparing for a business sale or ownership transition 
  • Is going through a merger, acquisition, or restructuring 
  • Has questions related to SECURE Act provisions or new compliance rules 


We’re happy to participate in joint conversations with clients or provide behind-the-scenes technical insight to support your recommendations. Once we’re brought into the conversation, our role is simple: make retirement plans easier for both you and your clients. From plan design and technical consulting to compliance support and correcting broken plans, we work as an extension of your team—providing practical guidance, responsive service, and solutions tailored to each client’s goals. 

  • Personalized Retirement Plan Design 

    From traditional 401(k) plans to cash balance and other defined benefit options, we have deep expertise in selecting from among the 24 different types of retirement plans out there, and knowing the situations for which each one is appropriate . We use that knowledge to design plans specifically tailored to key factors, such as: 

    • Tax efficiency 
    • Ownership structure 
    • Compensation strategy 
    • Workforce demographics 
    • Business growth and succession planning 

  • Technical Expertise

    Our team stays deep in the weeds so you don’t have to. We regularly help CPAs navigate: 

    • IRS and Department of Labor compliance  
    • Annual contribution limit changes and non-discrimination tests  
    • Mergers & Acquisitions and other business transitions 
    • Common retirement plan misconceptions 
    • and more 

    Our attention to compliance has helped maintain a perfect, no-change IRS audit records. 


  • White‑Glove Service for Your Clients 

    Your clients deserve responsive, knowledgeable support.  


    That’s why every retirement plan we administer includes a dedicated plan administrator who serves as the client’s primary contact—available by direct phone or email - no call centers, 1-800 numbers, or generic support queues.  


    Our Plan Administrators stand out across the industry: 

    • Each administrator holds at least one professional credential, with most holding multiple designations 
    • Our team’s average tenure is more than 32 years of industry experience 

    This depth of experience allows us to provide proactive guidance and clear answers when clients need them most. 


    When clients feel confident in their retirement plan, that, in turn, strengthens their confidence in their advisor relationships.

  • "Broken" Plans

    When retirement plans encounter operational failures, compliance issues, or outdated plan designs, many CPAs are surprised to learn there may be alternatives beyond engaging ERISA counsel for every correction.


    Our team regularly helps identify, correct, and redesign “broken” retirement plans — often in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than clients expect. Depending on the nature of the issue, many operational and design failures can be resolved through established correction programs, thoughtful plan redesign, and experienced administrative guidance.


    We work alongside CPAs to help clients:

    • Correct operational and compliance failures
    • Address failed testing or eligibility issues
    • Resolve document or amendment concerns
    • Redesign plans that no longer align with business goals
    • Improve plan efficiency, flexibility, and tax strategy opportunities

    Because our team works exclusively in the retirement plan space, we understand how to navigate complex plan issues while helping clients minimize disruption and move forward with confidence.

RESOURCES FOR CPAs

We know CPAs need clear, practical information. We’ve built a growing library of tools

and insights you and your team can use, or share with clients. 

Explore timely articles on topics CPAs care about. 

Retirement Plan Rescue Story #1 : Keeping an "Overfunded" Pension Plan from Being Terminated

August 18, 2026
The Challenge A business owner came to us after receiving confusing news from their retirement plan actuary. Their Defined Benefit (Cash Balance) Plan had performed exceptionally well over several years; strong investment returns seemed to have created what’s called an overfunded Plan. While it seems like a positive name, an overfunded plan can create excessive and unexpected tax liabilities. So, their actuary recommended terminating the Plan by transferring the excess assets into the company's other Plan, a 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, before eventually closing both Plans, a lengthy and complicated process.

Q2 2026 Newsletter

July 15, 2026
As we wrap up the second quarter of 2026, one trend continues to stand out: retirement plans are becoming increasingly specialized. Whether driven by changing regulations, unique workforce structures, or evolving business goals, employers are finding that a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn't work. This quarter, we explored the unique retirement plan challenges facing several industries—including medical and dental practices, construction companies, architecture and design firms, wineries, and California employers navigating CalSavers requirements. We also continued our series on the hidden risks of low-quality retirement plan services, highlighting how operational complexity, fragmented accountability, and misaligned incentives can create costs that extend far beyond administrative fees. For employers still evaluating their retirement plan options, we also discussed opportunities that many business owners overlook, including the ability to establish retirement plans after filing a tax extension and potentially generate meaningful tax savings. Below is a recap of the articles we published this quarter. We hope they provide practical insights to help you reduce risk, improve plan performance, and make more informed retirement plan decisions.

Beyond the Basics: Retirement Plan Considerations Unique to Nonprofit Organizations

July 15, 2026
When considering retirement plans, employers in the private sector are often focused on designing a compliant plan that meets the needs of their owners and employees. While that process for private sector entities can certainly be complex, nonprofit organizations face an entirely different set of considerations, related to funding, staffing, governance, and organizational structure, to name just a few. From seasonal employees and grant-funded positions, to creative executive retention strategies and legacy retirement programs, to smaller budgets serving a mission, there is so much behind the scenes that can affect a nonprofit organization’s ideal retirement plan. At Primark Benefits, we've worked with nonprofit organizations of all sizes throughout our history, from large institutions with hundreds of participants to small community organizations with fewer than 20 employees. In addition, many members of our management team serve on nonprofit boards across the country for organizations and causes near and dear to their hearts. All that combined experience has validated what makes a retirement plan most successful: understanding the organization itself. 

Mega Backdoor Roth Contributions: Powerful Opportunity or Testing Trap?

July 2, 2026
The Mega Backdoor Roth strategy has become one of the most talked-about retirement planning techniques in recent years. Financial publications regularly highlight its potential to help participants contribute far more than the standard deferral limits allow. However, while the strategy can be extremely valuable, an important limitation is often overlooked: due to nondiscrimination testing requirements, some employer-sponsored retirement plans may prevent certain participants from taking full advantage of it. Before assuming a Mega Backdoor Roth will work in your plan, it is important to understand how the strategy operates—and where it can run into trouble.

CalSavers Penalties Are Here: Why Some California Employers Are Reconsidering Their Retirement Plan Strategies

June 4, 2026
For years, many California employers viewed CalSavers as something they would “deal with later.” As the state gradually rolled out mandatory retirement program deadlines based on employer size, it was easy for smaller businesses to push the issue down the road. Now, those deadlines have passed, the employee headcount threshold is now ONE— and enforcement is becoming very real.

The Hidden Risks of Low-Quality Retirement Plan Services Part II: Misaligned Incentives and Fragmented Accountability

May 12, 2026
In Part I of this series , we explored how differences in retirement plan service models can influence risks related to compliance, oversight, and fiduciary areas. In Part II, the focus shifts to a more concrete question: How do these differences ultimately affect the total cost of maintaining a retirement plan over time? While administrative fees are often the most visible expense, they represent only a portion of a plan’s true cost. The broader financial impact—what is often referred to as total cost of ownership—includes the downstream effects of operational efficiency, compliance accuracy, and the ability to fully utilize the plan’s design. 
Show More

Stay ahead of evolving retirement plan rules with our SECURE 2.0 Resource Page—a clear, easy-to-navigate hub breaking down key provisions, effective dates, and planning considerations to help employers, fiduciaries, and advisors understand what’s changing and when.

Click Here to Access Our Secure 2.0 Information Page

Save time with our Annual Limits Reference Page, a quick, easy‑to‑bookmark resource covering key contribution and compensation limits for the past few tax years. 

Click Here to Access Our Annual Plan Limits Page

COMPLIMENTARY NASBA-Approved

CPE Training for CPA Firms 

Education is a core part of our CPA relationships. With retirement planning growing more complex each year, which continues to increase with the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0, ongoing education could not be more important. We regularly offer FREE, NASBA‑approved CPE training designed specifically for CPA firms. Our sessions focus on practical retirement plan topics CPAs encounter with real clients: 


  • Live (not recorded) webinars that include interactive, real-time Q&As 
  • Firm‑specific sessions that can be tailored to your team 
  • Practical, technical content you can apply immediately 


Our goal is to help you earn credits while deepening your understanding of retirement plan strategies that impact your clients. 


Interested in hosting a NASBA‑approved CPE session exclusively for your firm? We regularly hold private session for CPA firms.




Upcoming CPE Sessions:


Join Primark Benefits for one of our free upcoming CPA Continuing Education session covering "Advanced Retirement Plans".

 

This 75-minute live webinar is designed specifically for CPAs and financial professionals seeking deeper insight into advanced retirement plan structures, compliance rules, and tax-saving opportunities.

 

Delivery Method: Group Internet Based, Live Webinar

Speaker: Stephen L. Dobrow, ERPA, APA, CPC

CPE Credits: 1.5

Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge – Technical

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Whether you’re looking for a reliable retirement plan partner, educational resources, or CPE opportunities for your firm, Primark Benefits is here to support you. 


Let’s start a conversation about how we can better serve your clients—together. 

Contact Us