Q3 2026 Newsletter

October 9, 2026

As we wrap up the third quarter of 2026, one theme continues to emerge: effective retirement plan administration requires more than simply keeping up with regulatory changes. It requires proactive oversight, an understanding of each employer's unique circumstances, and the ability to identify potential problems before they become costly mistakes.


This quarter, we took a closer look at the retirement plan challenges facing law firms, nonprofit organizations, and home healthcare providers, exploring how compensation structures, workforce dynamics, and plan design can create unexpected compliance risks. We also examined important technical considerations, including after-tax contributions, nondiscrimination testing, and the limitations of increasingly automated retirement plan platforms.


We continued our Retirement Plan Rescue Stories series, sharing real-world examples of how overlooked administrative responsibilities, inadequate oversight, and seemingly minor operational errors can lead to significant consequences for employers. These stories reinforce an important point: the true cost of retirement plan administration isn't always reflected in the fees employers pay.



Below is a recap of the articles we published this quarter. We hope they provide practical insights to help you navigate evolving requirements, recognize potential risks, and make more informed decisions about your retirement plan.

What We're Seeing

Across Retirement Plans:

Retirement Plan Rescue Story #3: Good Intentions Aren't a Compliance System

September 28, 2026
Sometimes retirement plan problems begin with bad decisions. Other times, they begin with good intentions.

Retirement Plan Challenges for Law Firms

September 28, 2026
Law firms often have compensation structures that are more complex than those of other business types. This is attributable to having both equity and non-equity partners, large year-end bonuses, variable associate compensation, and high contribution goals for senior attorneys -- all these factors and more affect how a retirement plan operates. While these structures can create opportunities for sophisticated retirement plan design, they can also create testing volatility and compliance risk, especially if changes in compensation (or partnership/ownership) are not addressed throughout the year as they occur.

When an Automated Retirement Plan Creates Compliance Risk

September 28, 2026
Technology is quickly transforming retirement plan administration. Today, employers can launch a retirement plan, connect payroll, enroll employees, process contributions, and access reports, all electronically and with far less manual effort needed than in the past.

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. 

2026 Compliance Calendar 


Beyond tracking dates, effective compliance requires coordination between payroll, plan documents, and regulatory requirements. To help you stay ahead, we’ve put together a 2026 Retirement Plan Compliance Calendar outlining key deadlines throughout the year for calendar-year plans.

Click here to download the Compliance Calendar

2026 Annual Limits Reminder 


Updated contribution limits and thresholds are now in effect and may impact both plan administration and participant strategy.

We continually update the Annual Limits page on our website.

Click here to access and bookmark it

We hope you enjoyed our article roundup! If you have ideas for topics you'd like us to cover, our team of experts at Primark Benefits is here to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

Retirement Plan Rescue Story #3: Good Intentions Aren't a Compliance System

September 28, 2026
Sometimes retirement plan problems begin with bad decisions. Other times, they begin with good intentions.

Retirement Plan Challenges for Law Firms

September 28, 2026
Law firms often have compensation structures that are more complex than those of other business types. This is attributable to having both equity and non-equity partners, large year-end bonuses, variable associate compensation, and high contribution goals for senior attorneys -- all these factors and more affect how a retirement plan operates. While these structures can create opportunities for sophisticated retirement plan design, they can also create testing volatility and compliance risk, especially if changes in compensation (or partnership/ownership) are not addressed throughout the year as they occur.

When an Automated Retirement Plan Creates Compliance Risk

September 28, 2026
Technology is quickly transforming retirement plan administration. Today, employers can launch a retirement plan, connect payroll, enroll employees, process contributions, and access reports, all electronically and with far less manual effort needed than in the past.
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