Q4 2025 Newsletter

December 31, 2025

As we wrapped up 2025, one theme came through clearly: small oversights in retirement plans can quickly turn into costly problems—but with the right awareness, they’re often avoidable.


In Q4, we focused on the real-world issues plan sponsors are facing today, from understanding updated 2026 contribution limits to navigating new rules like Roth catch-up requirements for higher earners. We also continued our How to “Break” a Retirement Plan series, highlighting the operational and compliance missteps the IRS most commonly finds—and how seemingly minor errors can escalate if left unchecked.


At the same time, we challenged a few persistent misconceptions. From the limitations of state-run retirement programs to the risks of relying on “one-size-fits-all” solutions, these articles reinforce an important idea: retirement plans are more nuanced than they often appear, and thoughtful design and administration matter more than ever.



Below is a quick recap of what we covered—and what it means for you and your clients heading into 2026.

What We're Seeing

Across Retirement Plans:

2026 Retirement Plan Limits

November 24, 2025
As we approach the end of the year, it’s time for employers, plan sponsors, and participants to review the new retirement plan limits for 2026. Each year, the IRS updates the thresholds for contributions, compensation, and catch-up amounts to account for inflation and statutory changes. Staying on top of these numbers is critical for plan compliance, participant communications, and overall retirement strategy.

The Roth Catch-Up Trap

November 6, 2025
The Roth Catch-Up Trap: What High Earners Need to Know New rules can create costly surprises for older employees.

How to "Break" a Retirement Plan: Part II

October 7, 2025
Operational blind spots that often (or can) trip up plan sponsors Welcome back to our series, How to "Break" a Retirement Plan." In Part I , we explored the structural missteps that often set a plan on the wrong path from day one, such as choosing the wrong type of plan, mishandling contributions, and payroll errors. While getting the foundation right is critical, even the strongest plan can unravel if daily operations aren’t tightly managed. The rules are strict, and mistakes (no matter how seemingly small, or well-intentioned!) can trigger costly corrections or even regulatory scrutiny.

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.

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.
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