Why Payroll Platforms Weren’t Built to Be Retirement Plan Administrators

February 21, 2026

For many employers, payroll is the operational backbone of the organization. It touches compensation, taxes, benefits, and reporting—so it’s understandable why retirement plans are often bundled there as well. If payroll providers offer a 401(k) solution, it can feel efficient to keep everything under one roof. 


But efficiency in payroll processing is not the same as effectiveness in retirement plan administration. 


As retirement plan regulations grow more complex—particularly under SECURE 2.0—many plan sponsors are discovering that payroll platforms simply weren’t designed to handle the interpretive, judgment-based responsibilities required to administer a qualified retirement plan. 

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

February 17, 2026
If administering a retirement plan feels more complicated than it used to, you’re not imagining it. The changes taking effect in 2026 are a continuation of several years of phased-in legislation, inflation adjustments, and regulatory guidance, much of it stemming from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Add in changes that took effect in 2024 and 2025, and the result is a retirement plan environment with more moving parts than many employers and participants are equipped to manage. Here’s what’s changing, and why 2026 stands out.
January 5, 2026
There are an estimated two million non-profit organizations in the U.S. This includes public charities, private foundations, and other types of organizations, such as schools and religious institutions. These entities operate under different tax laws and structures than for-profit companies do.
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.
More Posts