Wanting Web-Based Census Completion

[Guest JTBRadmin]

My first post and am hoping someone out there can help me.

I've been asked to find out if a web-based census completion tool is out there. I assume that some of the large recordkeepers have their own tool built and designed just for their use.

This would eliminate census packages for some clients and hopefully save administrative time and expenses.

Is there a "boxed" product that's out there that anyone is aware of? We could always have someone build a site that allows for this, but our company size and client based is at least a few years away from this.

Thanks for any info.

[BeanCounterBlues]

I've looked into this (a web portal) as well and decided not do do it. I'm not exactly answering your question, but....

I discussed this issue w/ a computer expert and the reason I've decided not to do it is security. As long as the client's data is up on the web, a hacker may be able to access it. To avoid being hacked, I could pull the file off the web as soon as I know that the client has completed. But, until that happens, the request is posted on the portal (usually populated w/ social security numbers) so there is some risk. And following up w/ the client repeatedly to find out when they have posted their information could be a pain.

I feel the risk to social security numbers etc is too great.

There are some larger investment companies (such as Principal Group) that use web based solutions. However the companies like that that are larger probably have large internal staffs devoted to security. As a small TPA firm, I don't have those capabilities. I'd be relying on the integrity of the portal that I would subscribe to (there are several such service you can subscribe to). I would be uncomfortable w/ their security.

What I have been doing is sending enrycpted and password protected e mail attachments (Excel-based census file) to the client. This is not the best solution either but it is some protection. Furthermore, if one e mail is intercepted - then then hacker has gotten only that e mail and not everything off the portal (which could involve multiple clients).

If anyone's interested in commenting I would love to hear if there are some better solutions for obtaining the census. I have yet to find one that is both secure and time saving.

Robin Vatalaro CPA

[dmwe]

A company we work with in Lincoln, NE named Centrix Solutions helped us with a secured website so that we can post spreadsheets there for clients to access, save census data and then we can pick it up and import it into our Relius system. It works pretty slick and is very secure. You should be able to find there name in an internet phone book.

[sdix401k]

I am working in with a company right now that has just begun offering such a product. It looks like it has a lot of potential.

Easy to use no software installation. They are doing a beta right now. www.retirehq.com.

[Fredman]

If you use Relius Administration and the associated web products, there are built in solutions for providing spreadsheets, file uploads and direct importing into the system.

[Guest JTBRadmin]

If you use Relius Administration and the associated web products, there are built in solutions for providing spreadsheets, file uploads and direct importing into the system.

Our testers do use Relius ASP, but when we brainstormed how to make census completion easier for our clients, they mentioned nothing about Relius offering a web-based tool for census completion.

[FAPInJax]

There are several solutions in Relius - software sent to your client so they can create a spreadsheet and send it back for import (encrypted), web solutions enabling clients to send in Excel spreadsheets for import which can be scanned for errors before they even get to you, etc. Check with the support group for more detailed information.