The Future of Retirement Plans: Why Group Solutions Win

Western Pension & Benefits Council - Orange County Chapter

This presentation explores why group retirement plan structures—such as PEPs, MEPs, and Defined Contribution Groups—have emerged as essential solutions for employers seeking reduced fiduciary risk, simplified administration, and scalable efficiency. It outlines how these arrangements work, compares their legal and operational differences, and highlights key factors that should be considered when selecting a group plan solution.

We’ll discuss:

• The evolution of group plans- driven by rising fiduciary responsibilities, compliance pressures, and employer demand for streamlined administration
• Current PEP landscape
• Difference between the two primary group arrangements: DCG & PEPs
• What to evaluate when discussing group plan options

Speakers

Marta Hurst is a partner and seasoned retirement plan consultant at Fiduciary Wise. With over 20 years of industry expertise, she has worked with Financial Advisors and business owners to consult on a variety of qualified plan matters. Hurst uses her knowledge of retirement plans as well as plan sponsor goals to provide meaningful design recommendations, plan feature alternatives and fiduciary outsourcing options. Marta Hurst is a dedicated member of the Fiduciary Wise team and is passionate about our mission to help Plan Sponsors ensure their 401(k) or ERISA-403(b) Plan is managed correctly, allowing Plan Sponsors to concentrate on what they do best—running their business.

Dorothy “Doll” Lank, a co-founder of KLB Benefits Law Group, is experienced in advising employers on their benefits plans, with a focus on qualified retirement plans, particularly so-called “ROBS” plans. She is developing an expertise in the prohibited transactions rules applicable to qualified retirement plans and to self-directed IRAs. Doll’s main interest is in helping clients progress toward their financial goals in a range of circumstances involving tax qualified benefits, from the correction of an employer plan failure, to avoiding a prohibited transaction, to the impact of an acquisition on a company’s benefits. As a small business owner herself, she shares a lot in common with her clients and is eager to help untangle the complexities of the federal tax law involved in their matters. Before joining KLB, Doll was Of Counsel to employee benefits boutique firms in California and Colorado, and was particularly active in the Western Pension & Benefits Council, Denver Chapter. Doll presents regularly on benefits topics to employers and service providers, and is active in industry associations that promote best practices in employee benefits.

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