"If a client wanted to give our firm the authority to sign the Form 5500 on their behalf (I guess signing it under my ID), what do they need to sign to authorize that? Would our firm just be listed as the Plan Administrator on the Form 5500-SF? We've always had the client sign themselves, but for some reason one client doesn't want to do it and would rather have us sign."

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"I am in the process of starting a new TPA form and looking for a mentor. Staff will be just me. I have loads of experience on the investment side of the business but administration is new to me. I have a QKA designation and will be obtaining the QKC and QPA. I am looking to find a mentor that I could refer to if I run into issues on the administration side."

"I am in the process of launching my own TPA firm and looking for best practices on software and/or programs that I should obtain. Any input would be extremely helpful!!"

"I left my former company a few years ago and, unfortunately, the ESOP plan has been losing value every year since. I did take a distribution when I turned 55 last year and, in a few years, I'll be able to start collecting payments every year (20%/year for five years). I just received a letter stating that the ESOP plan was recently amended to allow for a one-time offer to terminated/vested employees (which I am) to receive a distribution from the plan. The amount they are offering is roughly 40% of the amount I have left in the plan (which is all in stock). I've reached out to other people who have left this company and they've also received the same letter (with the flat rate same amount). Since the plan has been going down ever since I've left (probably down about 25-30%) I'm very tempted to take this offer (I have until mid-November to decide) but I'm curious as to why it would be offered in the first place. I know that there are no more shares to allocated to new employees so this could be a way to buy back shares for them. Would it also be advantages for the company to buy back shares in they were looking to sell it? Curious to see what other people think and what they would do in this situation."