The Sentinel Show

Just in time for Halloween, Melissa Terito and Kasey Melancon share some spine-tingling tales from the world of retirement plans! 👻In this episode, the hosts dive into two real-life “horror stories” that will make any plan sponsor’s skin crawl—from misplaced safe harbor contributions and unfiled 5500s to Department of Labor audits and $120,000 in missing deferrals. Melissa and Kasey break down what went wrong,how they fixed it, and the lessons learned to help others avoid similar nightmares.Whether you’re a plan sponsor, advisor, or just love a goodcompliance thriller, this episode will leave you grateful for a smooth audit and a well-run plan.Tune in for:Red flags in open MEPs and plan administrationWhat happens when contributions go to the wrong sourceReal-world insights into VCP and DOL audit resolutionsWhy "fixing" is sometimes scarier than the original mistakeHappy Halloween — and may your plan never haunt you! 🎃Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

In this episode of The Sentinel Show, hosts Melissa Terito and Kasey Melancon unpack one of the most significant upcoming changes from the SECURE 2.0 Act — the mandatory Roth catch-up requirement that applies to certain higher-income participants beginning January 1, 2026.They break down who’s affected, what plan sponsors and payroll providers need to do to stay compliant, and how HR teams can prepare now. From understanding the $145,000 (indexed) FICA wage threshold to coordinating Roth feature updates and avoiding payroll missteps, Melissa and Kasey make a complex rule easy to follow.They also discuss the IRS’s final regulations, the two-year transition period ending December 31, 2025, and what "good-faith compliance” means for plan operations in the first year.Whether you manage retirement plans, oversee payroll, or just want to stay ahead of evolving regulations, this episode offers practical insights to help you navigate Roth catch-ups with confidence and clarity.Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! On our final episode before we take a break for the summer, Kasey and Melissa are breaking down a topic that is widely covered in the TPA world: plans that go off the rails. Our resident plan fixers break down the governing bodies that review these plans, what they’re looking for when they come to audit plans, the safe harbor standard for deposit submissions, the types of corrections systems, and so much more! We hope y’all have a great summer and will come back to learn more with us next season! Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! We have someexciting news – next season of the Sentinel Pension Show will be coming to you from a new office! Today’s episode talks about an important topic: while you may think there are cookie cutter retirement plans, that’s most likely not the case. We talk about potential mistakes that can befall a retirement plan and how mistakes in the plan can snowball into more difficult problems. To learn more about this, continue listening to this great episode!    Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! It’s almost the end of the school year and our former teachers, Kasey and Melissa, are teaching us about retirement plan fees. We go over record keeper asset fees, reasonableness of fee requirements, fee disclosure notices, plan benchmarking, and much more!   Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! For today’sepisode, Kasey and Melissa go over retirement plan rules. We review the new super catch-up rules applicable in 2025, how plan limits have increased, how the super catch-up formula works, and options employees have. We also go employeecontribution limits and 415 limits. Listen along to learn more!  Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! On today’s episode, we are wrapping up our series on plan documents. We’re talking about the SECURE, CARES, and CAA amendments as well as optional provisions that plan documents may have, including qualified birth and adoption distributions, RMD provisions, the hardship amendment, and more. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! For this fourth episode, Melissa and Kasey are going over what it means for a plan to be top heavy. We review what a top heavy plan is, who gets top heavy minimums, and how that affects compliance testing. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! For this third episode, Melissa and Kasey are going over force-outs. We review what force-outs are, the benefits of removing terminated employees from a plan, and plan sponsors' responsibilities as they pertain to force-outs. We also break down the process for conducting a force-out from a plan and provide a few recommendations for handling removing terminated employees from a benefit plan. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call us at 225-300-8478⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! This week, we’re talking all about distributions. Kasey and Melissa go over what distributions are, the importance of only issuing distributions that are qualified, in-service distributions, hardship distributions, retirement age, and more!       Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! Melissa and Kasey are starting off this brand new season continuing our discussion of the plan adoption agreement. This next section is all about vesting, or when you become entitled to employer contributions given to a retirement plan. We go over vesting schedules, forfeiture accounts, the rule of parity, and much more!  Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! Today, Kasey and Melissa discuss new comparability, also known as cross tested profit sharing, which is a method of providing a higher percentage which normally results in a higher dollar amount of a profit sharing to the business owners versus what they have to give their rank-and-file employees. They discuss how safe harbor non-elective contributions are normally paired with new comparability, the gateway test, contribution growth over time, and much more! After this episode, we will be taking a break for the holidays. We look forward to creating new episodes for you soon! Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! Today, Kasey and Melissa discuss integrated profit sharing. We review what a profit sharing contribution is, how integrated profit sharing came about, and how integrated profit sharing is calculated. We also discuss vesting schedules, allocation conditions, and much more! Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! Today, Kasey and Melissa discuss the next section of the plan document, safe harbor contributions. Safe Harbor contributions are a type of employer contribution that have special provisions and mandates around them. We discuss how these types of contributions may help with reaching business owners’ goals, we break down average deferral percentage testing, and benefits of making a fully funded safe harbor contribution. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! On today’s episode, Kasey and Melissa discuss the next section of the plan document about employee deferrals. Kasey and Melissa review the different parameters they often see for employee deferral eligibility and deferral modification dates. We explain automatic enrollment, permissible withdrawals, major rule changes due to SECURE 2.0, voluntary after-tax contributions, and much more!   Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome back to the Sentinel Pension Show! On today’s episode, Kasey and Melissa discuss the next section of the plan document, which is about eligibility. This important provision covers when people are allowed to participate in the plan. We review plan sponsor responsibilities and options that plan sponsors have when choosing eligibility rules for their plan. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome to the Season 4 Premiere of the Sentinel Pension Show! This episode, we’re recapping the three main legal documents associated with your retirement plan: the adoption agreement, the basic plan document, and the summary plan description. After our recap, we get into the nitty gritty of the employer information and plan information sections of the plan document. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know!    Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome to The Sentinel Pension Show! We have a new episode for you to start your Tuesday off right. Wondering what the difference is between the Adoption Agreement, Basic Plan Documents, and Trust Agreement? And what is the Summary Plan Description? Thankfully, Melissa and Kasey are here to clarify what all is included in your Plan Documents and what your TPA may be looking for when they ask for this information! We will be taking a break from the Sentinel Pension Show over the summer. Thank you to our loyal listeners for following along with us on this new season! We can't wait to bring you even more valuable content in Season 4! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome to The Sentinel Pension Show! We have a new episode for you to start your Tuesday off right. This week, Melissa and Kasey explain what a fidelity bond is! They stress why it is important to have one and what can happen if you don't. Listen along to learn if getting a fidelity bond is right for you or your employees. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky

Welcome to The Sentinel Pension Show! We have a new episode for you to start your Tuesday off right. This week, Melissa and Kasey discuss the form 5500 and what exactly that form entails. Listen along to learn about the importance of this form for your employer sponsored retirement plan. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel Pension (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Adam Vitovsky