# Blog Source: https://planprovider.pro/blog > Guides, comparisons, and analysis on 401(k) providers, ERISA compliance, plan audits, and retirement plan benchmarking. Guides, comparisons, and analysis on 401(k) providers, ERISA compliance, plan audits, and retirement plan benchmarking. - ## [Do Solo 401(k) Plans Need an Audit?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/solo-401k-plans-need-audit) July 3, 2026 Most Solo 401(k) plans do not need an audit—but there are important conditions. Here’s what the DOL audit rules say, how “participant” is counted, and what Solo K owners should still file and monitor. - ## [Top ERISA Litigation Conferences (2026 Guide)](https://planprovider.pro/blog/erisa-litigation-conferences) July 3, 2026 ERISA litigators have a short list of “can’t-miss” conferences for case law updates, strategy, and networking. Here’s a practical guide to major ERISA litigation conferences, what they cover, and how to budget and plan. - ## [How To Hire A Retirement Plan Advisor](https://planprovider.pro/blog/hire-retirement-plan-advisor) July 3, 2026 As a plan sponsor, managing your company’s retirement benefit is a complex responsibility. You are tasked with monitoring investment performance, ensuring fees are reasonable, and keeping the plan compliant with federal regulations. For many HR teams and business owners, handling these duties alone… - ## [Understanding the 80-120 Participant Rule](https://planprovider.pro/blog/80-120-participant-rule) July 3, 2026 If your plan is hovering around 100 participants, the 80-120 participant rule can determine whether you file as a small or large plan—and whether an audit is required. Here’s how the rule works, what counts as a participant, and how to avoid common Form 5500 mistakes. - ## [401(k) Advisor Fees: What’s Average, What’s High, and How to Benchmark Them](https://planprovider.pro/blog/401-k-advisor-fees) June 28, 2026 A data-driven guide to 401(k) advisor fees using 2024 Form 5500 benchmarks, plan-size medians, and the DOL’s Schedule C advisory service categories. - ## [Largest CIT Providers Ranked by Publicly Disclosed Assets](https://planprovider.pro/blog/largest-cit-providers) June 24, 2026 A source-backed ranking of the largest collective investment trust providers using the latest public asset disclosures we verified as of June 24, 2026. - ## [What Is a Retirement Plan third-party administrator (TPA?)](https://planprovider.pro/blog/retirement-plan-third-party-administrator-tpa) May 21, 2026 A retirement plan third-party administrator (TPA) is often the behind-the-scenes engine that keeps your 401(k) or other qualified plan compliant. This guide explains what TPAs do, when they’re needed (especially with unbundled recordkeeping), and how to hire the right partner. - ## [What Does a 3(16) Fiduciary Do?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/what-does-a-316-fiduciary-do) May 20, 2026 A 3(16) fiduciary can take on key administrative fiduciary duties for your retirement plan—but it doesn’t make the employer “off the hook.” Here’s what a 3(16) fiduciary typically handles, what the plan sponsor still owns, and how 3(16) differs from 3(21) and 3(38) investment fiduciaries. - ## [Free Form 5500 Search Database + Plan Health Reports](https://planprovider.pro/blog/free-form-5500-search-database) May 13, 2026 Use PlanProvider.Pro's free Form 5500 search database to filter retirement plans, build lists, and open individual plan health reports from public filings. - ## [Form 5500-EZ: What It Is and How to File It](https://planprovider.pro/blog/form-5500-ez) May 12, 2026 Form 5500-EZ is the annual return many one-participant retirement plans must file once assets hit certain thresholds. Here’s what it is, who files it, and a practical step-by-step filing checklist for solo 401(k) plan administrators. - ## [Best Financial Wellness Benefit Platforms (Top 5)](https://planprovider.pro/blog/best-financial-wellness-benefit-platforms) May 7, 2026 Financial stress shows up at work—missed shifts, lower productivity, and higher turnover. Here are five leading financial wellness benefit platforms employers compare, plus a practical checklist for choosing the right fit. - ## [Can You Put Stocks in a 401(k)? What Employers Should Know](https://planprovider.pro/blog/stocks-in-a-401k) March 16, 2026 Employers often ask whether participants can buy individual stocks in a 401(k). The short answer is “sometimes”—usually through a self-directed brokerage account (SDBA)—but offering it comes with fiduciary considerations, added fees, and administrative complexity. - ## [Can You Use ETFs in a 401(k) Plan?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/etfs-in-401k-plans) March 13, 2026 ETFs can be used in some 401(k) plans, but most employers don’t need them to build a strong, low-cost lineup. Here’s when ETFs may make sense—and why mutual funds or CITs are often the better fit. - ## [Stable Value Funds: Should Your Plan Offer Them?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/what-are-stable-value-funds) March 12, 2026 Stable value funds can offer smoother returns than money market funds and often higher yields—without the day-to-day volatility of bonds. But they come with real tradeoffs, including portability limits and exit restrictions that plan sponsors should understand before adding them. - ## [Crypto in a 401(k): Risks, Rules, and Safer Options](https://planprovider.pro/blog/crypto-in-401k) March 11, 2026 Interest in crypto in a 401(k) keeps growing—but so do the fiduciary and compliance questions for plan sponsors. Here’s how to evaluate crypto requests, manage participant risk, and consider alternatives that may better fit a prudent process. - ## [What Is the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC) and Why It Matters](https://planprovider.pro/blog/what-is-ebpaqcs) February 19, 2026 The Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC) is a key professional resource focused on improving the quality of employee benefit plan audits. Here’s what it is, why it matters to plan sponsors, and how it can influence your auditor selection. - ## [Fidelity Bond for a 401(k): Requirements & Costs](https://planprovider.pro/blog/fidelity-bond-for-401k) January 22, 2026 Most 401(k) plans must carry an ERISA fidelity bond to protect the plan from losses caused by fraud or dishonesty. Here’s how the bonding rules work, how to calculate the right coverage amount, and how to purchase a bond without overpaying or missing a requirement. - ## [What Is a Solo 401(k) and Should You Get One?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/what-is-solo-401k) January 19, 2026 A Solo 401(k) can be one of the most powerful retirement plans for self-employed owners with no employees. Learn how it works, who qualifies, and what to consider before opening one. - ## [Profit Sharing Plan Providers: How to Choose](https://planprovider.pro/blog/profit-sharing-plan-providers) January 18, 2026 Profit sharing plans can be a flexible way to reward employees while helping your business save for retirement. Learn what a profit sharing plan is, how it works, and how to choose the right provider for your company. - ## [Simple IRA vs 401(k): What’s Best for Small Businesses?](https://planprovider.pro/blog/simple-ira-vs-401k-for-small-business) January 17, 2026 Choosing between a SIMPLE IRA and a 401(k) can shape your budget, recruiting, and long-term retirement outcomes. Here’s a practical comparison of costs, contribution rules, and compliance responsibilities for small business owners. - ## [401(k) Fee Benchmarking: What It Is and How to Do It](https://planprovider.pro/blog/401k-fee-benchmarking) January 14, 2026 Start 401(k) fee benchmarking with real Form 5500-based averages, then use an advisor or recordkeeper to pressure-test fees, services, and vendor pricing.