By: GGA Retirement | Granite Group Advisors
Updated: 10/05/2025
Are you ensuring ERISA compliance, reducing liability, and optimizing plan performance for your company?As a CFO, your role in overseeing your company’s retirement plan carries fiduciary accountability and financial impact. Resources exist to help executives like you navigate ERISA standards with clarity, structure, and cost efficiency. Pro tip: Choose a support model that aligns with your business objectives.Fiduciary Compliance That Protects Your Organization
ERISA standards place CFOs at the center of fiduciary responsibility.Data-Driven Fee Benchmarking and Plan Analysis
One of the most important roles of a CFO is ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.Independent Fiduciary Oversight
An independent structure helps limit liability exposure while maintaining control over plan-level decisions.Improving Governance and Operational Efficiency
From committee support and documentation to quarterly reviews, you need to equip your organization with a framework that sustains integrity.CFOs rely on experts to bring clarity to complex regulatory requirements and measurable results to retirement plan management. With streamlined processes, you’ll gain confidence in your compliance posture — and demonstrate fiduciary diligence to your board, auditors, and employees.Learn more below:
Reducing CFO Burden:
As a CFO, you are ultimately responsible for the operational and fiduciary compliance of your company’s 401(k) plan.The administrative requirements under ERISA, from filing Form 5500 to ensuring proper plan documentation, compliance testing, and vendor coordination, can be time-consuming, complex, and expose the organization to risk if not handled correctly.A 3(16) plan administrator assumes these day-to-day operational and compliance responsibilities on behalf of the employer.This includes:Regulatory Compliance
Ensures the plan adheres to ERISA standards, IRS requirements, and Department of Labor regulations.Documentation & Recordkeeping
Maintains the plan’s governing documents, amendments, and participant records, minimizing errors and audit exposure.Vendor Oversight & Coordination
Acts as the liaison between the employer, recordkeeper, custodian, and advisors, streamlining communications.Compliance Testing
Performs nondiscrimination, contribution, and eligibility testing to prevent regulatory violations.Reporting & Filings
Prepares and submits critical filings like Form 5500 and participant notices on schedule.By leveraging 3(16) services, CFOs can:Reduce Liability Exposure
Delegating administrative duties ensures responsibilities are handled by qualified fiduciaries, limiting personal and organizational risk.Save Time & Resources
Free finance teams from daily operational burdens, allowing focus on strategic financial priorities.Enhance Accuracy & Transparency
Provides structured, documented processes for audits and internal reporting.Improve Employee Experience
Ensures participants receive accurate and timely communications, fostering trust and engagement.In short, 3(16) services relieve the administrative, compliance, and fiduciary pressures from the CFO’s plate, allowing them to maintain oversight without becoming mired in day-to-day plan operations — all while ensuring the plan is managed in accordance with ERISA’s standards.Take Action Today
Visit our website below and get in touch to see how 3(16) plan administrator services can streamline your plan administration, ensure ERISA compliance, and reduce your fiduciary burden as a CFO.
Alleviating Investment Responsibility:
For CFOs, one of the most critical and high-risk aspects of managing a 401(k) plan is overseeing the investment lineup. Under ERISA, the fiduciary responsibility for selecting and monitoring plan investments can expose executives to significant liability if investments underperform or fail to meet prudence standards.A 3(38) investment fiduciary assumes full responsibility for the management and monitoring of plan assets, relieving the employer and CFO of investment-related fiduciary risk.Key responsibilities include:Investment Selection & Oversight
Chooses and monitors the plan’s investment options, ensuring they meet prudence, diversification, and risk/return objectives consistent with ERISA.Ongoing Performance Reviews
Conducts regular performance evaluations and compares options to industry benchmarks, making adjustments as needed.Fiduciary Documentation
Maintains thorough documentation of investment decisions and processes to satisfy ERISA’s recordkeeping requirements and audit readiness.Risk Management
Proactively identifies underperforming funds or excessive fees, mitigating the potential for fiduciary liability.Participant Communication Support
Provides clear reporting and education regarding the investment options offered to participants.By engaging 3(38) services, CFOs benefit in several ways:Mitigated Fiduciary Risk
Shifts the investment decision-making and monitoring responsibility to a qualified fiduciary, reducing exposure for the CFO and the organization.Save Time & Resources
Frees finance and HR teams from detailed investment analysis and ongoing monitoring, allowing focus on broader strategic financial priorities.Enhanced Compliance & Transparency
Provides defensible, documented investment processes to satisfy audits, ERISA regulations, and participant inquiries.Improved Participant Outcomes
Ensures a professionally managed investment lineup designed to optimize long-term retirement results for employees.In essence, 3(38) services allow CFOs to retain oversight without the burden or liability of day-to-day investment decision-making. By partnering with a qualified investment fiduciary, CFOs can demonstrate prudence, strengthen governance, and focus on strategic financial management — all while ensuring the plan is professionally managed and compliant under ERISA standards.Take Action Today
Visit our website below and get in touch to see how you can simplify fiduciary oversight, reduce risk, and improve retirement plan outcomes for your organization.
Proactively Identify Risks and Protect Your Organization:
Even experienced CFOs can face hidden fiduciary risks when managing a 401(k) plan. Both GGA Retirement and Granite Group Advisors regularly provide comprehensive fiduciary checkups to ensure compliance, reduce liability, and improve operational efficiency.Below are ten key questions CFOs often ask — and how we address them:Are all ERISA-required filings completed accurately and on time?
We monitor and manage all mandatory filings, including Form 5500, participant notices, and regulatory submissions, ensuring your plan meets deadlines and avoids penalties.Is your plan administration fully compliant with fiduciary standards?
Our 3(16) services handle recordkeeping, testing, and documentation so your plan operates under ERISA best practices — reducing the risk of audit findings or fiduciary exposure.Are all vendor relationships and plan operations properly documented?
We coordinate with recordkeepers, custodians, and advisors, providing clear documentation and reporting for every administrative and operational process.Are participant communications accurate, timely, and complete?
From enrollment materials to quarterly statements, we ensure participants receive the information they need, when they need it — supporting engagement and regulatory compliance.Is your plan structured to limit liability without sacrificing performance?
We help identify gaps or inefficiencies in your plan structure, providing actionable solutions to protect your organization while keeping the plan competitive and effective for employees.Are contribution limits and deferral elections properly monitored?
Our services track employee contributions, employer matching, and annual limits to prevent errors or IRS violations.Are nondiscrimination and compliance tests performed correctly?
We conduct all required testing (ADP/ACP, top-heavy, etc.) and resolve any issues to ensure your plan passes regulatory standards.Are loans, distributions, and withdrawals handled according to plan rules and regulations?
Our team ensures all transactions comply with plan documents and regulatory requirements, reducing errors and potential liability.Is the plan prepared for audits and regulatory reviews?
We maintain organized and thorough documentation to support internal or external audits and defend fiduciary decisions.Are operational efficiencies being maximized to reduce costs and administrative burden?
We identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and implement best practices to save time and reduce administrative expenses while maintaining compliance.A fiuciary checkup gives CFOs peace of mind, freeing internal teams to focus on strategic priorities while knowing that the plan is compliant, well-documented, and operationally sound.Take Action Today
Request an informal consultation below to see how our services can streamline administration, reduce risk, and strengthen your fiduciary oversight for your company.