Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense

The Whys and Hows of Retirement Plan Mergers

Episode Summary:
In this streamlined episode, Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass define plan mergers as asset transfers to simplify administration and cut costs. The discussion explores voluntary vs. required scenarios in M&A, protected benefits pitfalls, timelines of 3-4+ months, and the critical role of ERISA counsel in comparisons, documentation, and compliance.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:53 - Defining Plan Merger
01:30 - Business Reasons: Costs and Culture
03:00 - Required Mergers: Termination Rules
05:00 - Difficulties: Protected Benefits
07:45 - Process: Timeline, Mapping, Communication
10:00 - TPA Coordination and Year-End Rush
12:00 - ERISA Counsel Value: Oversight and Confidence
14:30 - Advice: Start Early and Engage Counsel
16:00 - Closing Resources
About the Show:
"Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense with Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass" demystifies ERISA, ACA, and benefits compliance. Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass guide employers and plan providers with practical strategies for federal rules in real-world operations.

Related Employer Groups and Their Impact on Employee Benefits

Episode Summary:
In this focused episode, Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass unpack related employer groups under ERISA and the ACA, explaining ownership thresholds, service relationships, and triggers like acquisitions or reorganizations. The discussion covers compliance impacts on plan testing, ALE status, grace periods, and proactive steps to avoid costly redesigns.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:53 - Defining Related Employer Groups
02:00 - Impacts on ERISA Plans and ACA Coverage
03:30 - Identifying Groups: Cross-Ownership Alerts
05:00 - Spider Web Complexity: Family and Services
07:00 - Triggers: Acquisitions, Spinoffs, Reorgs
10:00 - Next Steps: Grace Periods and Reviews
12:00 - Retirement and Coverage Testing Effects
13:30 - Takeaways: Ownership Sensitivity and ERISA Counsel
15:00 - Closing Resources
About the Show:
"Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense with Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass" demystifies ERISA, ACA, and benefits compliance. Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass guide employers and plan providers with practical strategies for federal rules in real-world operations.

Help! Our Retirement Plan Is Being Audited by the IRS!

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Doll Lank and Kathleen Salas Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group explain what happens when the IRS audits a retirement plan. They cover what can trigger an audit, how the audit process works, and how engaging ERISA counsel can help employers navigate the process smoothly. The attorneys provide practical advice on document preparation, working with vendors, self-corrections, and avoiding common pitfalls that can widen the scope of an audit.
 
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Understanding retirement plan audits01:20 – Red flags, discrepancies, and DOL referrals05:00 – How financials and compliance notes are reviewed07:30 – Employer response and engaging ERISA counsel10:00 – How attorneys protect employers and keep audits focused13:00 – Gathering documents, coordinating with vendors, and understanding self-corrections17:30 – Psychological preparation, internal coordination, and managing the audit efficiently19:00 – Call ERISA counsel first and never speak to the IRS without representation
 
About the Show:
Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense helps employers navigate the complex legal landscape of employee benefits. Each episode features experts like Doll Lank and Kathleen Salas Bass, providing actionable guidance on compliance, audits, filings, amendments, and strategies to manage benefit plans efficiently.

Employee Benefits Year-End “To-Dos”

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group walk employers through the critical year-end tasks for employee benefit plans. From retirement plan amendments and Form 5500 filings to health and welfare plan elections, they explain what must be completed before December 31, common oversights, and strategies to stay compliant. They also cover recent regulatory updates, including Secure 2.0 changes, catch-up contributions, and updates to dependent care and student loan benefits.
 
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Why year-end is critical for benefit plans01:30 – Calendar vs. fiscal year considerations03:00 – Form 5500, Summary Annual Reports, and committee preparations05:00 – Cafeteria plans, auto-enrollment, and discretionary amendments08:30 – When to start preparing for year-end tasks10:00 – Who handles benefit plan administration internally12:30 – Mistakes employers make and how to avoid them15:00 – IRS and Department of Labor programs, best practices for health and welfare plans18:00 – Secure 2.0 catch-up contributions, paper statement requirements, student loan reimbursement, and dependent care FSA increase20:30 – Staying organized and ensuring compliance for a smooth year-end
About the Show:
Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense helps employers navigate the complex legal landscape of employee benefits. Each episode features experts like Doll Lank and Kathleen Salas Bass, providing practical guidance on compliance, filings, amendments, and best practices for managing benefit plans efficiently and effectively.

What Every HR Director Needs to Know About Hiring an Employee Benefits Counsel

Episode SummaryIn this episode of Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense, attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen of KLB Benefits Law Group discuss the crucial role employee benefits attorneys play in protecting organizations and employees. They explain why proactive legal guidance saves costs, reduces risks, and ensures compliance with complex and ever-changing benefit regulations. From handling audits and legislative changes to mergers and acquisitions, Doll and Kathleen share real-world insights into how HR directors can strengthen their organizations by building a relationship with experienced benefits counsel.
Key Timestamps
00:01:10 – Why HR directors should hire an employee benefits attorney00:04:55 – The importance of proactive legal involvement in benefits planning00:07:45 – How legislative changes like the SECURE Act impact HR teams00:09:30 – Preparing for audits, mergers, and third-party reviews00:14:20 – A real-world example of avoiding costly IRS audit mistakes00:18:10 – Common pitfalls in mergers and acquisitions without benefits counsel00:20:15 – Cost-effective ways HR teams can access ongoing legal support
About the Show
Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense helps employers, HR leaders, and attorneys navigate the legal complexities of employee benefits. Hosted by attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group, the podcast offers practical insights on ERISA compliance, plan corrections, audits, M&A issues, and more. With real-world examples and clear guidance, each episode shows how proactive legal support can protect organizations, save money, and strengthen benefit plans.

What Employment Lawyers Need to Know About Benefit Law

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense, attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group discuss the critical differences between employment lawyers and employee benefits attorneys. They explain why employment attorneys often need to partner with benefits counsel to protect clients, especially when issues such as ERISA claims, COBRA, retirement plan terminations, and layoffs arise.
With decades of combined experience, Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass highlight real-world examples where failing to involve a benefits attorney led to costly mistakes, and they share cases where timely collaboration prevented significant legal and financial exposure.
Listeners will gain insight into how employee benefits law intersects with employment disputes and why developing strong relationships between employment and benefits attorneys is essential for effective client representation.
Key Timestamps:
00:01:30 – Difference between employment lawyers and employee benefits attorneys00:04:50 – Common scenarios where benefits issues overlap with employment disputes00:07:10 – How COBRA claims and retirement plan failures impact litigation00:11:00 – Why unresolved benefit plan issues increase legal and financial risks00:14:45 – Case study: Preventing a prohibited transaction in a litigation settlement00:16:30 – Example of a costly layoff mistake caused by overlooking benefits law00:19:00 – How employment lawyers can identify benefit plan issues early
About the Show
Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense helps employers, HR leaders, and attorneys navigate the legal complexities of employee benefits. Hosted by attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group, the podcast offers practical insights on ERISA compliance, plan corrections, audits, M&A issues, and more. With real-world examples and clear guidance, each episode shows how proactive legal support can protect organizations, save money, and strengthen benefit plans.

What Corporate Attorneys Need to Know About Benefit Law

Episode SummaryIn this episode of Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense, attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass explain why corporate attorneys must understand employee benefit law when advising their clients. They break down the fundamentals of benefit plans, highlight common issues uncovered during mergers and acquisitions, and share practical steps attorneys can take to avoid costly compliance mistakes.
From retirement plans and health benefits to ERISA requirements and due diligence in corporate transactions, Doll and Kathleen outline how benefit plan oversight can dramatically impact the success of deals. They also provide actionable advice for corporate attorneys on spotting early warning signs, preventing liability, and bringing in employee benefits counsel at the right stage of the process.
Whether you are a corporate attorney handling M&A, a business owner navigating employee benefits, or simply looking to understand compliance pitfalls, this episode delivers key insights to help protect clients and strengthen transactions.
Key Timestamps
00:45 – Why corporate attorneys must understand benefit law02:10 – What employee benefit law actually covers04:00 – Common benefit issues discovered during corporate transactions06:15 – ERISA compliance requirements for health and welfare plans08:40 – Red flags that suggest a closer look at benefit plans11:20 – Key differences between corporate attorneys and employee benefits attorneys14:00 – Real-life examples of catching benefit plan problems before closing a deal17:45 – Best practices for corporate attorneys to review benefit plans with clients19:30 – Why benefits counsel should be brought in early during M&A deals
About the Show
Employee Benefit Plans & Business Sense helps employers, HR leaders, and attorneys navigate the legal complexities of employee benefits. Hosted by attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group, the podcast offers practical insights on ERISA compliance, plan corrections, audits, M&A issues, and more. With real-world examples and clear guidance, each episode shows how proactive legal support can protect organizations, save money, and strengthen benefit plans.

How an Employee Benefits Attorney Can Save You Money on Plan Corrections

Episode Summary
In this episode of Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense, attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group share how involving an employee benefits attorney early in the correction process can save employers significant costs and reduce compliance risks. With decades of combined experience, they explain common mistakes that lead to plan corrections, why plan documents are critical, and how legal advocacy with the IRS and Department of Labor can turn a potentially devastating financial liability into a manageable resolution.
Key Timestamps
00:01:30 – Kathleen Bass shares her background and why she chose employee benefits law00:03:15 – Doll Lank explains her transition from litigation to compliance-focused benefits law00:05:00 – Why compliance is vital for employers and plan sponsors00:06:20 – Understanding what a plan correction is and why it matters00:07:30 – Common payroll and missed deferral errors that trigger corrections00:09:00 – Why failing to maintain plan documents creates serious compliance risks00:10:30 – Case study: reducing a client’s correction liability from $250,000 to $7,00000:15:00 – Key steps attorneys take when reviewing correction cases00:17:30 – Navigating IRS and Department of Labor requirements for plan corrections00:20:00 – Why legal counsel is essential to protect employers’ interests
About the show
Attorneys Doll Lank and Kathleen Bass of KLB Benefits Law Group break down the critical role employee benefits attorneys play in helping employers and plan sponsors correct compliance mistakes. They reveal the most common errors, including payroll and missed deferral issues, and emphasize why retaining plan documents is essential for audit defense.
Through real-world examples, they demonstrate how legal expertise can drastically reduce correction liabilities—from hundreds of thousands of dollars down to just a fraction of the initial cost. They also explain how attorneys negotiate with the IRS and Department of Labor, why employers should never rely solely on third-party administrators, and how proactive compliance strategies can prevent costly penalties.
Employers, HR professionals, and plan sponsors will gain valuable insight into why having employee benefits legal counsel is not just a safeguard but a cost-saving strategy for long-term compliance success.