As the year winds down, most of us start taking stock of what worked, what didn’t, and where we can put our energy next year. For many financial advisors, the 401(k) side of their practice falls into an odd category. They like the opportunity, but the administrative work that comes with most providers makes it tough to scale. A few plans are fine, but beyond that, things can start to feel heavy.
That is exactly where technology can change the game, and why year-end is the right time to evaluate whether your current setup is truly helping you grow.
At 401GO, we’ve built a platform around a simple idea: Advisors should be able to support more retirement plans without getting buried in admin work. Because we are both the recordkeeper and TPA, a lot of that extra work simply disappears.
A Better Onboarding Experience
For many advisors, onboarding is where frustration starts. Traditional providers still rely on PDFs, long questionnaires, and back-and-forth emails. Even after everything is submitted, there’s usually a waiting period before the plan is actually live.
With 401GO, the setup is digital from the beginning. Advisors walk employers through a straightforward online process, payroll can often be integrated in a few clicks, and the system guides users through what’s needed next. It feels more like opening a modern financial account than launching a retirement plan. This reduces the backtracking and corrections and removes a surprising amount of stress.
Less Admin Means More Capacity
Where advisors really see the difference, though, is after the plan is running. End-of-year—with tasks like census data, compliance testing, notices, eligibility reviews—is typically the point where advisors realize they need more help or fewer clients.
Because 401GO acts as the 3(16) administrator, we handle those pieces directly. The platform automates notices, collects payroll data, runs testing, and keeps owners and participants on track without the advisor sitting in the middle. This in turn, eliminates those small mistakes that create big headaches.
More Time for the Work That Wins Business
When the administrative pressure is off, advisors can focus on the parts of the job that actually grow revenue and strengthen relationships: prospecting, investment reviews, participant education, and reaching out to business owners who are still using SIMPLEs or IRAs because they think 401(k)s are a hassle.
We’ve watched advisors go from managing a handful of plans to several dozen, simply because the work became repeatable, predictable and efficient.
A Good Moment to Re-Evaluate
If your current provider is creating more tasks for you than support, or if growing your retirement plan business has felt harder than it should, it may be worth exploring a more modern option.
401GO’s goal isn’t just to make administration easier, it’s to make 401(k) growth realistic for advisors who never thought this part of their practice could scale.
If that’s something you want for next year, we’re here to help you make it happen.
