The Sentinel Show

The Sentinel Show S7 E6: AI in the Retirement Plan World

In this latest episode of The Sentinel Show, Kasey Melancon and Melissa Terito cut through the noise to talk about how we're actually using AI as a "thought partner." They’re diving into how we use "closed AI" to keep data secure while summarizing technical reports, using AI note-takers so you can actually be present in meetings instead of scribbling notes, and why the right prompt can get a client to respond in 24 hours when nothing else works. AI isn't going to solve every problem, but it's helping us bust through some major roadblocks.

The Sentinel Show S7 E5: Navigating PEPs, GoPs, and the 402(a) Difference

In this episode of The Sentinel Show, host Melissa Torito sits down with her friend of twelve years, Marta Hurst from Fiduciary Wise, to clear up the common confusion surrounding retirement plan fiduciaries and the "alphabet soup" of modern plan structures. Marta explains her role as a 402(a) fiduciary and how many plan sponsors don't even realize they hold fiduciary status. The conversation gets into the nitty-gritty of Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) versus Groups of Plans (GoPs), noting that while a PEP requires a Pooled Plan Provider (P3) and acts as a single merged entity with one shared audit, a GoP is essentially an "easy button" that allows individual plans to stay independent while sharing service providers and a single Form 5500 filing. Ultimately, the pair stresses that whether you're looking for audit savings in a PEP or the simplicity of a GoP, you don’t want to set these up incorrectly, making expert consultation essential.

The Sentinel Show S7 E4: The Power of the Committee

Melissa Torito and Kacen Lawson are back to provide the "how-to" on staying protected. In this episode of The Sentinel Show, they dive deep into the world of Investment Committees—demystifying what they are, why they exist, and how to build one that actually adds value to your retirement plan. Whether you are managing a five-person startup or a $100 million plan, the hosts break down the practical logistics of plan oversight. From the "magic" of odd numbers in committee sizing to the critical importance of looking beyond the C-suite for members, Melissa and Kacen share expert insights on keeping your plan compliant and your participants happy. Key highlights include: * The Ideal Size: Why three to five members is the "sweet spot" for most small to mid-sized firms. * The "Document or it Didn't Happen" Rule: Why meeting minutes are your best defense during an IRS or Department of Labor audit. * Beyond Leadership: The benefits of including trusted employees and subject matter experts to get a diverse perspective on plan performance. * Fee Monitoring: How active oversight—not just picking the "cheapest" option—prevents the lawsuits that plague unmonitored plans. * Thresholds for Change: Identifying the participant counts and asset sizes that warrant a fully formed, formal committee. Don't let your retirement plan fall into the "set it and forget it" trap. Tune in to learn how to lean on your TPAs and advisors to build a committee that stands up to scrutiny.

The Sentinel Show S7 E3: The Long-Term Part-Time Rule Everyone Is About to Get Wrong

Most plan sponsors don’t realize they’re already on the clock—and 2026 is when it starts to matter. The long-term part-time (LT-PT) employee rule has been talked about for years, but now it’s no longer theoretical. If you have employees working 500+ hours and your plan has a year-of-service requirement, there’s a real risk you’re missing eligibility—and that mistake can get expensive fast. In this episode of The Sentinel Show, Melissa Terito and Kasey Melancon break down: * What actually qualifies someone as a long-term part-time employee * Why most employers assume someone else is tracking this (and why that’s a problem) * When the clock really started—and why calendar math trips everyone up * What happens if you fail to offer deferrals when required * The documentation plan sponsors need before it turns into a correction If you sponsor a retirement plan—or advise companies that do—this is one rule you can’t afford to ignore anymore.

The Sentinel Show S7E2: The Don’ts of Being a Fiduciary: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know

If you sponsor a retirement plan, the fastest way to get into trouble is assuming fiduciary rules do not apply to you or overlooking warning signs when something feels off. In this episode of The Sentinel Show, Melissa Terito and Kasey Melancon break down the biggest fiduciary don’ts that can lead to audits, penalties, and unnecessary risk. You will hear why you cannot outsource all fiduciary responsibility, which red flags deserve immediate attention, and how simple documentation habits can protect you if the Department of Labor comes knocking. They also cover why company convenience should never come before participants’ best interests and why delaying corrections usually makes problems more expensive. In this episode, we cover: ✅Why you should never assume you are not a fiduciary 🚩Red flags to take seriously, including late employee deferrals and participant complaints 📝How to document decisions without overcomplicating the process ⚖️Avoiding conflicts of interest and putting participants first ⏱️Why fixing mistakes early is almost always easier and cheaper Want to round out the two-part series? Start with S7E1 for the do’s, then come back to this one for the don’ts. Have any questions about this episode’s topic? Let us know! Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentinel (sp-tpa.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://sp-tpa.com/] Call us at 225-300-8478 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sentinel-pension-&-payroll/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/choosesentinel] Music by Adam Vitovsky