About Us
Southeastern Poole Employer Plan (PEP)
The Southeastern Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) is a retirement plan, powered by Acensus, that allows businesses across the southeastern United States to join together to offer a single 401(k) plan to their employees.
PEPs were introduced under the SECURE Act to make it easier and more affordable for small and mid-sized businesses to provide retirement benefits. By joining our Southeastern Pooled Employer Plan, employers gain access to professional management, lower costs, and streamlined administration—without giving up control over key plan design features.
Advantages of our Ascensus powered Pooled Employer Plan 401(k)
· Shift fiduciary risk to specialists:
In our PEP, the pooled plan provider acts as the NAMED FIDUCIARY, and the PLAN ADMINISTRATOR oversees the process. They handle daily fiduciary decisions and monitoring—so you don’t have to.
· Lighter workload for HR/Finance:
Our PEP consolidates notices, loans/distributions, eligibility and vesting, Form 5500s, and audit coordination. You focus on payroll; experts manage the rest.
· Lower, more predictable costs:
Pooling offers institutional pricing and shared services (recordkeeping, custody, investments, audit). Lower fees grow your balances, with a simpler, more consistent fee structure.
· Stronger participant experience and outcomes:
Auto-enroll/auto-escalate, retirement-readiness and GAP analyses, and a curated, low-cost investment menu help employees save more and feel supported, boosting participation and retention.
· Compliance confidence:
ERISA specialists manage compliance. As regulators increasingly utilize data analytics (including AI) to detect issues, our professionally operated PEP ensures you stay ahead.
Single employer 401(k) vs Pooled Employer Plan 401(k)
Negotiated Pricing
Simplified Administration
Dedicated Service Team
No wondering if you have the "best" price. Rest assured, you do.
Dedicated Service Team
Simplified Administration
Dedicated Service Team
You now have a team of carefully chosen, highly experienced professionals who understand your plan inside and out, instead of the revolving door of Reps who can barely spell 401(k).
Simplified Administration
Simplified Administration
Simplified Administration
No more worrying about whether you sent the proper notices to employees or fully understood the 5500 filing after signing off. You focus on handling payroll and running your business, while we take care of the rest.
Best-In-Class Investments
Simplified Administration
Simplified Administration
Unlike most single-employer plans, where you are responsible as a fiduciary for the plan investments, with our PEP, we assume all investment fiduciary responsibilities (3-(38)) and select top-rated, best-in-class investments that avoid mutual fund companies' "Pay to Play."