---
title: Water Cooler Wisdom (2)
description: Explore expert insights on retirement plans, tax strategies, and compliance for business owners. Stay informed with the latest trends and guidance from Michele Suriano. (2)
image: https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/Blog%20Picture.jpg
---

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[![](https://cdn.marblism.com/Pi6lOqmDUn4.JPG)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/is-your-401k-on-autopilot-why-we-just-fired-two-underperforming-funds)

## [Is Your 401(k) on Autopilot? Why We Just Fired Two Underperforming Funds](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/is-your-401k-on-autopilot-why-we-just-fired-two-underperforming-funds)

 Mar 3, 2026, 4:22:48 PM

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## [The September 15th Miracle: Your S-Corp Extension Escape Hatch](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-september-15th-miracle-your-s-corp-extension-escape-hatch)

 Feb 22, 2026, 6:00:00 AM

Part 3 of 3: The S-Corp Tax Survival Guide You thought March 16, 2026 was the end of the line for yo...

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## [The S-Corp Secret: Why Profit-Sharing Beats Matching (The 'IRS Handshake')](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-s-corp-secret-why-profit-sharing-beats-matching-the-irs-handshake)

 Feb 21, 2026, 6:00:00 AM

Welcome back to the S-Corp Tax Survival Guide. In Part 1, we dropped the time machine bombshell: You...

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## [The S-Corp Time Machine: You Haven't Missed the 2025 Tax Deadline (Yet)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-s-corp-time-machine-you-havent-missed-the-2025-tax-deadline-yet)

 Feb 20, 2026, 2:33:04 PM

Part 1 of 3: The S-Corp Tax Survival Guide The Calendar Just Lied to You January 2nd arrives, and yo...

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## [The $1,500 IRS 'Thank You' (2026 Refresh): Why Solo Business Owners Should Act Now](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-1500-irs-thank-you-2026-refresh-why-solo-business-owners-should-act-now)

 Feb 20, 2026, 2:27:14 PM

Here we are in February 2026, and if you're a solo business owner without a retirement plan, you're ...

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## [The $16,500 IRS 'Handshake': Why Hiring Your First Employee Just Got a Whole Lot Cheaper](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-16500-irs-handshake-why-hiring-your-first-employee-just-got-a-whole-lot-cheaper)

 Feb 19, 2026, 7:00:01 AM

Let's be honest: hiring your first employee (or your tenth) is both thrilling and terrifying. You're...

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## [Colorado Compliance Trap: How FAMLI Data Sharing Just Changed the Game](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/colorado-compliance-trap-how-famli-data-sharing-just-changed-the-game)

 Feb 17, 2026, 7:00:04 AM

If you're a Colorado employer, 2026 just became the year where "flying under the radar" officially d...

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## [The Future of Trust: Meet Erisa AI and Your New Security Guarantee](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-future-of-trust-meet-erisa-ai-and-your-new-security-guarantee)

 Feb 11, 2026, 7:00:00 AM

This is Part 3 of our 2026 Slavic401k Conference series. Catch up on Part 1: The 2026 Roadmap and Pa...

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[![Chart showing savings growth](https://cdn.marblism.com/4G7v5MM8ppa.webp)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/more-than-a-savings-account-visualizing-your-wealth-with-boldin)

## [More Than a Savings Account: Visualizing Your Wealth with Boldin](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/more-than-a-savings-account-visualizing-your-wealth-with-boldin)

 Feb 9, 2026, 8:00:02 AM

This is Part 2 of our 3-part series exploring highlights from the 2026 Slavic401k Conference. Catch ...

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[![The 2026 Roadmap](https://cdn.marblism.com/21xBnSOXvMi.webp)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-2026-roadmap-how-were-reinventing-the-401k-experience)

## [The 2026 Roadmap: How We're Reinventing the 401(k) Experience](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-2026-roadmap-how-were-reinventing-the-401k-experience)

 Feb 5, 2026, 2:23:59 PM

The retirement industry is moving fast, and we're moving faster. At Castle Rock PEP, powered by our ...

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[![](https://cdn.marblism.com/vlsBJblKXdJ.webp)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-heart-of-the-partnership-why-we-chose-slavic401k)

## [The Heart of the Partnership: Why We Chose Slavic401k](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-heart-of-the-partnership-why-we-chose-slavic401k)

 Jan 30, 2026, 3:00:42 PM

In the world of retirement planning, we talk a lot about numbers. Contribution limits. Investment re...

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## [The $1,500 IRS 'Thank You': Why Solo Business Owners Should Act Now for 2025](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-1500-irs-thank-you-why-solo-business-owners-should-act-now-for-2025)

 Jan 28, 2026, 3:33:16 PM

Let's be honest: when was the last time the IRS sent you a thank-you note?

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[![](https://cdn.marblism.com/Q2P0Yqc7KFw.webp)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-gift-of-certainty-why-i-pre-planned-my-final-wishes-and-you-might-too)

## [The Gift of Certainty: Why I Pre-Planned My Final Wishes (and You Might Too)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-gift-of-certainty-why-i-pre-planned-my-final-wishes-and-you-might-too)

 Jan 24, 2026, 1:36:52 PM

You know that iconic Barbie moment where everything is sunshine and small talk… and then she drops: ...

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## [The Survivor's Guide: Finding Your Footing After a Loss](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-survivors-guide-finding-your-footing-after-a-loss)

 Jan 19, 2026, 1:28:36 PM

The Survivor's Guide: Finding Your Footing After a Loss When Everything Changes in an Instant Pictur...

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## [Emergency Planning: Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones When the Unexpected Happens](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/emergency-planning-protecting-yourself-and-your-loved-ones-when-the-unexpected-happens)

 Jan 13, 2026, 8:00:04 AM

Picture this: You're getting ready for your morning routine, stepping out of the shower, when sudden...

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## [Castle Rock PEP Q3 2025 Review: Key Updates & Insights](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/castle-rock-pep-q3-2025-review-key-updates-insights)

 Nov 2, 2025, 8:59:59 AM

As we wrap up another quarter in what's been a remarkable year for the markets, Michele Suriano, Pre...

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## [The Ultimate Guide to Pooled Employer Plans](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-ultimate-guide-to-pooled-employer-plans)

 Oct 14, 2025, 9:50:15 AM

Running a small business means wearing a dozen hats on any given day. You're the CEO, head of HR, ma...

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## [The WeWork of 401(k): How Castle Rock PEP Builds Community and Delivers Big for Employees](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/the-wework-of-401k-how-castle-rock-pep-builds-community-and-delivers-big-for-employees)

 Oct 10, 2025, 3:44:38 PM

Remember when WeWork revolutionized the workplace by turning boring office buildings into vibrant co...

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## [SECURE 2.0 and the Roth Catch-Up: What Employers and Employees Need to Know](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/secure-2.0-and-the-roth-catch-up-what-employers-and-employees-need-to-know)

 Sep 25, 2025, 11:42:27 AM

If your company sponsors a retirement plan, the clock is ticking on an important change from the SEC...

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## [Small-Business Retirement Plan Tax Credits You Don’t Want to Miss](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-business-retirement-plan-tax-credits-you-dont-want-to-miss)

 Sep 3, 2025, 3:08:50 PM

If you’re a business with 100 or fewer employees, SECURE 2.0 made the federal tax credits for offeri...

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