--- title: Small Plans, Big Challenges... description: Revisiting the 2011 PLANSPONSOR Conference, discussing enduring challenges for small businesses and the benefits of pooled employer plans (PEPs). image: https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/Castle%20Rock%20PEP%20Guide%20July%202025_Page_01.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges#main-content) ![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Castle%20Rock%20Logo%202026-1.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Castle%20Rock%20Logo%202026-1.png) - [Home](https://castlerockpep.com/) - [About Us](https://castlerockpep.com/about) Show submenu for About Us - [Community Page](https://castlerockpep.com/community) - [Blog](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom) - [Contact Us](https://castlerockpep.com/contact-us) - [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/pooled-employer-plan-1) Show submenu for Pooled Employer Plan - [Investment Options](https://castlerockpep.com/investments) - [Pricing](https://castlerockpep.com/pricing-new) - [Plan Design Choices](https://castlerockpep.com/plandesigns) - [Who We Serve](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve) Show submenu for Who We Serve - [Colorado Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/colorado-businesses) - [Women-Owned Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/women-owned-businesses) - [Fiduciary Tool Belt](https://castlerockpep.com/-fiduciary-tool-belt) Show submenu for Fiduciary Tool Belt - [ERISA Plan Governance](https://castlerockpep.com/erisa-plan-governance) - [ERISA Fiduciary Training](https://castlerockpep.com/fiduciary-training) - [Regulators and Audits](https://castlerockpep.com/regulators-and-audits) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://castlerockpep.com/) - [About Us](https://castlerockpep.com/about) Show submenu for About Us - [Community Page](https://castlerockpep.com/community) - [Blog](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom) - [Contact Us](https://castlerockpep.com/contact-us) - [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/pooled-employer-plan-1) Show submenu for Pooled Employer Plan - [Investment Options](https://castlerockpep.com/investments) - [Pricing](https://castlerockpep.com/pricing-new) - [Plan Design Choices](https://castlerockpep.com/plandesigns) - [Who We Serve](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve) Show submenu for Who We Serve - [Colorado Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/colorado-businesses) - [Women-Owned Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/women-owned-businesses) - [Fiduciary Tool Belt](https://castlerockpep.com/-fiduciary-tool-belt) Show submenu for Fiduciary Tool Belt - [ERISA Plan Governance](https://castlerockpep.com/erisa-plan-governance) - [ERISA Fiduciary Training](https://castlerockpep.com/fiduciary-training) - [Regulators and Audits](https://castlerockpep.com/regulators-and-audits) - [Join the PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/join-castle-rock-pep) [Join the PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/join-castle-rock-pep) Jul 23, 2025, 10:11:27 AM # Small Plans, Big Challenges... [Michele Suriano](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/author/michele-suriano) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) Some things never change. This post is a flashback to 2011 when I was a panelist at the PLANSPONSOR National Conference in Chicago discussing the challenges small plan sponsors face. For context, "small" at that conference meant plans with assets less than $10M. The issues outlined in PLANSPONSOR's coverage of the panel are still true today. You can read the article on their website, [https://www.planadviser.com/psnc-2011-small-plans-big-challenges/.](https://www.planadviser.com/psnc-2011-small-plans-big-challenges/) After returning from the conference in July of 2011 I recorded this video for my retirement plan clients to provide an update on the final fiduciary-level and participant-level fee disclosure deadline extensions and highlights from the PLANSPONSOR national conference in Chicago.  Please excuse the hair and old technology, but the struggles for small plans remains the same fourteen years later. Looking back, we had no idea the SECURE Act of 2019 would create a solution for small businesses to join together in a pooled employer plan ("PEP"). Not to sound like an aging Pollyana, but PEPs have and will continue to benefit small employers and their employees in building a financially secure retirement.   [Castle Rock PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/castle-rock-pep) ## Related posts [![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) [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/pooled-employer-plan), [Castle Rock PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/castle-rock-pep), [Retirement Plans](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/retirement-plans), [Women Business Owners](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/women-business-owners) ## [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) [Michele Suriano](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/author/michele-suriano) Feb 9, 2026, 8:00:02 AM This is Part 2 of our 3-part series exploring highlights from the 2026 Slavic401k Conference. Catch... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/more-than-a-savings-account-visualizing-your-wealth-with-boldin) [![](https://castlerockpep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Castle%20Rock%20Logo-1.jpg?height=200&name=Castle%20Rock%20Logo-1.jpg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-business-retirement-plan-tax-credits-you-dont-want-to-miss) [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/pooled-employer-plan), [Castle Rock PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/castle-rock-pep), [Retirement Plans](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/retirement-plans) ## [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) [Michele Suriano](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/author/michele-suriano) 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... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-business-retirement-plan-tax-credits-you-dont-want-to-miss) [![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CRIC_logo-emailsignature%20tiny.png?height=200&name=CRIC_logo-emailsignature%20tiny.png)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-is-a-pooled-employer-plan) [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/tag/pooled-employer-plan) ## [What is a Pooled Employer Plan?](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-is-a-pooled-employer-plan) [Michele Suriano](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/author/michele-suriano) Jun 20, 2025, 2:21:48 PM A Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) is a 401(k) solution designed to bring together companies of all... 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