In the world of retirement planning, we talk a lot about numbers. Contribution limits. Investment...
This is Part 3 of our 2026 Slavic401k Conference series. Catch up on Part 1: The 2026 Roadmap and Part 2: Visualizing Your Wealth with Boldin.
We've talked about sleek new portals and powerful financial wellness tools. We've explored how technology is making retirement planning more accessible and personalized than ever before. But there's one question that looms larger than any app feature or dashboard redesign:
Can I trust it?
It's the question everyone's asking in 2026, and honestly, it's the question everyone should be asking. When it comes to your retirement savings, trust isn't optional. It's everything.
That's why this final installment of our conference series focuses on the two pillars that make innovation possible: intelligent assistance and ironclad security. Let's dive into how Slavic401k is setting a new standard with Erisa AI and the Participant Security Guarantee.
Say Hello to Erisa: Your 401(k) Assistant (Who Never Takes a Coffee Break)
Imagine having a retirement plan expert available 24/7, one who never gets tired, never puts you on hold, and can explain complex 401(k) concepts in plain English at 2 a.m. if that's when you need it.
That's Erisa, the new AI assistant developed in partnership with Centrilogic.
Named after the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that governs retirement plans, this intelligent assistant is designed to demystify the 401(k) experience. Whether you prefer typing out your question in a chat window or asking via voice command, Erisa is there to help.
What Can Erisa Do?
Think of Erisa as your personal retirement guide who happens to know everything about your plan:
- Answer questions instantly: "How much should I contribute?" "What's a Roth option?" "When can I take a loan?" Erisa provides clear, accurate answers tailored to your specific plan.
- Explain the complex stuff: Vesting schedules, contribution limits, employer matches, all explained without the jargon headache.
- Guide you through processes: Need to update your beneficiaries or rebalance your portfolio? Erisa walks you through it step by step.
- Available your way: Chat when you're at your desk. Use voice when you're on the go. Erisa adapts to how you prefer to communicate.
The goal isn't to replace human advisors or customer service teams, it's to make sure you get the information you need, when you need it, without having to wait for business hours or navigate through pages of FAQ documents.
The Philosophy: Responsible AI That Puts People First
Here's what makes Erisa different from the countless AI chatbots flooding the market: it's built with responsibility as the foundation, not an afterthought.
Slavic401k and Centrilogic didn't just ask "Can we build this?" They asked:
- "Should we build this?"
- "How do we build this right?"
- "What safeguards need to be in place?"
The answer is an AI system designed with clear guardrails:
Speed without sacrifice: Erisa increases the speed of service, but accuracy comes first. Every response is validated against plan documents and current regulations. If Erisa isn't certain about an answer, it escalates to a human expert rather than guessing.
On-demand resources, not replacement: The AI is a resource layer, not a replacement for personalized advice. Complex situations still get the human touch they deserve.
Transparency: Participants know they're interacting with an AI assistant. There's no attempt to fool anyone into thinking they're chatting with a person named "Erisa from Customer Service."
Privacy protection: Conversations with Erisa don't become training data for other companies' AI models. Your questions stay your questions.
This is what responsible innovation looks like, technology that enhances the human experience rather than trying to eliminate it.
World-Class Cybersecurity: More Than a Buzzword
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the wolf at the digital door.
AI assistants are great. Fancy portals are wonderful. But none of it matters if your retirement savings aren't locked down tighter than Fort Knox.
Slavic401k isn't just talking about security, they're earning it through independent, third-party validation:
The Top 1% Club
BitSight Security Rating: 800/820
Security Scorecard: A
These aren't participation trophies. These are elite ratings that put Slavic401k in the top 1% of all financial services companies for cybersecurity.
Let that sink in. In an industry where security should be table stakes, Slavic401k is in the 99th percentile.
Gold-Standard Certifications
The 2026 security posture includes some serious credentials:
ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management): This certification proves there are comprehensive plans in place to keep operations running, even in worst-case scenarios. Natural disaster? Cyberattack? There's a tested, verified plan to protect your data and maintain service.
ISO 27001 (Information Security Management): This is the internationally recognized standard for managing sensitive information. It covers everything from how data is stored and transmitted to who has access and under what conditions.
SOC 2 Type II: An independent audit verifying that security controls aren't just documented, they're actually working, day in and day out.
These certifications aren't one-and-done achievements. They require ongoing compliance, regular audits, and continuous improvement. They represent a commitment to security, not just a claim.
The Participant Security Guarantee: Your Safety Net
Here's where the rubber meets the road.
All the ratings and certifications in the world are great, but what happens if, despite everyone's best efforts, something goes wrong?
Enter the Participant Security Guarantee (PSG).
This is Slavic401k's promise: If your account experiences unauthorized activity outside of your control, they will work to restore your account value.
Let's break down what this means:
What's Covered
Unauthorized transactions resulting from:
- System breaches
- Identity theft (where you followed security protocols)
- Fraudulent activity that bypassed security measures
What's NOT Covered (The Fine Print That Actually Makes Sense)
The guarantee doesn't cover losses from:
- You sharing your password with someone
- Falling for a phishing scam and giving away your credentials
- Making poor investment choices (hey, market risk is still market risk)
In other words: Slavic401k has your back when it comes to security failures outside your control. But you still need to be smart about protecting your own login credentials and being cautious about suspicious emails or calls.
Why This Matters
Most retirement plan providers will tell you about their security measures. Slavic401k is willing to put their money where their mouth is.
The PSG is a statement of confidence. It says: "We've built systems we believe in, and we're willing to stand behind them."
For participants, it's peace of mind. One less thing to worry about when you're trying to build a secure retirement.
Innovation Meets Integrity
So here we are at the end of our three-part journey through the 2026 Slavic401k Conference highlights.
We started with cutting-edge portals and mobile apps that make plan management effortless. We explored financial wellness tools that help participants actually see their financial future. And now, we've arrived at the foundation that makes it all possible: trust.
Erisa AI represents the promise of technology to serve rather than replace: to be available, helpful, and accurate whenever you need guidance.
World-class cybersecurity demonstrates that protecting your financial future isn't an afterthought: it's the priority.
The Participant Security Guarantee shows that words are backed by action, and commitments are more than marketing copy.
Together, these elements create an ecosystem where innovation and integrity aren't competing values: they're complementary forces building something better.
What This Means for Castle Rock PEP Participants
As a Castle Rock PEP member, you benefit from every one of these innovations. The AI assistant rolling out across the Slavic401k platform? That's for you. The top-tier security ratings? Those protect your employees' nest eggs. The Participant Security Guarantee? That's peace of mind you can actually count on.
This is why we chose Slavic401k as our partner: because they don't just keep pace with the industry. They set the pace.
Technology should make retirement planning easier, not more complicated. Security should be demonstrated, not just declared. And trust should be earned through transparency, validation, and commitment.
That's the future we're building together.
Ready to experience the difference a truly innovative, secure retirement plan can make? Let's talk about how Castle Rock PEP can deliver these benefits to your team. Schedule your PEP Talk today.
Simplifying retirement for all. One plan. Every business.
