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How Not to Blow Up Your 401(k): 10 Steps to Keep Your Retirement Plan from Exploding into Audits, Fines, or Lawsuits
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Oct 27 2025
Pages: 58
Weight: 0.15
Height: 0.12 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
How Not to Blow Up Your 401(k)
10 Steps to Keep Your Retirement Plan from Exploding into Audits, Fines, or Lawsuits
by Craig C. Brigman, EA, AIF(R), CEPA(R)
Protect your plan. Protect your people. Protect yourself.
A practical, plain-English guide to running a compliant, low-stress 401(k) plan - without losing sleep, sanity, or money.
Running a 401(k) plan shouldn't feel like defusing a bomb - but one wrong move can send the IRS or Department of Labor knocking. In How Not to Blow Up Your 401(k), veteran advisor Craig C. Brigman pulls back the curtain on the real-world mistakes that get plan sponsors audited, fined, or sued - and shows you, step by step, how to keep your plan safe, efficient, and lawsuit-proof.
Written with clarity and humor, this guide helps business owners, HR professionals, and fiduciaries understand their responsibilities, avoid common compliance errors, and turn their 401(k) into a powerful benefit instead of a liability.
You'll learn how to:
✓ Keep your plan document current and audit-ready
✓ Avoid late deposits, testing failures, and operational errors
✓ Handle loans, hardships, and eligibility the right way
✓ Understand fiduciary responsibility - and protect yourself from personal liability
✓ Use your 401(k) to help employees retire confidently
Each chapter includes:
Real-world case summaries from publicly reported 401(k) audits and lawsuits
Checklists and fix-it tips you can implement immediately
Plain-English explanations of IRS, DOL, and ERISA requirements
Practical steps to strengthen fiduciary oversight and reduce stress
Who It's For
Business owners and HR professionals managing company 401(k) plans
Plan fiduciaries who want fewer surprises and more confidence
CPAs, advisors, and administrators who want clients to understand compliance in human language
About the Author:
Craig C. Brigman, EA, AIF(R), CEPA(R) is a Wealth Advisor and Partner specializing in 401(k) fiduciary strategy, plan design, and compliance. With over two decades helping employers build better retirement plans, Craig blends tax strategy, practical guidance, and plain talk to make complex rules simple - and compliance achievable.
Why You'll Love It
Whether you're a small business owner, HR director, or plan fiduciary, this is your read-it-once, fix-your-plan-forever resource for 401(k) compliance, efficiency, and peace of mind.
Simple, clear, and packed with practical advice - it's the handbook every plan sponsor wishes they had years ago.Compliance Note:
This book is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice.
Employers should consult their ERISA attorney, tax professional, or fiduciary advisor for specific plan guidance.
All information is based on federal law and regulations in effect as of publication.
Perfect for:
Plan sponsors, fiduciaries, HR managers, accountants, and advisors who want to run a smart, compliant 401(k) plan - and never again worry about the IRS, DOL, or late-night email from their recordkeeper.
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