Forms 5500 - TrestBenefits

Forms 5500 are the most important informational returns filed on behalf of employee benefits plans, because the content can easily subject the employee benefit arrangement to costly regulatory examination and have evidentiary value in participant disputes. Trest works directly with the plan sponsor and the service providers to obtain the information necessary to prepare the Form 5500 and all of the applicable schedules. We also conduct brief interviews with internal employee benefits professionals to discuss the approach to reporting and to confirm the accuracy of information to be included in the Form 5500 filing. Our professionals assist the appropriate personnel and providers in the completion of detailed worksheets that we prepare in order to elicit the required information. It is important to note, the decision to report certain transactions and other information on Form 5500 may require that a legal conclusion be reached.

Health & Welfare Plans

Trest professionals design a variety of health and welfare plans and programs and manage the plan sponsor’s vendor relationships. Our skilled professionals have decades of experience in designing such arrangements to meet the employer’s specifications and to comply with the applicable laws.

Corporate Transactions

In corporate transactions, Trest regularly conducts due diligence on the employee benefits arrangements maintained by buyers and sellers to ensure the absence of hidden liabilities and operational failures that jeopardize regulatory compliance and tax status, and negotiates pre and post-closing benefits integration.

HIPAA Compliance

Trest professionals are experienced in advising employers regarding the HIPAA portability, nondiscrimination, privacy and security requirements. Trest provides HIPAA administration services as well.

Participant Communications

We bring a broad knowledge of best practices to our benefits communications strategy, and ensure that the complexity, tone and presentation is appropriate for the audience. Trest’s professionals include bilingual communication specialists with years of experience preparing employee benefit plan communications.

Compliance Audits

Trest performs preemptive audits of plan documentation, operation and administration to enable plan sponsors to correct non-compliance prior to a regulatory examination, which allows the avoidance of costly fees and penalties. Trest prepares a comprehensive Compliance Report that summarizes our review.