When employees leave a company with small 401(k) balances—typically under $7,000—plan sponsors are permitted to initiate a “force-out,” removing these accounts from the plan. While this helps reduce administrative burden and plan costs, it also comes with potential risks. Without a smooth, participant-friendly transition, former employees may lose track of their savings, face unexpected taxes, or cash out prematurely. That’s why more employers are looking for smarter, more supportive solutions. Forward-thinking providers are going beyond mere compliance by helping participants roll their funds into secure, low-fee accounts—while also offering education and guidance along the way.
At a recent TPSU program hosted at the University of Denver, Fred Barstein, CEO and founder of TPSU and 401kTV, spoke with Helene O’Brien, Vice President of Employee Partnerships at Pension B. A former HR executive and longtime TPSU participant, Helene now works with plan sponsors to implement more participant-focused force-out strategies. Founded in the UK in 2014, Pension B serves more than 265,000 customers with over $8 billion in assets. Now expanding in the U.S., the company helps sponsors reduce fiduciary risk while improving participant outcomes through better rollover solutions.
Helene emphasized Pension B’s mission to educate participants through bite-sized content and intuitive digital tools, empowering individuals at every level of financial literacy to make confident decisions about their savings.
As more companies reevaluate how they manage small balances, force-out strategies—done right—are becoming an essential part of effective plan management.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred Barstein:
Greetings. This is Fred Barstein, CEO and founder of TPSU and 401k TV. Just completed a TPSU program at the University of Denver, beautiful campus. And I’m here with Helene O’Brien, who is from Pension B. She’s attended many of our programs in the past.
Helene O’Brien:
I have.
Fred Barstein:
Welcome, Helene.
Helene O’Brien:
Yes. Thank you for having me, Fred.
Fred Barstein:
Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Helene O’Brien:
Sure. Absolutely.
Fred Barstein:
Okay. So tell us a little bit about yourself and your firm.
Helene O’Brien:
Firm. So I am the VP of Employee Partnerships at Pension B. I have spent the past 20 years as an HR executive/plan sponsor. So recently moved to the other side of the aisle, so now I’m not on the plan sponsor side, but I’m working with plan sponsors, and providers and advisors on a solution for them, for sales for their role over.
Fred Barstein:
So what does Pension B do?
Helene O’Brien:
So, Pension B started in 2014 in the UK, and we’ve grown to 265,000 customers, and about 8 billion in assets. And in the past year and a half we had started moving our business and building our US business for our US market as well.
Fred Barstein:
Right. And so what do you help plan sponsors do? Why should they engage with you? What’s the problem you’re solving?
Helene O’Brien:
We are basically helping sponsors find a better home for their force outs. I’ve obviously been a plan sponsor many years. I work with many of them helping the plans about to find the best home for their employee’s retirement accounts once they’re forced out.
Fred Barstein:
So when they force out under 7,000.
Helene O’Brien:
Under 7,000, yes.
Fred Barstein:
They can do that. And you do some education engagement?
Helene O’Brien:
Absolutely. We have very, very engaging content. Our website and our YouTube channel, we have millions of likes, and people are constantly watching our videos. It’s basically taking a very complex problem and talking about your retirement and savings, and making it a very simple, in these small, digestible bites where anyone with any level of financial acumen can understand it.
Fred Barstein:
Very good. Well, it sounds like a great service.
Helene O’Brien:
It is.
Fred Barstein:
Thank you for bringing it overseas, here. And thank you for your time here. Thank you for watching 401k TV. Please try to attend a TPSU program near you, whether it’s in person or virtually. And thank you for watching again.
