Employee communication is essential for building financial literacy, especially around retirement benefits. Even the strongest 401(k) plan won’t have its intended impact if employees don’t understand how it works or why it matters. Clear and consistent communication helps break down complicated topics—like contributions, employer matches, vesting, and long-term investing—so employees can make confident, informed decisions instead of opting out or feeling overwhelmed. When employers invest in simple explanations, workshops, and ongoing guidance, they strengthen participation, improve savings behaviors, and create a more financially secure workforce.
At Fordham Law School in New York City, TPSU and 401(k)TV CEO Fred Barstein spoke with HR consultant Katie Urtnowski, who works closely with mid- and small-sized businesses on policies, practices, and benefits. She shared that her roundtable discussion revealed several common challenges among plan sponsors. One major issue was plan administration and compliance—ensuring tasks are completed correctly, minimizing administrative strain, and reducing risk.
Another prominent theme was employee communication. Katie explained that many workers still struggle to understand what a 401(k) is, why retirement saving is important, and how to build financial security. This gap in financial literacy makes it harder for employers to effectively engage their teams.
Katie also stressed the importance of having the right advisor. A strong advisor helps plan sponsors choose the right TPA, communicate clearly with employees, and navigate the complexities of the 401(k) system—making that partnership a key part of running a successful retirement plan.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred Barstein:
Greetings. This is Fred Barstein, CEO and founder of TPSU and 401(k)TV. I’m here on the campus of Fordham Law School in New York City, and I’m here with Katie.
Welcome, Katie.
Katie:
Very nice to see you. Thank you.
Fred:
Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Katie:
Absolutely.
Fred:
Very good. Before we do, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Katie:
Sure. My name is Katie Urtnowski. I am an HR consultant for mid- to small-sized businesses, covering basically the gamut of everything from policies and practices, but most specifically, benefits.
Fred:
And so just so people know how to contact you, how do you spell your last name?
Katie:
It’s a tough one — U-R-T-N-O-W-S-K-I.
Fred:
Right. And Catherine or Katie?
Katie:
Katie.
Fred:
With a K or a C?
Katie:
With a K.
Fred:
Very good.
So I know you were in a group of mid-size plan sponsors today, talking about what’s working and what’s not working. What are some of the things that came up?
Katie:
There were a couple of trends across all the different organizations, no matter where they were from.
One issue was plan administration and plan compliance—making sure they were doing things correctly and that the burden of administration was being handled in a way that mitigated risk.
They were also dealing with employee communications—helping employees understand what a 401(k) plan is, why retirement is important, and giving them the financial literacy to understand the full picture.
Fred:
I think also, from what you relayed, they talked about the role of the advisor and how important that is.
Katie:
Yeah, absolutely. One of the things we talked about is how important it is to have the right advisor, because your advisor is going to help with everything from picking your TPA to employee communication, and really helping you understand the 401(k) world.
Fred:
Right. Final question—this is your first program with us?
Katie:
Yes, it is.
Fred:
How would you recommend it? What do you think the benefits are for a plan sponsor?
Katie:
I absolutely would recommend this. I didn’t have any particular expectations coming in, so you wildly exceeded everything. It has been fantastic.
One of the benefits for plan sponsors is the industry-trained information you provide, and also the ability to talk to other people in similar circumstances—understanding their issues and learning from them.
Fred:
Great to hear that. Thank you for coming.
Katie:
Thank you very much.
Fred:
And thank you for watching 401(k)TV. Please stay tuned.
