# Required 401(k) Plan Employee Communications Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259/required-401-k-plan-employee-communications Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259/required-401-k-plan-employee-communications.md Podcast: [The Legal Podcast Network](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259) Published: 2026-07-23T16:28:55+00:00 Episode link: https://thelegalpodcastnetwork.podbean.com/e/required-401k-plan-employee-communications/ Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2nc6ndx7grej2mrk/Doll_Lank_-_Kathleen_Bass_Full_EP_226m4fb.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259/episodes/required-401-k-plan-employee-communications Duration seconds: 1282 ## Resource In this episode of Employee Benefit Plans and Business Sense, hosts Doll Lank and Kathleen Salas Bass from KLB Benefits Law Group join Lisa Mosbey to discuss the intricacies of required employee communications for 401k plans. They delve into the various notices employers must provide, such as the Summary Plan Description (SPD), Summary of Material Modifications (SMM), and the Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) notice. The conversation highlights the importance of timely delivery and the severe penalties for non-compliance, emphasizing the need for employers to stay updated with legal requirements. Doll and Kathleen also offer practical advice on how to rectify missed communications and the role of third-party administrators in this process. This episode is essential for employers and HR professionals seeking to ensure compliance and maintain good employee relations through effective benefit plan communication. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259/episodes/required-401-k-plan-employee-communications/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-legal-podcast-network-6936259/required-401-k-plan-employee-communications.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.