CPA-HQ Articles and Podcasts

Do a little research and learn something new on CPA-HQ. Our articles are written by the accounting and tax professionals at Hawkins Ash CPAs. Our CPAs and staff are committed to providing relevant and accurate information to help individuals, businesses and organizations keep on track and plan for what’s ahead.


service provider agreements

A Plan Sponsor’s Guide to Reviewing Service Provider Agreements

Employee benefit plans play a significant role in attracting and retaining top talent in organizations. To ensure the smooth and ...
Plan Oversight Meetings

Key Topics for Plan Oversight Meetings

Plan Administrators have the important fiduciary duty of conducting and documenting timely, periodic meetings to oversee the Plan. As part ...
Environmental Social and Governance Investing

Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing and 401(k) Plans

What is Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing? ESG investing refers to a set of standards for a company’s behavior ...
Audit Findings

3 Common Audit Findings and How to Avoid Them

Another audit season for employee benefit plans has come to a close. To provide some insight on potential issues that ...
Audit Errors

3 Common Audit Errors: How to Catch Them Ahead of Time

Employee Benefit Plans (EBPs), are highly regulated by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ...
401(k) Virtual Currency

Should 401(k) Plan Administrators Allow Virtual Currency Options?

With the increase in attention that virtual currencies have received over the past few years, many wonder if that means ...
Erisa Section 103(a)(3)(c)

ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) Audit

The new audit standard, Statement on Auditing Standards No. 136, is now effective for calendar year-end employee benefit plans subject ...
Employee Benefit Plan May

Employee Benefit Plan Resources – May 2022

View and sign up for our latest Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) Resources newsletter. Headlines in this May 2022 edition include ...
Fiduciary Duty as a Plan Sponsor

What is Your Fiduciary Duty as a Plan Sponsor?

As a plan sponsor, you have a fiduciary duty to the participants in your plan. These responsibilities are outlined in ...
CARES and SECURE Act Provisions

CARES and SECURE Act Provisions: You Have Until December 31, 2022 to Make Plan Amendments

With the circumstances that resulted from the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is no shortage of change. Between tax laws, health ...