KinetiPlan vs traditional 401(k) administration software.
A side-by-side view for independent TPAs, written to be fair: what KinetiPlan does differently, what it does not do yet, and where established products remain the better fit.
Where KinetiPlan differs, and where traditional software is stronger.
“Traditional 401(k) administration software” here means the established desktop, hosted and cloud products most independent TPAs use today, often combined: an administration and testing system, a document and government forms system, a recordkeeping system or the recordkeeper’s portal, and a separate workflow tool. The right column describes the category, not any one vendor. Facts about specific products come from the vendors’ own pages and should be confirmed with them.
| Area | KinetiPlan (today) | Traditional software (category) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Administration, recordkeeping ledger, testing, deadlines, billing and Form 5500 data share one database in the pilot build. | Often separate products for administration and testing, documents, government forms, recordkeeping and workflow, connected by exports or vendor integrations. Several vendors also sell these as one suite. |
| Maturity | Pilot build on synthetic data. Not generally available, no production customers yet. | Established products used by many TPAs for years or decades, with large installed bases and user communities. |
| Plan types | 401(k) defined contribution workflows. No defined benefit, cash balance or 403(b)-specific workflows. | Broad coverage is common: vendors list DB, cash balance, 403(b), ESOP, nonqualified and cross-tested plans. |
| Compliance testing | ADP/ACP, 410(b), top-heavy, 402(g) and 415(c) in the pilot build. No cross-testing or 401(a)(4) general test. | Mature testing engines, including 401(a)(4) general testing and cross-testing, are standard in the major products. |
| Plan documents | Not offered. | Commonly offered, often IRS pre-approved documents. |
| Form 5500 | Generates Form 5500 and schedules from plan data and files directly with EFAST2 after human approval and sponsor e-signature (pilot build). | Widely offered; high-volume e-filing is an established service. |
| Recordkeeping | Pooled trust ledger with ACH settlement records and discrepancy queue. Records money movement; does not move money or trade. | Balance-forward and, in some products, daily-valued recordkeeping with trading links. |
| Deployment | Customer-hosted: your AWS account in a US region, or on-premises. | Varies by vendor: desktop/on-premises, vendor-hosted (ASP) and cloud SaaS are all offered in the market. |
| Pricing | Not published. Commercial terms are agreed after a pilot. | Varies. Some vendors describe their pricing basis publicly (for example per plan or per participant); many do not publish amounts. |
| Workflow and exceptions | Exception queue with owner, approve or dismiss with notes, audit trail; annual projects board; compliance calendar. | Often handled in a separate workflow/CRM product or in spreadsheets. |
| AI | Planned only, read-only, human-approved. Nothing AI-driven is live. | Varies by vendor. |
An honest fit guide
Traditional software is the safer choice when
- You need DB, cash balance, 403(b) or cross-tested plan support now.
- You need plan documents and a proven testing engine from one vendor.
- You cannot run a pilot or parallel run this year.
- Your auditors or clients require a SOC 1 or SOC 2 report today.
KinetiPlan is worth evaluating when
- Your team re-keys data between testing, the recordkeeper portal, spreadsheets and calendars.
- You want payroll intake, the ledger, testing and deadlines on one data model.
- You prefer to host the system in your own AWS account or data center.
- You can join a scoped pilot or design partnership and help shape the roadmap.
You do not have to replace everything.
Many TPAs will keep their testing or document system while they evaluate KinetiPlan. Today that coexistence is file-based: census and payroll CSV in, CSV exports out. Direct connectors to FIS Relius, ftwilliam.com, ASC or DATAIR products are not available; they are being evaluated and would need vendor access and testing. See integrations and the Relius modernization page.
Evaluate KinetiPlan on your terms.
Choose the conversation that fits where you are. Calls run on Google Meet. Nothing on this website asks for participant data.
Frequently asked questions
Is KinetiPlan better than traditional 401(k) software?
Not in general. It is a pilot build with a narrower scope. Its difference is architecture: administration, ledger, testing, deadlines and billing on one data model, hosted by the customer. Established products have far more maturity and plan-type coverage.
Does KinetiPlan replace plan document software?
No. KinetiPlan does not produce plan documents.
Can KinetiPlan import data from my current system?
Yes, through CSV files: census, payroll and balances. Direct system connectors are not available today. A migration assessment maps your exports and lists the gaps.