Cynthia A. Groszkiewicz has more than 30 years of experience in benefit plan administration, consulting, plan design, and Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor audit representation.
Areas of Concentration
• Qualified plan design including 401(k) plans, cross-tested plans, ESOPs and defined benefit plans
• Consult during mergers and acquisitions for both buyer and seller
• Negotiate with IRS and PBGC regarding bankruptcy issues
• Evaluate services provided by fund holders and other third party administrators to insure compliance and reduce redundancy of services
• Consult regarding plan investment performance
• Provide assistance when a change of asset fund holder is anticipated
• Provide advanced testing for complex retirement plan designees
• Review and evaluate compliance issues with the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor
• Develop customized software for valuations and compliance testing
• Represent clients in audits by Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor
• Plan compliance with ERISA reporting disclosure requirements for qualified plans and cafeteria plans
• Cafeteria plan consulting, annual reporting and compliance testing
Professional & Community Involvement
• Founder and Member, The American Society of Pension Actuaries Benefits Council of Atlanta, 1993-Present
- Board Member, Board of Directors,1996-2003
- Treasurer, 1998-2000
- Member, Executive Committee, 1997-2000
- Editor-in-Chief, The Pension Actuary, 1993-1995
• Georgia Liaison and Speaker, Internal Revenue Service Employee Benefits Conference, Mid-Atlantic Region, 1997-Present
• Member, American Society of Pension Actuaries Government Affairs Committee, 1997-2000
• Practitioner Liaison, Gulf States Region
Professional Experience
Significant Representations
• Provided plan design alternatives to meet the specific needs and goals of clients. The plan designs included a 401(k) plan with a non-traditional matching formula, a cross-tested plan or a safe harbor 401(k) plan.
• Represented clients in plan audits, including the actuarial audit, by the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor.
• Provided information and advice for negotiations with Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to reduce plan termination liability by more than $1 million.
• Assisted clients in considering fund holder changes; consulted on information to be provided in RFP and analysis proposals; coordinated the transfer of funds to insure accuracy and compliance; developed communication with participants during the transfer process; and coordinated services provided by all consultants to insure adequacy and timely reporting.
• Provided complete annual administration services including compliance testing, asset reconciliation, Form 5500 annual filing, participant account allocation (for balance forward) and required participant communication.
• Worked with plans that use a fund holder for daily valuation and record keeping to insure all compliance issues are addressed.
Noteworthy Experience
• Associate, Society of Actuaries
• Member, American Academy of Actuaries
• Actuary enrolled by the Joint Board qualified to perform actuarial services under ERISA
• Member and Qualified Plan Administrator, American Society of Pension Actuaries
Publications & Presentations
Articles, Lectures & Publications
Cynthia is a regular columnist for 401k panel publications and is a frequent speaker on benefit issues, including the ASPA One Day Workshops, Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, The Georgia Medical Office Management, CORBEL Workshop, Annual and Summer Conferences of ASPA, as well as speaker for the Internal Revenue Service Employee Benefits.
• Author, "How to Repair a Broken Plan with Testing Techniques," CCH Benefit Plan Compliance, 2000
• Author, "The Zen of 401(k)," Spring 2001
• Author, "MUT Made Easy," Spring 2000
• Author, "Lions, Tigers & Bears," Winter 2000
