Ascensus

Ascensus Retirement Services

Ascensus, a leading retirement plan solutions provider, will act as the pre-approved sponsor for your client's retirement plan document. As one of the largest qualified retirement plan platforms in the country, we offer many plan design options to help create a plan that meets anyone's needs.
 

Establish Services

Available Now: Updated Plan Establishment Kits

The Plan Establishment Kits (PEK) have been updated to reflect changes related to the IRS interim amendment for SECURE 2.0. Please begin using the updated materials immediately. Beginning August 1, 2026, older versions will no longer be accepted.


Establish Document Only Services
 
With Document Only Services, Ascensus will provide plan document support and maintenance for your Individual 401(k), 401(k) Profit Sharing or Money Purchase Pension qualified retirement plan. As necessary, Ascensus will provide your plan with applicable IRS required amendments and restate your plan document as needed.
  1. The employer must complete a Plan Establishment Kit (PEK) using either the printable documents below (Option 1) or the integrated Sertifi electronic submission and signature process (Option 2).
  2. Ascensus will create plan documents based on the PEK information. 
  3. Ascensus will send the new plan documents electronically to the employer.
  4. The employer can electronically sign the documents using Sertifi.
NOTE: After completing these steps, be sure to complete the Pershing Employee Data Worksheet that will be submitted to Pershing for each account associated with the applicable plan. These should not be sent to Ascensus.
 
The Plan Establishment Kit (PEK) contains the following forms:
 
Document Service Agreement (DSA)
The employer must sign a DSA, which specifies the roles and responsibilities between the employer and Ascensus.

Plan Design Questionnaire (PDQ)
The PDQ gathers information needed to prepare Ascensus pre-approved plan documents. The information will be converted into an adoption agreement, a basic plan document, a summary plan description (if applicable), and all applicable plan amendments.
 
Complete the PEK in one of two ways: Option 1 - print, complete, and email the forms to Ascensus, or Option 2 - submit the forms electronically through Sertifi.
 
Option 1: Email Submission

Select the appropriate plan type to download the Plan Establishment Kit (PEK). Complete, print, and email forms to Ascensus at pershingplandocs@ascensus.com.
 

Option 2: E-sign Submission via Sertifi

Before you begin, please have the following ready:
 

Plan name, plan type, employer EIN, and plan provisions (e.g., contribution allocations, vesting, and loan provisions).
 
Provide the Employer/Authorized Signer's email address and select the appropriate plan type below. Complete and submit documents through Sertifi. You must complete the documents in one session and electronically sign.
 
NOTE: The Employer/Authorized Signer must be present to sign while the forms are being completed because the forms cannot be electronically forwarded for signature.

*  
    • Individual 401(k) Plan Establishment Kit (Document Only)
      A document only Individual 401(k) plan designed for sole proprietors with no employees, or for owners and their spouses, offering elective deferrals and/or profit sharing contributions. This service will provide pre-approved document sponsor services only.
    • Plan Establishment Kit (401(k) Profit Sharing & Money Purchase Plans)
      A 401(k) Profit Sharing plan is designed for businesses with employees, offering elective deferrals, profit sharing contributions, and employer matching contributions. (Elective deferrals and employer match are not allowed in a profit sharing only plan.) A Money Purchase plan requires a fixed annual employer contribution (does not allow for elective deferrals and other discretionary employer contributions).