Data Import Overview

One of the most important aspects of implementing a new PensionPro setup is transferring existing data into its new home. PensionPro provides new firms with a number of import tools to get data added quickly. This article discusses PensionPro's available import options and provides some insight to using them effectively.

PensionPro includes many data fields, though not all are required to be filled before the application can begin to be used effectively. That said, it is ideal to complete as much information as possible during the initial import stages to avoid manually populating the data in the future.

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Article Contents

• Essential Data Imports
• Supplemental Data Imports

Essential Data Imports

The import tools named in this section will be used early on in nearly every new PensionPro setup.

Clients & Plans

Plans are the heart of PensionPro, and many later imports add data to existing Plans. Clients are the companies sponsoring these Plans. Client data must be imported first; then, each imported Plan is linked to an existing Client record. Multiple Plans may be linked to a single Client.

See also: Data Import - Clients & Plans

Employees

Each Employee record represents an employee at the TPA firm. Not only does this record store general employee information, but also establishes the employee's PensionPro account. In other words, an Employee record should be added for each PensionPro user.

See also: Data Import - Employees

Contacts

Each Contact record represents an individual known to the firm. This could be a plan sponsor, an advisor, a potential sales lead, or anything else. It can be helpful to think of this step like importing an address book full of names, addresses, and numbers.

Although not required, each Contact can be linked with a Company, which can help keep Contacts organized. Company records are distinct from Client records, and simply represent any organization, regardless of whether or not they do business with the firm. If using Companies, keep the following in mind:

• If a Contact's Company cannot be found in PensionPro, a new Company record is created upon import.
• PensionPro will not consolidate any variations in Company name used for multiple Contacts. If the Company names differ in any way, multiple records will be created.
• Creating a Client record also creates a matching Company record; this means that Company data already exists by the time this step is reached. If importing Contacts employed with a client company, be sure to match the Company spelling to what's listed in PensionPro.

The aim of this step is simply to add Contacts and their information. Linking these Contacts to Plans comes in a later step.

See also: Data Import - Contacts

Employee Plan Roles & Plan Contact Roles

These two imports establish links between Plans and Employees/Contacts, and dictate the responsibilities that an individual has in service of the Plan. An Employee might be an administrator, a billing specialist, or distribution processor, whereas a Contact might be a main contact, accountant, investment provider, or payroll contact.

Each import will require an existing Employee or Contact, an existing Plan, and the Role to which they are being assigned.

See also:

• Data Import - Employee Plan Roles
• Data Import - Plan Contact Roles

Supplemental Data Imports

The imports listed in the following table are not critical to a successful PensionPro implementation, and thus can be performed optionally, or at a later time. They can be completed in any order.