This article describes how to navigate and use PlanSponsorLink. It documents the sign-in process, the content of the site, and the available functionality such as completing tasks, downloading documents, and sending files via Secure File Exchange.
Article Contents
Signing In to PlanSponsorLink
Contacts can access PlanSponsorLink via the following URL—
- https://[subdomain].PlanSponsorLink
—where [subdomain] refers to the firm's unique identifying subdomain name, as outlined in the article PlanSponsorLink Subdomains. So long as the subdomain is active, users will be able to sign in to PlanSponsorLink.
PlanSponsorLink uses the following credentials:
- For Contacts: Username is their email address, as per the Contact tab. Password is set on initial sign-in (see below).
- For Employees: Username and password are identical to their PensionPro credentials.
Contacts who are using PSL for the first time should select the First Time user? option on the sign-in page, then provide their email address when prompted. A temporary password will be sent to the user via email; they will be asked to change it upon successfully signing in.
Automatic PlanSponsorLink Sign-out
Getting Familiar with PlanSponsorLink
Once signed in, the PlanSponsorLink interface is split into three sections:
PSL Header: The header at the top displays the firm name and offers an option for toggling between light and dark modes. It also includes the User Account menu at the top-right, which contains the following options:
- Help: Links to an external help resource, as defined by the Help File URL preference. If the preference is left blank, this option will not be available.
- Training Videos: Links to an external help resource, as defined by the Training Video URL preference. If the preference is left blank, this option will not be available.
- Contact Us: Opens a new page, listing contact information for Employee Plan Roles on associated Plans. Also displays custom text, as set by the Help Text preference.
- User Preferences: Opens a new page which allows the user to customize how information is displayed in PlanSponsorLink. Refer to the article PSL User Preferences.
- Change Password and Logout
Activities Sidebar: The sidebar on the left includes menu options for each activity, such as Overview, Documents, and Secure File Exchange. Use Menu at the top-left to expand/collapse the sidebar.
Current Activity: The currently-selected activity occupies the rest of the page. This is where PlanSponsorLink work will be performed.
Activities on PlanSponsorLink
The activities available on PlanSponsorLink include viewing documents or distributions, using Secure File Exchange, and reviewing Plan Contacts. Each is accessible via the list in the sidebar.
PensionPro provides a great deal of control over what activities a PSL user can view, including disabling an activity for all users or applying individual permissions:
- Most activities can be enabled or disabled for all PSL users to suit the firm's user experience preferences. The names of these activities can also be altered to a more suitable terminology, if desired. For more information, refer to the General PSL Preferences section of the article PlanSponsorLink Preferences.
- Some activities will display no data unless the user possesses the proper Website Rights. For more information on Website Rights, including how to assign them and what benefits they provide, refer to the Website Rights for Plan Contacts section of the article Managing PlanSponsorLink Users.
The following sections provide more information on using each activity.
Overview
The Overview is the first page most users will see upon signing in to PlanSponsorLink. This activity provides an at-a-glance look at items that may require the user's attention:
- Data Collection tasks
- New documents to download
- Authorization requests
- Active Projects & Distributions
Data Collection
Requires Website Rights: General Web Collection, Distribution, and/or any any Annual Data Collection right (such as Employer Census)
Any Projects or Annual Administrations that require web Data Collection via PSL will be made available here once the Data Collection becomes active. Users can select Begin Task to start Data Collection; PlanSponsorLink will walk users through each step of the process, asking them to provide the necessary details. For more information on using each Data Collection step in PlanSponsorLink, refer to the article Overview of Web Data Collection.
New Documents
Requires Website Rights: Administrative Forms, Plan Documents, View Fiduciary Documents, and/or Reports
Files and documents that have recently been uploaded to the Plan, Project, or Plan Cycle records in PensionPro and which have been marked as Show On PSL are made available to Plan Sponsors as action items in the Ready to Download section. Users can select Download to save a copy of the file.
Once downloaded by any Plan Contact, a document is removed from My Active Tasks for all Plan Contacts. However, as long as these documents are not deleted, PSL users can still view them via the Documents or Projects pages, as appropriate.
Authorization Requests
Requires Website Rights: (varies based on request)
Some PensionPro features—such as automatic annual payroll delivery—require Plan Sponsor authorization before they can be used for a Plan. These authorization requests will be added to the Overview page; users can select Begin Task and follow the provided instructions to accept or reject the request.
Sign My 5500
If using PensionPro's ftwilliam.com integration, Contacts linked to an ftwilliam.com portal user will have access to the Sign My 5500 option, found at the top-right of the grid. This option acts as a shortcut to the ftwilliam.com portal, where users can electronically sign their 5500 if available.
Distributions
Requires Website Rights: Distribution
The Distributions page allows the Plan Sponsor to view the current status of any distribution or loan processing. Details include the name of the Plan and Participant, distribution Reason, start/completed dates, and the date the status was last updated.
The following must be set in PensionPro for a Distribution to be displayed on this page:
- Plan record: Enable Distributions on PSL Distributions Tab on the General view must be set to Show
- Distribution record: Enable to Show on PSL Distributions Tab on the Information view must be set to Yes
Plan Sponsors can select View to see distribution details, including any Notes or Files that have been added to the Distribution Project. They can also use Begin Task to perform Data Collection on any items that require it.
Projects
Requires Website Rights: Projects
The Projects page allows the Plan Sponsor to view the current status of any in-progress processes or administration that are being performed by the TPA via Project. Details include the name of the Project, period start/end dates, Project start/completed dates, and the date the status was last updated.
The following must be set in PensionPro for a Project to be displayed on this page:
- Plan record: Enable Projects on PSL Projects Tab on the General view must be set to Yes
- Project record: Enable to Show on PSL Projects Tab on the Summary view must be set to Yes
Plan Sponsors can select View to see distribution details, including any Notes or Files that have been added to the Project.
Data Collection
Requires Website Rights: General Web Collection and/or any Annual Data Collection right (such as Employer Census)
The Data Collection page provides record of past Year-End Data Collection and General Web Collection tasks performed for a Plan.
Users can download a summary of the Data Collection responses for a plan year by selecting the Download option. This Data Collection Report only includes the steps that a user has permission to view, as determined by Website Rights.
General Web Collection also includes a View option which allows users to view any Notes and Files added to the Project.
Documents
Requires Website Rights: Administrative Forms, Plan Documents, View Fiduciary Documents, and/or Reports
The Documents page displays any files that have been uploaded to the Plan, Project, or Plan Cycle tab in PensionPro, and which the TPA has made available on PSL. Details include the Plan name, file name and type, and posted and effective dates. Files are grouped by PSL Category.
Users can select Download to save a copy of the file.
Uploading a Fiduciary Document
Requires Website Rights: Add/Edit/Delete Fiduciary Documents
Users with the appropriate Website Rights can add a new fiduciary file by using the Upload Fiduciary Document option at the top-right of the grid. PlanSponsorLink will prompt the user to choose a file and a Plan, set the file type and PSL Category, and add effective/period end dates, if applicable. Once uploaded, file will be added to the Plan tab under the Fiduciary Files view.
Editing Fiduciary Documents
Requires Website Rights: View Fiduciary Documents, Add/Edit/Delete Fiduciary Documents
Users with the appropriate Website Rights can edit document details for fiduciary files, or delete these items altogether using the Edit and Delete
options in the grid.
Secure File Exchange
Any Contact with access to PlanSponsorLink can use Secure File Exchange to send files directly to or receive files from an Employee at the TPA firm. This is the most secure option to transmit files containing sensitive information.
This page is split into two views containing the Inbox (files received from the TPA) and Sent items (files sent to the TPA). Users can select a file name to download it, or select Delete to remove an entry. Secure Files are deleted automatically after a set period of time.
Users can send files using the New Exchange option at the top-right of the grid. PlanSponsorLink will prompt the user to choose a file and an Employee; they can also optionally choose the applicable Plan and include a message. Once sent, the Employee can view the Secure File Exchange in PensionPro.
Bulletins
The Bulletins page shows any industry bulletins posted by the TPA. These bulletins and notices are not specific to any single Plan, and are generally applicable to many individuals.
Users can save a bulletin file by selecting Download.
Contacts
Requires Website Rights: Contacts Fiduciary Documents
The Contacts page allows the user to view details about the Plan Contacts on any shared Plans, including their name, role name, and Website Rights. This page functions similarly to the Contacts step of Annual Data Collection. An individual is only listed if Show On PSL is enabled for their Plan Contact Roles entry in PensionPro.
Users can select Change Request to the right of a Contact to request that the entry be either:
- Replaced – To update information or suggest a new individual
- Removed – To delete the Contact Role
All change requests are submitted to the TPA for review; PSL users cannot change this information directly.