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Provider Exit-Support Comparison

Compare two to four written ROBS provider exit-support scopes under the same scenario without calculating taxes, valuing stock, selecting a termination date, or ranking providers.

Direct answer: use this worksheet when a current or prospective provider gives you an agreement, termination quote, service schedule, transition email, or written answer about leaving a ROBS arrangement or provider. The result is only a status map: documented, unclear, not included, and not applicable.

What this compares

Provider change, employer-stock unwind, plan/corporation termination, business sale or closure, and records-only transfer support. It does not imply a provider can replace plan, corporate, legal, tax, valuation, payroll or state-filing professionals.

Transcribe written provider exit-support terms

Choose one shared scenario for every provider. Use short non-sensitive labels and evidence references. Unclear means missing; not included means excluded; not applicable requires a reason.

Compare handoff, records, successor coordination, blackout, and continuing-plan responsibilities.

Provider 1

Use a label such as Provider A; do not enter private account, tax, participant, transaction, or agency-contact data.

Provider A: Transition project owner and timeline

Named owner, milestones, estimated timing, and stale-case escalation.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Successor administrator coordination

Direct coordination with a new TPA, recordkeeper, trustee, custodian, payroll vendor, or adviser.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Plan documents and amendments

Termination, restatement, interim amendment, blackout or operational-document support.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Stock repurchase/redemption and valuation coordination

Corporate mechanics, fair-market-value process, appraisal handoff, and stock records.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Participant vesting, distribution, rollover forms and notices

Participant notices, election forms, rollover notices, distribution packages and beneficiary communication.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Final Form 5500 or 5500-EZ

Annual/final filing preparation, signature lane, EFAST or 5500-EZ boundary, and year covered.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Final nondiscrimination and coverage testing

Final-year ADP/ACP, coverage, top-heavy, and contribution review if applicable.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Payroll and contribution cutoff

Ceasing deferrals, employer contributions, payroll dates, deposits, and final census.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Outstanding participant loans

Loan status, offset/default paperwork, repayment deadlines and reporting boundaries.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Required minimum distributions where applicable

Whether written scope addresses RMD screening or states why it is outside scope.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Uncashed checks and missing participants

Search process, returned mail, uncashed checks, rollover or missing-participant program handoff.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Prohibited transaction and correction review

Review for VCP, VFCP, DFVCP, prohibited-transaction, testing or filing corrections before exit.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: IRS determination, VCP, DOL filing support if written

Form 5310, VCP, VFCP, DFVCP or other agency filing support only when expressly written.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Corporate, legal, tax, valuation and state-filing boundaries

What the provider excludes, refers, coordinates, or bills separately for legal, tax, valuation and corporate work.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Records and data export format, history and retention

Export format, years of records, participant files, filings, valuations, corporate records and retention period.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Vendor and access shutdown

Portal, payroll, trustee, custodian, registered-agent, and third-party access closure.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Post-termination questions

Written survival of help after service end, time window, fee basis, and contact path.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Fees, hourly, third-party and government charges

Exit fees, hourly work, pass-through advisers, valuation, filing, custodian, state and government charges.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider A: Prerequisites, exclusions and survival after service end

Client-good-standing requirements, prior errors, unpaid invoices, years covered, exclusions, and survival terms.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider 2

Use a label such as Provider A; do not enter private account, tax, participant, transaction, or agency-contact data.

Provider B: Transition project owner and timeline

Named owner, milestones, estimated timing, and stale-case escalation.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Successor administrator coordination

Direct coordination with a new TPA, recordkeeper, trustee, custodian, payroll vendor, or adviser.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Plan documents and amendments

Termination, restatement, interim amendment, blackout or operational-document support.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Stock repurchase/redemption and valuation coordination

Corporate mechanics, fair-market-value process, appraisal handoff, and stock records.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Participant vesting, distribution, rollover forms and notices

Participant notices, election forms, rollover notices, distribution packages and beneficiary communication.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Final Form 5500 or 5500-EZ

Annual/final filing preparation, signature lane, EFAST or 5500-EZ boundary, and year covered.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Final nondiscrimination and coverage testing

Final-year ADP/ACP, coverage, top-heavy, and contribution review if applicable.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Payroll and contribution cutoff

Ceasing deferrals, employer contributions, payroll dates, deposits, and final census.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Outstanding participant loans

Loan status, offset/default paperwork, repayment deadlines and reporting boundaries.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Required minimum distributions where applicable

Whether written scope addresses RMD screening or states why it is outside scope.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Uncashed checks and missing participants

Search process, returned mail, uncashed checks, rollover or missing-participant program handoff.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Prohibited transaction and correction review

Review for VCP, VFCP, DFVCP, prohibited-transaction, testing or filing corrections before exit.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: IRS determination, VCP, DOL filing support if written

Form 5310, VCP, VFCP, DFVCP or other agency filing support only when expressly written.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Corporate, legal, tax, valuation and state-filing boundaries

What the provider excludes, refers, coordinates, or bills separately for legal, tax, valuation and corporate work.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Records and data export format, history and retention

Export format, years of records, participant files, filings, valuations, corporate records and retention period.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Vendor and access shutdown

Portal, payroll, trustee, custodian, registered-agent, and third-party access closure.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Post-termination questions

Written survival of help after service end, time window, fee basis, and contact path.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Fees, hourly, third-party and government charges

Exit fees, hourly work, pass-through advisers, valuation, filing, custodian, state and government charges.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Provider B: Prerequisites, exclusions and survival after service end

Client-good-standing requirements, prior errors, unpaid invoices, years covered, exclusions, and survival terms.

Use a bounded reference such as termination quote section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what you need to verify or why N/A applies. They do not become factual provider claims.

Providers compared

2

Ready rows

0 / 38

Rows with differences

0

Provider readiness counts

Readiness counts documented, not included, and justified not applicable rows. It is not a score, rank, recommendation, path selection, or proof that an exit plan is complete.

Provider A

Documented
0
Unclear
19
Not included
0
Not applicable
0

Provider B

Documented
0
Unclear
19
Not included
0
Not applicable
0

Transition project owner and timeline

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Successor administrator coordination

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Plan documents and amendments

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Stock repurchase/redemption and valuation coordination

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Participant vesting, distribution, rollover forms and notices

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Final Form 5500 or 5500-EZ

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Final nondiscrimination and coverage testing

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Payroll and contribution cutoff

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Outstanding participant loans

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Required minimum distributions where applicable

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Uncashed checks and missing participants

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Prohibited transaction and correction review

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

IRS determination, VCP, DOL filing support if written

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Corporate, legal, tax, valuation and state-filing boundaries

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Records and data export format, history and retention

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Vendor and access shutdown

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Post-termination questions

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Fees, hourly, third-party and government charges

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Prerequisites, exclusions and survival after service end

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Scenario instructions and sequence

Pick one scenario before entering provider rows. DOL fiduciary materials support giving providers identical information so the comparison is meaningful [4]. Do not compare one provider for a business sale and another for a records-only handoff in the same run.

  1. Define the shared scenario and facts that every provider receives.
  2. Collect each agreement, exit quote, termination schedule, service email and fee schedule.
  3. Mark documented only when the text directly covers the dimension.
  4. Mark not included only when the text excludes it or says it is separate or billable, then cite the evidence.
  5. Mark not applicable only with a reason tied to the scenario.
  6. Leave unclear as missing until the provider answers in writing.
  7. Use the differences to request written follow-up, not to choose a path.

Exit, provider change, and plan termination are different

Provider change

The plan continues. The core questions are records, successor administrator coordination, participant data, payroll, blackout/access issues and ongoing plan-document duties.

ROBS exit or sale

A sale or closure can require corporate, plan, tax, valuation, lender, broker and fiduciary decisions before plan assets or employer stock move.

Plan termination

IRS guidance ties termination to amendment, benefit/liability determination, participant notices, rollover notices, distributions, final Form 5500 and possible determination-letter filing [2] [3].

Red flags to resolve in writing

  • “Exit support included” without stock redemption, valuation, final filing, participant notice, distribution or fee detail.
  • Support that ends when service terminates, before agency questions, final records export or post-termination questions.
  • No written owner for successor coordination, payroll cutoff, loan status, RMD screening, uncashed checks or missing participants.
  • Generic VCP, DFVCP, tax, legal or valuation wording without signer, preparer, fee and exclusion boundaries [6] [7].
  • Corporate dissolution or secretary-of-state language that ignores the separate plan and employer-stock mechanics.

Worked example

A business owner asks three providers to compare support for “unwind employer-stock ownership and continue qualified plan if valid.” Provider A documents final-year testing, Form 5500 and successor TPA coordination but excludes transaction valuation. Provider B documents valuation coordination and redemption recordkeeping but is unclear on payroll cutoff, loans, RMDs and post-service questions. Provider C says “we help with exits” but provides no task list. The worksheet reports counts and rows with differences. It does not decide which provider is better or whether the stock unwind is valid.

ERISA, IRC, IRS, DOL and PBGC limitations

IRS ROBS materials identify recurring problems involving filings, plan status, valuation, prohibited transactions, discrimination and failed businesses [1]. DOL materials explain fiduciary process, service-provider monitoring, reasonable fees, participant disclosures, prohibited transactions and employer-stock fair-market-value issues [4]. Those sources do not approve a user’s exit, calculate taxes, value employer stock, choose a distribution route, or make a provider responsible for every plan-sponsor duty.

PBGC termination materials belong mainly to pension-plan termination contexts and missing-participant programs [5]. They are included as a boundary source, not because typical ROBS defined-contribution arrangements are PBGC-insured pension plans.

Authorship, date, disclosure and privacy

Author: Dennis Shirshikov. Published and last modified Aug. 13, 2026. This educational tool is source-bounded and free to use. It is not legal, tax, fiduciary, valuation, corporate, payroll, investment or provider-selection advice.

Privacy: the form has no account, server submission, fetch call, cookies, browser storage, query-string sharing or lead request. Enter short references, not plan numbers, EINs, account balances, participant names, agency correspondence, buyer terms or attorney-client communications.

FAQ

Does this recommend which provider to use?

No. It derives counts and differences from user-entered written terms. It has no weights, scores, ranks, selected path, provider replacement recommendation or lead capture.

Can notes substitute for evidence?

No. Documented and not-included statuses need a written evidence reference. Notes are bounded reminders or not-applicable reasons; they do not become factual provider claims.

Does the worksheet calculate taxes, valuation or distribution eligibility?

No. It does not calculate tax, value employer stock, determine distribution eligibility, set a termination date, choose VCP or DFVCP, or decide whether a business sale or closure path is valid.

Is provider support a substitute for plan, corporate, legal, tax or valuation professionals?

No. Provider support must be read beside plan documents, fiduciary duties, corporate approvals, ERISA counsel, tax advisers, valuation professionals and government filing requirements.

Does the tool store my exit facts?

No. It runs in the browser and has no server submission, fetch call, storage, cookies, query-string sharing or account. Enter only short non-sensitive references.

Sources

  1. IRS ROBS compliance project

    IRS describes ROBS plans as not automatically abusive but identifies questions about plan status, rollover records, participants, stock valuation and purchases, business records, Form 5500 or 5500-EZ, Form 1120, discrimination, prohibited transactions, promoter fees and business failures. Page last reviewed Nov. 16, 2025; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  2. IRS Terminating a Retirement Plan

    IRS lists general termination steps: amend the plan, establish termination date, update qualification amendments, cease contributions, fully vest affected employees, notify participants, provide rollover notices, pay required contributions, distribute assets, file final Form 5500 series return, and optionally request a determination on qualification at termination. Page last reviewed Jun. 27, 2026; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  3. IRS 401(k) plan termination

    IRS states a 401(k) termination requires a termination date, determination of benefits and liabilities, and distribution of assets as soon as administratively feasible, generally within one year; undistributed assets keep the plan ongoing and subject to qualification requirements. Page last reviewed Nov. 16, 2025; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  4. DOL Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities

    DOL explains fiduciary duties, service-provider selection and monitoring with identical information, reasonable fees, participant disclosures, Form 5500 reporting, prohibited transactions, employer-stock fair-market-value/no-commission language, cybersecurity and the need for a successor fiduciary before walking away. September 2021 booklet; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  5. PBGC Plan terminations

    PBGC describes standard, distress, PBGC-initiated and missing-participant terminations for pension plans. This is included to show the defined-benefit boundary; typical ROBS 401(k) or profit-sharing plans are defined-contribution arrangements, so PBGC does not replace IRS/DOL or plan-administrator steps. Last updated Jan. 11, 2024; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  6. DOL DFVCP

    DOL describes the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program for certain late Form 5500 filings and states eligibility and penalty limits; provider support should be marked documented only if written terms cover the filing work.

  7. IRS EPCRS overview

    IRS describes correction programs including SCP, VCP and Audit CAP. The worksheet does not determine eligibility for correction and treats VCP support as documented only when written.