SECURE Act 2.0's automatic enrollment mandate, effective from January 2025, requires new 401(k) and 403(b) plans created after December 29, 2022, to automatically enroll eligible employees and annually escalate their contributions. This legislative change aims to increase retirement plan participation, addressing the fact that nearly half of American families did not hold a retirement account as of 2022. The act poses challenges for recordkeepers and third-party administrators (TPAs) due to the increased volume of data and complexity of plan management, particularly for small business-focused providers. Automation and payroll integrations are crucial for maintaining compliance and managing the operational burden, as they allow for seamless data flow and reduce the risk of errors associated with manual processes. SECURE Act 2.0 is expected to significantly expand retirement benefits access to millions more employees, with small and medium-sized businesses likely to contribute the majority of new plans.