Understanding APIs: Why 401(k) Recordkeepers are Increasingly Turning to Integrations

Sean Kelly, a retirement industry veteran, discusses the transformative impact of API integrations on 401(k) recordkeeping, emphasizing the inadequacies of traditional data-sharing methods like SFTP. As the retirement industry evolves, driven by factors such as SECURE 2.0 and the influx of new Millennial and Gen Z workforce, recordkeepers face challenges in handling complex and fragmented payroll data, maintaining compliance, and improving operational efficiency. API integrations offer a more reliable, automated, and secure solution by providing real-time, accurate access to payroll data, reducing manual intervention, and enhancing the sponsor experience. Unified employment APIs, such as those offered by Finch, simplify the integration process by enabling recordkeepers to access data from multiple payroll systems through a single connection, thus facilitating scalability and improving plan administration in a tech-forward retirement landscape.