We are excited to announce an upcoming anticipated strategic change designed to enhance your retirement savings experience. Accrue 401k has entered into an agreement to be acquired, and upon closing of the acquisition in early 2026, the 401(k) plans currently administered by Accrue 401k will transition to Vestwell, a leading retirement platform known for its modern technology and excellent service.
This transition will aim to be as seamless as possible. Please review the frequently asked questions below for essential details regarding what this means for your 401(k) plan.
General questions about this transition
Why is this transition happening?
Vestwell has entered into an agreement to acquire the 401(k) business from Accrue to consolidate retirement administration services. This move, once the acquisition closes, will combine your plan's existing features with Vestwell's modern retirement platform, and provide your plan with continued dedicated support and advanced technology.
Why did Accrue select Vestwell?
Following Guideline’s acquisition, our top priority has been for your retirement plan to continue seamlessly—with the same level of service, payroll connectivity, and reliability you expect. After an extensive review of leading retirement providers, we’ve selected Vestwell as the new home for your company’s retirement plan after the deal closes in 2026 and the partner best equipped to uphold that commitment.
Vestwell is a trusted modern savings platform powering retirement, education, emergency savings, and more for over 350,000 employers as well as state programs, advisors, and leading financial institutions.
With this move, your plan will gain access to Vestwell’s enhanced digital tools, multilingual support, compliance and administration services, and a broad suite of workplace savings benefits.
When will the transition take place?
While the specific date for this transition is not yet determined, if the deal closes, we anticipate it to take place in Q1 2026. Rest assured, we will communicate a specific timeline to all plan trustees via email once this information is available.
Until a more detailed timeline is provided after closing, Accrue will continue to administer your plan and handle year-end compliance for 2025.
Will my 401(k) plan be closed?
No. Your existing 401(k) plan is not being terminated. It is simply being moved to a new administrator (Vestwell) who will manage the recordkeeping, compliance, and participant services after closing. Your plan’s assets will be transferred securely to the new platform.
Is there any action required to transfer my plan?
No action is required through the end of the year. After the acquisition closes, and the transfer period approaches, Vestwell will be reaching out with information for your review, registration instructions for the Vestwell platform, and details, such as customary blackout periods during the transfer of your plan assets.
If you have any questions, Vestwell’s team is available to connect before, during, and after the transition, and you’ll have access to dedicated support throughout the process.
What if I don’t agree to move our plan to Vestwell?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to keep your plan with Accrue once the closing takes place. We’re confident in Vestwell to be your trusted savings partner, delivering an elevated experience for you and your employees.
Vestwell’s platform expands access to a range of savings solutions, including retirement, education, emergency savings, and more, all on one modern platform. This provides you with even more flexibility to offer comprehensive benefits for your employees.
If you are not interested in moving to Vestwell, you will need to complete a plan transfer to a new provider of your choosing. We recommend contacting a new provider as soon as possible as transfer timelines and requirements can vary.
Why did my plan move to Accrue after the Gusto acquisition, and why is it moving again now?
We understand that moving providers twice can be frustrating, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. The anticipated transition to Vestwell is the next step in establishing a stable, long-term administrative home for your plan.
Move 1: Guideline to Accrue (post-acquisition)
When Gusto acquired Guideline, the primary goal was to create a deeply unified, seamless experience for customers to continue with their payroll provider.
Generally, the plans that were not running payroll through Gusto were transitioned to Accrue 401(k). Accrue is a separate entity designed to administer these plans while a specialized partner was identified.
Move 2: Accrue to Vestwell (current transition)
Vestwell is a leader in modern retirement plan administration, specializing in providing flexible, technology-driven solutions.
The anticipated sale of Accrue to Vestwell represents the long-term strategy for these plans—to place them with a dedicated recordkeeper whose core business is providing a retirement platform for all plan types, regardless of payroll provider.
In short, the move to Accrue was a necessary intermediate step during the initial consolidation of the acquisition. The move to Vestwell is intended to provide your plan with a long-term home with an established retirement platform.
Will there be another provider change in the future?
Vestwell is acquiring these plans with the intent of keeping them as a permanent part of their platform. We are confident that Vestwell represents a stable, long-term solution for the administration of your 401(k) plan.
Will other plan admins and employees be notified?
At this time, only plan trustees are receiving communications regarding this upcoming transition. We recommend sharing these details with any additional administrators who assist with your plan, as needed.
Other administrators and participants will be notified as we get closer to the plan transfer. These communications will be sent from Vestwell directly.
Plan details and administration
Do I need to re-register or create a new account?
Yes. As the transfer period approaches in early 2026, all administrators and participants will receive registration instructions directly from Vestwell on how to access the new 401(k) portal, along with updates, resources, clear next steps, and timing for key milestones. You will need to create new Vestwell credentials and register for the platform.
Will my payroll integration be affected?
No, your payroll provider will remain connected. Vestwell has integrations with all the same payroll providers that Accrue supports today. Through their nearly 200 payroll connections, they deliver a secure, modern, and connected retirement experience for employers and employees alike.
Will my plan features (e.g., matching, vesting schedule) remain the same?
Yes. Vesting schedules, employer match formulas, eligibility requirements, and other core plan design features are part of your official plan document, and they will not change as a result of the administrative transfer. Vestwell will administer your plan according to the terms of your current plan document.
However, you will have expanded flexibility with your plan design choices as your needs evolve.
Will my current fees increase as a result of this transition?
No. Your current plan pricing will remain the same as your previous plan fees with Guideline and Accrue 401k. There will be no change to your plan base fee or participant fees as a result of this transition.
Will our plans investment lineup change?
No. Your plan investment lineup will not change during the transition. However, at Vestwell, employers will also have access to over 19,000 funds, as well as additional investment options, including self-directed brokerage accounts. These accounts allow employees to invest their retirement savings in a broad range of assets via a linked external brokerage account.
Who will complete our compliance testing for the plan year ending in 2025?
Because the exact date of the transfer to Vestwell has not yet been determined, we cannot provide specifics on compliance testing at this time. We will work with Vestwell on compliance training and provide additional information as it becomes available. Please ensure you cooperate promptly with any Accrue year-end data requests to avoid compliance issues.
Will Vestwell support legally related groups and multi-EIN businesses?
Yes. Vestwell supports retirement plans that cover multiple business entities under different Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) in varying locations, such as franchises.
Will employees have access to a mobile app?
Yes. Vestwell offers a mobile savers app. Anything employees can do on their web portal, they can do on the mobile app.
Support and additional info
Who do I contact for support until the transition?
You can continue contacting Accrue’s support teams until the transition is complete.
If you have specific questions about Vestwell, you can contact their team at [email protected] or by calling (888) 449-2043.
Who do I contact for support after the move?
Once the deal closes and the transfer is complete, all plan administration and participant support will be handled by Vestwell. Vestwell offers personalized, responsive support in 240+ languages. Plus, you and your team will have access to 24/7 AI chat assistance for instant answers.
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Where can I learn more about Vestwell?
You can find out more about Vestwell at their website, www.vestwell.com, or search their Help Center for specific questions and FAQs.
For additional information related to this anticipated transition, you can view Vestwell’s transition hub. You can also sign up for their dedicated newsletter on the plan transition to receive updates and resources directly in your inbox.