An important key in establishing a successful plan is a good communication campaign. It is essential that each employee know what his company is doing to provide for his future and the future of his family.

Your employees must be informed of the basic plan provisions, and given enough information to make an intelligent decision regarding plan participation.

Experience has shown that the primary reason an employee elects not to participate in a retirement plan is that he just does not understand it or is skeptical about it. The plan's communication campaign should ensure that every employee who says "no" to the program does so out of an understanding of the plan and not a misunderstanding.

Steps taken in this phase may include:

• Announcement letters covering the Plan's highlights.
• Employee Highlights Meetings may be conducted in groups to review major plan provisions.  A video or slide presentation that explains the highlights of the plan may also be shown, if requested.
• Employee Enrollment Meetings may be held either in conjunction with or immediately following the Highlights Meeting.  Employees will be asked to complete an Application for Plan Membership acknowledging that they are becoming Plan Participants, to elect the amount of their Employee Contributions, if any and to designate their Beneficiary.
• Follow up Enrollment Meetings can be conducted for those Employees who did not enroll at the initial meeting or decided later to become Plan Participants.