About
Big Sky Retirement is an independent, locally owned third party administration (TPA) firm located in Helena, MT. We specialize in retirement plan design, consulting and administration for small to mid-sized businesses. Our approach is to partner with local financial advisors and investment platforms to provide a best in class retirement plan solution for our clients. We value our relationships with our clients as well as our partners in the financial services industry.
Designing the right retirement plan for a business is critical to the success of this important benefit. Our approach is to listen and learn about our client’s objectives and then design the right plan that best meets those goals. We will provide plan design illustrations custom suited to your business, and then provide support and full-service administration of the plan on an on-going basis.
Services
- Design & consult with the client on the appropriate retirement plan based on employer objectives and demographics
- Provide the plan and trust document, Summary Plan Description (SPD), Safe Harbor Notice, Election & Beneficiary Forms
- Collect all census data to perform year end duties
- Reconcile all employee and employer contributions made to the trust
- Calculate and/or reconcile and review employer contributions
- Determine all plan provisions (eligibility, vesting, correct compensation, etc.)
- Process all loan and distribution requests
- Provide annual participant statements
- Perform all compliance testing, including recommending ways to satisfy these tests and/or ways to correct failed testing. This includes testing and monitoring certain limits under IRC sections 401(a)(4), 401(k), 401(m), 402(g), 404(a), 410(b), 415, & 416.
- File all annual government forms, including but not limited to Form 5500, 8955-SSA, 5558, 5300, 1099-R, 945 and 1096.
- Provide an annual reporting package for plan sponsor
- Assist with QDROs
- On-going recommendations and updates based on legislative changes
- Assist with third party or IRS audits or special projects
- Ensure that the plan is compliant, both in form and operationally, in all aspects of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.
Our Team
Steve Blom is the founder of Big Sky Retirement and has 30+ years of experience as a Third Party Administrator (TPA) for retirement plans. Steve has a gift for designing retirement plans that suit the unique needs of his clients, from small professional groups to large companies. Steve’s analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to explain technical concepts in everyday language have rightfully earned his clients’ trust. He is adept at all aspects of qualified retirement plan administration including plan design, consulting, conversions, compliance testing, and government reporting.
Prior to Big Sky Retirement Steve was a partner in charge of TPA services for Galusha Higgins & Galusha and Wipfli. Steve received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton. He has earned the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) and Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) designations from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) designation from the IRS, as well as previously holding the NASD Series 6 certification. In his free time Steve enjoys camping, backpacking, mountain biking and skiing with his wife and two sons.
Ryan Kettel brings a wealth of public accounting knowledge to his work in Retirement Plan Consulting. With experience in tax preparation, financial reporting, bookkeeping, auditing and payroll he provides a complete understanding of his client’s accounting processes and their interaction with the administration of a retirement plan. He’s been practicing in Montana since 2001, committing full-time to Retirement Plan Consulting in 2004. Ryan holds a B.A. degree in Accounting from Carroll College, and is accredited by the American Society of Pension Professional and Actuaries as a Certified Pension Consultant(CPC) and a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA).
He’s a tenacious problem-solver, a dedicated servant to his clients, and has the knowledge and experience to assist with all facets of retirement plan design and administration. In his free time Ryan can often be found biking around Helena, working on his cabin in the mountains, or fishing and floating with friends on the rivers of Montana.
Amanda Coalwell has been providing Retirement Plan Consulting services since 2015. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Carroll College in 2015, and joined the accounting firm Wipfli shortly after. She has earned her Qualified 401(k) Administrator designation (QKA) through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.
She is committed to her work, and has a passion for serving clients. In her free time she enjoys baking, video gaming, and spending time with her fiancée and two young sons.
Crystal Miller has over 25 years of experience in her role of Senior Administrative Specialist, performing a multitude of clerical duties, ranging from sending and receiving correspondence and reports, storing, organizing and managing files to providing office support to her co-workers. Her goal is to manage the administrative tasks of the office, freeing the professional team to focus on tasks directly related to growing the company and providing a great service to our clients. She is the friendly voice that will most likely greet you when you call the Big Sky Retirement office.
Tina Ball joined the Big Sky Retirement team in 2022. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Montana in 2009 and has over 13 years of experience in public accounting, including tax, auditing, bookkeeping and payroll. She is eager to provide exceptional service to her clients while building her knowledge in retirement plan administration.
Tina has lived in Montana her whole life and especially enjoys the summer months. In her free time, she is likely cooking, biking, working on home renovation projects, or spending time outside with her husband and two young kids.