Is an electronic signature valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible record retention requirements are met.

Who must sign the statement?

Typically the preparer and an authorized plan official or trustee sign and date the statement; signature blocks should show title and contact for attribution and audit evidence.

Are notary or witness signatures required?

Not usually for plan asset statements, but state or trustee policies may require notarization or witnesses for certain certifications; confirm state rules and trustee governance documents.

How do I correct an error after signing?

Prepare a corrected version with a revision date, note the correction history, obtain new signatures or attestations, and retain both versions for audit trails.

What supporting documents should be retained?

Keep custodian confirmations, trade blotters, bank statements, valuation memos, and reconciliation workpapers to support audit and regulatory inquiries.

How long must I keep the records?

Follow federal minima (e.g., IRS three years) and industry rules; HIPAA and securities rules may require longer retention—consult counsel for plan-specific obligations.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Financial Statement of Plan Assets

Financial Statement of Plan Assets

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF PLAN ASSETS

Plan Identification

Plan Name:

Plan Sponsor / Employer:

Employer Identification Number (EIN):

Plan Number / Program ID:

Reporting Period From: To:

Summary of Plan Assets

The following schedule presents the components of plan assets at the beginning and end of the reporting period, together with material additions and deductions. Amounts are stated at fair value unless otherwise indicated.

Asset Class / Description	Beginning Balance	Additions	Deductions	Transfers	Ending Balance
Cash & cash equivalents
Equity securities
Fixed income / Bonds
Mutual funds / Collective trusts
Real estate / Alternatives
Other (specify)
Total

Reconciliation of Net Assets

Reconcile net assets available for benefits for the reporting period. Provide material components and identify any nonrecurring adjustments.

Net assets at beginning of period Contributions (Employer) Contributions (Employee) Investment income (interest, dividends, realized/unrealized gains) Benefits paid to participants Administrative expenses (fees, trustee, custodial) Other adjustments (describe) Net assets at end of period

Schedule of Investments (Material Holdings)

List material investments, units, valuation method, and fair value. If investments are managed through collective investment trusts or mutual funds, identify name and type.

Description / Name	Units / Shares	Unit Value	Fair Value	% of Plan Assets	Valuation Method

Significant Accounting Policies & Valuation

Describe the significant accounting policies used in preparing this statement, including sources of fair value, valuation techniques, and any material changes in methodology since the prior reporting period.

Related-Party Transactions

Indicate whether any material transactions or balances exist between the plan and parties related to the sponsor, trustee, manager, or other service providers.

Yes No

If yes, provide details

Notes and Material Events

Disclose any subsequent events, corrections, restatements, or other material matters that materially affect the plan assets or the reliability of the statement.

Certification

The undersigned certify, under penalty of perjury, that they are authorized officials of the plan and that this Financial Statement of Plan Assets has been prepared from the books and records of the plan and is true, correct and complete to the best of their knowledge and belief. This statement is prepared in accordance with the plan document and applicable accounting principles consistently applied.

Plan Administrator / Trustee:

By:

Date:

Independent Preparer / Auditor:

By:

Date:

Preparer's Contact (name, firm, address, phone) Additional Notes / Terms

What the Financial Statement of Plan Assets Is and why it matters

The Financial Statement of Plan Assets documents a retirement or benefit plan’s holdings, carrying values, and reconciliations at a specific valuation date. It typically lists cash, securities, alternative investments, receivables, and liabilities, explains valuation methods, and reconciles opening and closing balances. Prepared by plan administrators, trustees, or third-party recordkeepers, the statement supports annual audits, fiduciary oversight, and regulatory filings such as Form 5500 Schedule H. Accurate statements aid transparency for participants, auditors, and regulators and serve as a core input for actuarial and investment reporting.

Why maintaining a clear plan-asset statement is important

A professional Financial Statement of Plan Assets provides transparency for fiduciaries, supports ERISA compliance and audit readiness, and documents valuation choices and controls for participants and regulators.

Common users and stakeholders

Provide the statement to these stakeholders in a consistent, verifiable format to reduce follow-up requests and expedite review cycles.

Plan administrators and recordkeepers who prepare and maintain asset ledgers and reconciliations for the plan.
Plan fiduciaries and trustees who review asset composition, valuation policies, and compliance with investment guidelines.
Independent auditors and actuarial firms who use the statement during the annual audit and valuation processes.

Core elements to include in the statement

A complete Financial Statement of Plan Assets organizes holdings, valuation policies, and reconciliations so reviewers can trace values from opening balances through transactions to closing balances.

Asset Schedule

Detailed line items by asset class and security, showing quantities, unit values, and total market values for each holding.

Valuation Method

Clear description of fair value techniques, hierarchy level (Level 1/2/3), and any appraisal or third-party pricing sources used.

Reconciliation

Movement schedule reconciling beginning balances, purchases, sales, gains/losses, and ending balances with supporting cash flow references.

Investments

Breakouts for pooled funds, separate accounts, private equity, and derivatives with notes on liquidity and redemption terms where applicable.

Liabilities

Short-term and long-term liabilities allocated to the plan, including pending benefit payments and administrative accruals.

Disclosure Notes

Narrative explaining significant events, related-party transactions, fees, valuation judgments, and any restrictions on asset transfer or sale.

Step-by-step: preparing the statement

Follow these sequential steps to collect data, reconcile balances, and finalize the statement for review.

01

Gather records: Collect custodian reports, trade activity, bank statements, and ledger exports.
02

Populate schedule: Enter holdings, quantities, and prices into the asset schedule.
03

Reconcile totals: Match schedule totals to custodial balances and general ledger.
04

Review & finalize: Validate disclosures, signer attribution, and prepare auditor package.

Typical document flow from draft to distribution

The end-to-end flow shows how the statement moves from preparation through approval and delivery to stakeholders.

Upload draft: Upload spreadsheet or PDF into the document workspace for field mapping and version control.
Assign reviewers: Designate preparer, reviewer, and fiduciary approver in signing order.
Authenticate signers: Use appropriate signer authentication and capture attribution in the audit trail.
Distribute copies: Provide signed copies to trustees, auditors, and filekeeping systems with retention metadata.

Configuring an online completion workflow

Configure the digital workflow so fields, routing, and retention meet audit and compliance needs.

Field	Configuration
Document Format	PDF or DOCX \| preserve original pagination and footnotes
Field Types	Text, numeric, date, checkbox \| use validation and formats
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel \| preparer -> reviewer -> trustee
Authentication	Email, SMS code, or stronger KBA \| choose per compliance

Technical requirements and compatible systems

Ensure your platform supports secure file formats, audit trails, and integrations for plan workflows.

File types: PDF, DOCX, XLSX supported for uploads and exports
Integrations: Connectors typically available for NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and custodial systems
Security: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest required for sensitive financial data

Timing considerations and routine deadlines

Plan asset statements are produced on a recurring schedule or when required by auditors, trustees, or regulators.

Plan year-end reporting:

Prepare reconciled statement promptly after fiscal year-end for audit use

Audit completion:

Coordinate statement delivery to auditors early in planning to avoid schedule delays

Regulatory filings:

Provide reconciled figures to support Form 5500 and Schedule H submissions

Interim requests:

Generate ad hoc statements when trustees or regulators request updated positions

Custodian reconciliation:

Match custodian confirmations within the same reporting cycle as the valuation date

Common preparation pitfalls to avoid

Inconsistent valuation methods across asset classes that produce misaligned or noncomparable balances and audit findings.
Failure to include restricted or illiquid holdings in disclosures, creating gaps between reported and actual liquidity positions.
Incomplete reconciliations between custodian reports and ledger balances, leading to audit adjustments or follow-up requests.
Omitting preparer attribution or certification, which complicates evidence of authorization and may delay trustee signoff.

Risks and potential consequences of inaccurate statements

Regulatory Fines: Civil penalties possible

Fiduciary Liability: Breach-of-duty claims risk

Audit Qualification: Qualified opinions may result

Participant Impact: Benefit calculations affected

Operational Delays: Remediation consumes resources

Reputational Harm: Trustee confidence erodes

Frequently asked questions about the Financial Statement of Plan Assets

Answers to common questions about signing, legal effect, corrections, and recordkeeping for plan asset statements.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature valid?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible record retention requirements are met.
Who must sign the statement?
Typically the preparer and an authorized plan official or trustee sign and date the statement; signature blocks should show title and contact for attribution and audit evidence.
Are notary or witness signatures required?
Not usually for plan asset statements, but state or trustee policies may require notarization or witnesses for certain certifications; confirm state rules and trustee governance documents.
How do I correct an error after signing?
Prepare a corrected version with a revision date, note the correction history, obtain new signatures or attestations, and retain both versions for audit trails.
What supporting documents should be retained?
Keep custodian confirmations, trade blotters, bank statements, valuation memos, and reconciliation workpapers to support audit and regulatory inquiries.
How long must I keep the records?
Follow federal minima (e.g., IRS three years) and industry rules; HIPAA and securities rules may require longer retention—consult counsel for plan-specific obligations.

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot for distributing statements

Typical vendor plans and feature availability when using an eSignature solution to distribute and sign Financial Statement of Plan Assets.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

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