Mastering retirement plan audits is essential for plan sponsors to ensure compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) regulations, protect participant assets, and uphold fiduciary responsibilities. Amanda Goar, CPA, Principal at Baker Tilly, highlights key changes to audit triggers, such as focusing on participants with account balances and applying the 80-120 rule, while emphasizing the importance of proactive preparation. She stresses maintaining accurate plan documentation, reconciling census data, ensuring timely contributions, and addressing common challenges like vesting provisions, participant elections, rollovers, loans, and forfeitures.