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The accounting profession isn’t just about tallying financial transactions. It’s also about counting on the people—partners, customers, and employees—who make them happen. Derek Schriver, CEO of Schriver Carmona & Company, knew a retirement plan had to be at the heart of their benefits program if they were going to retain employees at their CPA firm in San Antonio, Texas.
“If you take care of your people and you make sure that they're in a good place, then they typically do good work, right?” he asked. “We count on them, and I want the team to know they can count on us. I don't want employees to get to a point where they're 70 years old and still have to work. I think everybody eventually deserves their permanent time off."
The firm’s retirement journey started with a plan through a professional employer organization (PEO), but they later settled with Guideline because the integration with their payroll platform, Gusto, looked easy to use and manage. However, as the CPA firm matured and expanded, so did the complexity of their retirement plan.
Derek occasionally needed help, and Guideline became a bottleneck. "With Guideline, it was always a 1-800 phone number, or there wasn’t a local rep I could talk to when I had problems or even clients I wanted to refer to them," he said.
Customer service matters in an industry rooted in human connection. A conversation with a Human Interest retirement specialist sparked a change. Derek learned the recordkeeper offered more than just 401(k) administration; they provided white-glove, award-winning service.
Substantial time saved, thanks to seamless Gusto integration
Transitioning from Guideline to Human Interest was notably smooth and hands-off, according to Derek. Human Interest provided a dedicated specialist to facilitate the switch. “All I had to do was get in contact with Guideline [and] sign a few forms,” said Derek. “That was the extent of my involvement in that transition.”
Derek manages finance, accounting, and HR functions at Schriver Carmona & Company. He wanted to avoid the time-consuming data uploads he had witnessed firsthand with clients using other 401(k) providers. Ensuring a seamless integration with their Gusto payroll system was paramount. "Human Interest and Gusto had a seamless integration," he said. "I'm busy—like a lot of us are super busy—and so I did not want to have to add another thing to my plate.”
Derek has seen significant time savings since switching to Human Interest. He no longer needs to manually provide payroll or census data because these items are automated through the Gusto integration. “I have not yet had to do any of that with Human Interest,” Derek said regarding manual data updates. “I'm sure it's saving me a lot of time. It allows me to then focus on areas that move the needle.” This frees him up to focus on strategic tasks like meeting client needs and managing his business.
Switching to Human Interest and adding employer match increased enrollment to 96%
Providing a valuable benefit for employees was the primary goal of offering a 401(k) in the first place. After signing up with Human Interest, the firm implemented a safe harbor provision with an employer match to encourage enrollment. They also set eligibility at 18 years old with three months of service, reflecting a desire to help younger employees start saving early.
While Schriver Carmona & Company consistently educates employees about the importance of saving, adding an employer match significantly boosted plan adoption. Plan participation jumped to 96% following the firm's transition to Human Interest, up from 60% during its stint with Guideline. The firm’s employees have found that the user-friendly Human Interest platform makes it easy to enroll and adjust contributions, primarily through the integrated Gusto interface.
According to Derek, the Human Interest dashboard provides a valuable "50,000-foot level" view from an administrative perspective. It allows him to quickly see participation rates, identify employees needing to select beneficiaries, and receive reminders about critical tasks.
Exceptional service leads to confident referrals
Beyond an improved administrative and employee experience, the firm also values Human Interest's Customer Experience Guarantee, which pledges specific service level standards and provides compensation to those affected by delays in customer support. This commitment to white-glove service is embodied by the firm's relationship with its client account manager. Derek values her responsiveness and knowledge, describing her as a "quarterback" who efficiently connects clients with the right departments when needed.
Derek is so happy with his new 401(k) provider, he gladly tells others about it. The CPA profession thrives on word-of-mouth born from positive customer experiences, and Derek knows his firm’s credibility is at stake with each recommendation. Human Interest’s positive customer experience has given Derek and his firm the confidence to refer at least 10 of their clients to Human Interest. Putting his reputation behind Human Interest powerfully validates a mutual commitment to a positive customer experience.
Looking ahead, the firm's priority remains investing in employee benefits, increasing its employer match, and potentially adding profit sharing. Building on the success of their current partnership, Derek is confident that Human Interest can support the firm in these future endeavors because their seamless integration with Gusto has already proven capable of automating contribution changes. With the help of Human Interest’s dedicated support team, he feels he can easily navigate the complexities of adding plan design features with ease as the firm’s plan evolves.
Human Interest Inc. is an affordable, full-service 401(k) and 403(b) provider that seeks to make it easy for small and medium-sized businesses to assist their employees with investing for retirement. For more information, please visit humaninterest.com.
The case study is provided for illustrative purposes only and concerns the unique situation of a customer and may not represent the experience or be applicable to an individual with similar circumstances. This content does not constitute a recommendation of any product, service, or strategy. Consult an appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial, tax, or legal decision. Human Interest does not provide tax or legal advice. Past performance or prior success does not guarantee future results. Human Interest solicited a client for a testimonial. Active solicitation may make a client more likely to portray Human Interest favorably. Testimonials are unique to an individual, may not be representative of the experience of others, and past success does not guarantee future results. Read our full disclosures here.
