A new partnership to deploy secure, explainable AI agents to tackle advanced 401(k) plan auditing and financial data extraction across core advisory and audit workflows was announced this week by accounting and financial services firm Stephano Slack LLC and Seekr.
A Dec. 23 press release says the strategic collaboration could reduce 401(k) auditing time by 90%, drastically reducing manual extraction work in most environments, delivering faster, accurate audits for enterprises.
Seekr’s generative AI platform, SeekrFlow, enables Stephano Slack to automate the ingestion, validation, and structuring of complex financial documents—reducing manual extraction and reconciliation work from approximately 50 hours to as little as 2 hours while ensuring the highest degree of accuracy, audit coverage, and governance.
“Protecting, growing, and optimizing financial assets is fundamental to financial advisory services, and it demands technology that is both comprehensive and highly accurate,” said Rob Clark, Seekr President. “Together with Stephano Slack, we are transforming how advisory firms scale AI to improve client outcomes, starting with AI agents that deliver faster, accurate annual audits for firms of any size or complexity.”
According to the Investment Company Institute, as of Q2 2025, Americans held $9.3 trillion in 401(k) plans within $13 trillion in employer-based defined contribution retirement assets. With Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) required audits each year, the 401(k) audit market is critical to protecting U.S. household financial assets. Seekr’s AI agents not only accelerate the extraction and automated population of Excel-based workpapers and reports but also enable auditors to sample beyond minimum regulatory thresholds, ensuring the highest degree of accuracy and confidence in the auditing process.
“As a world-class professional services firm, Stephano Slack is focused on delivering the highest standards of quality, judgment, and trust for our clients. AI represents a powerful opportunity to enhance how we serve them, when applied responsibly and in alignment with professional and regulatory requirements,” said Mike Stephano, Managing Partner, Stephano Slack. “Seekr is a strong partner in this effort, bringing secure, explainable AI capabilities that support our teams in delivering accurate, compliant, and scalable assurance and advisory services.”
The release said the new initiative positions both firms at the forefront of AI-powered advisory and financial services, demonstrating immediate ROI for customers while laying the foundation for a complete suite of AI agents capable of scaling forensic analysis, compliance, and financial assurance across the middle market.
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