A Third Party Administrator (TPA) is a company hired to help manage the behind-the-scenes operations of a retirement plan, like a 401k. They don’t handle the money directly, but they take care of important tasks such as making sure the plan follows IRS rules, preparing required paperwork, and doing annual testing to keep things fair for employees. A TPA acts as a guide to help plan sponsors (usually employers) keep the plan running smoothly and in compliance with the law.