Named one of the 7 Best 401(k) Plans of 2024 by Forbes Advisor!

Get started
Search for topics or resources

The Frugal Fiduciary Small Business 401(k) Blog

Get the latest industry news, deadlines and tips you need to know to help tackle your fiduciary responsibility needs.
Press spins industry “research” puff piece into a retirement crisis denial story. Allow me to retort.

Press spins industry “research” puff piece into a retirement crisis denial story. Allow me to retort.

By: Greg Carpenter

December 11th 2013

Industry insider groups released a research paper on small business 401k plans. Our retirement savings systems are doing swell. Not so fast.
Read More
Schwab’s CEO embraces passive management. And Fidelity confirms a trend. Tipping point?

Schwab’s CEO embraces passive management. And Fidelity confirms a trend. Tipping point?

By: Greg Carpenter

November 20th 2013

Trending:  Passively managed index funds and target date retirement funds for small business 401k plans. Just ask Schwab and Fidelity.
Read More
Consulting giant produces “Seven Little Pages of Retirement Plan Wisdom.” It is a must read.

Consulting giant produces “Seven Little Pages of Retirement Plan Wisdom.” It is a must read.

By: Greg Carpenter

November 13th 2013

Mercer has produced an extraordinary little document that clearly explains plan fees and fiduciary responsibilities for your small business 401k plans.
Read More
Mandatory 401(k) Participation. Trending? (I hope not.)

Mandatory 401(k) Participation. Trending? (I hope not.)

By: Greg Carpenter

November 6th 2013

Two financial specialists think 401(k) participation should be mandatory. They are being irresponsible. Your Small Business 401k Plan is your choice.
Read More
Let’s go shopping! For a 401(k) plan?

Let’s go shopping! For a 401(k) plan?

By: Greg Carpenter

November 1st 2013

Getting the best small business 401(k) plan for your company requires two things – clear objectives and the willingness to shop the plan.
Read More
Uncooked Pizza and the Low Cost 401(k) Plan, Part 2 of 2

Uncooked Pizza and the Low Cost 401(k) Plan, Part 2 of 2

By: Greg Carpenter

October 23rd 2013

Innovation: How pizza and 401(k) plans are a lot alike. Part 2 of 2 blog explaining a Low Cost 401(k) Plan, value choice and low cost.
Read More
The “Take and Bake Revolution” Comes to the 401(k), Part 1

The “Take and Bake Revolution” Comes to the 401(k), Part 1

By: Greg Carpenter

October 15th 2013

Value Innovation: How pizza and 401(k) plans are a lot alike. Part 1
Read More
Guess what percentage of ETF assets are actively managed?

Guess what percentage of ETF assets are actively managed?

By: Greg Carpenter

October 8th 2013

There are only 64 actively managed ETFs, and two of those (two popular PIMCO bond investments) account for over half of all of the assets. Why?
Read More
Going “Bold” on Safe Harbor Plans

Going “Bold” on Safe Harbor Plans

By: Greg Carpenter

September 25th 2013

Can Safe Harbor 401(k) plan provisions be extended? The Frugal Fiduciary offers thoughts on extending the safe harbor concept, help with 401(k)
Read More
Form 5500: The Form that Needs Reform

Form 5500: The Form that Needs Reform

By: Greg Carpenter

August 30th 2013

Can Form 5500 be improved? The Frugal Fiduciary thinks so and suggests collecting fee data that can be used in an “apples-to-apples” plan comparison.
Read More