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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.
401(k) Plan Design Study: Safe Harbor and Roth Adoption Is Up

401(k) Plan Design Study: Safe Harbor and Roth Adoption Is Up

By: Eric Droblyen

May 25th 2022

Proper 401(k) plan design can help a small business meet its plan goals at the lowest possible cost. Our study summarizes the designs of 4,330 401(k) plans.
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Good Luck Escaping a Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan (PEP)

Good Luck Escaping a Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan (PEP)

By: Eric Droblyen

May 11th 2022

Employers can terminate a single-employer 401(k) at any time, but they can't terminate their portion of a Pooled Employer Plan. That can trap participants.
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SECURE Act 2.0 – Not the 401(k) Reform Americans Deserve

SECURE Act 2.0 – Not the 401(k) Reform Americans Deserve

By: Eric Droblyen

April 27th 2022

SECURE 2.0 delivers welcome, but incremental, reform. 401(k) plans are not cost-efficient enough today. Here are four things Washington can do to change that.
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Don’t Be Fooled by These 401(k) Conflicts of Interest!

Don’t Be Fooled by These 401(k) Conflicts of Interest!

By: Eric Droblyen

April 13th 2022

The 401(k) industry is rife with conflicts of interest. Employers have a fiduciary responsibility to protect employees from them. Common ones hide in plain sight.
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The Ultimate Guide to Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans

The Ultimate Guide to Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans

By: Eric Droblyen

March 30th 2022

Safe harbor 401(k) plans are popular with small businesses that struggle to pass IRS-mandated nondiscrimination testing. Our guide answers common questions.
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Five Reasons Why Hidden 401(k) Fees Should be Illegal

Five Reasons Why Hidden 401(k) Fees Should be Illegal

By: Eric Droblyen

March 16th 2022

Hidden 401(k) fees should be illegal. They can make it almost impossible for employers to protect the interests of plan participants and avoid fiduciary liability.
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401(k) Fiduciary Takeaways from a Jerry Schlichter Interview

401(k) Fiduciary Takeaways from a Jerry Schlichter Interview

By: Eric Droblyen

March 2nd 2022

Understanding the drivers of 401(k) fiduciary liability can help employers avoid it. The top drivers are well defined in a recent interview with Jerry Schlichter.
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Pooled Employer 401(k) Plans (PEPs): Myth vs. Reality

Pooled Employer 401(k) Plans (PEPs): Myth vs. Reality

By: Eric Droblyen

February 16th 2022

Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) can seem attractive at first blush. Ironically, their purported benefits can, in fact, harm 401(k) plan participants and fiduciaries.
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Hughes v Northwestern: What is a

Hughes v Northwestern: What is a "Prudent" 401(k) Investment?

By: Eric Droblyen

February 2nd 2022

When the Supreme Court re-opened the Hughes v. Northwestern University case, they didn't offer plan fiduciaries a "prudent" 401(k) investment definition. We do.
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401(k) Nondiscrimination Testing Study – What % of Plans Fail?

401(k) Nondiscrimination Testing Study – What % of Plans Fail?

By: Eric Droblyen

January 19th 2022

Our 401(k) nondiscrimination testing study shows the percentage of small business plans that fail the ADP/ACP, top-heavy, 402(g), and 415 tests.
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