Don’t miss out on a safe harbor 401(k) for 2024! The deadline to sign up with Employee Fiduciary is September 16th.

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.
How to Make Small Business 401(k)s Cheaper than Mega Plans

How to Make Small Business 401(k)s Cheaper than Mega Plans

By: Eric Droblyen

January 5th 2022

Small 401(k) plans are notorious for high fees. Here's how business owners can benefit by making their small plan cheaper than a mega plan for participants.
Read More
The Top Ten Frugal Fiduciary 401(k) Blogs of 2021

The Top Ten Frugal Fiduciary 401(k) Blogs of 2021

By: Eric Droblyen

December 22nd 2021

Our top 10 blogs for 2021 are must-reads for small business 401(k) sponsors and participants. They cover controlled groups, testing, and plan administration.
Read More
401(k) Annual Administration - A Checklist for 2022

401(k) Annual Administration - A Checklist for 2022

By: Eric Droblyen

December 8th 2021

An important 401(k) fiduciary responsibility is ensuring plan administration tasks are completed timely each year. Our 2022 checklist makes this job easy.
Read More
Small Business 401(k) Plans – How the Best Can Help You Retire Faster

Small Business 401(k) Plans – How the Best Can Help You Retire Faster

By: Eric Droblyen

November 24th 2021

Avoiding 401(k) pitfalls during your working years can help you retire years faster. The best small business plans make this job easy. Don't settle for less.
Read More
Bundled or Unbundled 401(k) Provider – How to Choose

Bundled or Unbundled 401(k) Provider – How to Choose

By: Eric Droblyen

November 10th 2021

Bundled (or full-service) 401k providers deliver all of the major plan administration services, while unbundled providers must ally with other companies to do so.
Read More
401(k) Fee Study: How Much Does a Fiduciary-Grade Advisor Cost?

401(k) Fee Study: How Much Does a Fiduciary-Grade Advisor Cost?

By: Eric Droblyen

October 27th 2021

Our fee study of 860 fiduciary-grade 401(k) financial advisors shows impartial advice reduces the total cost of a retirement plan. Employers should not settle for less.
Read More
Employee Fiduciary Launches New 401(k) Fee Savings Calculator

Employee Fiduciary Launches New 401(k) Fee Savings Calculator

By: Eric Droblyen

October 13th 2021

Paying low 401(k) fees during your working years can mean dramatically higher savings in retirement. Our 401(k) fee calculator estimates how much higher.
Read More
Proposed 5500 Reform Won’t Help 401(k) Fee Benchmarking

Proposed 5500 Reform Won’t Help 401(k) Fee Benchmarking

By: Eric Droblyen

September 29th 2021

401(k) fees can be impossible for plan fiduciaries and participants to compare apples-to-apples. Proposed Form 5500 changes will do little to help.
Read More
GAO Recommends Much Needed 401(k) Fee Disclosure Reform

GAO Recommends Much Needed 401(k) Fee Disclosure Reform

By: Eric Droblyen

September 15th 2021

The GAO found 40% of plan participants do not understand the 401k fee information mandated by the DOL; recommends welcome fee disclosure reform.
Read More
Could the FTC Save Consumers from Hidden 401(k) Fees?

Could the FTC Save Consumers from Hidden 401(k) Fees?

By: Eric Droblyen

September 1st 2021

The Institute for Policy Integrity petitioned the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban “hidden fees in all industries." They should start with hidden 401(k) fees.
Read More