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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.
Three Features of a FIRE-Inspired 401(k) Plan

Three Features of a FIRE-Inspired 401(k) Plan

By: Eric Droblyen

February 14th 2023

Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) is a financial movement defined by frugality. A FIRE-inspired 401(k) plan can help any worker retire years sooner.
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SECURE 2.0 – My Top 5 401(k) Related Provisions

SECURE 2.0 – My Top 5 401(k) Related Provisions

By: Eric Droblyen

January 31st 2023

SECURE 2.0 makes sweeping 401(k) plan changes. My top five provisions will grow retirement savings the most. Banning hidden fees would help even more.
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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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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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