The easy, affordable 401(k) for private practices
No setup costs. No added investment fees. Low-cost Vanguard funds.
A powerful tool for White Coat Investors
Guideline 401(k) plans are designed to be low cost with no hassle. They make managing a retirement plan easy, while helping you and your employees save for the future. Small businesses starting a new 401(k) plan are eligible to receive up to $16,500 in tax credits over three years to offset plan administration costs.
Low-cost investments
We charge no added investment fees and offer funds from Vanguard and other low-cost providers to help individuals save more.
Simple management
We take care of plan administration, employee onboarding, investment management, government filings, and more.
Fiduciary responsibilities
We act as your ERISA 3(16) and 3(38) fiduciary to help reduce your potential for liability.*
Two great plans
Whether you're offering a 401(k) for the first time or have an established retirement program, Guideline has a plan just for you.
Startup
$39/mo base fee
+ $8/mo per participating employee
A full-service 401(k) that's easy to manage and effortlessly syncs with popular payroll providers.
Top features
- An industry-leading 401(k) account
- No asset-based fees for employees
- Compliance testing & Safe Harbor plans
Prime
$99/mo base fee
+ $8/mo per participating employee
A robust 401(k) that supports the evolving needs of your growing business with dedicated service.
Everything in Startup, plus
- New comparability profit sharing
- A dedicated account manager
- Support for any payroll provider
Tax credits can help offset the cost of your 401(k)
Starting a new 401(k)? You may be eligible to receive up to $16,500 in tax credits over three years to help offset plan administration costs.*
*This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as tax advice. You should consult a tax professional to determine what types of tax credits or deductions your company is eligible to claim.
Frequently asked questions
How is Guideline’s pricing structure set up?
Guideline doesn’t charge added Assets Under Management (AUM) or any added asset-based fees in our pricing. Our technology infrastructure allows us to bring nearly every service in house. So we can charge one predictable, flat monthly fee that covers the costs of plan administration.
Does Guideline accept commission fees or pass along additional fees to plan sponsors?
We don’t accept any commissions nor do we have 12b-1 fees for the mutual fund offerings.
What do 3(16) and 3(38) fiduciaries do?
A Section 3(16) Plan Administrator is responsible for keeping the plan in compliance with ERISA as well as handling IRS and DOL reporting and participant disclosures. By choosing to pass these duties on to a 3(16) fiduciary, you can reduce your burden to your business — as long as you carry out your own fiduciary obligation of monitoring service providers.
A Section 3(38) Investment Manager can have full control over all of a plan’s assets and investment choices. Where selected, they take on the liability for investment management.
What government filings does Guideline handle?
We prepare annual reports for no extra fee, including Form 5500 and 1099-R.
Does Guideline run compliance tests?
Yes, we perform IRS nondiscrimination testing. We also manage and facilitate any required corrections.
Does Guideline provide recordkeeping services?
Yes, we serve as your plan’s recordkeeper. We’ll track all of your 401(k) plan’s balances, transactions, withholdings, and deferrals.