Finance Advice for 401k Company Plans with High Fees

Finance Advice for 401k Company Plans with High Fees

Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 4 votes

I recently noticed that my small business employer's 401k plan has very high account management fees that come out of everyone's account regardless, and in addition to, fees from the particular investment fund. It is an additional 2% per year. This seems outrageously high because I can invest in the same fund through an Individual Vanguard account which only charges the fund fee of 0.11% per year and not an additional 2% fee. 

1. Do you know of an investment company that offers 401k plans for small businesses without this high of a management fee? 

2. Do you think that I should stop my contributions to my employer 401k after meeting the highest employer match and instead invest in my Roth IRA (max out), Real Estate and Individual Vanguard Accounts? Its hard to imagine that 2% fees is worth any tax advantage of the employer 401k plan.

Any other advice is welcome.

0Reply
22 views

1 Reply

Jump to latestLatest
  • Scott JensenPro Member
    Financial Advisor · Blaine, MN · Member since 2014 · 478 posts · 387 votes
    4y

    Those are pretty high fees.

    1. Employee Fiduciary is well known amongst advisors as a low cost 401(k) that is well run and has good investment options. I may be using them in the near future to open a 401(k) for my friend's company.

    2. It really depends on your specific situation. If you are going to be leaving the company within the next 1-5 years and 401(k) investing is compelling in your situation, you may want to invest in the plan with the intention of rolling the accounts to an IRA as soon as you leave the employer. If you plan on being with that company for a long time I probably agree with your assessment.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.