ERISA Education Hub
Everything plan sponsors, administrators, and advisors need to know about 401(k) fiduciary duties, fee transparency, and ERISA compliance.
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What Is a 401(k) Plan Fiduciary?
A fiduciary holds one of the highest legal obligations under U.S. law. Learn who qualifies as a fiduciary, what that means, and why it matters for your 401(k) plan.
Read articlePlan Sponsor Responsibilities Under ERISA
As a plan sponsor, you carry specific legal obligations under ERISA. This guide covers everything from selecting service providers to monitoring fees and investments.
Read articleUnderstanding Your 408(b)(2) Fee Disclosure
The 408(b)(2) disclosure is your primary tool for understanding what you're paying your recordkeeper, advisor, and other service providers. Here's how to read it.
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What Are "Reasonable" 401(k) Fees Under ERISA?
ERISA requires fees to be "reasonable" — but the law doesn't define that. Learn how courts, the DOL, and industry experts interpret this standard.
How to Read a Form 5500
Form 5500 is the annual report filed with the DOL for your 401(k) plan. Learn where to find fee and participant data you'll need for benchmarking.
Recordkeeper Fees Explained
Recordkeeping fees are the largest expense most plans pay. Learn the fee structures (per-participant, basis points, flat fee) and how to compare them.
Investment Advisor Fees for 401(k) Plans
What do plan advisors charge, and are those fees reasonable? Learn about 3(21) vs. 3(38) fiduciary advisors, fee structures, and how to evaluate your advisor.
401(k) Fee Litigation: What Every Plan Sponsor Must Know
Fee-related ERISA lawsuits have surged over the past decade, targeting both small and large plans. Learn the legal landscape and how to protect your organization.
Finding Hidden 401(k) Fees
Most plan sponsors only see part of what they're paying. Learn the four categories of hidden 401(k) fees — service fees, 12b-1 trails, high-cost share classes, and revenue sharing — and where to find them in your fee disclosure.
ERISA Fee Litigation in 2025: Year in Review
2025 was a landmark year for ERISA litigation — a Supreme Court ruling lowered the bar for plan sponsors to be sued, stable value funds emerged as the new litigation frontier, and forfeiture lawsuits surged. Here's what plan sponsors need to know.
TPA vs. 3(16) Plan Administrator: What's the Difference and What Do They Cost?
Traditional TPAs and 3(16) fiduciary plan administrators both handle 401(k) administration — but only one accepts legal liability for getting it right. Here's what distinguishes them, what they cost, and how to decide which your plan needs.
How 401(k) Fees Affect Your Plan Participants — And Why It's Your Responsibility
A 1% difference in annual fees costs the average participant 28% of their retirement savings over 35 years. Here's how fee drag works — and why ERISA puts the responsibility squarely on you.