Employee Fiduciary

05/29/2026

Calling all Advisors: Voting is open for the 2026 NAPA Advisors' Choice Awards! 🗳️

Please cast your vote for Employee Fiduciary: https://hubs.ly/Q04jlBrW0

Your voice matters and we appreciate your support for this recognition.

Voting closes June 27, 2026.

05/26/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"If you're a self-employed business owner with no full-time employees (often called a solopreneur), two of the most common retirement plans to consider are the solo 401(k) and the SEP-IRA. Both plans allow solopreneurs to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. However, they operate differently—and those differences can affect how much you can contribute, how contributions are taxed, and how flexible the plan is over time."

See which option fits your business best: https://hubs.ly/Q04h2MzW0

05/20/2026

In March 2026, the DOL proposed a six-factor regulation that spells out a step-by-step process for plan fiduciaries to follow when selecting 401(k) investments. The framework is designed to be asset-neutral and applies to everything from money market funds to private equity to digital assets. On paper, it can feel intimidating.

But if your plan offers a menu of well-constructed passive index mutual funds, the six-factor analysis is much more straightforward than it appears.

Today's blog walks through:
• How each factor applies to passive index funds
• What the documentation looks like
• Who is responsible for selecting plan investments

The rule was written to accommodate complex products, but the framework rewards simplicity.

Read the full blog here:

The DOL's new six-factor rule for 401(k) investment selection makes an exceptionally strong case for passive index funds. Here's why — and what to document.

05/19/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"Employers have 401(k) fiduciary responsibilities due to their discretionary authority or control over plan management and assets. They are designed to ensure plan participants are not harmed by self-dealing or imprudent decisions by the employer or other plan fiduciaries."

Learn more about meeting your fiduciary responsibilities: https://hubs.ly/Q04h2SyS0

05/12/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"If you're a business owner offering a 401(k) plan, there's a good chance you've heard of Form 5500. It might sound like just another piece of IRS paperwork, but don't underestimate its importance. This annual filing plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with ERISA and keeping your retirement plan transparent to both the federal government and your employees."

Get your Form 5500 questions answered here: https://hubs.ly/Q04gf95-0

05/06/2026

The DOL's proposed six-factor prudence rule has been celebrated by private equity firms, real estate funds, and cryptocurrency platforms since the day it dropped. The early commentary has been dominated by asset managers and their attorneys, not by the participants the rule should ultimately protect.

Last week, we submitted a formal comment letter urging the DOL to close three significant gaps before finalizing the rule:
1. Close the CIT Fee Transparency Gap
2. Move Beyond Disclosure on Crypto — Participants Need Real Protections
3. Give Participants Transparency Rights That Match the New Protections for Fiduciaries

The comment period is still open. The final rule will be shaped by who speaks up.

🔗 Read our full breakdown here: https://hubs.ly/Q04fDcyz0

🔗 Read the press release: https://hubs.ly/Q04fCYXk0

Employee Fiduciary submitted a formal comment to the DOL on its proposed six-factor prudence rule. We support the framework — but urge three fixes before finalization: CIT fee transparency, crypto safeguards, and participant disclosure rights.

05/05/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"Employee eligibility—when and whether an employee can participate in your 401(k) plan—is a critical and often overlooked plan design decision. While frequently treated as a compliance requirement, eligibility is one of the most flexible tools employers have to shape plan cost, administrative complexity, and the overall employee benefit."

Learn how to design eligibility rules that fit your business: https://hubs.ly/Q04fmBKJ0

04/28/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"Every 401(k) contribution—whether made by employees or the employer—must be deposited by a specific deadline. Unfortunately, many small business owners are unclear about these timelines. That confusion can lead to costly consequences, from lost tax deductions to IRS penalties or even plan disqualification."

Don't miss a deadline. Learn the rules here: https://hubs.ly/Q04dKl-b0

04/22/2026

The DOL's proposed six-factor prudence rule has been widely praised by the financial industry. But does it actually protect the participants it's supposed to serve?

Today's blog takes an honest look at the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The good:
✅ A concrete framework for prudent investment selection
✅ Real fee scrutiny
✅ A safe harbor that reinforces the case for passive investing

The bad:
⚠️ Process-based protection that doesn't guarantee better outcomes
⚠️ Exploitable benchmarking for alternative investments
⚠️ Fee transparency gaps the rule doesn't fix

The ugly:
🚩 The political origins of the rule
🚩 The risks of digital assets in 401(k) plans
🚩 Why participants still can't make informed decisions about how their investments are selected

This rule was triggered by an executive order to expand 401(k) access to alternatives. The financial industry's enthusiasm is understandable. Whether participants and employers should share it is a different question entirely.

Read the full blog here:

A participant-focused analysis of the DOL's March 2026 proposed fiduciary investment selection rule — what it gets right, where it falls short, and where it could harm retirement savers.

04/21/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"A safe harbor 401(k) plan helps small businesses automatically pass annual nondiscrimination tests—avoiding costly issues like ADP/ACP test refunds or top heavy contributions. But not all safe harbor plans are created equal."

Learn the differences and find the right fit for your business here: https://hubs.ly/Q04cKHJ40