Employee Fiduciary

06/17/2026

The American Retirement Association (ARA) — the national trade association representing roughly 40,000 retirement plan professionals — recently submitted its comment letter on the DOL's proposed investment selection rule. Unlike Employee Fiduciary, the ARA accepted the rule's direction with no apparent concerns about how it could negatively affect the workers it is supposed to protect.

In today's blog, our CEO Eric Droblyen — a longtime ARA member of more than 25 years — explains where he agrees with the ARA's recommendations and where he believes the group's defense of the rule quietly fails 401(k) participants:

- What the ARA gets right
- Where the ARA fails participants
- Four process arguments that don't hold up

For the rule to truly serve participants, the final version must close the CIT fee transparency gap, require meaningful crypto protections beyond disclosure, and give participants transparency rights that match the new fiduciary protections.

Read the full blog here:

Why the American Retirement Association is wrong about the DOL's investment selection rule — and how a process-based defense quietly fails 401(k) participants.

06/16/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"By employing the two-step mega backdoor Roth strategy, any high-income individual can contribute as much as $72,000 ($80,000 if catch-up eligible) to a Roth account for 2026. They just need a 401(k) plan with the right features."

See if the strategy fits your business: https://hubs.ly/Q04lxqSB0

06/09/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"Choosing the right retirement plan can seem daunting. In truth, 403(b) and 401(k) plans are much more similar than different. Knowing these factors can help ensure you choose the best retirement plan for your tax-exempt organization."

See which plan fits your nonprofit best: https://hubs.ly/Q04jpnCM0

06/03/2026

The IRS won't let you keep money in your 401(k) forever. Once you reach a certain age, required minimum distributions (RMDs) kick in — and SECURE 2.0 has changed the rules significantly in recent years.
Today's blog covers:

When RMDs must begin, including the new RMD ages (73 if born 1951–1959, 75 if born 1960 or later)
The "still working" exception and why it doesn't apply to 5%+ owners
How RMDs are calculated using the Uniform Lifetime Table
Why you must take RMDs separately from each 401(k), unlike IRAs
What beneficiaries face under the 10-year rule and the options surviving spouses have
The penalty for missing an RMD — a 25% excise tax, reduced to 10% if corrected promptly

Missing an RMD triggers a steep excise tax, so understanding when yours begin and how they're calculated helps you protect what you've worked your whole career to save.
Read the full blog here: 401(k) Required Minimum Distributions – What You Need to Know

When do 401(k) RMDs start? How much? What about your heirs? Get the current rules under SECURE 2.0, plus a cheat sheet for owners and beneficiaries.

06/02/2026

💡The Frugal Fiduciary's Tip of the Week💡

"Running a small business means constantly balancing profitability with the need to attract and retain top talent. One of the most effective strategies to achieve both is by offering a 401(k) retirement plan. Not only does this help your employees save for their future, but it also offers significant tax advantages for your business."

Explore the tax incentives available to your small business: https://hubs.ly/Q04hjGv20

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