Calculating 401(k) Fees: Everything You Should Know

As you embark on the path toward financial security and independence, understanding 401(k) fees is of utmost importance. Your 401(k) plan serves as an essential source of savings that gradually builds into your retirement fund over time. However, the growth potential can be hindered by a multitude of fees that can silently erode your savings. From administrative charges to investment-related expenses, these fees, though seemingly inconspicuous, can accumulate significantly over the years.

This blog post will outline how to calculate 401(k) fees and provide all the knowledge you require in order to make informed decisions. With such knowledge at your fingertips, maximizing your retirement strategy, saving potential, and making sure every penny counts towards ensuring future prosperity becomes much simpler.

Join us on this educational journey as we provide you with all of the knowledge required to successfully manage 401(k) fees and ensure a worry-free financial future.

Find the Right Provider

401(k) providers typically provide information and tools to help participants calculate and understand their 401(k) fees. As part of their fiduciary responsibilities, 401(k) providers are required to disclose fee information to plan sponsors (employers) and participants. This fee disclosure should include details about both administrative fees and investment fees, helping participants understand the costs associated with their retirement savings.

Plan providers must provide participants with comprehensive fee disclosures that outline all costs associated with their plan in an easily understandable format and include administrative fees, investment costs, and any additional charges related to it.

The best 401k providers will also provide educational presentations and one-on-one financial consultations to help participants understand the different fees that may impact their retirement savings plans and how they are calculated. Participants can typically reach out to the provider’s customer support team with any specific inquiries about fees or seek clarification on any matters regarding fees.

Finding the Fees in 401(k)s

A survey found that only 27% of investors were aware of the fees they pay for their 401(k), and 37% weren’t even aware they paid any.​ Many people fail to ask how much a 401(k) provider makes off the money they hand over to invest. Your provider will charge a monthly fee, which could impede your returns over time. Some 95% of participants in 401(k) plans pay fees.

These fees aren’t really hidden. The U.S. Department of Labor requires 401(k) providers to disclose all fees in a prospectus that is given to you when you enroll in a plan and that must be updated every year.

It pays to pay attention, as the fees are now easily accessible. Check for categories or line items such as total asset-based fees, total operational expenses as a percentage, and expense ratios when you receive your 401(k).

Breakdown of 401(k) Plan Fees

401(k) plan fees typically fall into four distinct categories: investment, administrative, individual, and service.

• Investment fees: Investment fees associated with funds available within a 401(k) plan cover costs associated with managing and operating them (portfolio management, trading costs, and any related expenses being included here). Fees can be expressed as a percentage of total assets invested or as an expense ratio which can differ significantly based on which investments participants choose (mutual funds, index funds, or target-date funds), so participants must keep an eye on investment fees to maximize the long-term growth of their retirement savings. Paying close attention to investment fees can have an enormously impactful influence on the long-term growth of retirement savings.
• Administrative fees: These fees cover costs related to administering and record-keeping the 401(k) plan, including setup, maintenance, legal compliance, participant communication, and communication services provided by plan administrators. Administrative fees may differ based on factors like plan complexity, the number of participants, and the services provided by administrators. These fees are typically paid by the employer, but some plans may pass on a portion of these costs to the participants.
• Individual service fees: These fees may apply for optional features like taking out a loan from the plan.
• Custodial fees: These fees cover the safekeeping of assets and the execution of transactions within the plan. Understanding these categories empowers participants to make informed decisions about their retirement savings and navigate the financial landscape effectively.

Bottom Line

Fees, no matter how prominently they are disclosed, should only be one of the criteria for choosing a 401(k) plan. Most importantly, you should consider the overall return. First, consider the asset class and the fund manager’s competency. Fees should not have as much of an impact on your long-term return as these factors. Don’t forget to think about whether you prefer an actively managed fund or an index fund.