A modern 401(k) built for small businesses
Guideline provides a turnkey, hassle-free 401(k).

We take care of plan administration, compliance, recordkeeping, and more, to make your job easy—and help your clients offer a great 401(k).

Intelligent investments, simplified
Guideline serves as the CEFEX certified 3(38) on all of our plans. Our set lineup of funds are designed to keep investment fees to an industry low, while helping your clients diversify their portfolios.

• Managed portfolios
  We help employees assess their risk tolerance, then recommend a portfolio of funds that matches their goals.
• Funds
  Employees also have the option of choosing from over 40 index funds from Vanguard and other low-cost providers.

How plan setup and billing works:

You help your clients pick a plan
You provide your clients with financial education and help them select the 401(k) that’s right for them.

You can add your AUM advisory fee to the plan. Guideline will process your fee from participant accounts on a quarterly basis in arrears and send it to your firm.

We launch and administer the plan
Once a plan is selected, we do most of the heavy lifting — from setup to employee onboarding to plan administration. The monthly fee is then paid by your client directly to Guideline.

A partner you and your clients can trust

• Compliance testing
  We perform ongoing nondiscrimination testing and manage any required corrections.
• Fiduciary services
  For eligible plans, we also serve as your clients’ ERISA 3(16) and 3(38) plan fiduciary.
• Government filing
  We prepare annual reports at no extra cost, including Forms 5500 and 1099-R.
• Custodial services
  We use a third party custodian to validate transactions and execute trades. Your clients pay no additional fees for this service.
• Investment management
  Clients can choose from 40+ index funds from Vanguard and other low-cost providers or select a managed portfolio with blended average fund fees of 0.06%.
• Plan customization
  We offer Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans, compliance-friendly Safe Harbor plans, profit sharing, and matching options that fit your clients’ needs.