Name of
Vendor |
Investment Choices |
Employee
Education |
Eligibility Testing |
Startup
Fee |
Annual
Fee |
Fee Per Employee |
Notes |
| American Funds
800 421-0180
americanfunds.com |
21 |
On-site visits included |
Included |
New plans:
$1,000
Conversions:
$1,000-$1,500 |
$2,500-$3,000 |
None |
Administers 5,000 small plans with less than 100 employees |
Fidelity
Chamber Plan
800 343-9184
fidelity.com |
8 |
Videotape, written materials |
Included |
None |
$2,500 |
None |
Sponsored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce for members |
| Fidelity Corporate Plan for Retirement 100
800 343-9184
fidelity.com |
Choose 7 from among 50. Can offer up to 10 for extra fee |
Videotape, written materials |
Included |
Negotiated |
$6,500 |
None |
Administers 1,500 small plans |
| MassMutual
800 228-2479
massmutual.com |
Pick 18 from among 35 |
On-site education included |
Handled by third party, usually a broker or finanical planner |
$500, waived if assets exceed $500,000 |
None |
$5-$15 |
Required to contribute at least $50,000 annually |
| Merrill Lynch
800 637-7455, x3994
ml.com |
200, from Merrill and independent funds |
On-site seminars and videotapes |
Included |
$950; for conversions, add $10 per participant |
$1,500 |
$25** |
Extensive unit devoted to small-business affairs |
| Pioneer Group Inc.
800 622-0176
pioneerfunds.com |
Up to 12 funds; additional funds extra |
On-site visits by local financial advisers; free videos, handouts |
Included |
New plans: $900
Conversions: $1,650
(waived if assets exceed $250,000) |
$1,300 |
$17* |
Serves 2,000 companies, average 50 employees |
| Charles Schwab
888 444-4015
schwab.com |
2,000 from 200 fund families |
Videotapes, written materials |
Included |
Waived in almost every case |
Waived in almost every case |
Up to $25** |
Prefers clients with more than 100 employees |
| T. Rowe Price
800 638-3804
rps.troweprice.com |
Choose 12 from among 53 |
On-site visits: $750 |
Included |
New plans: $1,300, plus $6 per employee. Conversions: $1,500, plus $18 per employee |
$2,400 |
$27* |
Services 850 small plans, average of 70 workers |
| Vanguard
800 984-5925
vanguard.com |
Up to 8 funds; 2 additional for $1,000 |
On-site meetings: $900 per day, plus travel |
$2,500 |
$1,250 to convert, plus $20 per employee |
$3,500 |
$25** |
Accepts only 100 small plans per year; prefers to convert existing plans with high balances |
* Per eligible employee
**Per participant
DATA: BUSINESS WEEK ONLINE |
