Total plan costs for running a 401(k) can vary widely, but for most employers the range between high and low total plan costs is moderate.
For a 401(k) plan with approximately $2 million in assets the range between the high and low cost providers averages around 1.33 percent, while the range for the middle 50 percent of the universe is .31 percent.
"The range between high and low costs can be significant, but most 401(k) plan costs are going to be grouped around the median," said David W. Huntley, co-publisher of the 401(k) Averages Book, in a press release.
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According to the 401(k) Averages Book, the range between the high and low cost for a 50-participant plan with $2.5 million in assets is 1.24 percent, while the range for the middle 50 percent of the universe is .29 percent. The median total plan cost for this plan size is 1.49 percent.
Although similar trends can be observed across all plan sizes, the disparity between high and low costs is largest for plans with smaller plan assets and more participants. Even though the range between high and low total plan costs might be greater for these types of plans, there is a significant reduction in the range between the middle 50 percent of the universe, according to Huntley.
The 401(k) Averages Book study shows the range of total plan costs for a plan with 200 participants and $2 million is 1.48 percent, while the range for the middle 50 percent of the universe is .32 percent. The median total plan cost for this plan size is 1.7 percent.
Huntley added, "With all the focus on fee disclosure and 408(b)(2), it's important employers and their advisers compare their fees to a benchmark and understand where they fit into the range of costs in the marketplace."
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