401(k) fee review
You're Already Paying Advisor-Level Fees. Are You Getting an Advisor?
Most 401(k) participants have no idea what they're actually paying, or that those fees rarely buy them a single conversation with a real person about their retirement strategy.
A complimentary fee and portfolio review walks through what your current plan actually costs, what that cost includes, and whether a coordinated strategy could serve you better. A 30-minute call, complimentary, with no obligation.
Is this for you?
This page is for you if you are thinking:
- I honestly don't know what I'm paying in my 401(k).
- I have an old 401(k) sitting with a former employer.
- No one has ever walked me through my plan.
- I want a real conversation, not a call center.
Serving 401(k) participants nationwide, in every industry and income level.
The numbers
What 401(k) fees actually look like
Industry research shows a wide range of 401(k) plan costs, and most participants have no visibility into where their own plan falls.
Fees vs. advice
The fee you're paying vs. the advice you're getting
The bigger issue for most participants isn't just the fee number. It's what that number actually buys.
| What you get | Typical employer 401(k) | BAS Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Investment management | Bundled into fund expenses | Included |
| One-on-one advisor access | Rarely, if ever | Direct access |
| Personalized retirement strategy | Generic target-date fund | Built around your goals |
| Tax-smart, coordinated planning | Not addressed | Full financial picture, not just fund picks |
Why this happens
Most 401(k) plans are built for the employer, not the individual
Recordkeeping, fund management, and administrative costs all get bundled into a single number on your statement, and that number rarely includes a live person who knows your full financial picture. Fees are often disclosed in fine print, not explained in plain language, and "advice" frequently means a call center or a robo-generated allocation.
Understanding your current plan costs can help you evaluate whether you're receiving the level of guidance you expect.
What a coordinated plan can look like
Every investor's situation is different. A coordinated approach means a direct, one-on-one relationship with a credentialed advisor, a strategy built around your income, taxes, and goals, and ongoing check-ins, not just an annual statement.
Our focus is on helping you understand how your investments fit into your overall financial picture. For how that works end to end, see how we help.
Who this is for
Built for every kind of 401(k) investor
Whatever stage you're at, if you have a 401(k) and questions about it, this is for you.
Current employees
Contributing right now and unsure what you're really paying.
Changed jobs recently
Have an old 401(k) sitting with a former employer.
Approaching retirement
Want a clearer strategy as retirement gets closer.
Never talked to an advisor
Have a plan, but no one's ever walked you through it.
An old plan from a former employer is its own decision, see the old 401(k) and IRA review. If your income is the complicating factor, start with the H.E.N.R.Y. Strategy; if you own the business, the Business Owner Blueprint.
Some plans are specific enough to be worth reading about on their own terms. If you work for Service Corporation International or at a Dignity Memorial location, the match tiers, the Schwab brokerage window and the vesting cliff are set out in the SCI 401(k) guide.
If checking your fees has you wondering whether you have enough to work with an advisor at all, here isthe honest answer on wealth manager minimums.
Want to see what your plan is costing you?
Book a complimentary fee and portfolio review and we'll go through your plan together, in plain English.
Book my intro callA 30-minute call. No document gathering beforehand, and no obligation afterwards.
Common questions
How do I know what I'm currently paying?
Your plan's annual fee disclosure (often called a 404(a)(5) notice) outlines the costs, but it isn't always written in plain language. We'll walk through your statement with you and translate it into real numbers.
Can't I just look at my fee disclosure myself?
You can, but fee disclosures are notoriously hard to use even for financially engaged people. This isn't a personal blind spot, it's a documented, widespread disclosure problem. Per a U.S. Government Accountability Office study, roughly 40% of 401(k) participants don't fully understand their required fee disclosures, and about 41% don't realize they're paying fees at all.
Do I have to move my 401(k) to work with BAS Financial?
Not necessarily. Many strategies start with coordinating what you already have, your employer plan and any outside accounts, into one plan.
What happens on the complimentary review call?
We'll look at what you're currently paying, what you're currently getting for it, and whether a coordinated strategy could serve you better. No pressure, no obligation.
See what you're really paying
Recognize your situation above? A complimentary review can clarify more than guessing at your own statement. The review is a working session, not a sales pitch: we look at your plan together, translate the fees into what they mean for your account over time, and you leave with a plain-English summary of what you're paying and what your options are.
Book my intro callA 30-minute call. No document gathering beforehand, and no obligation afterwards.
Sources for the figures on this page
Every figure above is a third-party industry or government citation, not our own data.
Average total plan cost
- 401k Averages Book, 25th Edition, Pension Data Source, Inc. (2025), as reported by 401(k) Specialist magazine.
- Figure is for a $5 million plan. Your own plan's cost depends on its size, provider and participant count.
Participants who believe they pay no fees
- U.S. Government Accountability Office, “401(k) Retirement Plans: Many Participants Do Not Understand Fee Information, but DOL Could Take Additional Steps to Help Them,” GAO-21-357 (2021).
Range of total plan costs
- 401k Averages Book data, as reported by Kiplinger, “Average 401(k) Fund Fees and Expenses: Are You Overpaying?” (2025).
- Range is for a $1 million plan with 100 participants. Provider is the main variable.