The Money Mustache Community

Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: windypig on October 19, 2014, 05:25:17 PM

Title: Is $45/year in matintenance fees for a 401k / 403B high?
Post by: windypig on October 19, 2014, 05:25:17 PM

My employers retirement plan (Fidelity NetBenefits) in which I am 100% investing in Vanguard Target Date Retirement funds (.18% expense ratio - no transaction fee) charges me a $11.50/quarter maintenance fee. Is this absurd? To me it seems like I shouldnt pay anything but not quite sure what the norm is. Anyways, can I not pay these fees somehow? Ive noticed I am offered Fidelity "Brokerage Link" - perhaps that would be a strategy. What do you pay?

Title: Re: Is $45/year in matintenance fees for a 401k / 403B high?
Post by: Grateful Stache on October 19, 2014, 07:31:09 PM

If it's a flat fee, then that's actually a pretty good deal. There are many fees that are based on the total amount of your portfolio, so it could be much worse.

Title: Re: Is $45/year in matintenance fees for a 401k / 403B high?
Post by: Cheddar Stacker on October 19, 2014, 07:55:29 PM

I pay an admin fee of 0.50%. I have a six figure balance. It adds up to a lot of money.

Title: Re: Is $45/year in matintenance fees for a 401k / 403B high?
Post by: seattlecyclone on October 19, 2014, 10:06:36 PM

My current employer has a quarterly fee that's about the same as yours. The plans at my previous employers have not had maintenance fees.

Title: Re: Is $45/year in matintenance fees for a 401k / 403B high?
Post by: geekette on October 19, 2014, 10:22:41 PM

DH's previous employer (also with Fidelity) added a $15.50/quarter fee as of January, with the note that if you pull out your money mid-year, they'll charge for the full year regardless.