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All About 401(k) Plan Sponsors

May 3, 2019

What is a 401(k) Plan Sponsor? A 401(k) plan sponsor is a company that sets...

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Types of 401(k) Profit Sharing Plans

May 2, 2019

Small businesses choose to add profit sharing to their 401(k) plan because...

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How to Avoid Common 401(k) Administration Issues

April 22, 2019

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)—the federal law that governs...

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Does Your Business Have a Top-Heavy 401(k)? Consider Adding Safe Harbor

April 15, 2019

It’s no secret that in the world of 401(k), the rules that make sure employees...

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Small Business Retirement Plans: What to Offer?

April 1, 2019

When you think of a company-sponsored small business retirement plan, what comes...

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What are 401(k) Corrective Distributions?

March 27, 2019

In a 401(k) plan, corrective distributions happen when the company must return...

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Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) Can Help Business Owners Retire

March 20, 2019

Are you thinking about your transition out of your business but concerned about...

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401(k) Benefits for Business Owners

March 19, 2019

So what are the 401(k) benefits for business owners? I’ve written recently...

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How to Administer a Company 401(k)

March 11, 2019

Managing your company 401(k) means you are responsible for building and keeping...

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The Most Common 401(k) Investments

March 7, 2019

A 401(k) is a powerful tool to help you and your employees save for retirement,...

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401(k) Fees Comparisons: How to Understand & Monitor Fees

February 26, 2019

In my experience speaking with small and mid-sized business owners about their...

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All About 401(k) Fees

February 14, 2019

What Fees Are There in a 401(k) Plan? Typically, 401(k) plans have three...

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Small Business 401(k) Cost & Expenses

February 11, 2019

No matter what your company’s 401(k) looks like, it costs money. This topic—401(k)...

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Small Business Owners: Save More with a Deferred Compensation Plan

January 29, 2019

Up to 69% of small business owners in a recent study said they aren’t confident...

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How to Switch 401(k) Providers

January 24, 2019

There are many reasons you may consider making a 401(k) provider switch, like...

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401(k) Tax Benefits for Business Owners

January 15, 2019

Tax strategies are important for any employer, but especially for the owners...

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How Much Do I Need for Retirement? What a Retirement Calculator Can Tell You

January 10, 2019

  “‘How much do I need for retirement?’ is a loaded question,...

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Your 401(k) and Stock Market Volatility

January 7, 2019

How do you protect your investments from stock market volatility? Don’t...

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401(k) Employer Match Contributions Matter

December 26, 2018

It’s a common question among employers who decide to offer an employer match...

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Key 2019 Compliance Dates for Your Business 401(k)

December 19, 2018

As we move into 2019, we wanted to point out a few important dates that 401(k)...

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401(k) Contribution Limit Increases for 2019

December 5, 2018

If you offer a 401(k) plan at your small business, you and your employees will...

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6 Traits of the Best 401(k) Plan Providers: A Focus on Advisers

November 20, 2018

Finding the right 401(k) plan adviser for your business takes careful consideration....

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Selecting Your Company's Small Business 401(k) Provider

November 7, 2018

Not all 401(k) providers are made equal. Some are large operations, while others...

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Raise Your Company’s 401(k) Participation with Employee Representatives

October 23, 2018

There are many benefits for an employer to increase company 401(k) participation...

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State-Run Retirement Security Program Challenges

October 8, 2018

Several states have launched programs to help citizens prepare for retirement...

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What is a 408(b)(2)?

September 26, 2018

Employers who offer a 401(k) to their employees are responsible for working...

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Social Security for Business Owners

September 13, 2018

For most American workers, Social Security looks pretty much the same; Federal...

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The 4 Types of 401(k) Advisers

August 22, 2018

Choosing a retirement adviser might be the most important decision that you...

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3 Steps for Business Owners to Outsource 401(k) Fiduciary Liability

August 8, 2018

When an employer chooses to offer a 401(k) on behalf of their employees, they...

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Close the Professional Services Hiring Gap with 401(k) Benefits

July 31, 2018

Employers in the professional services field can be very different from one...

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Is an IRA a Good 401(k) Alternative for Your Employees?

July 18, 2018

Recently my team met with an employer whose perspective challenged us to consider...

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Employee 401(k) Committee FAQs

July 10, 2018

I recently found a great example of the power of employee engagement in action...

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401(k) Education for Employees

June 26, 2018

What do your employees need to make the most of the 401(k)? Here’s a summary...

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5 Tips for Choosing an IRA Provider

June 11, 2018

What happens when you need to move your retirement savings out of a 401(k)?...

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What is Compound Interest?

June 6, 2018

Interest is a common part of our financial lives. We pay interest on credit...

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Hiring Friends or Family as Your Company’s 401(k) Provider

May 29, 2018

In business, a lot gets done based on personal relationships. Maybe you have...

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Top Reasons to Start a 401(k) for Your Small Business

May 21, 2018

When it comes to retirement benefits, there are a lot of good options to consider....

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401(k) vs. IRA—is One Better Than the Other?

May 14, 2018

When I meet with the employees of businesses we serve, I often get the question,...

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Washington State Opens Online Retirement Plan Marketplace

May 10, 2018

Following soon after Oregon’s launch of the nation’s first-ever state-run...

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Why Personal Injury Attorneys Are Pursuing 401(k) Lawsuits—And What Employers Can Do To Avoid Them

May 2, 2018

Emboldened by several newsworthy success stories, personal injury attorneys...

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Why it Works to Customize 401(k) Enrollment Day for Your Employees

April 23, 2018

Are your employees enthusiastic about retirement saving? It’s a funny question...

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What Is the Saver’s Credit?

April 2, 2018

When you choose to offer your employees a retirement plan like a 401(k), a big...

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401(k) Loans: A Good Option for Your Company?

March 27, 2018

As many as 87% of employees enrolled in a 401(k) have access to a loan of some...

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Companies Offer Best Practices for Managing Your 401(k) Plan

March 19, 2018

America’s biggest companies have adopted their own model for 401(k) in order...

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How to Find The Right Tax Adviser For Your Business

March 1, 2018

For any small business, tax time is both stressful and exciting. The business’...

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Planning for a Family Business Leadership Succession

March 1, 2018

Only around 30% of family-owned or managed businesses survive the transition...

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Retirement Education for a Generationally Diverse Workplace

March 1, 2018

They say nothing is certain but death and taxes, but at Fisher Investments 401(k)...

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Regional Employment Trends Offer Insight into 2018 Job Market

March 1, 2018

Since 2012, the United States is on an employment hot streak. 2017 saw a 4.1%...

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Going for Retirement Gold: How Super Savers Maximize Savings

February 23, 2018

When athletes make it to the podium, the medal around their neck isn’t something...

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5 Ways to Manage Employee Payroll Information for 401(k) Plans

February 19, 2018

I’m constantly working to reduce the administrative time my clients have to...

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4 Ways to Help Your Employees Prioritize Financial Wellness

February 12, 2018

As an employer offering a 401(k) plan, have you ever wondered why your employees...

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Avoid these myths when considering changing 401(k) providers

February 5, 2018

Among employers who offer a 401(k) plan, there’s an opinion I’ve heard that...

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Encouraging Millennials to Exceed Savings Goals

January 29, 2018

Millennials are saving. As a generation, they save an average of 10% of their...

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How the Recent Tax Cuts Could Help Your 401(k) Account

January 24, 2018

On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act...

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Key 2018 Compliance Dates for Your Company 401(k)

January 9, 2018

Happy New Year! As with every year, there are important dates in 2018 that 401(k)...

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Agile Project Management Strategies from Silicon Valley

January 1, 2018

There are many different project management philosophies small businesses...

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Artificial Intelligence Applications for Small Business

January 1, 2018

At this point, saying that your small business needs to embrace technology...

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Assessing Your Tech Budget for 2018

January 1, 2018

There’s a saying making the rounds in business publications for every...

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Cohesive Small Business Brand Messaging to Segmented Audiences

January 1, 2018

Television and radio commercials are effective in part because they’re...

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Top Video Editing Tools for Small Business

January 1, 2018

When it comes to marketing for your small business, it’s hard to find...

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401(k) Contribution Limit Increases for 2018

December 27, 2017

If you offer a company-sponsored 401(k) plan at your small business, you and...

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How to Set Up a 401(k)

December 11, 2017

65% of small business employers believe a 401(k) is important for attracting...

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¿Cómo funciona un 401(k) con contribuciones de su empleador?

December 04, 2017

En Julio, el Washington Post publicó un artículo sobre como algunos negocios...

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Former employees with a 401(k) balance

November 28, 2017

Your business can spend a lot of extra time and money over the years if former...

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5 Tips for a Successful 401(k) Enrollment

November 21, 2017

401(k) enrollment provides an opportunity for employees to get started with...

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Addressing Toxic Employee Behaviors

November 1, 2017

Parents often teach children to cope with difficult personalities by ignoring...

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Business Travel Tips

November 1, 2017

Business trips represent exciting opportunities for a small business owner...

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Educating Your Team on Cybersecurity

November 1, 2017

Cyberattacks are one of the greatest threats to American small businesses....

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Small Business Insurance FAQs

November 1, 2017

Business owners turn to Google about 100 times each month looking to learn:...

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Tools to Meet Your Customers on the Web

November 1, 2017

Today’s economy is driven by the internet, and a company’s ability to...

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Tax Reform and Your Business 401(k)

October 31, 2017

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R – Texas) is expected...

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What are 401(k) Controlled Groups?

October 30, 2017

Do you own multiple businesses and offer 401(k) plans to your employees? Are...

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How to Save $1 Million for Retirement—Even if You Think it’s Too Late

October 23, 2017

When it comes to saving for retirement, starting early is generally pretty good...

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The Two Most Important Steps You Can Take for National “Save for Retirement” Week

October 17, 2017

It’s National “Save for Retirement” Week—perhaps no better time to take...

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Common Adviser Selection Mistakes

October 10, 2017

So, you’ve begun thinking about adding a 401(k) to your business’s benefits...

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What’s the Difference Between a Retirement Adviser and a Retirement Advisor?

October 2, 2017

Do a quick Google search for a “retirement adviser” or “401(k) adviser”...

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4 Lead Generation Customization Hacks to Captivate Your Customers

October 1, 2017

In the past, a website was essentially a sales brochure—it had basic information...

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Avoiding Common Small Business Budget Threats

October 1, 2017

Unanticipated major expenses are one of a business owners’ worst nightmares,...

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Creating a Digital Disaster Recovery Plan

October 1, 2017

October is Cyber Security Awareness month, and in some states it’s also...

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Evolving the Practice of Human Resources

October 1, 2017

Today’s human resources departments are tasked with engaging and supporting...

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The 2018 Strategic Planning Checklist

October 1, 2017

As the year draws to a close, small business owners often start thinking...

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How Using Health Savings Accounts with 401(k) Benefits Can Help Your Employees

September 25, 2017

With healthcare costs continuing to climb, and as more Baby Boomers get ready...

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What Does an “A” 401(k) Service Provider Look Like?

September 5, 2017

Recently, Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions conducted a 401(k) survey of 5,000...

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10 Eco-Friendly Business Practices

September 1, 2017

Going green is bringing small businesses major cost savings on monthly utilities...

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5 Alternatives to Traditional Networking Events

September 1, 2017

We’ve written before about making the most of traditional networking events,...

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9 Non-Monetary Incentives for Employee Engagement

September 1, 2017

Retaining talented employees can be difficult. With over half of job separations...

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Retirement in the U.S.: A History to Today

September 1, 2017

The American labor movement brought us Labor Day, the weekend, employer-sponsored...

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Strategies to Support Your Employees' Continuing Education

September 1, 2017

September is Learning and Development Month, which means we should reflect...

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The “How-To” for a 401(k) Rollover

August 8, 2017

What is a 401(k) rollover? Simply put, it’s when someone moves money from...

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Oregon Launches Nation’s First State-Run Retirement Plan

August 2, 2017

Although California was one of a handful of states blazing the trail for government-run...

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10 Tips to Tie Social Media Into Your Marketing Strategy

August 1, 2017

In the U.S. alone, 81% of the population has a profile on at least one social...

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3 Tips for Promoting Workplace Wellness

August 1, 2017

Americans have grown more concerned with their wellness in recent years.1...

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5 Email Marketing Tools

August 1, 2017

For many business owners, email marketing represents a huge opportunity...

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Online Payment Solutions for Small Businesses

August 1, 2017

In the app economy, small business owners have more options than ever when...

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Time Management Tips for Leaders

August 1, 2017

Recent research by McKinsey & Company has shown that four kinds of behavior...

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401(k) in Southern California: How Does Your Town Stack Up?

July 25, 2017

We recently published an interactive map looking at the top 50 cities in the...

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4 Common Scams That Target SMB (and What to Do When One Targets You)

July 1, 2017

With greater sophistication of internet use comes greater vulnerability...

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5 Business Expense Tracker Apps for Small Businesses

July 1, 2017

With everything business owners have to keep track of, managing business expenses...

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5 Causes of Employee Boredom and How to Combat Them

July 1, 2017

The workplace is one of the places in our lives where boredom can be the...

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How Business Owners Can Optimize Their Personal 401(k)

July 1, 2017

Planning for retirement while helping your employees Your employees love...

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Writing an Effective Job Description

July 1, 2017

Whether you’re hiring brand new talent to fill an established role, or...

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DOL Fiduciary Rule Applicable June 9: What Does It Mean to You?

June 19, 2017

I’ve written before about the Department of Labor fiduciary rule and its potential...

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California’s State-Run Retirement Plan to Proceed, Despite DOL Rule Repeal

June 6, 2017

On May 17, President Donald Trump signed into law a repeal of an Obama-era Department...

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3 Private Investor Types Every Small Business Owner Should Know

June 1, 2017

A few months ago, we shared an article on the different sources of funding...

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3 Tips for Equitable PTO Policies

June 1, 2017

Giving your team ample time off to recharge and reset is absolutely critical...

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3 Ways Digital Trends Have Changed Customer Service

June 1, 2017

As the digital economy has grown, it has brought businesses closer to their...

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Employee-Centered Change Management During a Merger

June 1, 2017

The amazing long-term potential of a merger can be hard for employees to...

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The Best Online Collaboration Tools for Small Business

June 1, 2017

When your business requires you to travel, to manage remote teams, or to...

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Three Tips for Managing 401(k) Profit Sharing Contributions

May 30, 2017

One of my goals as a Retirement Counselor with Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions...

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Celebrating National Small Business Week: Construction on the Rise

May 5, 2017

This week is National Small Business Week, a time to reflect on the importance...

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Celebrating National Small Business Week: A Look at the Medical Industry

May 2, 2017

This week is National Small Business Week, a time to reflect on the importance...

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3 Branding Strategies from SXSW

May 1, 2017

The 30th annual South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) was hosted in Austin,...

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3 Essential Considerations for a New Business Location

May 1, 2017

If you’re growing your small business by opening an additional location...

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5 Habits of High Performing Teams

May 1, 2017

It’s easy to recognize a high-performing team when you see one. Maybe...

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Going Beyond Managing Your Managers

May 1, 2017

For a business owner, establishing loyalty, confidence, and trust between...

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The Right Thing: Hiring Ethical Employees

May 1, 2017

Guest Article from Nathan Fisher, Managing Director, Fisher Investments 401(k)...

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How to Relieve Employee Stress

April 19, 2017

It’s National Stress Awareness month, and we’re thinking about one of the...

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Celebrate American Small Business Week with Us

April 1, 2017

Since 1963, the US Small Business Administration has celebrated Small Business...

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Cloud Storage and Digital Security

April 1, 2017

Cloud storage services like Microsoft Azure, Google Drive, and Dropbox are the...

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Pros and Cons of Annual Performance Reviews

April 1, 2017

For many in the corporate world, annual performance reviews might feel like...

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Vetting Process For Vendors

April 1, 2017

Choosing a vendor for goods or services is one of the more important decisions...

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Government-Sponsored Retirement Plans—Coming to a State Near You?

March 30, 2017

With worry over the retirement savings gap becoming a greater national concern,...

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National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day: When to Offer 401(k) Benefits

March 28, 2017

In celebration of National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day, we’ll take a look...

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Three Common 401(k) Evaluation Mistakes

March 24, 2017

Not long ago, I received an email from a company I had met with years ago. When...

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Why Your Investments Are Doing Well but Your Investment Account Isn’t

March 16, 2017

I recently met with a small business owner who was frustrated with his 401(k)...

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Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day with Retirement Planning Support

March 3, 2017

Today is Employee Appreciation Day, the national holiday where employers recognize...

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6 Business Tax Reductions

March 1, 2017

Small business owners face quite a responsibility when it comes to filing...

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NEWS: 2017 401(k) Penalty Rates Hike

March 1, 2017

Guest Article from Nathan Fisher, Managing Director, Fisher Investments 401(k)...

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Small Business Website Hacks You Need to Know

March 1, 2017

For many small businesses, a website is the first impression that you make...

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Successful Onboarding for Your New Employees

March 1, 2017

Last month's Business Navigator discussed how to digitize your business'...

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Top Tech Trends for 2017

March 1, 2017

We’ve seen a lot of business-changing technologies develop over the past...

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What is a 401(k) QDIA?

February 22, 2017

A 401(k) QDIA (Qualified Default Investment Alternative), otherwise known as...

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3 Tips for Surviving 401(k) Compliance Testing Season

February 15, 2017

In the 15 years I’ve worked at Fisher Investments, I’ve spent a lot of...

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DOL Fiduciary Rule at Risk Again

February 8, 2017

Several news outlets have reported on President Donald Trump’s Executive Order...

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Johnny Depp and Fiduciary Responsibility

February 7, 2017

The New York Times reported in late January that actor Johnny Depp is suing...

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How to Use Online Legal Help for Your Business

February 1, 2017

In 2013, a survey of small business owners by marketing research firm DecisionAnalyst...

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Managing Millennials in the Workplace

February 1, 2017

As Millennials have begun to define their careers, they’ve placed new demands...

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Salary Benchmarking Tips for Small Businesses

February 1, 2017

Looking around online to see what other businesses in your industry are...

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Strategies for Digitizing Your Recruitment Workflow

February 1, 2017

If you’re looking to fill an open position at your business, the Internet...

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The Modern Office Dress Code

February 1, 2017

Today, our growing social acceptance of individuality is mirrored in how people...

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Fear of the Future: Baby Boomers and Low Participation

February 1, 2017

When experts in the retirement industry talk about low plan participation, the...

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Developing a Project Management Process

January 1, 2017

Many small businesses hire individuals to fill a certain position, but then...

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Funding Options for Small Businesses

January 1, 2017

If you’re a business owner looking for capital to use as growth funding,...

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Managing Conflicts of Opinion in the Office

January 1, 2017

Conflicts of opinion happen every day in almost every workplace. Sometimes...

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The Networking Event Survival Guide

January 1, 2017

Networking events are held in almost every industry, and across the board,...

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Three Ways to Clear Negative Office Energy

January 1, 2017

There’s no doubt that stress and negativity weigh heavy in the office,...

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Football players and your employees—what can these possibly have in common?

December 27, 2016

As the NFL regular season nears its end, avid fans across the country are watching...

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The Importance of Stocks in 401(k)

December 22, 2016

Happier people with more secure financial futures tend to make better employees....

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What is a 401(k) Vesting Schedule?

December 16, 2016

If your small business offers a matching contribution, profit sharing plan,...

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Empowering Americans to Retirement Security

December 13, 2016

Over the last three years, I’ve been meeting with clients of mine who are...

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5 Tips for Evaluating a New 401(k) Provider

December 6, 2016

When I meet with business owners like you and ask them about their 401(k) evaluation...

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Judging if a New Software Will Fit Your Business

December 1, 2016

Software is essential to today’s everyday business functions. From point-of-sale...

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Mastering the Q4-Q1 Transition

December 1, 2016

"Strategies exist to help keep the success thundering into the New Year,...

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Merging Leadership Goals With Office Design

December 1, 2016

Today there are lots of opinions about what makes the ideal office, but...

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Setting up your Company’s 401(k) Investment Options

November 28th, 2016

What is your company’s 401(k) Fund Lineup? Defined contribution plans,...

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Why Millennials Are Delaying Retirement Savings

November 28th, 2016

2016 was a banner year: Millennials or Generation Y overtook Baby Boomers as...

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Benefits of Roth 401k: 5 Reasons Your Employees Will Love it

November 22, 2016

Do your employees seem to be ignoring the Roth account available in your 401(k)...

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Top 10 cities with 401(k)'s. Find out if yours is one of them

November 17, 2016

Providing your employees a 401(k) plan is key to attracting and retaining top...

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Challenging Small Business 401(k) Myths

November 9th, 2016

If your small business offers a 401(k) to your employees, you’re probably...

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What is a 401(k) Fiduciary?

October 28, 2016

The word “fiduciary” may sound like scary legalese, but it’s a term with...

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Evaluating Small Business Retirement Plans with R.E.T.I.R.E.

October 26, 2016

I built Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions because I saw that many small businesses...

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How to Start a 401(k) Plan for Your Business

October 19, 2016

How to Start a 401(k) Plan for Your Business 1. Decide on a plan that’s...

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Small Steps, Big Potential to Retire Ready: Take Advantage of National Save for Retirement Week

10/17/2016

This is it—National Save for Retirement Week, also known as National Retirement...

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Robo Advisers and Full-Service Models: Opening New Doors into the 401(k) Market

10/05/2016

So what are robo-advisers, and what brought them into the 401(k) market? Like...

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How Has the Affordable Care Act Impacted Small and Mid-Size Business Benefits?

October 1, 2016

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was passed, heralding an era of change...

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Social Security and 401(k) Planning

October 1, 2016

Since the Social Security Act was signed into law in 1935, millions of Americans...

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Find out what other small business owners have to say about their company’s 401(k)

Sept 15, 2016

MOST Employees say they are not financially prepared for retirement. Even...

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Looking for Additional Tax Savings? Add a Cash Balance Plan to your Company 401(k) Before This Year’s Deadline

September 7, 2016

If you’re a business owner maxing out on contributions to your company-sponsored...

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Five things John Oliver has mostly right about retirement

July 5, 2016

Comedian John Oliver really has a knack for delivering biting social commentary...

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What does the final DOL rule mean to Plan Sponsors?

May 24, 2016

The DOL has redefined who is an ERISA fiduciary. As mentioned in our original...

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Why a Defined Contribution Plan might be the most flexible retirement plan for your small business

April 1, 2016

WHY A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN MIGHT BE THE MOST FLEXIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN FOR...

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST DOL RULE 2016

Mar 3, 2016

What does the proposed DOL rule mean? Currently under review with OMB, the...

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Thinking about starting a 401(k) at your business? Here’s food for thought—including potential tax benefits

September, 28 2016

So you’re a business owner and you’re thinking about starting a 401(k) plan...

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