401(k) and Retirement Plan Services | Paychex (2024)

Benefits Administration Made Easy With Paychex

Design Your Plan

We’ll help you understand the different advantages of each plan so you can find one that best fits you and your employees’ retirement plan needs.

Combine Your 401(k) With Payroll

When searching for 401(k) providers, choose one that combines retirement, payroll, and other benefits administration into one platform to simplify management, reduce errors, and save you time and money.

Investment Choice & Transparency

Choose from thousands of 401(k) investment options. Also, our fee transparency means you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Affordable 401(k) Plans for Any Sized Business

Small business owners often think they can’t afford to offer a 401(k) plan. We can help you find a plan that allows your employees to achieve their retirement goals while putting tax savings in your pocket.

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Find the Best Retirement Plan Option for You

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Pooled Employer Plan

A New Way To Save

The Paychex Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan (PEP) takes the administrative burden off the employer's plate. By pooling assets into one large plan, employers can save on administrative costs and time, see tax credit opportunities under the SECURE Act, and can offer a high-quality retirement plan to employees.

Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan

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Traditional 401(k)

Appealing to Both Employee & Employer

A 401(k) account is a sought-after employee benefit that allows participants to contribute a portion of their wages on a pre-tax or after-tax ROTH basis. Employees can plan for their future, and the employer can stay competitive for top talent. Consider the addition of a safe harbor 401(k) to avoid possible complications associated with managing traditional retirement plans.

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Solo 401(k)

You Don’t Have To Do It Alone

Retirement accounts are still available to you if you’re a one-person business. This type of plan, sometimes referred to as an Owner-only 401(k) plan, maximizes contributions because self-employed individuals can act as employer and employee, adding to their retirement savings in both capacities.

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SIMPLE IRA

Built for Smaller Businesses

A SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) is designed for small employers, allowing employees to save for retirement with tax-deferred dollars. When evaluating this against a 401(k) retirement plan, understand that each plan may be a better fit for particular companies based on the size and needs of employees.

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Multiple Employer

Cost-Efficient and Simple Administration

A Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) is a single retirement plan available to employers with a commonality. This type of plan is typically sponsored by a professional employer organization (PEO). By pooling resources, employers can save time and money.

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SECURE Act 2.0 Can Help You Save

With the passing of SECURE Act 2.0, the time is now to offer a retirement plan. We can help you navigate the latest changes and increased tax incentives to better your business and retain happy employees.

Small Business Retirement Plan Startup Tax Credits

Legislation has been passed to motivate small employers to offer retirement plans and boost employees’ path to financial security. If eligible, your business may have 100% of plan startup costs covered through small business tax credits, which means your plan could be virtually free for the first three years.

Secure Act FAQs

With the most significant retirement savings reform legislation of the last 15 years being passed, it’s natural to have lingering questions. With retirement plans now in reach for both the employer and employee, we’ve highlighted the biggest takeaways to be aware of.

Take Advantage of Savings

Offering the Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) under the SECURE Act reduces risk and simplifies administration. It also provided extra time for employers to start 401(k) profit-sharing plans.

Check Your Eligibility

Retirement Savings Requirements for Your State

Every state is different when it comes to retirement savings mandates. Get help staying up to date with your state-sponsored retirement program’s requirements, deadlines, enrollment details, and eligibility criteria.

See Your State

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Simplify Retirement Plan Management With Paychex Flex®

Paychex Flex is our all-in-one solution for all things HR, making retirement plan management easier.

  • Give Participants Access to Their Account

    Give Participants Access to Their Account

    Easily manage accounts, check retirement contribution amounts, maximize 401(k) contributions, review investment performance, and more from the account dashboard.

  • Make It Easy To Enroll in Your Plan

    Make It Easy To Enroll in Your Plan

    The quick enrollment feature allows employees to sign up for a retirement plan in four clicks. When you integrate payroll, you can easily see who is eligible for your chosen retirement plan.

  • Simplify Plan Management

    Simplify Plan Management

    Simplify processes like 401(k) investment selection, changing plan contributions, and checking the status of a loan. For even more convenience, our Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan offers simplified administration and enrollment, reduced fiduciary liability, and savings potential.

  • Enabling Better Compliance

    Enabling Better Compliance

    As part of our retirement services, our Paychex Flex platform can improve reporting accuracy, collect important data, and enable better compliance.

What Makes Paychex the Most Experienced Retirement Plan Provider

With thousands of investment options, fee transparency, and seamless payroll integration to eliminate manual data entry, we can help your employees save for retirement while saving you time with simplified administration. As the nation’s top 401(k) plan provider¹, we supply retirement plan administration services you can trust.

Talk to Us About Switching

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Paychex Flex® Retirement Overview

1:33

A Retirement Benefit Offers a Perfect Fix for Employee Retention

Plumbing M.D., a family-owned business headquartered in Dixon, Calif., is required by a state mandate to offer a retirement plan for employees. They wanted to be compliant and find the best plan for their employees.

The owners were surprised by the employee response, as 100% participated. Plumbing M.D. credited the thoroughness of the presentation by Paychex and have recognized that having a retirement plan is great retention tool.

401(k) and Retirement Plan Services | Paychex (8)

“We’ve had 100% participation (in our retirement plan) .… Having the PEO has helped us provide … an experience they probably won’t get at other similar type of employers (and) that has been helpful with retention.”

Jessie Farias Tavera

COO

Plumbing M.D.

Focus on Employee Wellbeing. Offer a Retirement Plan.

Get a Free Quote

Retirement Services FAQs

  • What Are Retirement Services?

    What Are Retirement Services?

    Retirement services cover the full range of services needed over a plan’s life, particularly for a business or organization managing multiple plans. These can include plan design, investment, conversion, setup, enrollment, administration, and compliance testing.

  • What Is a 401(k) Retirement Plan?

    What Is a 401(k) Retirement Plan?

    A 401(k) retirement plan is a type of retirement account that allows employees to contribute a defined amount of pretax or Roth (after tax) dollars each pay period. Employers also have the opportunity to match part or all of the employee's tax-deferred retirement contributions, or provide a profit sharing contribution, although those contributions are not required. A 401(k) plan is a great option for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations to offer, particularly since pension plans are not as common as they once were and the future of Social Security benefits is unpredictable. Learn more aboutdifferent types of retirement plans, 401(k) options, and 401(k) benefits.

  • What Are the Most Common Retirement Plans?

    What Are the Most Common Retirement Plans?

    Employers most commonly use 401(k) plans because of their flexible plan designs and the ability to save much more than other retirement plans such as IRAs.

  • What Are the Different Types of 401(k) Plans?

    What Are the Different Types of 401(k) Plans?

    There are many types of 401(k) retirement plans, with different rules that govern each:

    • Traditional 401(k): An employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows employees to make pre-tax contributions via payroll deduction. Investment earnings and 401(k) contributions are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn. Businesses can choose to make matching or profit sharing employer contributions to the plan, although employer contributions are not required as part of a traditional 401(k) plan.
    • Safe Harbor 401(k): This plan exempts an employer from most annual nondiscrimination testing that is required with traditional 401(k) plans if the employer provides specific contributions to employees' accounts.
    • SIMPLE 401(k): Built specifically for small businesses with 100 employees or fewer, SIMPLE 401(k) plans are not subject to annual nondiscrimination testing that applies to traditional 401(k) plans. With this type of small business 401(k) retirement plan, the employer is required to make employer contributions that are fully vested.
    • Pooled Employer Plan: A professionally administered retirement plan that allows employers of any size to pool assets into a 401(k) plan. Since resources are pooled, there's reduced fiduciary liability, simplified plan administration for employers, and potential cost savings for participating employers.
    • 403(b): A tax-sheltered annuity or TSA plan offered by public education systems and certain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.

    There are pros and cons to each, but businesses tend to use 401(k) plans because they are flexible and enable employees to save more. A retirement specialist can review the different plan descriptions and help you decide which one is best for your business.

  • Who Uses Paychex for 401(k)?

    Who Uses Paychex for 401(k)?

    Businesses of all sizes and organizations across industries trust Paychex to help them deliver 401(k) plans to their employees. We can help you find the right retirement plan services that not only fit your unique business, but also help you build and maintain a high-quality workforce.Hear from a few of our customers.

  • What Are Typical 401(k) Management Fees?

    What Are Typical 401(k) Management Fees?

    Some typical 401(k) management fees are:

    • Plan administration fees: Day-to-day operational expenses for plan recordkeeping, accounting, legal, trustee services, etc.
    • Investment fees: Expenses for 401(k) investment management and other investment-related retirement plan services.
    • Individual service fees: Expenses charged separately to the accounts of participants who choose to take advantage of a particular plan feature, such as taking out a plan loan.
  • How Much Should I Put In My 401(k)?

    How Much Should I Put In My 401(k)?

    Deciding how much money to contribute to your 401(k) depends on various factors such as financial goals, income, expenses, employer matching, and tax considerations. Remember: this is a vehicle for long-term savings, so withdrawing or transferring money in and out isn’t a simple process. Learn more here about contribution limits and other 401(k) information.

  • How Do I Check My 401(k) Balance with Paychex?

    How Do I Check My 401(k) Balance with Paychex?

    The Paychex Flex platform is your destination for learning how to check your 401(k) balance. Your dashboard, accessible by mobile app or online portal, allows you to easily manage your account, check contribution amounts, maximize contributions, and more. Here is how to enroll today.

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401(k) and Retirement Plan Services | Paychex (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a 401k and a retirement plan? ›

A 401(k) allows you some control over your fund contributions, while a pension plan does not. Pension plans guarantee a monthly check in retirement a 401(k) does not offer guarantees. However, 401(k)s are portable, meaning you can roll them over into another account should you change employers one or multiple times.

How do I check my 401k balance on Paychex? ›

How Do I Check My 401(k) Balance with Paychex? The Paychex Flex platform is your destination for learning how to check your 401(k) balance. Your dashboard, accessible by mobile app or online portal, allows you to easily manage your account, check contribution amounts, maximize contributions, and more.

How to find old 401k accounts? ›

How to find your 401(k) from past jobs
  1. Contact previous employers. It may seem obvious, but one of the quickest ways to track down an old 401(k) plan is to go directly to the source. ...
  2. Review past W-2 tax forms. ...
  3. Check your mail. ...
  4. Search the National Registry. ...
  5. Search Form 5500 Directory. ...
  6. State unclaimed property.

What is pep on my paycheck? ›

The Pooled Employer 401(k) Plan (PEP) allows employers of any size to pool assets into a plan professionally administered by Paychex.

What happens to your 401k when you quit? ›

Generally, you have 4 options for what to do with your savings: keep it with your previous employer, roll it into an IRA, roll it into a new employer's plan, or cash it out. How much money you have vested in your retirement account may impact what decision you make.

Is Paychex a good 401K provider? ›

Paychex is a top choice for those who want to manage all their HR needs on one platform. It offers several employee retirement plans, dedicated support, and integrations with payroll and other HR functions, earning our pick for best all-in-one service.

Can I withdraw my 401K from Paychex? ›

Wait to Withdraw Until You're at Least 59.5 Years Old By age 59.5 (and in some cases, age 55), you will be eligible to begin withdrawing money from your 401(k) without having to pay a penalty tax. You'll simply need to contact your plan administrator or log into your account online and request a withdrawal.

How do I find out if I have money in my 401K? ›

You can check your 401(k) balance online, through the account statements you receive, through your employer, or by calling your 401(k) service provider.

Can I find my 401k with my social security number? ›

The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits is a good place to start. By entering your Social Security number, you can quickly see if there are any unclaimed 401(k) funds that belong to you.

Does an old 401k expire? ›

But the money already in the account is still yours, usually, so it can just sit in that account for as long as you want — with a couple of exceptions: First, if you contributed less than $5,000 to that 401(k) while you were with that employer, they can legally tell you, “Closing time!

Why did my old 401k disappear? ›

If your 401(k) balance is less than $5000 when you leave a job, it may be at risk of disappearing. Employers are allowed to push out 401(k) accounts held by former employees if they have a balance below $5,000, and the participant has not given instructions on what to do with the money.

What is the difference between a 401k and a PEP? ›

What's right for one business may not be right for another. However, a PEP may be an excellent solution for small businesses that want to sponsor employee retirement benefits without the increased costs, logistics or risks associated with a traditional 401(k).

Who qualifies as PEP? ›

In financial regulation, a politically exposed person (PEP) is one who has been entrusted with a prominent public function.

What is PPA on my paycheck? ›

A prior period adjustment (PPA) is a correction to a reported time, pay, or classification on an employee's previous payroll. Though employees and employers should make an effort to accurately report and calculate payroll, sometimes things get overlooked.

Why is a 401k not a good retirement plan? ›

The amount of cash that's in the fund when you retire is what you will receive as a pension. Thus, there is no guarantee that you will receive anything from this defined contribution plan. The fund may lose all (or a substantial part) of its value in the markets just as you're ready to start taking distributions.

Is a 401 a retirement plan? ›

A 401(a) plan is a type of retirement plan made available to those working in government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

What is a retirement plan? ›

A retirement plan is a strategy for long-term saving, investing, and finally withdrawing money you accumulate to achieve a financially comfortable retirement.

Is a 401k a simple retirement plan? ›

A subset of the 401(k) plan is the SIMPLE 401(k) plan. Just like the SIMPLE IRA plan, this is a plan just for you: the small business owner with 100 or fewer employees. However, just as with the SIMPLE IRA plan, there is a two-year grace period if you exceed 100 employees, to allow for growing businesses.

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