Oddly, it’s usually the opposite for mutual funds. Actively managed (higher operating cost) funds tend to perform better during market downturns. Passive (lower operating cost) funds, on the other hand, generally perform better during growth markets.
![A 401k Plan Sponsor Fiduciary Puzzle: Are Low Fees High Risk?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/dangerous-1040641-660X395-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
You cannot understate the fiduciary aspect of lower fees. Most 401k plan sponsors, and especially those in smaller plans, don’t have the time or expertise to administer their company’s retirement plan. If they skimp on fees, are they also skimping on the fiduciary protection those professionals are supposed to provide?
![Hughes v. Northwestern, Anyone? Why Don’t TSP Participants Deserve ERISA Fiduciary Protections?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/u-s-supreme-court-roof-and-columns-1224326-660x395-1-505x306_c.jpg)
Even if ERISA does not cover the Thrift Savings Plan, it’s worth noting the exercise of this discussion may be worthwhile to those actually do bear ERISA fiduciary responsibility.
![If You Meet Your Objectives, Does It Make Sense To Worry About Fees?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/it-s-a-laugh-1431939-660x395-1-505x306_c.jpg)
While diligence is to be applauded, that’s not to say you can’t carry it to an extreme. If fact, some folks are so hung up on fees, they sometimes fail to see the bigger picture.
![When It Comes To Fees, How Does A 401k Fiduciary Measure Value?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/scale-1-1327718-660x395-1-200x157_c.jpg)
Clearly, you wouldn’t pay more for 2 apples if you could get 3 for the same price, but would you pay more to get 2 oranges instead?
![Where and When Do 401k Fees Still Matter?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/toothpaste-1-1414249-660x395-1-200x157_c.jpg)
You can squeeze a tube of toothpaste all you want, but that doesn’t change how much toothpaste it holds. Are we experiencing the same thing with 401k fees, or are they really dropping as much as we think? And, if they are dropping, are they dropping for the right reasons?
![Why Are We Seeing So Little Being Written About 401k Fees Now?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/writing-route-accounting-soft-1240496-660x395-1-200x157_c.jpg)
Today, the understanding of conflict-of-interest fees goes well beyond plan sponsors. Individual investors also understand how they can act as a better fiduciary for their own personal investments.
![When Must a Fiduciary Say “No” to No-Fee Funds?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/giving-hands-1245562-200x157_c.jpg)
Still, others remain cautious, especially given the novelty of the idea and the fact it remains untested.
![What a Fiduciary Should Know: Down and Dirty with “Clean” Shares](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clean-1445150-660x395-200x157_c.jpg)
It will be important for 401k plan sponsors to get down and dirty when it comes to understanding the fiduciary liability implications of “clean” shares and their equivalent. Furthermore, since the most successful class action suits have involved different share classes of the same fund, you can be sure the introduction of “clean” shares will catch the eyes of your not-so-friendly neighborhood class action attorney.