Pooled Employer Plan

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) is a single, professionally managed retirement plan that allows multiple employers to participate in one shared 401(k) plan.

Instead of each employer managing their own plan independently, the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan uses a Pooled Plan Provider to oversee administration, compliance, and key fiduciary responsibilities on behalf of all participating employers.

This structure simplifies plan management while allowing businesses to offer a high-quality retirement benefit to their employees.

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan differs from a traditional 401(k) by centralizing administration, fiduciary responsibility, and investment management under a single coordinated structure.
Key differences include:

• Administration: The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan transfers most administrative responsibilities from the employer to a Pooled Plan Provider, while traditional 401(k) plans require employers to manage or coordinate these functions.
• Fiduciary Responsibility: In the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan, fiduciary responsibilities are shared between the Pooled Plan Provider and the 3(38) investment manager (Fisher\SMB), whereas employers retain more direct responsibility in a traditional 401(k).
• Investment management: The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan uses a centralized, professionally managed investment lineup, while traditional plans may offer customized menus.
• Cost structure: The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan may reduce costs for larger plans through shared services such as audits, while traditional plans over 100 participants have to solely fund these costs.

For a detailed, side-by-side comparison of features, responsibilities, and costs, see our full Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan vs. traditional 401(k) comparison chart.

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan combines institutional-quality investment management with a simplified, fully supported retirement plan structure designed specifically for small and mid-sized businesses. Key advantages of the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan include:

• Fiduciary-first approach: Fisher\SMB serves as the 3(38) investment manager within the Pooled Employer Plan, taking discretionary responsibility for investment decisions and acting in the best interest of employers and employees.
• Institutional-quality investments: The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan provides access to high-quality, low-cost institutional share class funds designed to improve participant outcomes.
• Scale-driven benefits: The structure of the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan allows for negotiated pricing and enhanced vendor service levels.
• Enhanced employee engagement: Through personalized, one-on-one financial guidance and proactive outreach, the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan helps employees make more confident financial decisions.
• Simplified administration: The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan offers a single, centralized point of contact for plan support and employee questions, reducing administrative complexity for employers.

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan helps employers streamline retirement plan management while improving efficiency and reducing risk.
Key benefits include:

• Reduced administrative workload through outsourced plan management
• Lower fiduciary exposure through the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan structure
• Potential audit cost savings through shared plan-level audits
• Time savings by reducing internal administrative responsibilities

Overall, the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan enables employers to focus on their core business while offering a high-quality retirement plans.

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan reduces administrative burden by centralizing plan management under a Pooled Plan Provider. Within the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan, the plan’s service providers provide oversight of:

• Form 5500 preparation and filing
• Compliance testing and reporting
• Audit coordination
• Participant notices and documentation
• Loan and distribution processing

By outsourcing these responsibilities through the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan, employers can significantly reduce the time and effort required to manage their plan.

Yes, employers retain limited fiduciary responsibilities within the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan.
These responsibilities include:

• Selecting the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan
• Monitoring the Pooled Plan Provider and Fisher\SMB in its role as the 3(38) investment manager
• Most day-to-day fiduciary responsibility is handled within the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan structure

There is no single standard price for the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan because costs vary based on plan size, number of participants, total assets, and the services included. Typical cost components in the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan include:

• Pooled Plan Provider (PPP) fees
• Plan administration and recordkeeping fees
• 3(38) investment management fees (Fisher\SMB)
• Investment fund expenses
• Audit costs

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan is typically more cost-effective than a traditional 401(k) for employers with over 100 participants who already outsource 3(16) and 3(38) services.
This is largely due to:

• Shared audit costs across participating employers
• Lower annual audit expenses

Employers with fewer participants or fewer outsourced services may see higher total costs within the Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan because:

• The plan includes bundled fiduciary and administrative services
• These services may represent new or expanded capabilities

The Fisher\SMB Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) is a type of Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) that enables multiple employers to participate in a single retirement plan. Unlike traditional MEPs, which typically require a shared organizational connection such as a common industry or association, a PEP allows unrelated employers to participate together.

A key distinction between a MEP and a PEP is structural: PEPs are required to have a Pooled Plan Provider (PPP) that serves as the plan sponsor. In this role, the PPP assumes responsibility for administration, compliance, and key fiduciary functions, creating a centralized framework designed to reduce employer workload.