Plan fees: Who pays what?

Description

Abstract: Plan sponsors have a fiduciary duty to monitor the fees charged within the plan, including those charged directly — or indirectly — to participants. ERISA requires only that the plan expenses be reasonable and proper. It’s up to the plan sponsor (fiduciary) to determine whether the employer or the participants will pay any given fee. This brief article discusses when the employer or the participants normally pay the cost of a specific fee.