401k plans are becoming the primary source for retirement savings for many Americans. But still, many retirement savers are in the dark. When it comes to the Apple 401k plan, there are excellent resources available from human resources and the benefits team. But don’t stop there. Whether you are a current participant or a recently terminated employee, get an independent review. Make sure you’re not in the dark.
How does the Apple 401k plan rank?
According to Brightscope, the Apple 401k plan is average compared to its peers. It receives a score of 82 which is 8 points less than the top rated plan of 90. Brightscope gives the plan kudos for low costs and an above average rating for “company generosity.” The company generosity category is based on the “plan’s vesting schedule, eligibility periods, and all the contributions to the plan for the sole benefit of the participants.” The plan has an “above average” participation rate meaning Apple 401k plan participants are taking advantage of this benefit.
Benefits Pro (a.k.a. Free ERISA) rates the plan as “good.” According to this site, the plan has three “red flags.”
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Investment Choices
The Apple 401k has a broad list of investments to choose from. According to Brightscope, there are 28 investment options available. An investment lineup with 20 funds is more than enough to adequately meet the needs of most retirement savers. With 28 investments to choose from, participants may feel overwhelmed with options to consider.
Plan Service Providers
The Apple 401k plan utilizes Empower Retirement as the record keeper for the plan. Empower is who you would contact to make investment changes, update beneficiaries, and request distributions etc.
Do you have questions or need help?
If you have questions about your Apple 401k plan, be sure to contact HR and the benefits team at Apple. You can also contact Empower Retirement directly via the link provided earlier in this post.
In addition, please feel free to contact me via this link. I offer prospective clients a free consultation. This is where we discuss your needs and identify the level of service that is right for you.
Have you recently terminated employment with Apple? If so, you have some important decisions to make with regard to your 401k. Contact me today to get started.
Disclaimer
Information contained in the article regarding the Apple 401k plan, is based solely on publicly available information as reported on required tax and disclosure forms as of 2020. In addition, information was gathered from other media outlets. Do not base your investment or financial planning decisions on this article alone. Contact your benefits team, tax advisor, and financial professional to discuss your unique situation.
Hi,
Empower also has a self directed brokerage account. Trade Commissions are on the high side ($8.95), but 401K isn’t really the place for churn anyway.
I never really found Empowers internal funds to be of any value. There are really only about 4 or 5 underlying funds, they just combo them in different ways to make it look like there are more.
Chuck
Thank you for contributing to the conversation Chuck!
Benchmarking your 401k plan is a process of evaluating your company’s retirement plan. The evaluation is necessary to ensure that you understand what plan fees are being charged and why.