CalSavers vs. a Guideline 401(k)

Meet California’s state retirement mandate with a simple, powerful Guideline 401(k).

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Guideline 401k
Guideline 401k
50K+

businesses1

1M+

savers2

88%

customer satisfaction score3

Forbes Logo

Fintech 504

The mandate in a nutshell

CalSavers was established in 2016. It requires California employers with at least one employee to offer the state-sponsored plan or a qualified alternative like a Guideline 401(k) by December 31st of the year in which you become eligible.5 Compare your options

  • 5+ employees

    December 31, 2024

  • 1-4 employees

    December 31, 2025

Meet the mandate and more with a Guideline 401(k)

  • Magnifying glass with check mark inside, simple icon.

    20-minute setup

    Guideline will help you set up a 401(k) and enroll your employees for you. With CalSavers, you may have to do extra work on behalf of your employees during setup.

  • Lightening bolt simple icon.

    Seamless administration

    We’ll automatically deduct 401(k) contributions each pay run. With CalSavers, you may need to manually send payroll contributions, maintain employee records, and more.

  • Two hands shaking simple icon.

    Fast, live support

    We have your back — you and your team get access to fast, live support via phone and email. Our annual plan sponsor customer satisfaction score is 93%.3

Get back up to $16,500 in tax credits on your new 401(k).6

See if you’re eligible

Compare CalSavers with Guideline Starter

Guideline logo
CalSavers

  • Retirement plan type

    Starter 401(k)

    Roth IRA

  • Maximum employee contributions for 20247

    $6,000

    $7,000

  • Employee asset-based fee

    0.15%

    ($15 for every $10,000)8

    0.30%

    ($30 for every $10,000)9

  • Additional active employee fees

    None10

    $18/year account fee

    (charged quarterly at $4.50 each quarter)10

  • Monthly employer fee

    $39 + $4 per participant

    None

  • Investment options

    40

    17

    (Including Target Date Funds)

  • Professionally managed portfolios

    6

    0

  • Employer match

    No

    No

  • Profit Sharing

    No

    No

Custom integrations. Quick resolutions.

All of our payroll integrations are direct and custom built — we don’t use 3rd party software to sync data. Data syncs every 24 hours with 99% accuracy.11 See all payroll integrations

  • and more
  • and more

Investments are our responsibility

Just like with the state offering, you won’t be responsible for investment option choices. We’ll serve as the ERISA 3(38) fiduciary which means we’re responsible for selecting and managing all investment options — our goal is to reduce your liability and provide you with peace of mind. Learn more

Cliff JNorth Valley Counseling
It was clear that there was also going to be a lot of paperwork and compliance stress. I really did not want to do that. It was worth it to me to find an alternative to the state programClient of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.

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CalSavers FAQs

What is the mandate?

The CalSavers Program was created to encourage more people to save for retirement. It requires California employers with at least 1 employee to provide access to a retirement plan. The plan can either be a private plan like a 401(k) or the state-sponsored plan.

When does the mandate take effect?

For businesses with 5+ employees, the initial deadline has already passed. For newly established businesses or businesses that hire their 5th employee, the deadline is December 31st each year. For companies with 1-4 employees, the deadline is December 31, 2025.

Which employers are impacted by the retirement mandate?

You are eligible to participate in the CalSavers Program if:

  • Your business is registered to conduct business in the state of California
  • You have at least five California based employees
  • Your employees must be 18 years old to enroll in CalSavers
  • You don’t currently offer a qualified retirement savings program to your employees

Are there penalties for not offering a retirement benefit?

Yes. Employers will be subject to a penalty equal to:

  • $250 per eligible employee if noncompliance extends 90 days or more after being served a notice of failure to comply
  • Additional $500 per eligible employee if noncompliance extends 180 days or more after the notice12

Does Guideline satisfy the retirement mandate?

Yes. All of Guideline's 401(k) plans are designed to satisfy state program requirements and are priced to be affordable for businesses of all sizes. 13

Can I move from Guideline Starter to a standard 401(k)?

While it is possible for a plan to convert from a Starter 401(k) to a standard 401(k) plan at Guideline, the transition cannot take place until the beginning of the next calendar year. Learn more here.

  • 1
    As of May 2024
  • 2
    As of August 2024
  • 3
    Guideline’s average customer satisfaction score (CSAT) based on feedback received from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023
  • 4
    Forbes Fintech 50, 2022
  • 5

    Guideline has prepared this summary from third-party sources as of April 29, 2024. The information herein is considered to be reliable at the time of writing, may not necessarily be all-inclusive, is not guaranteed as to accuracy and is subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for specific tax, legal and/or financial advice that considers all relevant facts and circumstances. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. You are advised to consult a qualified financial adviser or tax professional before relying on the information provided herein. Deadlines, fees, and other program details are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decisions. If you already offer a qualified employer-sponsored plan, exemptions may be required. Please consult with your states specific exemption information: https://employer.calsavers.com/californiaertpl/register/viewCollectResendAccessCode.cs or go to https://www.calsavers.com/ for more details.

  • 6
    This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as tax advice. Please consult a tax professional to determine what types of tax credits or deductions your company is eligible to claim.
  • 7

    Subject to IRS cost-of-living adjustments. In 2024, individuals can contribute up to $7,000 between their traditional and Roth accounts. If you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 ($8,000 in total). Starter 401(k) employee can contribute up to $6,000, If you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000.

  • 8
    Information shown here assumes a static balance of $10,000 per month, an assumed annual account fee of between 0.15% on assets under management (calculated and deducted on a monthly basis at 1/12 of the annual stated rate based on the month-end account balance) and does not account for common factors that affect the value of your account balance over time such as gains, losses, distributions, additional contributions, etc. It’s not intended to be taken as investment advice or as an assurance or guarantee of future performance. The fee presented does not include other fees that an IRA owner may incur, including, but not limited to, from mutual fund expense ratios. Alternative account fee pricing is available for the Core and Enterprise plan tiers, ranging from 0.15% to 0.35%. Contact Sales at hello@guideline.com to learn more about exclusive pricing options available in Enterprise tier. See our Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding fees.
  • 9
    Information shown here assumes a static balance of $10,000 per month, an assumed annual account fee of between 0.30% (.05% State Fee and a .25% Program Administrative Fee) on assets under management As of April 29, 2024 according to CalSavers Program Description. This fee includes the State Fee and the Program Administrative Fee. The State Fee is payable to the Board to offset expenses related to the establishment, oversight, and administration of the Program. The State Fee accrues daily and is factored into each Investment Option’s Unit Value. The Program Administrator receives the Program Administration Fee for providing recordkeeping and administrative services for the Program pursuant to a contract with the Board. The Program Administration Fee accrues daily and is factored into each Investment Option’s Unit Value. The fee presented does not include other fees that an employee may incur, including, but not limited to, underlying fund fees. Fees are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decision.
  • 10

    The fee presented does not include other fees that a 401(k) participant may incur, including, but not limited to, from mutual fund expense ratios and a monthly maintenance fee to participants who end employment. Go to https://saver.calsavers.com/home/savers/program-details.html for more details.

  • 11
    Based on Guideline internal analytics from January 2023 through December 2023.
  • 12
    CalSavers FAQ
  • 13
    Visit the CalSavers program site to learn more.
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