Massachusetts Secure Choice vs. Guideline 401(k)

Stay ahead of Massachusetts’s retirement mandate with a simple, powerful Guideline 401(k).

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50K+

businesses1

1M+

savers2

93%

customer satisfaction score3

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Innovation by Design Award 20244

The mandate in a nutshell

A bill for the Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program is currently in review with the state legislature. When legislation has passed, Massachusetts employers with 5+ employees that have been in business for 2+ years will be required to offer the state-sponsored plan or a qualified alternative like a Guideline 401(k).5

The Massachusetts mandate is coming - let’s get you ready

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    20-minute setup

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

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    Seamless administration

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

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    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

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.7 See all payroll integrations

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Investments are our responsibility8

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.8 Learn more

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Estimate your plan costs

Your company could be eligible to receive up to $16,500 in tax credits over the plan’s first three years to help offset initial plan costs.6

Rich H.Pallas Care
State retirement programs aren’t really free. You need to consider the administrative labor added to every payroll run.Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.

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Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings FAQs

What is the mandate?

The Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program was created to encourage more people to save for retirement. Once enacted, it will require Massachusetts employers 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?

Legislation for the program is currently undergoing approval and there is no set enrollment or deadline at this time.

Which employers are impacted by the retirement mandate?

You are eligible to participate in Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program if:

  • Your business is registered to conduct business in the state of Massachusetts for 2 years
  • You have at least five or more Massachusetts based employees
  • You don’t currently offer a qualified retirement savings program to your employees

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.

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 plan sponsor satisfaction score (CSAT) based on feedback received from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023.
  • 4

    2024 Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Winner for Guideline's mobile application in the Mid-Size business category.

  • 5

    Guideline has prepared this summary from third-party sources as of November 14, 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 monitor https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S624 for the latest program information.

  • 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
    Based on Guideline internal analytics from January 2023 through December 2023.
  • 8

    Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) product (when 3(38) fiduciary services are appointed) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, the “Affiliated RIA”). Specific references herein to “asset-based fees” or “investment options” or “we” or “our” in this specific context is referring solely services provided- or fees charged- by the Affiliated RIA. See the Affiliated RIA’s Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding its services and fees. Recordkeeping services are offered by Guideline RK, LLC. 3(16) plan administration services are also offered by Guideline RK, LLC and only made available to clients who utilize an eligible payroll provider. Guideline uses a third-party to provide custodial services. Custodial fees are paid by Guideline.

Guideline.com is owned and operated by Guideline, Inc. This website contains content from Guideline, Inc. and its affiliates, each a separate entity with different regulatory marketing requirements and standards. References to "our" or "we" on this website refer solely to Guideline RK, LLC unless otherwise specifically stated.

The information in this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, recommendation, investment advice, legal or tax advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. By using this website, you agree to Guideline, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use. Neither Guideline, Inc. nor its subsidiaries, are responsible for information provided by third parties. Information included herein from third parties is believed to be reliable however Guideline, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of that information.

Guideline, Inc. is a technology company that provides an integrated platform to companies who seek to work with 1) Guideline RK, LLC ("Guideline") and/or 2) Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser ("RIA"), both of which are wholly owned by Guideline Holdings, LLC. Guideline Holdings, LLC is wholly owned by Guideline, Inc. Neither Guideline, Inc. nor Guideline Holdings, LLC or Guideline RK, LLC is involved in securities activities and is not registered with the SEC or FINRA. Neither Guideline, Inc., nor any of its affiliates, is a bank.

Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) (when 3(38) fiduciary services are selected) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. For more information regarding fees and services, see Guideline Investments, LLC’s ADV 2A Brochure and Form CRS. References throughout this website to investment advisory services including but not limited to: investments offered, portfolios, managed portfolios, investment philosophy, assets under management (AUM), annual account fees expressed as a percentage of AUM, suitability questionnaire, 3(38) investment advisory management fiduciary services, robo-advisory services, and investment advice, unless otherwise specifically stated, are services provided by Guideline Investments, LLC. Investing involves risk and may lose money, including loss of principal. Investing is not guaranteed and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. The investment options offered by Guideline Investments, LLC are not FDIC insured.

Recordkeeping services for Guideline’s 401(k) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline RK, LLC. 3(16) plan administration services are also offered by Guideline RK, LLC and only made available to clients who utilize an eligible payroll provider. For more information on Guideline’s pricing, see here. Guideline uses a third-party to provide custodial services. Custodial fees are paid by Guideline.

Any graphs, charts, and other visual aids (collectively referred to as "image(s)") are provided for information purposes only. None of these images can of themselves be used to make investment decisions. No representation is made that these will assist any person in making investment decisions and no image can capture all factors and variables required in making such decisions.

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