Vermont Saves vs. Guideline 401(k)

Meet Vermont’s state retirement mandate with an all-in-one 401(k) and live support.1

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50K+
businesses2
1M+
savers3
93%
customer satisfaction score4
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Innovation by Design Award 20245

The mandate in a nutshell

The Vermont Saves program was established in 2024. It requires Vermont employers with 5+ employees to offer the state-sponsored plan or a qualified alternative like a Guideline 401(k).6 Compare your options
  • 5+ employees

    March 1, 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 Vermont Saves, 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 Vermont Saves, 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%.4
Get back up to $16,500 in tax credits on your new 401(k).7
See if you’re eligible

Compare Vermont Saves with Guideline Starter

Guideline logo
Vermont Saves
  • Retirement plan type
    Starter 401(k)
    Roth IRA
  • Maximum employee contributions for 20258
    $6,000
    $7,000
  • Employee asset-based fee
    0.15%9
    0.20%10
  • Additional active employee fees
    None11
    $26/year account fee
    (charged quarterly at $6.50 each quarter)10
  • Monthly employer fee

    $39 + $4 per participant

    None
  • Investment options12
    40
    17
    (Including Target Date Funds)
  • Professionally managed portfolios12
    6
    0
  • Exempt from IRS testing
    Yes
    Yes
  • Employer match
    None
    None
  • Plan sponsor satisfaction score4
    93%
    Not listed

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.13 See all payroll integrations
  • and more
  • and more

Investments are our responsibility12

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.12 Learn more

Calculator

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.7
Nikki K.Cobra Systems
I tell people to look at Guideline all the time. It’s streamlined, easy-to-use, and budget-friendly.Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.
Get a retirement plan you and your team will love
See our Privacy Policy to learn how we use and protect your information.

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Vermont Saves FAQs

What is the mandate?

The Vermont Saves program was created to encourage more people to save for retirement. It requires Vermont employers with 5 or more employees 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 companies with 5+ employees, the deadline is March 1, 2025.

Which employers are impacted by the retirement mandate?

You are eligible to participate in Vermont Saves if:

  • Your business is registered to conduct business in the state of Vermont
  • You have at least five Vermont 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.