GuidelineReviews of guideline.com

Bait and switch! Increased participant management fee from 0% to 0.08%. Doesn't sound like much but triples the cost of low expense ratio index funds. They got rid of some other participant fees, like the rollover, but at the cost of eating returns.

Worst 401k provider with worst customer service. They abruptly increased fee. We decided to move our 401k to different provider. They are taking forever to respond and yes we have to keep paying them monthly fees at their new increased fee plan due to their intentional delays.

They had a teaser fee to get us in and then increased their monthly fee from $35 to $79 a month. We decided to move to 401go.com. They told me there would be no closing plan cost for the transfer and then asked me to sign a document with $250 "plan wind down fee". Terrible greedy company.

Guideline recently increased their fees... again. This time adding an obnoxious monthly flat fee as well as AUM fees that they were sooooo against previously. As a result, my company's 401k fees are increasing by 82.5% per year. Bait and switch is built into this company's DNA. Buyer beware.

If you need any answers from them, forget about it you will spend your days trying to get a response (by email or phone). that is in addition to their lack of knowledge which might lead to state penalties.

They are not a low cost option if you need to use all of your team's time tracking them down for answers. They never answer their phone or emails, they do not provide basic reports such as compliance testing results, email communication, not even loans! (which are not visible on the plan sponsor website). I though Principle was the worst bunch of inexperienced yahoos until Guideline lowered the bar. I honestly don't know how they stay out of jail much less in business.

"You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!" Had to shut down my company so shut down the 401k w/Guideline. They said it'd take 90 days to shutdown...here we are on now entering month 5 and it isn't shutdown. They continue to bill me. They don't respond to service requests. I wouldn't sign up with them again.

This is one of the worst vendors I deal with at my small business. We use them because of the integration with Gusto's payroll system, but the experience has been atrocious. Customer service responds in weeks rather than hours or days and often has no clue what they are talking about. I have received incorrect advice on multiple occassions. Please avoid.