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ShareBuilder's passion for helping America's small businesses save with easy, affordable, and on-demand 401(k)s is making headlines. Click the links below to read the latest as well as our press releases.
Important ShareBuilder Articles' Disclaimer: Many regional and national publications regularly feature ShareBuilder. Some of these articles may include extended discussions of, or make simple reference to, a number of subjects which must be accompanied by certain disclosures to readers, as required by various securities regulations. Read the full disclaimer.

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Articles and Interviews

  • Which 401(k) is the Right Fit? With the growing expectation of tax hikes in the year ahead, more small businesses are turning to 401(k) plans to help increase personal and business savings. The right 401(k) plan can be very simple to select and manage once you understand your options. The first thing to understand is the three types of 401(k) plans including Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan, Traditional 401(k) Plan and Advanced Profit Sharing Plans. , Fox Business
  • If-You-Do-Nothing-Else Guide To Managing Growth Small-business 401(k) plans--if your company doesn't have one, it should--are often saddled with funds that carry rich fees for mediocre performance. Even a 1 percentage point difference in annual expenses can make a huge difference. , Forbes.com
  • Why 401(k)s and ETFs Can Work Together ETFs are adored for a number of reasons: they generally have lower fees than most mutual funds, offer tax advantages and can trade like stocks, and, thanks to a price war, commissions on trading them are lower than ever, says Ari Weinberg for The Wall Street Journal. [Why Retirement Portfolios Need to be Rebalanced.] But most 401(k) plans haven’t yet incorporated them. Some of the reasons cited... , ETF Trends
  • The Great 401(k) Tax Hedge As small business owners manage through the tough economy, a new challenge is waiting just around the corner: higher taxes in 2011. To soften the impact of this unexpected hit, many businesses are proactively turning to 401(k) plans that can help them hold on to more of their income. "Thanks to our relationship with ShareBuilder 401k, Costco members who own a business have access to low-cost 401(k) plans designed to help any size office recieve tax and saving benefits," says Jim Goforth, insurance and investing services manager of Costco Services. , The Costco Connection
  • The Making of an All-ETF 401(k) Plan We caught up with Stuart Robertson, General Manager and Principal at ShareBuilder 401(k), to talk about how ETF 401(k) plans are constructed, why they include what they do and what a safe, responsible plan would look like. From a regulatory standpoint, there are two things a company's 401(k) plan needs to do: 1. It must be run in the best interest of the employees. 2. The plan needs to offer diverse investments that help minimize the risk of huge losses. Every plan needs to have at least three fund types, such as a mix of bonds, equities and cash. , ETF Trends
  • 3 Options for Launching a Retirement Plan For small business owners, the benefits of launching a retirement plan are pretty clear and enticing. There are several types of plans to choose from, in the end, three stand out as good-fits for small business. They are: 401(k) plans, SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs. This article discusses in plain English the pros and cons of each. , Fox Business
  • Recession creates opportunities 401(k)s deliver unique advantages that help you save automatically with each paycheck. Saving 10 percent of your salary a year, or even the $16,500 maximum, is a good place to start if you can, and it can lower the personal taxes you pay. Read more: Recession creates opportunities - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) , Puget Sound Business Journal
  • Is This the Fix for Failed 401(k)s? Exchange-traded funds have changed the way people invest. Now, some big players in the ETF industry are looking to have more people use ETFs to change the way they prepare for retirement. , Motley Fool
  • The All-ETF 401(k) – It’s Happening Now The 401(k) market is seen as the final frontier for the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry to traverse. But there are already pioneers out there staking a claim on this new front. One of them is ING Direct’s ShareBuilder 401(k) , ETF Trends
  • ...ETFs Are Easing Into 401(k) Plans ShareBuilder 401(k) is a great option for small- to mid-sized 401(k) plans. We recently switch our 401(k) plan to ShareBuilder, which offers and we’ve been impressed with the level of service offered so far. ING’s ShareBuilder works with small companies to give them a low-cost retirement plan that utilizes only ETFs. , ETF Trends
  • IRA Alternative: Roth Your 401(k) By now, most investors know something about Roth IRAs, and about the option of converting a traditional IRA into a Roth. But there may be another option: investing in a Roth 401(k) at work. The 401(k) version of the Roth doesn’t get much attention, but can be especially good for people who would like to hedge their bets with two types of retirement accounts. , Mainstreet.com
  • One Tax Move Entrepreneurs Shouldn't Miss Affordable 401(k) plans are a smart way for small businesses to survive the downturn while building for the future. , Forbes
  • ETFs Slowly but Surely Replacing Mutual Funds... ETFs have a lot of selling points, but the one that would be most appealing to 401(k) plan participants is that of low fees. That difference can translate into savings of tens of thousands... , ETF Trends
  • Does Your 401(k) Have an ETF in its Future? There's a lot of talk about exchange-traded funds being offered in 401(k) plans. While nobody was paying much attention, ETFs' share of the $1 trillion in 401(k) assets has reportedly grown to about $2 billion to $4 billion. , Daily Finance
  • Critical 401k Deadline Looms... Entrepreneurs can reap a tax benefit by setting up a Safe Harbor 401(k)--if they act quickly.Small businesses looking for shelter from the tax man might want to consider setting up a Safe Harbor 401(k) plan. But they have to move fast. , Forbes.com
  • Five Things Every 401(k) Plan Should Have If the Great Recession has taught us anything, it is the importance of saving for a rainy day. As the financial markets continue to shudder, wheeze and seek stability, a growing number of small business owners are taking a closer look at setting up retirement plans to both save and retain the kind of talent that will help them survive the storm. , Forbes.com
  • Adding a 401(k) in this economy? Here’s why... In a year when small business owners are looking for every opportunity to reduce expenses, it’s easy to dismiss the cost of enrolling in a 401(k) plan as “too expensive.” , PSBJ
  • Pitfalls to avoid if you must tap 401(k)... As credit markets tighten, getting access to cash is becoming increasingly difficult for everyone, especially small businesses. There is no talk of a bailout plan for America’s 6 million tax-paying businesses with one to 50 employees. , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Despite Slump, Some Small Firms Add 401(k)s Despite Slump, Some Small Firms Add 401(k)s But the New Plans May Come With Trade-Offs, Such as Delayed Employer Matches and a Moratorium on Raises , The Wall Street Journal
  • Which 401(k) Plans Incorporate ETFs While there are still cries for exchange traded funds (ETFs) to be a regular feature of 401(k) plans, one company is already enthusiastically incorporating them. , ETF Trends
  • Find the Upside in a Down Market Helpful Insights for 401(k) Long-Term Investors When there is a down market, it’s common to be concerned about how much money you have lost in your 401(k). The truth is there are no losses unless you are actively taking money out of your account at a price below the purchase price. On paper it can look bad now, but it’s the value when you withdraw those funds that matters. , ShareBuilder 401k
  • 3 Easy Ways to Curb the High Cost of Employee... For small business owners, the loss of a key employee can be especially expensive. In fact, recent research shows that small business owners estimate the cost of replacing an employee at close to $6,000.1 , Resource Nation
  • Volatile Markets and Your 401(k When markets are highly volatile — especially when they drop and you see your portfolio dip — it’s natural to want to make quick changes to your 401(k) account. Before you do, step back and consider your goals as well as when you will actually start using the money in your retirement account. , a message from our General Manager
  • Listen to Our 401(k) Insights Interview the ShareBuilder 401k General Manager, Stuart Robertson. , Money in the Morning with George Chamberlain
  • What Small Business Owners Need to Know... Running a small business can be a life-consuming process, so sometimes small-business owners miss the forest for the trees. Maybe that's why only about 16 percent of businesses with fewer than 50 employees in the United States have 401(k) plans. Small-business owners are so focused on developing their businesses that some do not realize that those assets can grow at a much faster rate for their retirement under the right plan. , US News and World Report
  • Using the 401(k) to Pre-empt Next Year's Tax... While an increasing number of Americans are diligently making contributions to their 401(k)s, they may be unaware of an important detail: the excessive fees they may be paying to their 401(k) administrator. , PSBJ
  • Employers Can Take Aim at Workers' 401(k) Fees While an increasing number of Americans are diligently making contributions to their 401(k)s, they may be unaware of an important detail: the excessive fees they may be paying to their 401(k) administrator. , PSBJ
  • There Are No Retirement Loans Americans lead the world in buying on credit... But, while it's easy to finance a home or a car or even an education, you can't take out a retirement loan. , Forbes.com
  • Retirement Reality Check for Entrepreneurs ...47% of small business owners are not at all confident that they're saving enough for retirement. And more than half indicate that they plan to retire after age 65 or never. , Forbes.com
  • Using ETFs to Cut 401(k) Costs Bashaw went with ShareBuilder online, small-business 401(k) offering, which uses portfolios of ETFs. , Small Business Review
  • Retiring on ETFs A LOW-COST RETIREMENT plan built exclusively around exchange-traded funds is offering the little guys a new and potentially lucrative way to save. , Smart Money
  • A 401(k) Boost Gates Home Furnishings has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to retirement plans. , BusinessWeek
  • Small Biz Can Save Retirement NEW YORK - As I see it, America is facing a retirement crisis. Picture a scenario where most people hit age 60 or 65 and have no choice but to keep working, asking to stay on in their current jobs: , Forbes.com
  • Small Business 401(k)s Meet the Internet Today, too many small businesses don’t offer a 401(k) plan because simple-to-use, cost-effective plans are unavailable. New on-demand, internet-based technology is quickly making this a problem of the past. , Smart Biz

Press Releases

  • Safe Harbor 2010 Deadline Approaches , 08/12/2010
  • New 401(k) Program Automatically Lowers Prices At a time when small businesses are searching for cost-effective ways to offer their workers invaluable benefits, one 401(k) provider is unveiling a new program that can keep employee satisfaction high – and the price of retirement services low. , 01/21/2010
  • Online Provider of Small Business 401(k)s... SEATTLE — (August 6, 2009) — ShareBuilder 401k, a leading provider of 401(k) plans for small businesses 1-250 employees in size, today announced a new offering that makes it simple for Registered Investment Advisors to deliver a leading-edge 401(k) plan to their business clients. , 08/07/2009
  • Report Shows Small Business Owners Losing Conf... Bellevue, WA — (October 15, 2008) When it comes to Social Security, two-thirds of small business owners in this country want the opportunity to manage their own accounts, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by ING DIRECT’s ShareBuilder 401k. , 10/15/2008
  • Study Reveals Small Business Owners’ Growing Fears Bellevue, WA — (September 30, 2008) At a time when many of the nation’s largest companies are struggling to survive, a growing number of small businesses are also feeling the stress that comes from making and saving money in a tough economy, according to the results of a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive for ING DIRECT’s ShareBuilder 401k. , 09/30/2008
  • How to Make Every Day a 401(k) Day Bellevue, WA — Each year, American workers are honored for their achievements with a day off on Labor Day. But it’s no coincidence that directly following Labor Day, there’s a day that celebrates the journey of what Americans hope to achieve before they leave the workforce: reaching their retirement savings goals and lowering tax bills along the way! Today is 401(k) Day, and this annual event highlights the importance of retirement savings and employer-sponsored profit sharing and 401(k) plans. , 09/05/2008
  • ShareBuilder401(k) Reports Surging Demand for Smal BELLEVUE, Wash. – (May 20, 2008) – At a time when many Americans are scrambling to make ends meet, a surprising number of small businesses are finding the wherewithal to finally begin saving for retirement, according to ShareBuilder 401(k), a leading provider of 401(k) plans for small businesses. , 05/20/2008
  • Small Business Employers and Employees View... BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 13 PRNewswire -- While many small business owners still regard the 401(k) as an unnecessary perk, 64 percent of their employees view it as an important benefit that employers should be obligated to offer, according to a new survey. , 11/13/2007
  • ShareBuilder401(k) Reports Growing Demand... BELLEVUE, Wash. – (November 6, 2007) – Small business owners and the financial advisers that serve them are the latest groups to embrace Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) according to ShareBuilder 401(k). With over 1,250 ETF-based 401(k) plans sold to small businesses in just 2 years, ShareBuilder 401(k) is a leader in providing100 percent ETF-based 401(k) plans. , 11/06/2007
  • ShareBuilder Launches the ‘1%’ Goal to Combat ... The "1% Goal" Aims to Raise Consumer Awareness of Hidden Fees by Setting a Clear Benchmark and Providing Complete Visibility into ShareBuilder's 401(k) Fee Structure , 06/07/2007
  • ...Small Business Failing to Meet Retirement Needs Harris Interactive on behalf of ShareBuilder 401(k) ( www.sharebuilder401k.com ) found that just 14 percent of America's small business owners offer a 401(k) plan and 63 percent do not offer any form of retirement benefits to their employees. This is despite that fact that when it comes to their own personal retirement security, nearly half (47 percent) indicated they are not confident that they are prepared for retirement. , 11/13/2006
  • Seventy Percent Of Small Business Owners Say In a recent survey commissioned by ShareBuilder 401(k) (www.sharebuilder401k.com), 70 percent of small business owners in the U.S. said that Social Security will be an important issue when they cast their votes in next week's mid-term elections. , 11/01/2006
  • ShareBuilder Expands Retirement-Savings Options BELLEVUE, WA — August 1, 2006 — ShareBuilder Corporation today announced that it has expanded its retirement-savings options for small businesses and self-employed workers with the addition of the ShareBuilder Roth 401(k) plan. ShareBuilder 401(k) customers can select to contribute their retirement savings into a Roth 401(k). This will be effective as of October 1. Introduced to investors for the first time on January 1, 2006, this plan allows Americans to fund their retirement with after-tax money and enables withdrawals taken after the age of 59½ to be tax-free. , 08/01/2006
  • ShareBuilder Launches 401(k) Plan (October 17, 2005) - More than 85 percent of the small businesses in the United States do not offer their employees any retirement plan, according to the Small Business Administration. Because of this, more than one-third of America’s workforce does not have access to an employer-provided retirement plan. To help solve this small business retirement crisis, ShareBuilder Corporation today announced the ShareBuilder 401(k) , 10/17/2005

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