EPISODE · Aug 4, 2026 · 48 MIN
Your Law Firm’s 401(k) Could Be Costing You Tens of Thousands
from Maximum Lawyer · host Tyson Mutrux
Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREWhat if your law firm’s 401(k) is quietly costing you tens of thousands of dollars each year?In this episode, Tyson talks with Paul Sippil, also known as the 401(k) Vigilante, about the hidden fees and confusing payment structures built into many retirement plans.Paul explains how he reviews publicly available Form 5500 filings to determine what firms are paying for recordkeeping, administration, custodial services, and financial advice. He also shares why two firms with the same number of employees can pay drastically different fees simply because one plan has accumulated more assets.In this episode, we dive into:Why many firm owners do not know who their 401(k) advisor is, or what that advisor actually doesHow asset-based fees can cause a successful firm to pay more without receiving additional serviceWhy Paul believes every retirement-plan provider should send a clear invoiceWhich 401(k) fees may be negotiable or eliminatedHow excessive fees can affect both law firm partners and employeesWhat attorneys should know about the ABA retirement programThe shocking story of a company that paid nearly $49,000 in commissions while its listed advisor had been dead since 2014Paul also shares practical questions law firm owners can ask their providers to better understand their plans, uncover unnecessary costs, and determine whether they are actually receiving the services they are paying for.Timestamps01:14 — What a forensic 401(k) consultant does 04:34 — Why many owners do not know who their advisor is 09:28 — Why every provider should send an invoice 12:19 — The problem with asset-based fees 13:38 — Why nearly every 401(k) fee is negotiable 15:31 — How small law firms can pay up to $50,000 a year in fees 19:09 — The ABA retirement-plan option for law firms 24:11 — Making hidden participant fees visible 31:43 — Could AI disrupt the retirement-plan industry? 34:06 — The company paying an advisor who had been dead since 2014 41:45 — Alternative approaches to health insurance and employee benefitsIf you own a law firm and have not reviewed your retirement-plan fees recently, this episode will help you understand what to look for, what questions to ask, and where your firm may be overpaying.Connect with PaulLinkedInWebsite🎟️ Get your MaxLawCon tickets: maxlawcon.com🔍 Vet your vendors: beccaslist.coMaximum Lawyer helps law firm owners build businesses, not jobs.Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn
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Your Law Firm’s 401(k) Could Be Costing You Tens of Thousands
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