Confused by Your Principal 401(k)? You’re Not Alone.
Why Are So Many People Googling “Principal 401(k) Plan” Right Now?
Because something feels off.
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Their 401(k) balance dropped—people have questions and are not getting answers.
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They looked up their investments—and found below average funds charging 1.5%+.
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They asked for help—and got put on hold or a PDF and a shrug.
This isn’t a one-off. It’s the pattern.
What’s Usually Broken in Principal Plans
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🛑 High expense ratio proprietary funds stuffed into lineups
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🛑 Extra admin fees layered on top
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🛑 No clear advisor—just a sales rep from 10 years ago still collecting checks
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🛑 Revenue sharing that pads someone else’s pocket, not yours
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🛑 Confusing website, impossible to understand where your money’s going
Real Participant Frustration (From Reddit, Not Me)
“There are two fees and no explanation. I had to dig just to figure that out.”
“This plan feels like it was built in 2003 and never touched again.”
“Why do I have to go to six tabs just to see what I’m invested in?”
That’s not user error. That’s poor plan design. Here’s the reddit link so you can see for yourself:
Experiences with Principal 401k reddit
What You Can Do (Right Now)
👩💼 If you’re an employee:
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Ask your HR team: Who’s our 401(k) advisor?
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If they don’t know—or it’s no one—send them the link to my page on fiduciary responsibility.
🧑💼 If you’re the business owner or HR lead:
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You don’t need to blow up your plan.
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You just need someone independent to audit what’s there and show you what’s broken (or not).
📅 Schedule a 15-minute review →
No pitch. Just facts.
jason@missionretirementplans.com
Why Work With Me?
I’m not a broker. I don’t push product. I’m a 401(k) advisor and TPA who fixes broken plans and gives real advice. I’ve been brought in after plans like yours have been mismanaged, oversold, or just neglected for years. Let’s clean it up.
Bottom Line:
If your employees are confused, frustrated, or disengaged… your 401(k) isn’t working.
And if it’s with Principal, odds are good that they’re right to be suspicious.
Their 401(k) balance dropped—people have questions and are not getting answers.
They looked up their investments—and found below average funds charging 1.5%+.
They asked for help—and got put on hold or a PDF and a shrug.
🛑 High expense ratio proprietary funds stuffed into lineups
🛑 Extra admin fees layered on top
🛑 No clear advisor—just a sales rep from 10 years ago still collecting checks
🛑 Revenue sharing that pads someone else’s pocket, not yours
🛑 Confusing website, impossible to understand where your money’s going
“There are two fees and no explanation. I had to dig just to figure that out.”
“This plan feels like it was built in 2003 and never touched again.”
“Why do I have to go to six tabs just to see what I’m invested in?”
Ask your HR team: Who’s our 401(k) advisor?
If they don’t know—or it’s no one—send them the link to my page on fiduciary responsibility.
You don’t need to blow up your plan.
You just need someone independent to audit what’s there and show you what’s broken (or not).
No pitch. Just facts.
If your employees are confused, frustrated, or disengaged… your 401(k) isn’t working.
And if it’s with Principal, odds are good that they’re right to be suspicious.
Based in California? You’re Not Alone
We work with small and mid-sized companies across California—many right here in San Diego—who were running “fine” plans on autopilot. But once we looked under the hood, they found:
- High asset-based fees no longer justified
- Low participation from employees
- Stale investment menus with no fiduciary oversight
And most importantly: a better way forward that didn’t require blowing everything up.
Free Plan Oversight Check (No Sales Pitch)
If your company plan is more than 5 years old, and you’re not sure when it was last reviewed, we offer a quiet second opinion.
No disruption. No pressure. Just:
- A review of your plan fees and design
- A summary of potential savings or compliance risks
- Advice you can use, whether you work with us or not
Disclosures: This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Principal or any other retirement plan provider. We are an independent advisory firm offering plan oversight and consulting to employers. If you’re a participant looking for account assistance, please contact your plan provider directly.
Call us at (619) 942-4510 to learn more or set up a consultation.
