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Check out The Best Business Employee Retirement Plans of 2026 business.com recommends.
Small business owners know they should offer their staff retirement plans to stay competitive, but many assume they can’t afford it. What they often overlook is that there are low-cost options built specifically for smaller enterprises. These plan providers make it possible for business owners and their employees to save for retirement without breaking the budget. Human Interest is a standout example in retirement planning. This vendor keeps prices low by taking a digital-first approach to enrolling and managing retirement plans — and by not charging transaction fees.
But that’s not the only reason this company is our best pick for cost-conscious business owners. When you work with Human Interest, you get lots of tools and functionality for an inexpensive price. That includes integrations with more than 600 payroll providers, automated administration and recordkeeping. Plus, if you want Human Interest to procure your ERISA bond, act as your plan administrator and fiduciary and sign and file your IRS documents, this plan provider won’t add massive fees to your overall costs.
Human Interest sets itself apart from other plan providers with an inexpensive Essentials plan, which costs $80/month, plus $5 per employee. For that price, you can integrate employee retirement plan data with over 600 payroll providers, create custom retirement plans, and automate plan administration and recordkeeping. If you want to add end-to-end administration to your employee benefits package, Human Interest’s Complete plan does so for $180 per month plus $7 per employee per month.
For businesses that want dedicated account management along with ongoing plan design and consultation, Human Interest’s Concierge plan remains competitively priced at $280 per month plus $9 per employee per month.
Each Human Interest plan requires a $499 installation fee, though the company often waives this fee as part of ongoing promotions. For comparison, we found in our review of USA 401k that this Human Interest rival charges a one-time $250 installation fee, a $500 annual fee and $20 per plan participant, per month.
Like all employee retirement providers we reviewed, Human Interest charges several fees, including a 0.01 percent monthly advisory fee and a 0.05 percent monthly recordkeeping fee. We found these fees to be on par with other providers we reviewed.
A retirement plan provider should offer a lot of helpful features and functionality at a reasonable price point for you to truly get the most bang for your buck. Human Interest checks those boxes, too. For example, if you opt for their top-tier plan, they provide a concierge-style approach to setting up your employee retirement plans. You’ll work with a team of specialists to create custom plans that meet your business’s specific needs.
Human Interest can also act as your plan administrator, offers payroll integration and contribution processing, provides all required disclosures and allows employees to take loans from their retirement accounts. We also like how Human Interest empowers employees with access to mobile enrollment, built-in investment advice, and online retirement and investment calculators. Price alone doesn’t make a retirement plan company affordable. It’s the services you get for that price that matters most. Human Interest delivers on both fronts, which is why we selected it as the best employee retirement plan provider for affordability.
The Human Interest software’s ability to integrate with more than 500 payroll programs is key to the system’s time-saving automation features. We like how opportunities for accounting errors are minimized by employee and employer contribution rates being automatically updated, deducted and invested with the payroll integration enabled. Human Interest also handles all account setup, recordkeeping and reporting, and updates of employee information, giving business owners the freedom to take a hands-off approach.
Even with a digital-first service, the level of personalized support available is a standout feature. Human Interest provides businesses on the Concierge plan with a dedicated account manager during setup and implementation, helping ensure the transition to a new retirement plan goes smoothly. We also appreciate how Human Interest leads with technology — this streamlined approach keeps costs manageable while simplifying the day-to-day administration of your employee retirement plan.
Human Interest is a full-service retirement plan sponsor, which means it offers a host of retirement savings features and services to small business owners. The best part? With Human Interest, you don’t have to sacrifice certain functions to keep this benefit affordable for you and your employees.
Depending on the plan you select, Human Interest can act as your plan administrator, custodian, recordkeeper and ERISA 3(38) investment manager. This takes vital tasks off your plate and leaves them to the experts.
Human Interest integrates with more than 600 top payroll companies to streamline plan enrollment, deductions and records. Among the most popular integration options are Gusto, Rippling and QuickBooks Online. If your current payroll provider isn’t already partnered with Human Interest, that’s not a dealbreaker — the company encourages you to refer your provider so they can get them on board. In the meantime, they can still help you establish your retirement plan. Human Interest can also connect you with a new payroll partner if needed. [See our Gusto payroll review to learn about the HR company’s add-ons and integrations, including employee retirement services.]
Plan participants work with Human Interest to build a portfolio of low-cost mutual funds, which are rebalanced quarterly — a feature we think adds value for hands-off investors. Employees who prefer more control can also select and manage their own funds. Enrolled team members have access to a range of funds from well-known providers, including Vanguard, Dimensional Fund Advisors, BlackRock and Charles Schwab.
One standout feature is the ability to browse Human Interest’s full roster of exchange-traded funds and managed portfolios directly on the company’s website. Each listed fund links to a Morningstar profile covering the fund’s strategy, historical performance, asset allocation and other key details. Human Interest also offers a Learning Center — a library of articles, calculators and guides for employers and employees. Having these resources readily accessible makes a difference when navigating investment decisions.
Human Interest works with financial advisers around the country to create custom retirement plans based on your business’s specific needs and the plan options you want to offer your workforce.
Human Interest prepares all the necessary forms and disclosures you need when providing employee retirement plans. This is another example of how the plan provider reduces your personal workload so retirement plan administration isn’t just one more task on your already-long to-do list.
Human Interest has 401(k) plans with options for loans and hardship withdrawals. This gives your team members the opportunity to borrow or withdraw money from their retirement savings account if needed.
Human Interest offers a mobile app for easy enrollment and plan management, which is notable because not all retirement plan providers offer one. For instance, our review of ShareBuilder 401k found that the rival company doesn’t have a mobile app for its users.
Human Interest strives to offer affordable plans with three pricing tiers business owners can choose from. The services it offers expand correspondingly with each tier, making it easier to find a fit whether you’re running a lean startup or a growing team.
Plan | Cost | Services |
|---|---|---|
Essentials | $80 per month, plus $5 per employee, per month | Integration with 600+ payroll providers, flexible plan design, automated administration and recordkeeping |
Complete | $180 per month, plus $7 per employee, per month | Everything in the Essentials package, plus ERISA bond procurement, plan administration, 3(16) fiduciary, IRS document signing and filing |
Concierge | $280 per month, plus $9 per employee, per month | Everything in the Complete package, plus dedicated account management |
Human Interest charges a one-time setup fee, though the company often waives this cost. Human Interest also charges a 0.01 percent monthly advisory fee and a 0.05 percent monthly recordkeeping fee.
Human Interest is a user-friendly digital platform designed for an easy implementation of retirement plans. Thanks to an intuitive online onboarding questionnaire, business owners can quickly establish a retirement plan for their staffers. For business owners with a lot of questions or concerns, one of the company’s onboarding specialists can assist you with the setup process. Employees are also supported as they set up their accounts, with a clear step-by-step process that should eliminate any concerns your workers have about the difficulty of signing up for the plan.
Human Interest offers employers and employees customer service by phone at 855-622-7824, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also take advantage of email support by sending a message to support@humaninterest.com, or utilizing a contact form on the vendor’s website.
For those who prefer to find answers on their own, Human Interest’s website includes a “Help Center” alongside a comprehensive “Learning Center.” Both resources are packed with useful information, covering everything from how to navigate the Human Interest platform to in-depth explanations of different retirement plan types. Users can explore FAQs, browse a glossary of retirement terms, keep up with relevant retirement legislation and sign up for Human Interest’s “Retirement Roadmap” newsletter.
Human Interest offers small businesses affordable employee retirement plans with tons of features, but there are a few potential drawbacks. One is its $499 setup fee, which can vary based on current promotions. While a one-time sign-up fee is standard in this industry, it’s always worth asking a sales representative whether any fee waivers are available at the time you’re enrolling.
Another possible downside is Human Interest’s near-total reliance on digital operations. Going paperless is more common with each passing year, but not all business owners are tech-savvy. Some are tech-savvy but prefer working with physical documentation for payroll and other financial matters. If that’s you, Human Interest may not be the right retirement plan provider for your company. However, this limitation will likely be seen as an advantage by those business owners who appreciate doing everything online.
When searching for the top retirement plan providers, we researched and analyzed different vendors to compare their features, available plan types, pricing, integrations, customer support options and more. To find the best plan sponsor for business owners seeking the most affordable employee retirement plans, we started by homing in on the vendors that keep prices relatively low.
After identifying those companies, we dug into how much they charge for setup, in annual or monthly maintenance fees, and per employee, per month. We also looked into how much the plan sponsors charge employees for their investments. From there, we evaluated the breadth of features and services these affordable plan providers offer. We sought access to many investment options, a mobile and/or online app and top-notch customer service. After all, to be truly affordable and worth it, you have to offer a great plan at a low cost.
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Check out The Best Business Employee Retirement Plans of 2026 business.com recommends.
