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Provider comparison

Pango Financial vs My Solo 401k: which ROBS provider fits your situation?

By Dennis Shirshikov · Reviewed July 31, 2026

Direct answer

My Solo 401k has the cleaner low-cost public fee cadence for a base case: $3,000 in year one, then $899 annually after 12 months for the first 10 participants, plus $75 for each additional participant.[7] Pango Financial publishes more conflicting setup language: $4,695 appears on multiple DreamSpark pages, while one FAQ answer says $3,995; both use $129/month maintenance.[3][4][5][6] Choose based on the written contract, employee count, valuation facts and how much provider coordination you need, not on a single headline fee.

Compare providers Read methodology

Best quick fit for Pango

Buyers who want published DreamSpark setup details, $129/month maintenance, account/rollover instructions and explicit fiduciary-scope limits, and who will get the $4,695 versus $3,995 setup conflict resolved in writing.

Best quick fit for My Solo

Buyers prioritizing lower base public pricing, annual rather than monthly renewal, the first-10 participant boundary, annual valuation support, mandatory amendment language and bounded audit-support terms.

Boundary

Unknown means a checked public source did not publish the actor, task, fee, timing or contract term; silence is never scored as zero.

Direct answer for a buyer comparing these two providers

Pango and My Solo both publish enough ROBS setup and administration details to merit a serious contract review. Neither should be treated as a universal fit. Pango is easier to diligence where the question is setup workflow, account instructions, employee eligibility tracking and fiduciary-scope disclaimers. My Solo is easier to diligence where the question is a lower base public fee, annual renewal timing, additional-participant charges, valuation support, amendment support and bounded audit assistance.

The official IRS material matters because a ROBS is not merely a funding workaround: the plan buys C corporation stock, and the plan sponsor remains responsible for operation, filings, valuation, nondiscrimination and prohibited-transaction issues.[1] The DOL material matters because provider selection is a fiduciary process that should compare services, compensation, participant information and ongoing monitoring rather than only the setup fee.[2]

Pricing math: three reproducible public scenarios

The math below uses only public provider fee statements reopened on July 31, 2026. Pango remains a conflict, not a tie-breaker: this page preserves both setup references and does not select $3,995 as the controlling current price. My Solo's first-year annual support is included, so the base three-year case counts two $899 renewals, not one.

Pango $4,695 setup-reference scenario[3][4][5][6]

DreamSpark using $4,695 setup reference plus $129 monthly maintenance

Setup
$4,695
Recurring annual
$1,548
First year
$6,243
Three years
$9,339

$4,695 + ($129 × 12) = $6,243; $4,695 + ($129 × 36) = $9,339

Uses Pango pages that publish $4,695. It does not resolve Pango's separate $3,995 FAQ setup statement and is not a total-cost guarantee.

Pango $3,995 setup-reference scenario[4][6]

DreamSpark using $3,995 FAQ setup reference plus $129 monthly maintenance

Setup
$3,995
Recurring annual
$1,548
First year
$5,543
Three years
$8,639

$3,995 + ($129 × 12) = $5,543; $3,995 + ($129 × 36) = $8,639

Preserves the provider-controlled FAQ conflict and does not select $3,995 as the controlling current price. Starting/public prices are not total-cost guarantees.

My Solo first-10-participants public cadence scenario[7]

Business Financing 401k setup with first-year annual support included, then renewal for first 10 participants

Setup
$3,000
Recurring annual
$899
First year
$3,000
Three years
$4,798

$3,000 first year; $3,000 + ($899 × 2) = $4,798 over three years for first 10 participants

First-year annual support is included in setup. The $899 annual fee starts 12 months later for the first 10 participants; $75 per additional participant is excluded from this base scenario and must be added if the plan exceeds 10 participants.

How to decide between Pango Financial and My Solo 401k

Lean toward Pango if these facts describe your diligence file

You want public support for DreamSpark plan design, articles filing, first-year registered agent service, EIN/plan ID applications, bank account instructions, stock certificates, rollover instructions, Form 5500 preparation, compliance testing, participant statements, vesting and eligibility tracking.[4][5][6] The written quote must resolve whether your setup fee is $4,695 or $3,995 and whether any state, custodian, valuation, cancellation or exit costs sit outside the headline fee.

Lean toward My Solo if these facts describe your diligence file

You want public support for $3,000 setup with first-year support included, $899 annual renewal starting after 12 months, first-10 participant pricing, $75 per added participant, EINs, bank and brokerage accounts, transfer forms, Form 5500, Form 1099-R, annual routine valuation, mandatory amendments, nondiscrimination testing and top-heavy/additions/coverage work.[7] The written agreement should define guarantee conditions, tax-court counsel triggers and any costs outside annual support.[10]

What each provider publishes and what remains unknown

These cards are not quality scores. They show whether the checked public pages publish a task as included, guided/limited or not found. Unknown items are often contract terms, not necessarily missing services.

Pango Financial evidence

Setup / implementation

Published as included

Both publish setup pricing; Pango has conflicting setup references preserved as separate scenarios, and My Solo renewal is not charged in year one.

  • “just $4,695” [3]
  • “flat setup fee of only $3,995” [4]

Corporation and plan formation

Published as included

Both itemize corporation and plan-formation tasks.

  • “design of your DreamSpark® plan” [4]
  • “preparation and filing your articles of incorporation” [4]

EINs

Published as included

Both name EIN/TIN tasks; My Solo separately names plan and corporation EINs.

  • “application for Employer Tax and Retirement Plan ID numbers” [4]
  • “Obtain corporate federal employer identification number (EIN)” [5]
  • “Plan Trust Identification Number (TIN)” [5]

Bank and brokerage accounts

Published as guided or limited

Pango publishes instructions for accounts; My Solo itemizes bank and brokerage account setup tasks.

  • “bank account instructions to set up your plan and corporate bank accounts” [4]
  • “Instructions to set up your corporate bank account” [5]
  • “Instructions to set up your plan bank account or custodial account” [5]

Rollover / transfer / stock purchase

Published as included

Both name rollover/transfer and stock mechanics; Pango separately disclaims holding retirement funds.

  • “Instructions and required forms to request your rollover” [5]
  • “stock certificates, calculation and issuance” [4]
  • “Pango Financial will never hold your retirement funds” [4]

Ongoing administration / compliance support

Published as included

Both publish ongoing support; Pango monthly maintenance and My Solo annual renewal are different cadences.

  • “manage your plan maintenance for you for $129 a month” [4]
  • “low monthly fee for this service is $129 a month” [6]

Participant additions

Published as guided or limited

Both mention participant or employee workflows; only My Solo publishes the first-10 and $75 added-participant fee boundary.

  • “participant statement preparations” [4]
  • “any employee that meets the eligibility guidelines for the DreamSpark® plan must have the option to participate” [4]

Employee eligibility / contributions / vesting

Published as included

Both name eligibility, vesting or contribution work; exact payroll and notice actors remain contract questions.

  • “vesting and eligibility tracking” [4]
  • “vesting” [6]
  • “eligibility tracking” [6]

Testing and filings

Published as included

Both itemize testing and filing tasks; exact forms differ by passage.

  • “preparing your form 5500” [4]
  • “compliance testing” [4]
  • “preparing your form 5500” [6]

Participant notices

Ask for contract terms

Participant statements are not scored as required notice delivery. Neither checked provider source states participant notices, notice timing, delivery mechanics or responsible signer.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Valuation / annual FMV

Published as guided or limited

Pango included valuation is limited to brand-new C corporations not capitalized before engagement; My Solo annual support and one-time valuation price must not be conflated.

  • “Certified business valuation for new businesses” [3]
  • “only available for brand new C corporations that were not capitalized prior to engagement of this service” [5]
  • “If you are investing in an existing C corporation, a third party valuation will need to be obtained by you from a certified business appraiser” [4]

IRS / DOL audit assistance

Ask for contract terms

Pango checked pages mention compliance but not IRS/DOL audit-response scope. My Solo guarantee is bounded to procedures/requirements, IRS/DOL plan-audit assistance and tax-court legal counsel only under the stated prohibited-transaction allegation circumstance.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Amendments / restatements

Ask for contract terms

My Solo names mandatory amendments; Pango checked pages do not state plan amendments, restatements, regulatory update documents, adoption-agreement changes or amendment fees.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Financing / SBA loan coordination

Ask for contract terms

ROBS funding language, compatibility tools and menu links are not scored as lender packaging, SBA loan work, financing applications or closing coordination without exact task text.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Corrections

Ask for contract terms

Neither checked provider source states VCP, DFVCP, prohibited-transaction correction, failed-testing correction, correction fees or who signs correction filings.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Exit / termination

Ask for contract terms

My Solo has separate exit webinar/link leads, but neither checked source defines delivered sale, plan termination, provider transition, employer-stock buyback, trust liquidation, final valuation or final filing scope.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Cancellation / refunds

Ask for contract terms

Unknown cancellation/refund terms: free or risk-free consultation, satisfaction language, upfront pricing or guarantee labels do not prove cancellation right, timing, exclusions, mechanics or post-work refund amount.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Data ownership / exports

Ask for contract terms

Neither checked source states record ownership, export format, participant data handoff, transition files, cybersecurity contract terms or termination data rights.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Fiduciary / contract scope

Published as included

Pango publishes explicit fiduciary/trustee/legal-advice limits; My Solo checked pages do not provide matching contract-scope disclaimers. Written agreements still control pass-throughs and exclusions.

  • “Pango Financial® is not a lender, fiduciary, trustee, or financial or legal advisor” [3]
  • “Retirement plan fiduciaries and trustees, not Pango Financial®, are responsible” [5]

My Solo 401k evidence

Setup / implementation

Published as included

Both publish setup pricing; Pango has conflicting setup references preserved as separate scenarios, and My Solo renewal is not charged in year one.

  • “Setup Fee: $3,000 (including Free first-year annual support)” [7]

Corporation and plan formation

Published as included

Both itemize corporation and plan-formation tasks.

  • “form the Corporation as well as to establish the 401k/PSP” [7]
  • “Formation of a New C-Corp” [8]
  • “Adoption of a New 401k Business Financing Plan” [8]

EINs

Published as included

Both name EIN/TIN tasks; My Solo separately names plan and corporation EINs.

  • “EIN for 401k/PSP” [7]
  • “EIN for Corporation” [7]
  • “Obtain employer identification numbers (EINs) for the corporation and the new 401k business financing retirement plan” [8]

Bank and brokerage accounts

Published as included

Pango publishes instructions for accounts; My Solo itemizes bank and brokerage account setup tasks.

  • “Corporation Bank Account” [7]
  • “Brokerage Account for 401k/PSP” [7]
  • “Set up the 401k brokerage account...and a business bank account” [8]

Rollover / transfer / stock purchase

Published as included

Both name rollover/transfer and stock mechanics; Pango separately disclaims holding retirement funds.

  • “Preparation of Transfer Forms” [7]
  • “transferring former employer retirement funds” [8]
  • “stock certificates are subsequently issued” [8]

Ongoing administration / compliance support

Published as included

Both publish ongoing support; Pango monthly maintenance and My Solo annual renewal are different cadences.

  • “first 12 months of ongoing compliance support” [7]
  • “$899 Annual Fee Covers the Following Ongoing Support” [7]

Participant additions

Published as included

Both mention participant or employee workflows; only My Solo publishes the first-10 and $75 added-participant fee boundary.

  • “Addition of participants as they become eligible to participate in the plan” [7]
  • “for first 10 participants; $75 per additional participant” [7]

Employee eligibility / contributions / vesting

Published as included

Both name eligibility, vesting or contribution work; exact payroll and notice actors remain contract questions.

  • “Monitor Contributions and Vesting” [7]
  • “Computation of Plan contributions” [7]

Testing and filings

Published as included

Both itemize testing and filing tasks; exact forms differ by passage.

  • “Form 5500 preparation” [7]
  • “Form 1099-R Reporting” [7]
  • “Annual Nondiscrimination Testing” [7]
  • “Annual Top Heavy, Additions & Coverage” [7]

Participant notices

Ask for contract terms

Participant statements are not scored as required notice delivery. Neither checked provider source states participant notices, notice timing, delivery mechanics or responsible signer.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Valuation / annual FMV

Published as included

Pango included valuation is limited to brand-new C corporations not capitalized before engagement; My Solo annual support and one-time valuation price must not be conflated.

  • “Annual Routine Corporation Valuation for Form 5500 Preparation” [7]
  • “Valuation Report...$495 (free for new clients)” [9]

IRS / DOL audit assistance

Published as guided or limited

Pango checked pages mention compliance but not IRS/DOL audit-response scope. My Solo guarantee is bounded to procedures/requirements, IRS/DOL plan-audit assistance and tax-court legal counsel only under the stated prohibited-transaction allegation circumstance.

  • “as long as you follow our procedures and requirements” [10]
  • “Assistance with responding to a IRS or DOL plan audit” [10]
  • “If the IRS or DOL allege that your retirement plan’s initial investment in your company’s stock is a prohibited transaction, we will provide reasonable legal counsel to represent you in tax court” [10]
  • “Terms and conditions available upon request” [10]

Amendments / restatements

Published as included

My Solo names mandatory amendments; Pango checked pages do not state plan amendments, restatements, regulatory update documents, adoption-agreement changes or amendment fees.

  • “Mandatory Amendments including the year 2020 IRS Required Plan Update” [7]

Financing / SBA loan coordination

Ask for contract terms

ROBS funding language, compatibility tools and menu links are not scored as lender packaging, SBA loan work, financing applications or closing coordination without exact task text.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Corrections

Ask for contract terms

Neither checked provider source states VCP, DFVCP, prohibited-transaction correction, failed-testing correction, correction fees or who signs correction filings.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Exit / termination

Ask for contract terms

My Solo has separate exit webinar/link leads, but neither checked source defines delivered sale, plan termination, provider transition, employer-stock buyback, trust liquidation, final valuation or final filing scope.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Cancellation / refunds

Ask for contract terms

Unknown cancellation/refund terms: free or risk-free consultation, satisfaction language, upfront pricing or guarantee labels do not prove cancellation right, timing, exclusions, mechanics or post-work refund amount.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Data ownership / exports

Ask for contract terms

Neither checked source states record ownership, export format, participant data handoff, transition files, cybersecurity contract terms or termination data rights.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Fiduciary / contract scope

Ask for contract terms

Pango publishes explicit fiduciary/trustee/legal-advice limits; My Solo checked pages do not provide matching contract-scope disclaimers. Written agreements still control pass-throughs and exclusions.

Unknown in the checked public source set.

Contract questions that could change the answer

Ask both providers the same questions in writing. The buyer-facing comparison only becomes useful when the headline pricing is converted into a contract, calendar and responsibility map.

  • What exact setup price applies today, and does it include state filing fees, California expedite fees, registered agent renewal, custodian or brokerage charges?
  • Who prepares, reviews and signs Form 5500, Form 1099-R, Form 945 if applicable, plan amendments, participant notices, loan/distribution records and correction submissions?
  • For Pango, is valuation included only for a brand-new C corporation, and what happens if the business already exists, has been capitalized or needs a later transaction-level valuation?[4][5]
  • For My Solo, what are the guarantee terms and conditions, and exactly when does legal counsel apply? The public page limits tax-court counsel to the stated prohibited-transaction allegation circumstance and says terms are available upon request.[10]
  • What is the exit, business-sale, employer-stock buyback, final valuation, final filing, data export and cancellation/refund process?

FAQ

These FAQs mirror the structured FAQPage schema and address the decisions most likely to change the provider fit.

Who wins, Pango Financial or My Solo 401k?

There is no universal winner. Pango Financial has stronger public detail for DreamSpark setup, maintenance, account guidance, employee tracking and fiduciary-scope limits. My Solo 401k has stronger public detail for lower base pricing, participant-fee boundaries, valuation support, mandatory amendments and bounded guarantee language. Unknown items must be confirmed in contracts.[3][4][5][6][7][9][10]

Which Pango setup price is used?

Both public Pango setup references are preserved. The $4,695 scenario and the $3,995 FAQ scenario are separately calculated with $129/month maintenance, and this page does not resolve which statement controls current contract pricing.[3][4][5][6]

How is My Solo 401k priced in year one?

My Solo 401k states that the $3,000 setup fee includes first-year annual support. The $899 annual fee starts 12 months later for the first 10 participants, with $75 per additional participant.[7]

What does unknown mean in the comparison?

Unknown means the checked provider-controlled sources did not publish the actor, task, fee, timing or contract term. It is not silence-as-zero and not a negative score.

Sources checked for this comparison

All 10 material sources were reopened for this rewrite. Provider pages establish what each provider currently publishes; they do not prove service quality, compliance in a specific case or suitability for a buyer's business.

  1. IRS ROBS compliance project

    Reopened July 31, 2026. The IRS describes a ROBS as a plan that purchases new C corporation stock, warns that determination letters do not approve operation, and names Form 5500/Form 1120, participant, rollover, stock valuation, nondiscrimination, prohibited-transaction and promoter-fee issues.

  2. DOL: Understanding Retirement Plan Fees and Expenses

    Reopened July 31, 2026. The DOL says fiduciaries should prudently evaluate provider services, costs, bundled and unbundled arrangements, participant information, cybersecurity practices and ongoing monitoring.

  3. Pango 401(k) ROBS Business Financing

    Reopened July 31, 2026. Pango lists DreamSpark at just $4,695 and names incorporation setup, certified business valuation for new businesses, registered agent services, low monthly maintenance, customized retirement plan, 24/7 account access, and fiduciary/legal-advice limits.

  4. Pango common questions

    Reopened July 31, 2026. Pango states a $4,695 setup fee with incorporation, first-year registered agent, new-business valuation, state fees, EIN/plan IDs, account instructions, stock documents and $129/month maintenance; the same FAQ also says a flat setup fee of only $3,995 and $129/month.

  5. Pango DreamSpark comparison

    Reopened July 31, 2026. Pango's comparison lists $4,695 setup, $129 monthly maintenance, account and rollover instructions, plan TIN, stock ledger and a new-C-corporation valuation limit.

  6. Pango DreamSpark Plan and Maintenance

    Reopened July 31, 2026. Pango says maintenance includes Form 5500 preparation, compliance testing, documentation maintenance, plan reconciliation, participant statements, vesting, eligibility tracking and $129/month; the footer repeats fiduciary/trustee/legal-advice limits.

  7. My Solo 401k pricing

    Reopened July 31, 2026. My Solo publishes $3,000 setup including first-year support, $899 annually starting 12 months later for the first 10 participants, $75 per additional participant, corporation and plan setup, EINs, bank/brokerage, transfer forms, audit guarantee and annual support tasks.

  8. My Solo 401k process

    Reopened July 31, 2026. My Solo describes attorney and compliance-officer involvement, new C-corp formation, plan adoption, corporation and plan EINs, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement-fund transfer, employer-stock purchase and stock certificates.

  9. My Solo 401k valuations

    Reopened July 31, 2026. My Solo says existing-business recapitalizations need an initial valuation, annual company-stock value appears on Form 5500, one-time valuations may be needed for investment, buyback, distributions or RMDs, and valuation reports are $495/free for new clients.

  10. My Solo 401k business funding guarantee

    Reopened July 31, 2026. My Solo conditions the guarantee on following procedures and requirements and mentions IRS/DOL audit help, Assistance with responding to a IRS or DOL plan audit, limited tax-court counsel for a prohibited-transaction allegation, and terms available upon request.