How to transcribe written provider quotes
Enter a neutral label such as Provider A. Do not enter tax IDs, account numbers, participant names, contact details, contract text, or private advisor notes. Use the same horizon for every row. Put setup once, recurring administration on its own cadence line, required one-time charges on a separate line, and annual required or pass-through estimates only when the quote states the amount.
Separate lines prevent double counting. For example, if a quote says the setup fee includes first-year administration, check the first-year-included box instead of entering an extra credit or negative amount. If valuation, Form 5500, testing, correction, audit, security, or termination support is included in service scope, mark that status in the scope section rather than adding dollars unless the quote separately states a required charge.
Complete-total formula and checked examples
Exact complete total = setup once + recurring periods accounting for first-year inclusion + known required one-time charges + annual required/pass-through amount × horizon. Monthly recurring is multiplied by 12, quarterly by 4, and annual by 1. A known zero counts only when the user enters zero with known selected.
Why complete totals can still be non-equivalent
A complete arithmetic row means each required cost field is known or not applicable under the same horizon. It does not mean the services are equivalent. Compare corporation documents, plan documents, rollover support, recordkeeping, Form 5500 help, testing, participant services, valuation, audit, correction, termination, cybersecurity, and data export separately.
DOL fiduciary materials make fee and service review part of prudently selecting and monitoring plan service providers; a low written price is not by itself a reasonable arrangement if services, compensation, conflicts, cybersecurity, or contract terms are not understood.[3] [4] [5]
Missing, ambiguous, excluded, and future costs
Unknown setup, recurring, one-time, or annual required fees make the subtotal partial and non-comparable. Ambiguous quote terms should go back to the provider in writing before comparison. Future fee changes, taxes, business operating costs, valuation opinions, legal work, CPA work, payroll, amendments, audit defense, correction costs, sale costs, or plan termination charges are excluded unless the written quote states required amounts.
IRS ROBS materials describe the structure as a C corporation sponsoring a qualified plan that buys employer stock; they also flag promoter fees, valuation, filing, prohibited-transaction, discrimination, bankruptcy, and dissolution concerns. This worksheet does not decide whether a ROBS arrangement is valid, prudent, compliant, reasonable, or suitable for a reader's facts.[1] [2]
Verify each contract before signing: who performs the work, who is a fiduciary, who may receive compensation, what is included, what is excluded, when renewal applies, how increases occur, what data can be exported, and what happens if you change providers or exit the ROBS.
Frequently asked questions
Does the worksheet choose a provider?
No. It keeps provider quote arithmetic and scope differences visible, but it does not order by price, rank, score, endorse, select, or choose a provider.
Can I leave a fee blank?
Use unknown, not applicable, or known. Unknown blocks a complete comparable total and appears in the missing-fees list; not applicable counts as zero only because the quote states that line does not apply.
Should I paste contracts or private data?
No. Use non-sensitive labels and dollar terms only. The browser form has no storage, query-string sharing, cookies, account system, quote request, or lead capture.
Sources checked Aug. 13, 2026
These sources support ROBS structure, fiduciary/service-provider fee review, and cybersecurity boundaries. They do not rank providers, verify any user's quote, approve ROBS compliance, or provide legal, tax, valuation, investment, or fiduciary advice.
- IRS ROBS compliance project
IRS describes ROBS arrangements, promoter concerns, determination-letter limits, filing failures, valuation issues, prohibited transactions, discrimination, promoter fees, bankruptcy, liens, and dissolution concerns. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.
- IRS ROBS guidelines memorandum
IRS describes C corporation formation, plan creation, rollover or transfer, and plan purchase of employer stock, and states ROBS arrangements are not noncompliant per se but must be developed case by case. Dated Oct. 1, 2008.
- DOL fiduciary responsibilities
DOL states plan fiduciaries must act solely in participants' interest, act prudently, follow plan documents consistent with ERISA, diversify plan investments, and avoid conflicts; the page links fee and service comparison materials. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.
- DOL Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities
DOL explains that hiring a service provider is a fiduciary act, fiduciaries should understand services and fees, and reasonable arrangements require information about compensation and conflicts. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.
- DOL retirement-plan cybersecurity
DOL EBSA provides cybersecurity program security practices and tips for hiring service providers with strong security practices. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.