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Guideline Reviews & Product Details - Page 3

Guideline Overview

What is Guideline?

Whether you’re starting or scaling your business, Guideline is the modern 401(k) your team will love. We make it easy to offer a premium benefit while keeping your business compliant — all with low fees, award-winning design,* and live customer support. As G2’s summer 2024 leader, there’s a reason why 50,000 businesses** and one million savers***trust Guideline with their retirement. On behalf of Guideline, G2 solicited reviews from clients in exchange for nominal compensation (i.e., $50 gift cards). Guideline reimburses G2 for this expense. Receiving an incentive to provide a review may make a customer more likely to portray Guideline favorably. Reviews may not be representative of the experience of others and past success does not guarantee future results. *2024 Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Winner in the Mid-Size business category. ** As of May 2024 ***Total number of Savers, both active and non-active, that have participated in Guideline products from 2016-2024.

Guideline Details
Product Website
Languages Supported
English
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Product Description

Guideline makes managing your 401(k) a breeze. You get seamless payroll integrations, end-to-end admin and compliance services, and expert customer support. Plus, setting up your 401(k) can take as little as 20 minutes. With a 93% plan sponsor customer satisfaction score,* Guideline is designed to be loved by your team. Employees can self-onboard in 12 minutes or less, get a guided portfolio recommendation, and manage their plan all from an award-winning mobile app. *Guideline’s average plan sponsor satisfaction score (CSAT) based on feedback received from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023

How do you position yourself against your competitors?

Guideline is built differently. In fact, 4 out of 5 customers say they saved time and report fewer payroll errors after switching to Guideline.* Our combination of powerful technology with premium support sets us apart:

1. We build integrations the right way. Unlike other providers, our custom payroll integrations sync two-ways and every 24 hours, removing manual data entry.

2. We offer end-to-end compliance. While other providers test only twice-a-year, Guideline helps ensure you pass annual IRS tests with ongoing daily compliance testing and live alerts.

3. You and your team get a modern, award-winning experience with our mobile app and live, expert support.

*Guideline research . Insights based on data collected June 7, 2024 to June 21, 2024 from a survey of 95 current plan sponsors. Guideline was identified as the survey sponsor. The experience of the respondents in this survey may not be representative of all people.


Seller Details
Seller
Guideline
Company Website
Year Founded
2015
HQ Location
Burlingame, California, United States
Twitter
@Guideline401k
1,076 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
419 employees on LinkedIn®
Description

Everyone should have a simple, affordable way to save for retirement. At Guideline, our plans are low cost and highly automated. This makes it easy for companies to offer a valuable benefit—and easy for people to invest in their financial future with confidence.


Megan C.
MC
Overview Provided by:

Recent Guideline Reviews

Matt M.
MM
Matt M.Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
5.0 out of 5
"A Simple, Hassle-Free Solution for Business Owners"
Guideline 401(k) makes retirement planning simple and stress-free for business owners. The platform is easy to use, with automated features that ha...
LB
Lori B.Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
5.0 out of 5
"401(K)"
Guideline customer service is one of the best. Very easy to contact right from the begining and even a year later. The implementation process was v...
Verified User
A
Verified UserSmall-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
5.0 out of 5
"Great onboarding, very responsive to questions, very good self-service help materials"
Ease of implementing the 401k in complaince, including when questions arrise and with mid-year transition. Integrates with my PEO, Rippling for con...
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Guideline Media

Guideline Demo - A seamless integration that automates each step
Our two-way integration automates everything from deductions to contribution changes.
Guideline Demo - Designed to be loved – from setup to saving
Easy onboarding, recommended investment portfolios, award-winning mobile app & more
Guideline Demo - Low costs. High value.
No transaction fees, affordable plans + our AUM fees beat the industry average.
Guideline Demo - Expert support you can count on
Live support for you and your team via phone, email, and in-product.
Guideline Demo - Compliance protection that gives you peace of mind
Always-on compliance, always included.
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Video Reviews

811 Guideline Reviews

4.4 out of 5
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811 Guideline Reviews
4.4 out of 5
811 Guideline Reviews
4.4 out of 5

Guideline Pros and Cons

How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Cons

Overall Review Sentiment for GuidelineQuestion

Time to Implement
<1 day
>12 months
Return on Investment
<6 months
48+ months
Ease of Setup
0 (Difficult)
10 (Easy)
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LB
Administrative Manager
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

Guideline customer service is one of the best. Very easy to contact right from the begining and even a year later. The implementation process was very efficient. Was very heistant of transfering the 401(K), because of previous company and how difficult they were to work with. Employees are very satisfied with Guideline and how easy it is to navigate their account. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

Have been with Guideline for a year and do not have any complaints. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

We have not encountered any problems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jason J.
JJ
Owner
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

I had initially set up with my large Payroll provider and after some issues looked to find a different lower fee option. Ended up with Quickbooks with Guideline 401K integration and could not be happier. Time is a scarse and the Guidline team has taken very little time at all to set up or administer the plan. That was exactly what I was looking for when introducing the new benefit and it has worked out exceptionally well for me. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

No real concerns at this time as all expections have been met Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Was looking to add a low cost worry free 401K plan for my employees Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Guideline Team of Guideline

We’re so glad you’re enjoying our service! Here at Guideline, we’re committed to providing our customers with excellent service and are here for you if you need anything. Feel free to contact us at clients@guideline.com.

Verified User in Defense & Space
AD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

We've been using Guideline for our company's 401(k) administration for about a year now, and it's been a fantastic experience overall. One of the things we appreciate most is how user-friendly the platform is—it’s intuitive and easy to navigate

Another standout feature is the detailed online reporting. We have access to all the data we need in a clear, organized way, which makes tracking contributions and plan details straightforward. The transparency and level of detail make it easy to keep an eye on plan performance and make informed decisions.

Most importantly, there were significant cost savings, both from an administration side, and from the management fee side. Additionally, the implementation process was straightforward and easy to manage.

Overall, Guideline has been an excellent choice for our 401(k) administration. We’d recommend it to any business looking for an easy-to-use, reliable, and well-supported platform for managing retirement plans. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

We have been using Guideline for about one year and we have yet to experience any issues, therefore I cannot identify anything that I dislike. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Guidline allows us to manage our employee's 401k plan efficiently and on a cost-effective basis. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Guideline Team of Guideline

Thank you for the positive feedback! We’re committed to providing the best service possible. If there’s anything more we can do for you, please let us know at clients@guideline.com

Verified User in Computer Software
AC
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

We are a small company and Guideline is perfect for our purposes. They sync with our PEO which makes integration easy and I love the compliance dashboard as it makes it clear if we are at risk of failing any of the measures. They are also really good about sending you updates about new legal requirements and packaging that information in any easy to understand way. Good pricing, would recommend. Support team has been helpful in the limited instances we've needed them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

Not much to complain about, it does the job and has everything we want from a platform for this purpose. Just make sure it syncs to your PEO / HR platform. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Needed a way to offer a 401k to employees and track compliance with regulations, it does both seamlessly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Information Technology and Services
AI
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

Guideline is easy to use, and the support team is amazing—fast and friendly. I've had a great experience with the platform, and since they now have integration with TriNet, the process is much easier and faster since everything is automated. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

Honestly, I can’t think of anything. Previously, there was a period when they weren’t integrated with my payroll provider, and it was exhausting having to run the process manually. But that’s been resolved now, and I can’t think of anything negative about Guideline. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

From my role as an administrator, it’s easy to use, has good integrations, and the team has also reported having a great experience as users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

CR
Owner and attorney
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

Guideline is easy to do. You set it and it works on autopilot. They handle all of the compliance and give you email notices of things that you need to do. Guideline is a great way for the business owner to save for retirement as well as encourage employees to do so as well. It is easy for the employee too as each employee has their own portal to log into and they manage their own accounts. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

The investment choices are limited. I really don't have anything that I really don't like about Guideline. It has been a great service for me to do something that I otherwise would have had difficulty doing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Guideline allows me to offer a retirement plan to myself and my employees. I don't want to work with a financial advisor or some type of small town benefits coordinator. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Adam S.
AS
Co-founder
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
(Original )Information
What do you like best about Guideline?

Easy integration with Zenefits and other software packages like Quickbooks. If you are a zenefits use it is a must use. I also like that they have low cost ETF plans for my employees to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

The compliance can be tricky to understand and complete. If you are a private equity backed LLC there are some tricky pieces that you need to complete to get the compliance accurate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Guideline:

This is best to use if you are also using Zenefits for payroll. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Setting up an easy 401K for my employees with low costs. Most 401k plans I found try and push employees into higher fee mutual funds and have a higher monthly cost. I also needed something that would link directly to my payroll provider Zenefits. Guideline met those requirements perfectly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Guideline Team of Guideline

Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. If you ever have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out at clients@guideline.com.

AD
HR Manager
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
(Original )Information
What do you like best about Guideline?

I've been impressed with Guideline's 401(k) plan. Their interface is uesr-friendly and has exceeded my expectations. I wanted to go with something that takes away the administrative burden from my shoulders and integrating Guideline with our PEO was the most convenient way to do it. Everythingw as automated and I did not have to do anything related to implementation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

Nothing so far. The service has been amazing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Guideline is solving several key problems that have significantly benefited me. First, their user-friendly platform simplifies the complexities of managing a 401(k) plan, making it accessible even for those with limited financial knowledge. The automated processes for contributions and compliance have eliminated administrative headaches, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Additionally, Guideline's transparent fee structure means there are no hidden costs, providing peace of mind and financial clarity. Their diverse investment options allow for tailored retirement planning, aligning with individual financial goals. The exceptional customer support ensures that any issues or questions are promptly addressed, making the entire experience seamless.

Overall, Guideline's solutions have saved me time, reduced stress, and provided a reliable pathway to secure my financial future, making it an invaluable tool for retirement planning. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Debbie K.
DK
Owner
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

This was a very easy retirement plan to set up for my companies employees and so far has been extremely easy to administer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

I don't like the fact that I have no control over which accounts transactions post to - this is a bad bookkeeping practice and I feel they really need to get this fixed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

This has made it possible for my employees to have a 401K and my company to do a company match but has not created any additional burden on my paperwork. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Guideline Team of Guideline

Thank you for your valuable feedback. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and your experience helps guide our efforts. If you have additional questions or comments, you can reach us anytime at clients@guideline.com

SU
CEO
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite on behalf of seller
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about Guideline?

I love that guideline integrates with Gusto payroll, making it very simple and easy to both set up and manage. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Guideline?

I haven't seen or experienced any downsides to using guideline. The fees are fixed and predictable as I add team members. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?

Guideline has made it easy, affordable, and flexible for me to offer more benefits to my team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.