Browse 37 providers in this category.
Provider ranking
-
Ascensus, LLC
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 1.7
Dresher, PA
Credentials: Other
Stats: 147,067 clients • $315.0B under management • 3.8M participants
Company: Est. 1980 • 5,600 employees
-
ADP Retirement Services
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 2.0
Roseland, NJ
Credentials: Other
Stats: 135,642 clients • $158.8B under management • 3.9M participants
Pricing: $325 base fee • $5/employee
Company: Est. 1949
-
Corebridge Financial
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 1.7
Houston, TX
Stats: 89,609 clients • $127.7B under management • 5.0M participants
Company: 2,000 employees
-
Empower
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 1.3
Greenwood Village, CO
Stats: 80,895 clients • $1.8T under management • 16.7M participants
Company: Est. 2014 • 6,000 employees
-
Voya Financial
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 1.5
New York City, NY
Stats: 65,135 clients • $729.0B under management • 5 participants
Company: 9,000 employees
-
John Hancock
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 1.9
Boston, MA
Stats: 54,358 clients • $253.0B under management • 200K participants
Company: Est. 1863 • 4,000 employees
-
Human Interest
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 4.3 • Verified
San Francisco, CA
Credentials: RIA - Registered Investment Advisor
Stats: 40,000 clients • $8.1B under management • 793K participants
Pricing: $120 base fee • $5/employee
Company: Est. 2015 • 771 employees
-
Fidelity Investments
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 2.4
Boston, MA
Stats: 37,255 clients • $4.4T under management • 44.2M participants
Pricing: $100 base fee • $8.33/employee
Company: Est. 1949 • 50,000 employees
-
Aspire Financial Services
Plan Administrator
Tampa, FL
Credentials: CEFEX Certified • ASPPA
Stats: 28,000 clients • $31.0B under management • 850K participants
Company: Est. 2001 • 128 employees
-
Equitable
Plan Administrator
New York, NY
Stats: 24,176 clients • $48.8B under management • 1.1M participants
Company: 5,000 employees
-
Lincoln Financial Group
Plan Administrator
Radnor, PA
Stats: 21,200 clients • $116.4B under management • 1.6M participants
Company: Est. 1905 • 11,000 employees
-
Capital Group
Plan Administrator
Los Angeles, CA
Stats: 19,753 clients • $81.4B under management • 3.1M participants
Company: Est. 1931 • 9,300 employees
-
KTRADE
Plan Administrator
Plymouth, IN
Stats: 16,000 clients • $26M under management • 675K participants
Company: 35 employees
-
PCS Retirement, LLC
Plan Administrator
Philadelphia, PA
Stats: 15,636 clients • $30.0B under management • 420K participants
Company: Est. 2001 • 359 employees
-
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 2.4
Columbus, OH
Stats: 15,241 clients • $235.8B under management • 2.1M participants
Company: Est. 1926 • 24,000 employees
-
Vestwell
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 4.0
New York City, NY
Stats: 12,086 clients • $34.9B under management • 180K participants
Pricing: $39 base fee • $8/employee
Company: Est. 2016 • 350 employees
-
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 2.5
Des Moines, IA
Stats: 11,086 clients • $540.4B under management • 12.1M participants
Company: Est. 1879 • 20,000 employees
-
Ameritas Retirement Plans
Plan Administrator
Lincoln, NE
Stats: 10,724 clients • $19.0B under management • 404K participants
Company: Est. 1887 • 690 employees
-
TruStage
Plan Administrator
Madison, WI
Stats: 10,091 clients • $36.1B under management • 251K participants
Company: Est. 1935 • 3,000 employees
-
Epic Retirement Plan Services
Plan Administrator
Rochester, NY
Stats: 9,500 clients • $37.0B under management • 400K participants
Company: Est. 1993 • 300 employees
-
July Business Services
Plan Administrator
Waco, TX
Stats: 8,386 clients • $16.0B under management • 196K participants
Company: Est. 1994 • 700 employees
-
American Trust Retirement
Plan Administrator
Dubuque, IA
Stats: 5,903 clients • $18.1B under management • 233K participants
Company: Est. 1973 • 202 employees
-
401GO
Plan Administrator • Pro Score 4.3
Sandy, UT
Stats: 5,055 clients • $12.0B under management • 54K participants
Pricing: $25 base fee • $2/employee
Company: Est. 2017 • 105 employees
-
Employee Fiduciary
Plan Administrator
Mobile, AL
Stats: 4,865 clients • $6.8B under management • 107K participants
Pricing: $1,500 base fee • $30/employee
Company: 75 employees
-
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Plan Administrator
New York, NY
Stats: 4,516 clients • $12.8B under management • 201K participants
Company: 5,000 employees
Find the Best 403(b) Retirement Plan Providers
A 403(b) retirement plan (also known as a tax-sheltered annuity or TSA plan) is a powerful tool for saving for retirement, especially if you work in certain public service or non-profit sectors. If you are an employee of a public school, college, university, church, or a tax-exempt charitable organization under IRC Section 501(c)(3), you likely have access to a 403(b) plan. These plans are similar to 401(k) plans offered in the private sector but are specifically designed for non-profit and educational employees.
Understanding your 403(b) options is crucial for maximizing your retirement savings. These plans allow employees to contribute money directly from their paycheck, often on a pre-tax basis, allowing your savings to grow tax-deferred until withdrawal in retirement. Many employers may also contribute to your account, which is essentially free money to help you reach your financial goals sooner.
What Makes a 403(b) Plan Valuable?
The primary advantage of a 403(b) is its tax-advantaged status. Contributions reduce your current taxable income, and your investments compound over time without being taxed annually. Furthermore, 403(b) plans offer high contribution limits. For 2025, employees under age 50 can generally contribute up to $23,500 of their salary, with higher catch-up limits available for those aged 50 and older and for certain long-term employees.
Another benefit is the flexibility some plans offer, including optional loans and hardship distributions, although these should be considered carefully as they can impact your long-term retirement security. When choosing or evaluating your plan, it is essential to look at the investment options, which typically include mutual funds and annuities, and the administrative costs, which can vary significantly between providers.
Choosing the Right 403(b) Provider
The provider manages the plan and offers the specific investment products available to you. Since investment options are typically limited to those chosen by your employer, it’s important to see if your plan offers competitive options and reasonable fees. When evaluating providers, consider factors such as: fee structure, the variety and quality of investment choices (like low-cost index funds), and overall customer service.
If your employer offers access to multiple providers, take the time to compare their offerings, especially focusing on expense ratios for investments. A slight difference in fees can translate into tens of thousands of dollars lost over the course of your career. Investing in a 403(b) plan is one of the most effective steps you can take toward securing a comfortable financial future, making the choice of provider and investment crucial for success.
We encourage you to explore the specifics of each provider's offerings available through your employer to make the most informed decision about your retirement savings strategy.
"