Some recordkeepers and third-party administrators offer to provide services for a 401(k) plan not merely as a contract service provider but also by expressly accepting responsibility as an appointed fiduciary for a specified set of plan-administrator (not investment manager) functions. Business jargon seems to use "3(16)" as a label for this kind of service. If a plan sponsor wants to engage this service, is there a meaningful choice of providers? Or is the number that offer this service so few that an employer faces little choice?

Does an early retirement age serve as a 411(d)(6) protected alternative form of benefit? Perhaps someone has a helpful list of 411(d)(6) protected benefits.

• https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2010-title26-vol5/xml/CFR-2010-title26-vol5-sec1-411d-4.xml
• https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/08/09/E6-12885/section-411d6-protected-benefits
• https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/guidance-on-the-anti-cutback-rules-of-section-411d6
• https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/08/12/05-15958/section-411d6-protected-benefits