We built this because the data was already there — nobody was reading it.

Every 401(k), 403(b), and defined-contribution plan in America files a Form 5500 with the Department of Labor every year. Those filings are public, machine-readable, and free to download. They tell you — in precise dollar amounts — how much a plan charges, how many employees use it, whether it's audited on time, and where its assets sit.

They are also almost entirely unread by the people they're supposed to protect. Most business owners don't know their own Form 5500 exists. Most employees have never seen one. Most advisors who sell these plans don't particularly want their clients comparing their fees to peer data.

401k Clarity exists to close that gap for Texas businesses specifically. We built a tool that turns the public DOL dataset into a plain-English red-flag report for any plan sponsor — in under a minute, without a login.

How we work

We are not a Registered Investment Advisor. We do not manage money, pick funds, or provide individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. What we do is:

• Publish educational content on 401(k) plan health and DOL disclosure reading.
• Maintain a searchable index of Texas-sponsored DC plans sourced from the public DOL Form 5500 dataset.
• Refer qualifying businesses to unaffiliated, licensed Texas-based 401(k) advisors for a free 15-minute review.

The advisors we refer to are compensated by clients who eventually hire them, not by us. If an advisor ever starts recommending specific investments, tax strategies, or plan changes to you, that work is happening under their advisory relationship with you — not ours.

Why Texas

We started with Texas because it's where the founder is based, it's where the independent advisor network we trust is strongest, and it's where the mid-market 401(k) fee-inefficiency gap is most visible in the data. Future versions of this tool will likely expand to other states; this one intentionally does not.

Who's behind this

401k Clarity was started by Jack Johnson, an Austin-based researcher who spent years in the music and service industries before he started digging into public DOL filings. He reads all the Form 5500s so you don't have to. Plans worth a closer look are referred to a licensed Texas-based advisor for a free 15-minute Zoom review.

The research runs on a mix of public DOL data, rule-based red-flag detection, and AI-assisted analysis. The advisor work is always human — licensed and Texas-based.

Get in touch

Questions, feedback, or a plan you'd like reviewed? Email us at jack@ai401kadvice.com, or run your plan through the free lookup tool.