Such claims allege that the fee charged by the outside administrator of the plan is substantially higher than the average fee (usually stated as a percentage of total funds held by a given 401(k) plan). When multiplied out during a substantial period of time (i.e., from 20 to 30 years), a fee that is merely 1 or 2 percent higher than the normal fee can reduce a 401(k) plan holder's balance by many thousands of dollars. And when a group of employees bands together in a class action alleging that an employer's 401(k) plan charged an excessive fee, damages claimed can exceed $100 million.