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Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part I: "There's No Such Thing as Free!"
It wasn't that long ago that 401(k) plan sponsors who asked "How much does this cost?" would be told "The fees are all in the plan. For you, the service is free." Now, everyone seems to know…. Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part II: "Find Them"
Sponsors of 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans and 457 plans are increasingly aware there can be significant costs impacting their plans and the plan's participants. Although the fees have always been there....in the last couple of years I've found….Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part III: "What's In Your Share Price?"
Since mutual funds are the most widely offered investment option in participant-directed retirement plans like 401(k) s, 403(b)s and 457 plans, the simplest way to begin is to check the Fund Expense Ratio for each ….Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part IV: "Understanding 12(b)(1) Fees."
We've been talking about fees and expenses affecting mutual funds inside 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans. Last time we discussed the problems of multiple share classes and fund re-registration which can impose significant, additional fees…. Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part V: "Paying to Play?"
There are hidden costs that are very hard to assess: The cost of turnover in a Fund offered to participants in a 401(k), or other type of participant-directed plan, can be quite high. Also, "Pay-to-Play" arrangements ... need to be looked at very carefully.... Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part VI: 'The "Dirty Little Secret' of the 401(k) Business."
"Follow the money" is sound advice. It worked for Woodward and Bernstein (for those of us old enough to remember!) and it will work for you. The thing is, sometimes money's hard to find,....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part VII: "Taking Control."
Can you control fees? Certainly, here's how you can do it: First of all, remember, "Nothing is EVER free." This is business. Every provider has a profit model.....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part VIII: "90-10-10."
Last time, talking about taking control of 401(k) fees, I referred to a process called "90-10-10" or, more correctly, "The '90-10-10' Solution" that we've developed and use....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part IX: "Keep Your Mind Open."
You, as a plan sponsor, have "a duty to know" what your plan is paying, what you are being charged for services provided to your plan. In addition, under ERISA you must....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part X: "Size Matters."
Last time...I suggested that due diligence begins with self-assessment and an openness, if economics and other factors justify or lead, to change.....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part XI: "Counting the Costs."
We ended our last column with you on the telephone, listening to vendors explain what they do and how they get paid. You were taking thorough notes. Remember I said "Do not agree to meetings?" I meant it. ....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part XII: "Uncovering Investment Fees."
Investment-related fees can, for purposes of discovery and analysis, be seen as two types: Those "external" to the fund and those "internal." The former, external fees, directly affect participants by ....Read more.

Uncovering Hidden Fees - Part XIII: "Considereation Funds."
Some of you may object to relying on providers' lists of "consideration funds." Won't they, you wonder, "game" you by listing their lowest cost funds? Aren't you opening yourself to manipulation? Well, theoretically, ....Read more.

INDIVIDUALS

Relative Strength
Those of you that know us well know that virtually all of the investing we do is based on a method called "Relative Strength" that maintains that it is possible to identify and track those areas, or sectors, of the market that are stronger than others. In our strategy....Read more.

How the Pension Protection Act of 2006 Will Affect IRAs
On August 17, President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA 2006). This legislation is far reaching and will attempt to shore up our nation’s pension system and the government’s Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) by making changes in the rules that apply to defined benefit pension plans....Read more.

Understanding Market Corrections, or, De-nial Isn't a River in Egypt!
Considering the number of phone calls, e-mails and occasional drop-in visits we've been getting, I'm thinking most of you have been watching the last few weeks of market "correction" with varying degrees of....Read more.

Gaining Financial Confidence in an Uncertain World
Life is uncertain, and for many people, that uncertainty especially applies to personal finances. Are you compromising your goals with your investment choices? Are you overreaching-or not reaching far enough? There is always an element of uncertainty that may affect your financial…. Read more.

Monte Carlo Simulation-A Crash Course
When you estimate what your portfolio will do over time, you might build a spreadsheet to project the results-making assumptions about how each part of your portfolio will perform .... Read more.

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