http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/29/12465334-your-family-is-probably-losing-155k-from-401k-plan-and-why-new-rules-wont-help?lite The link above is clear showing that any new rules expected from the current administration do not do what they are supposed to. Showing the current administration as in bed with the banking industry as any administration has been. Not that I expected otherwise. I Didn't know how to or if I should hot link.

Blah blah blah, The dirtbags at Demos want more socialism and came up with a BS report to support more socialism.

Link

The problem here is in your thinking, change "do not do what they are supposed to" to "do exactly what intended through intentional misrepresentation."

For liberals words only mean things for you, not for them; they are liars, backbiters, boasters, inventors or evil things - don't trust them.

Good luck! AS posted below "It's no one's fault but their own".

The article is misleading, IMO. If you don't realize that interest rates, fees, etc compound over time, then you don't need to be investing money into anything.

Financial fees for mutual funds, equity trades, and account management are nothing new. They've been around for as long as we've had markets to invest in. If you don't know what kind of fees you're paying in your 401k, that has nothing to do with Obama or government regulation. It has everything to do with the average investor being too lazy to monitor his money and try to maximize returns. Financial companies already publish and inform investors of all fees, expenses and commissions. Expecting the government to pass a law that makes them do it more blatantly isn't going to change the fact that most people don't know any better, or don't care to begin with.

When you pay $100k in interest over the course of a 30 year mortgage, are you "losing" $100k from your income? Or did you choose to pay that fee in exchange for a service provided? Should there be laws that stop banks from charging interest so you don't "Lose" money to interest?

Paying fund expenses of 1.5-2% adds up over your lifetime. That's common sense. Let's say you start an IRA with no money today. You max it out every year for the next 30 years. If you earn a 7% annual return before expenses, and lost 1% annually to expenses, that 1% every year would total up to nearly $90k. If you can shave just .5% or 1% off your expenses in your portfolio, you can boost your return by the same percentage every single year. There are plenty of funds and investment vehicles with extremely small commissions, and expense ratios less than .5%. Investors who put their money into expensive funds without shopping around are just shooting themselves in the foot. It's noone's fault but their own.

This along with truly understanding the concepts fo risk tolerance & diversification....  Once the wife gets out into the workforce in fall 2013, she already knows we will be making sure we have a SOLID six months worth of expenses in savings, 1/4 of that in cash in the safe,  maxing out our employer sponsored qualified retirement vehicles, maxing out contributions to the kids 529 plans, and will start funding a joint non-qual retirement plan.