Stop the Retirement Rip-off

A detailed guide for avoiding the pitfalls of retirement funding In Stop the Retirement Rip-Off, author David Loeper provides the necessary tools for investors to take action and make the most of their retirement plans. It offers a road map for employees to understand the fees and costs associated with their plans; document the excesses in a presentation to management; then organize themselves to protest and, if necessary, bring the documentation to the Labor Department in a complaint. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this book is filled with sensible strategies for making the most of retirement funds and putting future retirees back on the right financial track. Filled with strategies that can help employees stand up and secure their financial future Addresses how to make the most of your money, and your life, after fixing your retirement plan Outlines a practical approach to understanding your organization's retirement plan and overcoming its potential inefficiencies This important book contains the much-needed information that employees need to plan for retirement and ensure a secure financial future.

Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction Make the Most of Your Life! 1 Chapter 1 Why Fees Matter—The Coming "Retirement Plan Sticker Shock" 11 Chapter 2 Types of Expenses Dragging Down Your Retirement Funds 25 Chapter 3 The Price to Your Lifestyle of Needless Expenses 39 Chapter 4 Complaining Without Sounding Like a Complainer 55 Chapter 5 Rallying Your Troops—Just One Coworker Can Help 63 Chapter 6 What Happens If My Employer Ignores Us? 69 Chapter 7 Now That My Retirement Plan Is Fixed, How Can I Make the Most of My Life? 79 Chapter 8 Resources, Investment Selection, Asset Allocation, Tools, and Advice 91 Chapter 9 How Much is That Guarantee in the Window? 121 Chapter 10 Hidden Expenses in Government Union and Some 403(b) Plans 131 Chapter 11 Summary 137 Appendix A Lifestyle Prices of Excessive Retirement Plan Expenses 139 Appendix B ABC Plan-401(k) Plan Fee Disclosure Form 205 About the Author 217 Index 219