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More than 70 percent of people with 401(k)s don’t realize they’re paying fees

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Last week, I got my 401(k) plan fee disclosure notice in the mail. I almost threw it away.

At first, it looked like all of those form notices you get – you know, the ones with the window envelope and “US Postage Paid” in the top right-hand corner. Not the most exciting-looking mail.

So, why am I telling you?

Because I work for the Bureau’s Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans, and because I’m an older American learning through my own experiences. A big part of our mission is to help people understand how to plan and save for retirement.

What’s a 401(k)?
A 401(k) account helps you to save for retirement by making contributions from your paycheck. In some plans, your employer also makes contributions. In many cases, participants choose from among the investment options available through the plan. The money saved in a 401(k) account, and the growth in the account, isn’t taxed until you retire. This tax deferment helps your retirement savings grow faster.

While everyone with a 401(k) plan pays fees, an AARP survey found that over 70 percent of people with a 401(k) thought that they weren’t paying any fees at all.

Possible fees include investment fees for the funds, stocks, bonds and other investments you choose, individual service fees for things like taking out a loan from the plan or selling shares in a particular investment fund, administrative fees and more.

That’s where last week’s mail comes in. Under a new rule from the Department of Labor, everyone with a 401(k) must receive an annual disclosure about fees. Many have received them already and more will get them in the mail around Labor Day. To see how fees can affect your retirement savings, check out this video:

How will this new information help me?
The disclosure will tell you the fees and expenses for the investment options your plan offers and how those investment funds have performed over time. You can use the statement to compare your options.

What can I do to get a better deal?
If you think the fees in your 401(k) plan are too high, you can ask your employer to find more cost-effective investment options or plan services.

What else do I need to know?
Remember that fees are not the only factor in choosing 401(k) investments. Your plan may offer access to professional investment advice. If you’re thinking about rolling over your 401(k) savings into an IRA, consider that IRAs have fees, too, and those fees could be higher than your 401(k) plan fees.

To learn more, the Department of Labor offers resources that cover what you should know about your retirement plan.

And of course, I’ll be there learning with you along the way.

Live from Detroit!

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For the first time, consumer reporting agencies will be subject to a federal supervision program. Earlier today, we held a field hearing today in Detroit for the announcement with remarks from Richard Cordray, CFPB Director, as well as testimony from consumer groups, academics, industry representatives, and members of the public. Director Cordray said:

[The credit reporting] system must merit our trust and confidence for the credit markets to be perceived as fair. We all share in this responsibility. But the credit reporting market is not one where consumers can shop around among different providers, for people have no choice about whether to have any of the credit reporting companies keep track of their credit history. That is why the Consumer Bureau’s new authority is so important, and why it must be exercised carefully and effectively.

Archived footage is available below. You can also read Director Cordray’s full remarks right now.

More on credit reporting

See the rule that establishes our consumer reporting supervision authority.
Read a consumer advisory on checking your credit score.
Find a credit reporting company that specializes in a particular area like medical history, employment history, etc.
Tell us your story about credit reporting.
Tweeting about the event our our announcement? Use #CreditReporting.

Video coverage of today’s event


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Learn more about the Independent Foreclosure Review

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Last week the Federal Reserve released a video on the Independent Foreclosure Review. The video aims to help borrowers who believe they were financially harmed during foreclosure processes between 2009 and 2010. Because we hear from consumers each day who have questions and concerns regarding their mortgages and foreclosures, we want to pass on good information they may find useful.

Many borrowers across the country have gone through foreclosure in recent years. Sometimes consumers went through the process with unanswered questions and concerns about how their foreclosure was handled. And in some cases, there were major errors made by servicers that led to foreclosures that could have been avoided. Because of these practices, the Independent Foreclosure Review has been established to assist borrowers in getting answers and possibly compensation. The Federal Reserve has set up a website for you to learn more about the Independent Foreclosure Review. The Federal Reserve offers an English language video and a Spanish language video that provide greater details, but here are the basics:

  1. Your mortgage must have been serviced by a participating servicer.
  2. Your foreclosure must have been initiated, processed, and/or completed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
  3. The foreclosure had to be for your primary residence.

Please note that there are absolutely no fees attached to this process. Beware of anyone who asks you to give them money.

To submit complaints, inquiries, feedback, or to tell the CFPB about an experience you’ve had with your mortgage, you can call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-411-CFPB (2372) or submit a complaint online. Consumers who are experiencing problems because they are unable to pay their mortgage can also call us at 1-855-411-CFPB and we will connect them with local housing experts who can provide free and professional advice.