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It’s time to reboot 408(b)(2)

Its not that the 401(k) fee disclosure rule is a bad rule, it just needs a little simplicity.

By Chris Carosa | Updated on July 25, 2013
<a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net">Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a>

Some say it’s too early to tell. Others say it’s adding some value already. But the vast majority of 401(k) fiduciaries believe 408(b)(2) – aka the 401(k) fee disclosure rule – is the biggest summer flop this side of “The Lone Ranger.” (See “401(k) Fee Disclosure One Year Later: What We’ve Learned,” FiduciaryNews.com, July 16, 2013). 

This is why I agree with the majority. To those who claim there’s been some movement toward lower fees, I say, yes, the trend has been toward lower fees for some time now. We see lower fees in two ways. First, the ICI has documented the move away from 12b-1 fees in mutual funds over the last decade or more. In addition, there’s been an overall reduction of advisor fees as advisors have come to realize you can’t charge the same amount for picking mutual funds that you charge for picking stocks.

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