For some employees, the 401(k) system works very well, providing easy access to low-cost, high-yield funds. But many participants are stuck investing with high fees and paying on top of expensive advisory services — and they may not know it because they’ve never scrutinized the plan’s disclosures. (If you’re worried that this might be you, the survey below explains how to find out.)
As we reported, the Trump administration wants employers to include less regulated “alternative” investments like private equity and cryptocurrencies in their 401(k) plans. To achieve that, governments are changing regulations and rolling back enforcement of laws that protect participants.
ProPublica is taking this opportunity to investigate these changes and the broader 401(k) system. To create this report, we need detailed insight into what’s going on within the plan: what products financial services companies are promoting and what fees they’re charging. Many of these details are private but available to plan participants. That’s why we need to hear from participants in these plans, employers (particularly small business owners), and those with industry expertise. The more people we hear from, the more informed our reporting becomes.
Note: We will not ask for any account balance or personal information. If you have a 403(b) plan and work for a private, tax-exempt organization, we also want to hear from you.
Our team may not be able to respond to everyone individually, but we read everything submitted. We value your privacy. We collect this material for reporting purposes and will contact you if you wish to publish any of it.
If you want to use encrypted apps, see advice at propublica.org/tips.
