Think Your Retirement Plan Stinks? Talk to a teacher, a firefighter, police officer, or employees of a religious organization or non-profit organizations like hospitals.
Millions of Americans - public school teachers, clergy members, employees of religious institutions or non-profits are offered 403(b), 457(b), and 401(a) retirement plans that have little oversight and excessive fees that will cost them tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetimes.
One of Ms. Jusinski's colleagues, Karen S. , is a 62-year-old widow nearing retirement who agreed to discuss her situation if her last name was not used to protect her family's privacy. At the end of 2015 she would have had an additional $113,000 in savings — or nearly 50 percent more — had she not paid approximately $37,500 in commissions and various fees over the previous eight years and had instead invested in a simpler mix of low-cost stock and bond funds, according to an analysis performed by Mr. Dauenhauer, the 403(b) consultant.
"I am running around in my little Honda because someday I need to retire and there is no Plan B," she said. Her husband died of brain cancer when their three boys were 3, 5 and 7, leaving her to raise the children on her own.
Those that spend their careers helping others should not be stuck with the worst options. That's a crime.