To properly optimize your 401(k), you’ll need to have a full understanding of two things: the investment choices available in your plan and the annual fees you’re paying to invest in your plan.
In fact, TD Ameritrade conducted a survey in which they found that 37% of 401(k) plan participants didn’t believe they were paying any fees, 22% didn’t know whether they were paying fees or not, and 14% weren’t sure how to figure out how much they were paying.
When you review your analysis, it’s helpful to understand the types of fees you’ll be looking for, and what services each of these fees covers.
The three primary types of fees you’ll see in your 401(k) plan are plan administration fees, investment fees, and individual service fees.