Even if you choose to look away from the national debt horrors our nation is facing, most are well aware of the dire economic issues facing the country with regard to social welfare programs---Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  According to an article in Forbes, the unfunded liabilities of Social Security and Medicare are in excess of $106 trillion (www.forbes.com/2009/05/14/taxes-social-security-opinions-columnists-medicare.html).

The new 401(k) fee disclosure rules due to be implemented within the next year are intended to provide a greater degree of transparency to the costs associated with maintaining and operating a 401(k) plan. One of the least transparent of the fees being charged to participants are 12b-1 fees.