The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "401(k)" ...
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America's Broken Healthcare System
This series sheds light on the hidden practices that boost pateints' medical bills and can impede their ability to obtain treatment or insurance.
Tags: 401(k); prescription drugs; medical bill; heath insurance; medicine cabinet
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Fees on 401(k)s Rock Boomers Facing Flawed Disclosure
Although 50 million people in the United States have retirement savings in 401(k) plans, almost no one understands how much they are paying for them and how much money they may be losing in hidden fees. Most modern-day retirement plans have as many as 17 different fees, most of which are not disclosed to employees.
Tags: retirement; money; savings; securities and exchange commission; finance; stock market; fees
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Bull! A history of the boom and bust, 1982-2004
This book examines the Great Bull Market of 1982-1999 and the fallout that followed. Overpriced stocks sucked capital out of the U.S. economy. Billions of dollars that could have been invested in needed projects such as power plants and oil refineries were squandered on massive overinvestment in the technology sector. Individual investors caught up in the mania sacrificed their retirement nest egg or children's college fund for the hyped promises of the stock market -- gambling with money that they could ill afford to lose.
Tags: stock market; bull market; Great Bull Market; investing; stocks; 401 (k); investments
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Frittered Away: Some Workers Find Retirement Nest Eggs Full of Strange Assets. Coins, parking lots, stores, and artwork turn up; loses can be serious. Employers resist a change.
Article explains how some companies are using 401(k) plans in ways that employees never intended. As a result, employees of some companies which have gone bankrupt (like Color Tile) end up having nothing left in their 401(k) plan because the company misused their retirement funds. This story also includes a "side-bar" story entitled "Color Tile's 401(k) Plan Runs Aground: Employees regret not being vigilant." This supplemental article explains what went wrong with Color Tile's 401 (k) plan, and how people can investigate their own 401 (k) plans to ensure the same thing doesn't happen to them.
Tags: 401 (k); 401K; Color Tile; retirement; funds; nest egg; employment; money; funds; bankrupt; bankruptcy; employees; workers
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Cash pensions trigger protest of new allies
Many of the largest American companies were getting huge savings by changing the pension plans from 401ks to "cash balance" plans. Companies claimed the switch was made because of a need to modernize. In reality, the switch was made to cut benefits for millions of employees.
Tags: pensions; investments; retirement; economics; consumer affairs; 401k
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Exposing the 401(k) Gap.
Popular plans make some millionaires...others may not have enough to retire. Those who need them most have worse plans. The ABC's of 401(k)s. How good is your 401(k)? How plans stack up at the USA's 100 biggest employers.