Using Class B Mutual Funds

Class B mutual funds are back-end load 401k  investments.

If the fee is charged upon liquidation of shares, the investment is called a back-end load investment. Back-end loads are also called "exit charges." Class B mutual funds are back-end load investments.

Class B back-end loads, unlike front-end loads, are not generally tied to the size of the investment. They do, however, vary with the length of time the investor owns the mutual fund shares.

Class B back-end loads decline with the time the investor owns the shares; they're generally nonexistent by the end of seven years, at which time many mutual fund companies automatically convert the shares to less-expensive (in terms of annual management fees) front-load shares. For this reason,  Class B back-end load investments may be the right choice for you company's 401k plan; 401k investors are generally long-run investors:

• Class B Back-end loads can be as high as 7% of the liquidation amount.
  
  
• Many back-end mutual funds will waive exit charges for routine share liquidations involved in 401k loans, contribution corrections, lump-sum distributions or IRA rollovers.
  
  
• Back-end fund mutual funds will generally NOT waive exit charges for wholesale liquidations of Class B to effectuate an asset transfer to a new investment vehicle.
  
  
• Many back-end load funds are automatically converted to less costly front-end load funds after a specified period of time, as explained in the fund's prospectus.

Loads, whether front-end or back-end, vary widely from fund family to fund family. The load on a single investment can even vary depending on the amount of money being invested and/or the length of time the investor holds the shares.

All loads, whether assessed upon purchase or upon liquidation of shares, as well as any other fees associated with any particular investment (such as 12b-1 fees and management fees) are described in the investment prospectus. Prospectuses describe the fund's proposed purposes and investment goals as well as other factors (such as performance history, investment objective and fee structure) about which investors need be aware to make informed investment decisions. It is VERY important to read the prospectuses for any investments you're considering for your company 401k plan.

Pricing using Class B mutual funds: 401(k) Easy is FREE!

We recommend using only one family of mutual fund investments for your do-it-yourself plan due to the conversion charges and administrative complexity involved in multi-family investment plans.

A portion of the fees charged by mutual fund providers to Class B investors is used to underwrite the full cost of your 401(k) Easy.

If you use Class B mutual fund investments for your plan and the Broker/Dealer we designate, the entire 401(k) Easy system is FREE..

Your employees, in effect, pay for their own retirement benefit package when your company uses Class B mutual fund investments in conjunction with the 401(k) Easy do-it-yourself 401k plan, and a Broker/Dealer we designate.

VIEW 401(k) EASY PRICING FOR USING CLASS B FUNDS.

Class B mutual funds plus 401(k) Easy equal a perfect combination.

Class B shares are priced on a daily basis, and plan participants receive  MONTHLY individualized mutual fund account statements sent to their home address DIRECTLY by the mutual fund company providing investments to the plan.

Class B investors have 24-hour-a-day telephone access to their 401k account balances through the mutual fund companies, and can order supplemental statements and prospectus at any time.

It's easy for investors to access historical and current investment performance and portfolio details by calling the mutual fund company directly and speaking with an account service representative.

Class B funds have exchange privileges that allow investors to transfer money between Class B portfolios within a fund family at no charge or for only a nominal bookkeeping charge.

Class B mutual fund investments convert quickly and easily to an IRA rollover held at the fund company. With an automatic IRA rollover the investor can keep the exact same investments, and maintains the exact same investment strategy as he or she pursued while participating in the 401k!  The investor is always free to change IRA rollover investments at a later date by calling the fund company directly.

Class B mutual funds also benefit the employer because they enable the 401k plan to be employer-trusted, which means THERE ARE NEVER TRUSTEE FEES for your 401(k) Easy!