In addition, here are a few questions you might consider asking concerning your 401(k). Pay careful attention to the answers that you receive.

• Are the statements that you receive clear, logical, and understandable? Do they show plainly what your plan owns?
• Do you feel comfortable that your overall communications with the financial consultant are good and that the consultant attends to your questions and needs promptly?
• Is your 401(k) plan's performance roughly in line with what you expected, or is the fund apparently doing much better or much worse, and why?
• Is the investment style and strategy that you understood would be used in the management of your assets continuing to be exercised?
• If there are investment restrictions in your guidelines, are they being adhered to?

Remember, it's your retirement money. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't like the answers that you get, or you get no answers at all, contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration.