LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: NPR's business news starts with new rules for nest eggs.</s>LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: Americans will soon have more information about their retirement investments.</s>LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: NPR's Wendy Kaufman has the details.</s>WENDY KAUFMAN: About 72 million Americans have 401(k) plans. And new rules announced yesterday by the Labor Department are designed to make it easier for them to compare investment options. Beginning in January 2012, employers will have to lay out administrative expenses and other charges that can be imposed on their retirement accounts. The disclosures are designed to be user-friendly.</s>Ms. KAREN FRIEDMAN (Policy Director, Pension Rights Center): It's extremely important for consumers to compare and contrast the different fees that they're paying under 401K plans.</s>WENDY KAUFMAN: Karen Friedman is with the Pension Rights Center. She says oftentimes, consumers aren't even aware that fees exist for things like accounting and investment services.</s>Ms. KAREN FRIEDMAN (Policy Director, Pension Rights Center): And what a lot of workers and retirees don't know is that high fees can really eat away their balance, and for millions of people, their 401(k) plan is going to be their only supplement to Social Security.</s>WENDY KAUFMAN: In addition to information about fees, the new rules will require disclosures about the performance of various mutual funds that are offered as investments. Individuals will see one-year, five and 10-year investment results, along with benchmark numbers, so they can assess a fund's performance.</s>WENDY KAUFMAN: Wendy Kaufman, NPR News.
Saving for retirement may become a little easier for the 72 million U.S. workers enrolled in 401(k)-type savings plans. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis has announced that starting in 2012, employers will have to fully disclose the fees charged on plans, and provide performance data for mutual funds.