Author Topic: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?  (Read 3029 times)

mharmless

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« on: December 05, 2014, 09:54:47 AM »
My school district has a limited set of vendors, listed below, for handingl 457(b) and 403(b) accounts. 457 seems made for early retirement, with the penalty free withdraws. Vanguard isn't one of the offered vendors anymore, they are only available to grandfathered folks. I am not knowledgeable about any of these other vendors, and I'm hoping to find some insight from the mustache community.

American Fidelity Assurance Co.
Ameriprise Financial
Aspire Financial Services *
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company *
Fidelity Investments *
First Investors Corporation *
Great American-Annuity Investors Life *
GWN Securities *
Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc *
Oppenheimer Funds *
Plan Member Services *
ReliaStar Life Insurance Co *
Security Benefit Group *
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
VALIC *
Waddell & Reed, Inc.

* Also offers Roth accounts


Which one will best help to groom the mustache?

seattlecyclone

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7254
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Seattle, WA
    • My blog
Re: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2014, 09:59:51 AM »
Fidelity has a set of "Spartan" index funds that are basically as good as Vanguard. As always, the devil is in the details regarding any fees the plan imposes on top, but I would look at Fidelity first.

GGNoob

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 726
  • Age: 37
  • Location: Colorado
Re: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2014, 10:43:16 AM »
Fidelity has a set of "Spartan" index funds that are basically as good as Vanguard. As always, the devil is in the details regarding any fees the plan imposes on top, but I would look at Fidelity first.

+1

Fidelity, unless there are extra fees that make another option better.

BarkyardBQ

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 666
Re: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2014, 10:54:53 AM »
I chose Fidelity for Spartan funds and low cost plan fees, $24/year.

Plan Member Services, charges .35% custodial fee for self directed portfolios.

Thrivent, most their mutual funds have expense ratios of .75%.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2014, 10:57:42 AM by zdravé »

DrF

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
Re: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2014, 11:21:10 AM »
I have the bulk of my and my wife's retirement accounts with Fidelity (IRAs and university retirement plan).

Pretty low fees, good website, and customer service. It is consistently ranked as one of the better brokers.

I'm not sure how your 457 is set up, you may be limited on what funds you can buy. If there are no restrictions, then you should be able to buy any fund you want.

Fidelity has some "core" etfs that are fee free for buying and selling (iShares).

The 457 is truly the most amazing retirement account out there. Blows everything else out of the water.

mharmless

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: Which company should I let handle my 457(b) investments?
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2014, 01:31:36 PM »
Thank you very much for the help folks, I will investigate the Spartan options at Fidelity.