In recent years, people who run 401(k) plans increasingly have come under legal assault.

In the LaRue v. DeWolff Boberg case, the Supreme Court unanimously found in favor of Texan James LaRue, who lost $150,000 in his 401(k) plan because his former employer allegedly neglected to move his assets to more conservative investments despite LaRue's repeated instructions to do so.

The case was a big deal because previously individuals couldn't sue under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, known as ERISA, unless the losses affected the entire plan's assets. It's the first time the court directly addressed whether workers could sue over individual losses.

But people can lose money in their 401(k) plans in less obvious ways than being in the wrong investments during a market freefall. In fact, most of the lawsuits out there focus on the fees charged to these so-called "defined contribution" plans. Over time, fees can significantly impact a portfolio.

Capitol Hill's focus on fees
Lawmakers now are paying attention to fees and introduced several bills lately, including the 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act. But it took them a while to notice that most Americans didn't have

For Aging Americans, Rising Prices Will Take an Even Bigger Toll

Worried about inflation? It may be an even bigger danger than most of us realize.

That's because the American population is aging. The Baby Boomer generation is heading into retirement. And inflation for older Americans is considerably higher than it is for the rest of the population.

This is an underappreciated topic. There isn't much research on it. People usually talk about the average inflation figure, the Consumer Price Index.

But common sense, as well as official statistics, tells the story.

Look, first, at the products where inflation in recent times has been lowest, such as high-tech gear, and clothes.

In both areas, prices are actually falling, and have been for years. Last year's computers are on sale. Even the hottest product in recent memory, the iPhone, has had its price slashed. Through January, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information-technology prices fell around 6.2% on average, and