For a number of reasons, some 401(k) plan providers are turning down withdrawal requests from investors.
A recent Wall Street Journal article reported some providers are freezing investments in certain plans and restricting access to certain retirement plan options. This as some employers are finding it difficult to do away with risk investments housed in 401(k) plans. Many funds offered in 401(k) plans lend their portfolio holdings to other investors, receiving in exchange collateral that they invest in normally safe, liquid holdings.
"But in recent months, many of the collateral investments have gone haywire, prompting money managers to restrict retirement plans' withdrawals from the lending funds," the Journal reported. One plan provider has not allowed withdrawals or transfers since last September because of a low performing fund. Retirement plans offered to employees of an energy company have been on lockdown since certain fund holdings had defaulted.
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