Watch out for fees - 'How I saved $1 million (or more)' - CNNMoney

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'How I saved $1 million'

Five 401(k) millionaires share their secrets to reaching their first million in retirement savings.

Watch out for fees

401k millionaires ingram
To cut down on fees, Ingram sticks to index funds.
  • Name: Raymond Ingram
  • Age: 49
  • City: Atlanta, Ga.
  • Saved: More than $1.5 million

With more than $1.5 million in retirement savings, Raymond Ingram knows how quickly fees can add up.

In order to keep his costs down, he sticks to index funds, which charge fees of less than .05%.

As he has for more than a decade, Ingram will make his maximum allowed 401(k) contribution this year. At $17,500, that represents nearly 20% of his $96,000 base salary, though he also earns commissions. On that amount, he will pay less than $10 in fees, compared to the $175 he would have paid if he invested in funds that charged a 1% fee.

Related: How much are 401(k) fees costing you?

"I am very very sensitive to what the expense ratios are," he said. "Literally, that's the first screen I look at. It's not just performance, but what are the fees?"

  @melhicken - Last updated November 11 2013 10:29 PM ET

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