In 2002 I invested 500 dollars in a SEP with Edward Jones. Each year Edward Jones charges a minimum fee of $45. Unfortunately my financial position has not been good and finally this year 2012 I decided to cash the proceeds in and pay the penalty to the IRS. The value of the fund was $515. Edward Jones sends me a check for $336. They deducted the 10% penalty but added additional charges of roughly $135. To put this in perspective Edward Jones made 45 times 10 in fees plus added and additional fee of another$90.
They made $540 in fees from my investment and the IRS will most likely take even more than the their 10% penalty already taken and I am still apparently liable for even more taxes. I lost roughly 40% of my investment while Edward Jones made more than a 100% of that small investment. I've had several representatives over those years and my spouses 401K is still with Edward Jones but really why take advantage of someone already on the brink.
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