DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sometimes it pays to get help. A new study of 401(k) accounts provides further evidence that workers who get help pocket higher returns than those handling their own investment choices.

The study by human resources consultant Aon Hewitt and investment adviser Financial Engines shows that workers who received some form of help experienced annual returns on average of 3 percent better than workers who handled their own accounts.

But it's important to clarify what's meant by "help." Workers who used target-date mutual funds, professionally managed accounts or accessed online advice were all deemed to have used help for purposes of this study. Their behavior from 2006 through 2010, and how it affected account risks and returns, was studied.