A recent white paper claiming that 401(k) fees are hidden and excessive is incorrect, according to the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.

The organization disputed the 95 basis point expense ratio for index funds that was highlighted in the Demos white paper, "The Retirement Savings Drain: Hidden & Excessive Costs of 401(k)s," saying that the expense ratios are much lower for common index funds, such as those by Vanguard and Fidelity, which are .17 percent and .07 percent respectively.

"The assumption that trading fees are equal to the expense ratio has no basis in reality," ASPPA stated. "Trading costs vary significantly based on the frequency with which the underlying investments are traded. As a result, the white paper's calculations are not based on accurate data."