Rupert Johnson

Vice Chairman, Franklin Resources

Search every verified Rupert Johnson interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a December 2022 interview, Franklin Resources Vice Chairman Rupert Johnson discussed his views on 401(k) plans. Johnson stated that 401(k)s made sense when tax rates were declining, but argued that because taxes are likely to increase in the future, deferring taxes on contributions may not be advantageous. He suggested that if an employer offers a matching contribution, employees should contribute enough to receive the full match, describing that as a 100% rate of return. Johnson recommended that beyond the employer match, individuals should consider putting additional money into cash value life insurance instead of a 401(k), citing a desire for control and tax-free income in retirement. He characterized 401(k)s and IRAs as "chains around people's necks" and predicted that people would regret contributing as much as they did to those products.