One of the best features of the new rules is that all named heirs now have until Dec. 31 of the year after the owner dies to arrange the IRA so as to provide the longest stretchout of distributions of tax-deferred assets.

FORBES: IRA Tips and Traps

Either way, the assets grow tax-deferred and withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, not capital gain.

FORBES: IRA Tips and Traps

The breach of fiduciary duty allegations stem from the fact that the Plan assets are invested in a tax deferred variable annuity.

FORBES: SEC Snoozed As "Shadow Marketers" Skimmed Billions From Retirement Plans

With a deferred annuity, you pay now and hope to accumulate assets through either a variable product that invests in equity mutual funds or a fixed product that offers bond-like returns.

FORBES: Personal Finance

In earlier research, Mr. Mahaney highlighted another benefit to deferring benefits until later: If you expect much of your retirement income to come from tax-deferred savings, you might be better off using those assets first and delaying all, or a large chunk, of your Social Security.

WSJ: Family Value: Bolstering Your Social Security Benefits

While the assets are inside the trust, they grow tax deferred.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

As for private equity, managers get their big bonuses only when assets are realised and investors get their cash, which means their pay is deferred anyway.

ECONOMIST: The European Union serves up a dog��s breakfast