Month: September 2011
A race to the bottom?
New Census Bureau data released earlier this week shows that more Americans are living in poverty now than at any time since 1993. While an increase might be understandable, given the uncertain economy, the numbers are still staggering. An estimated one in six Americans, or 15.1 percent of the population, is living in poverty. That […]
“Retirement Heist” book asks: Who stole America’s pensions?
Can we afford retirement in this country? Not if you believe politicians who claim entitlement spending is out of control and that the economy is being dragged down by our aging population. I don’t buy it.
10 Things Pension Plans Won’t Tell You
Yes, they still exist. And some of them toy with taxpayer money.
401(k) break at risk as policymakers mull retirement shift
U.S. retirement programs could look different if a grand deficit-cutting bargain is struck in upcoming negotiations.
Retirement Plans Morphing as Defined Benefits Fade for New Workers
As of May, 30 percent of Fortune 100 companies offered a defined benefit plan to new salaried employees, down from 37 percent at the end of 2010 and 83 percent as recently as 2002. How are employees reacting to this change in their total compensation?
Public plans tout 20%-plus returns for fiscal 2011
The 20%-plus investment returns for fiscal 2011 keep rolling in for public pension plans.
Chilean miners get lifetime pensions, but …
A smile came to my face when I first saw the headline, Lifetime pensions awarded to 14 of the trapped Chilean miners. Of course the miners deserve pensions. After all, they were trapped underground for nearly three months! But then I remembered that there were 33 miners stuck in that mine. So less than half […]
Pensions: Take a Lump Sum or Not?
New rules will mean smaller pension payouts next year. Get it right the first time. There are no do-overs.
Few Baby Boomers Financially Prepared For Retirement
They may long to give up their daily commutes and have wide-open schedules, but far too many baby boomers are largely unprepared to leave their jobs, according to a new report by the Insured Retirement Institute.
