Month: August 2012
Annals of dubious research, 401(k) loan-default edition
Bob Litan, formerly of the Kauffman Foundation and the Brookings Institution, has recently taken up a new job as director of research for Bloomberg Government, where he’s going to have to be transparent and impartial. But one of his last gigs before moving to Bloomberg — a paper on the subject of people borrowing money […]
How to find a lost pension
When Frank Marroquin retired last year, he expected to live on his monthly $1,660 Social Security check, but then he remembered he was eligible for a pension from a former employer.
Social Security Advice That Harms Wives
Most financial advisers give troubling advice to married couples about when to claim their Social Security benefits, advice that can substantially reduce their wife’s income during retirement.
Energy Future Holdings to terminate employee pension plan
Energy Future Holdings said Tuesday that it will terminate pension plans for many of its employees, offering them lump-sum payments or annuities rather than a promise of future benefits.
Why you may retire in poverty
Are you going to retire in poverty? Today’s seniors are more affluent than the general population. But the generations that follow them – starting with the baby boom generation – will not be as fortunate. The decline of pensions, the erosion of Social Security and the housing crash all are pointing toward a new crisis […]
Harkin’s retirement plan proposal is a hit
Sen. Tom Harkin’s proposal for a universal private retirement system with professional money management was praised by several pension experts as a first step in addressing ways to improve retirement security.
Lump-sum opinions are everywhere
Everyone from daughters-in-law to cousins to former co-workers has an opinion on whether salaried retirees at Ford and General Motors should give up a steady pension check if they’re offered a sizable lump sum.
Nearly half of Americans die with ‘virtually no financial assets’
How much do senior citizens rely on Social Security? Even more than you might think. A new study finds that more than 46 percent of Americans die with less than $10,000 in financial assets, with many spending the end of their life strongly dependent on the government.
