Blogs & Newsletters
Funniest Celebrity Contest
OK, so on Wednesday night, I was on stage at the DC Improv, along with consumer advocate Ralph Nader, American for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist, Pulitzer-Prize-winning columnist Clarence Page, and Josh Gotbaum, appearing in his personal capacity. What were we doing? We were all part of the Funniest Celebrity Contest. Yes, this was a contest […]
Spouses deserve an equal voice in retirement decisions
Preparing for retirement is a bit like competing in a marathon. It’s long and hard, and it requires a steady pace. It also requires information about the course ahead. Although most retirement plans provide employees with information about what their pensions will be, some spouses are kept in the dark. If their husbands or wives […]
Oregon takes a step toward retirement security for all
Oregon recently took a step forward in the movement to expand retirement savings for its workers. Oregon’s state legislature passed House Bill 3436, which creates a task force to explore options for helping private-sector workers who lack access to a workplace retirement plan save for retirement. The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature. House […]
Congress should protect investors, not undermine them
In 1975, when the U.S. Department of Labor issued a rule defining who is an investment advisor under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Vietnam War had just ended, Steve Jobs was tinkering around his dad’s garage, and Angelina Jolie was barely in diapers. To say that the world has changed since then is […]
Happy Older Americans Month!
The start of May marks the beginning of Older Americans Month, a celebration of the contributions older Americans make to society. Sponsored by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the theme of this year’s Older Americans Month—“Unleash the Power of Age!”—highlights the significant positive ways that older Americans influence their communities. 2013 happens to be the […]
Borrowing against the future with a 401(k) loan
Thinking about taking a loan from your 401(k) plan? Think again. It’s no secret that many Americans were hit hard and are still struggling to recover from the financial crisis. Even those who weren’t laid off or downsized during the recent recession may think of their 401(k) accounts as piggy banks instead of the retirement […]
Another look at living independently in retirement
Living independently is a goal for many who are approaching or thinking about retirement. While most people don’t expect to move to a gated retirement community with a golf-course, they do hope to have adequate financial resources to live modestly and with dignity. How much will they need? The Gerontology Institute of the University of […]
Marriage equality and retirement equality
Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the first of two cases that may change the retirement landscape for millions of Americans: Hollingsworth v. Perry (the second case, U.S. v Windsor, will be heard on Wednesday). What do these cases, both dealing with same-sex marriage, have to do with retirement security, you […]
It’s Time to Take the Risk Out of Retirement
Amidst the deluge of polls, electoral counts, and predictions for yesterday’s election, a different number was released that shows the grim state of Americans’ retirement security. According to a new report from the Center for Retirement Research, the National Retirement Risk Index jumped to 53 percent in 2010, meaning that more than half of U.S. […]
NFL sacks referees’ retirement security
If you’re a sports fan, chances are that you’ve heard about the standoff between the NFL and its referees. The impasse, resolved on Thursday, resulted in three weeks of officiating by replacement referees who, according to some, fumbled more calls than the players. For many, this would have been the news. However, we at the […]
How Safe Are the New GM Retirees’ Annuities?
Back in June, thousands of salaried General Motors retirees were given seven weeks to decide whether to take their pension as a lump sum or continue with their lifetime monthly payments. As Pension Rights Center Executive Vice President Karen Friedman wrote in a Detroit Free Press op-ed, the annuity was the better option for most […]
Great news for the land of Lincoln!
The Pension Rights Center is delighted to welcome the Illinois Pension Assistance Project (IPAP) as the latest addition to the Pension Counseling and Information Program. Now residents of Illinois who have a question about their traditional pension, 401(k) plan, or other employer-sponsored retirement plan can turn to IPAP for free personalized legal assistance to resolve […]
