Blogs & Newsletters
Senators…Keep your hands off Social Security
Senators Kent Conrad and Judd Gregg, the leaders of the Senate Budget Committee, are proposing to set up a commission that they argue is necessary to address tough budgetary issues. In reality though, the proposed commission is likely to force Congress to make destructive cuts in Social Security. Their plan is to establish a commission with equal representation of […]
On this day…
On this day in 1981, the final regulations for 401(k) plans were issued. What better day than today to look back at what we’ve written on 401(k) plans? Here’s our top 10 list: ▪ TIME Magazine says, “Time to Retire the 401(k)” ▪ A retirement reality check ▪ Mother Jones for Mother’s Day ▪ The Office gets a 401(k) […]
TIME Magazine says, “Time to Retire the 401(k)”
With the provocative title, “Time to Retire the 401(k),” the cover story of today’s issue of TIME is a must-read. The article provides a stinging indictment of the do-it-yourself savings plan that has come to dominate our patchwork retirement system. Author Stephen Gandel writes If you have even peeked at your account statements in the […]
Happy International Day of Older Persons!
Did you know today is the International Day of Older Persons? We don’t want today to go by without pointing out two shocking facts that were highlighted recently by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) in Pensions at a Glance 2009: Retirement-Income Systems in OECD Countries. This report looks at current trends and […]
Military pensions and divorce: How a bill pending in Oklahoma could affect military pensions everywhere
Earlier this month, the Pension Rights Center, along with the National Women’s Law Center, sent a letter to the Oklahoma state legislature urging it to defeat a bill that could dramatically alter the way the state’s divorce courts treat military pensions. The Oklahoma state legislature is considering legislation that would change state law and affect […]
PRC mourns the death of a longtime board member
The nation has lost a great champion for retirement security, and the Pension Rights Center has lost a great friend. The Center was honored to have Lisle C. Carter, Jr. serve on our board of directors for more than 20 years. Read our tribute to Lisle and the Washington Post article about him.
Poverty and older Americans: A look behind the numbers
New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau contains information that may come as a surprise: Of the age groups surveyed (ages 18 and under, ages 18-64 and individuals age 65 and older), it was the group of Americans age 65 and older who have the lowest rate of poverty at 9.7 percent. The report, […]
As ERISA celebrates its 35th anniversary it is clear that there is still more to do
Labor Day marks the 35th anniversary of a law hailed by its principal sponsor Senator Jacob Javits as “the greatest development in the life of the American worker since Social Security.” Thanks to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, millions of retirees are receiving the secure lifetime pensions that are making it possible for them to live comfortably […]
A surprisingly honest answer to a question about investing
Does successful investing guarantee a successful retirement? Not really. At least that’s the answer according to Evan Cooper, an editor for Investment News. Cooper is pondering retirement and has come to a surprising conclusion – at least we think it’s surprising, considering the source. Cooper writes that retirement income “will come from a combination of Social […]
Can we call you, Al?
When writer-comedian Al Franken was sworn in as Minnesota’s junior Senator on July 7, I was intrigued to hear that he will be serving on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (also known as the Senate HELP Committee). Not surprisingly, this is one of the committees that we deal with the most, and I […]
In case you missed it
Here’s some of the latest news from the world of pensions: ▪ PlanAdviser reports that late last week the Senate confirmed Phyllis Borzi to head the Employee Benefit Security Administration as assistant secretary of labor. ▪ PRC attorney Rebecca Davis led a session in a National Women’s Law Center webinar titled What Women Need to […]
Older Americans Act celebrates an anniversary
Today marks the 44th anniversary of the Older Americans Act, a federal grant program that helps millions of older adults throughout the country. One of the programs funded by the Older Americans Act is the Administration on Aging’s Pension Counseling and Information Program, which supports regional pension counseling projects around the country. These nonprofit counseling projects provide […]
