Speeches & Statements
Speech by Karen Friedman to the Governor’s Task Force to Ensure Retirement Security for All Marylanders (August 7, 2014)
My name is Karen Friedman, and I am the executive vice president and policy director of the Pension Rights Center, a national consumer organization working exclusively to protect and promote the retirement rights of workers, retirees, and their families. Thank you, Chairwoman Townsend for inviting me to speak today at the very first meeting of […]
Testimony of the Pension Rights Center in support of S.B. 249, an Act Promoting Retirement Savings before the Committee on Labor and Public Employees of the Connecticut General Assembly (March 11, 2014)
On March 11, 2014, Karen Friedman testified in support of S.B. 249, An Act Promoting Retirement Savings, a proposal that would use the efficiences of the Connecticut state retirement system to administer a new retirement savings plan intended for low-income private-sector workers who are not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Senator Holder-Winfield, Representative Tercyak, […]
Speech by Karen Friedman to the Texas Municipal Retirement System (November 19, 2013)
On November 19, 2013, PRC’s Karen Friedman delivered the keynote speech at the Texas Municipal Retirement System’s annual meeting in Austin, TX. Below are her remarks. Hello, I’m Karen Friedman, the Executive Vice President and Policy Director of the Pension Rights Center. Before I begin today, I wanted to tell you that, in anticipation […]
PRC statement on protecting employees, employers, and retirees when making reforms to the multiemployer pension system (October 29, 2013)
The Pension Rights Center submitted a statement for the Congressional record to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions of the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee for a hearing titled “Strengthening the Multiemployer Pension System: How Will Proposed Reforms Affect Employers, Workers, and Retirees?” In its statement, the Pension Rights Center opposed proposals […]
Norman Stein calls for an end to conflicts of interest in investment advice (September 13, 2013)
At a briefing for Senate staff on the importance of unconflicted investment advice, PRC Senior Policy Advisor Norman Stein discussed the history of fiduciary regulations and why they need to apply to 401(k)s and other retirement savings plans. I’m speaking today both as an academic—I teach law at Drexel University—and as a policy advisor to […]
Retiree Janice Winston speaks out in support of strong fiduciary regulations (September 13, 2013)
At a briefing for Senate staff on the importance of unconflicted investment advice, retiree Janice Winston told a personal story that illustrates the need for a strong fiduciary standard. Hello, my name is Janice Winston. I am here as a retiree to talk about the challenges facing real people. Let me briefly tell you my […]
PRC testimony to the ERISA Advisory Council on private-sector pension “de-risking” and participant protections (August 29, 2013)
PRC Executive Vice President and Policy Director Karen Friedman testified before the ERISA Advisory Council on the increased use “de-risking” strategies in private pension plans and the increased risk that such strategies pose for workers and retirees. Related: “De-Risking” Pensions Could be Risky to Pensioners (press release, October 18, 2012)
Retiree Janice Winston speaks out in support of strong fiduciary regulations (July 8, 2013)
At a briefing for Congressional staff on the harmful impact that H.R. 2374 would have on retirement security, retiree Janice Winston told a personal story that illustrates the need for a strong fiduciary standard. For more information, read the Pension Rights Center’s July 8, 2013, letter opposing H.R. 2374 Hello, my name is Janice Winston. […]
Norman Stein calls for an end to conflicts of interest in investment advice (July 8, 2013)
At a briefing for Congressional staff on the harmful impact that H.R. 2374 would have on retirement security, PRC Senior Policy Advisor Norman Stein detailed the need for unconflicted investment advice in retirement plans and called for the defeat of the bill. For more information, read the Pension Rights Center’s July 8, 2013, letter opposing […]
PRC statement on protecting retirees when making reforms to the multiemployer pension system (June 12, 2013)
The Pension Rights Center submitted a statement to the Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the House Education and Workforce Committee for a hearing on “Strengthening the Multiemployer Pension System: What Reforms Should Policymakers Consider?” In its statement, the Center called for greater protections for retirees when considering benefit cuts in severely underfunded […]
PRC statement to the ERISA Advisory Council on lost participants and lost plans (June 4, 2013)
PRC Policy Analyst Jane Smith testified before the ERISA Advisory Council on helping pension plans find missing participants and vice versa. Among its suggestions, the Center recommended that the Department of Labor work with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to establish a Lost Pension Plan Registry, which will help individuals find and claim pension benefits […]
Remarks by Karen Friedman at the 2013 NAPA/ASPPA 401(k) SUMMIT (March 3, 2013)
Karen Friedman participated in a panel discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of 401(k) plans at a conference sponsored by the National Association of Plan Advisors and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Below are her remarks. Are 401(k) Plans a Failed Experiment? QUESTION ONEWhat are the weaknesses of 401(k) plans? Brian, thank […]
