GM Seen Fueling Pension Deals as Employers Face Shortfall
General Motors Co. (GM)’s deal to cut pension obligations by $26 billion and shift plans to Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU) is poised to fuel more transfers as U.S. firms face a retirement-funding shortfall the size of Greece’s debt.
GM pension changes leave retirees’ money unprotected, group says
The General Motors Retirees Association is protesting GM’s plan to buy out pensions of up to 42,000 U.S. salaried retirees and move other retirees to an annuity program controlled by Prudential Insurance Co. of America.
Lump-sum pension offer a tough call for General Motors, Ford retirees
Chuck White, 68, regularly tells friends who are Ford salaried retirees that they shouldn’t get an ulcer worrying about whether to take a new lump-sum pension offer.
America’s Looming Pension Shock
At a recent Governing Leadership Forum in Lansing, Michigan Budget Director John Nixon told a packed room about Gov. Rick Snyder’s plans to overhaul his state’s public-pension system. Michigan’s governor is, of course, far from alone in trying to deal with the public sector’s pension crisis.
How Divorcing Women Should Handle Retirement Accounts and Pension Plans
When you’re a woman who’s 50+ and divorcing, there’s no question that retirement accounts, pension plans and social security will factor significantly into your divorce settlement agreement –but even if you’re not nearing retirement age, the same is likely true.
PRC Letter to the Editor on electronic disclosure (06/06/2012)
On June 3, the New York Times published a column about the Labor Department’s new regulations that require 401(k) providers to disclose how much they charge in fees. Below is a letter that the Center sent to the New York Times in response to the article: To the Editor, In addition to telling people how […]
GM’s pension move is a lemon
Last week, General Motors announced that it will offer 42,000 of its salaried retirees the opportunity to take their lifetime monthly pension benefits as a one-time lump-sum payment. Retirees who don’t take the lump-sum offer will receive an annuity equivalent to their pensions from Prudential. While a lump sum might look like a lot of […]
Are GM-like pension offers a good deal?
Over the next few weeks some 42,000 white-collar General Motors retirees will take a crash course in actuarial math.
The Curtain Opens on 401(k) Fees
IF recent stock market gyrations have taken a bite out of your 401(k), get ready for more discomfort. You’re about to learn how much you’re paying just to maintain that account.
Bill creates state retirement for private workers
California’s Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would create a guaranteed, government-run retirement savings program catering to private-sector workers of modest means.
Could Your 401(k) Fees Buy a House?
There are more than 50 million Americans with investments in 401(k) and other defined-contribution retirement-savings plans. They’re about to be getting more information about the fees they pay. By one estimate, it could be sobering news.
4 Countries with Better 401(k) Plans than the United States
The United States isn’t the only country that encourages workers to use retirement accounts to save for the future. Some other countries provide retirement accounts similar to 401(k)s that offer clearer disclosures, simpler investments, and lower costs than most retirement plans in the United States.
