New data from the U.S. Census Bureau has revealed a disturbing fact: 16.1% of people over age 65 were living in poverty in 2009. This new estimate that takes into account health-care costs and other expenses using a revised formula … Continue reading
Retirement reform: A wish list for 2011
The incoming Congress will have new opportunities to forge a path of sustainable growth for America, and comprehensive retirement reform should be the foundation of that effort. The importance of a strong retirement system cannot be overstated. Retirement savings account … Continue reading
Retirement reform: Setting the table for change in 2010
Industry and government made major strides toward meaningful reform of the nation’s retirement system in 2010. Consider the progress on some key issues for investors: The opportunity to fix Social Security has moved from a political “third rail” to front … Continue reading
The New Solvency: Rebooting America’s Future
America at a turning point Our country is at a historic inflection point between decline and renewal, and the whole world is watching us. We can either keep drifting toward what has been called the “most predictable economic crisis” in … Continue reading
Move to strengthen Social Security taking center stage in deficit discussion
There’s a rising wave of interest in Washington to curb deficit spending and strengthen our retirement system. With the November 11 release of a preliminary proposal from President Obama’s commission on the deficit, clearly the Social Security system is part … Continue reading
Savings rate for retirement plans stalls
Fewer full-time workers participated in 401(k) plans last year compared with a decade ago, dropping from 60.4% in 1999 to 54.4%, according to a recent study published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.1 EBRI also found that the participation rate … Continue reading
Putnam’s Jeffrey R. Carney talks about fee transparency and what it means for advisors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEOj1Df4yVI
Transparency: A Right of Investors
Fee transparency is both the right of every retirement plan participant and the obligation of every plan provider. Today at Putnam Investments, we launched a program to provide comprehensive disclosure of fees and expenses for participants in our 401(k) plans. … Continue reading
A college saving strategy that costs you money won’t make the grade
Parents are saving for their children’s college education despite difficult economic times. But some may not realize that the way they choose to save can end up costing them money. A recent Sallie Mae-Gallup poll found that 60% of parents … Continue reading
Happy 401(k) Day!
Take some time today to find out what 50 million investors have already learned about 401(k) plans: They are convenient Simply let your employer know you’d like to participate There are immediate tax benefits Contributions are made with pretax dollars, … Continue reading
