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7/28/13 - Across the Country, Overpromised on Pensions (NPR)

When Detroit declared bankruptcy last week, city workers had a very personal reason to be dismayed. They discovered that their retirement plans, their pensions, are not as solid as they thought. Detroit’s $18 billion of debt includes pension obligations estimated at $3.5 billion that are underfunded. Seems that there is a lot less money in… Read more 7/28/13 - Across the Country, Overpromised on Pensions (NPR)

7/19/2013 - Is $1 Million Enough to Retire? (Next Avenue)

The New York Times recently published an article headlined “For Retirees, a Million-Dollar Illusion,” which questioned whether $1 million in savings is enough to retire on, given today’s low interest rates and stock market volatility, the potential for inflation and increased life spans. The article sparked a media frenzy – how could $1 million not… Read more 7/19/2013 - Is $1 Million Enough to Retire? (Next Avenue)

7/19/2013 - Two more yeras before labor market normal: Fed paper (Reuters)

It could take another two years before the labor market returns to normal, according to research by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released on Friday, underscoring how far the economy must still go to regain full health. The report uses a broad array of 23 labor market indicators, such as long-term employment and… Read more 7/19/2013 - Two more yeras before labor market normal: Fed paper (Reuters)

7/19/2013 - Detroit Gap Reveals Industry Dispute on Pension Math (New York Times)

Until mid-June, there was one ray of hope in Detroit’s gathering storm: For all the city’s problems, its pension fund was in pretty good shape. If the city went under, its thousands of retired clerks, police officers, bus drivers and other workers would still be safe. Then came bad news. Seemingly out of nowhere, a… Read more 7/19/2013 - Detroit Gap Reveals Industry Dispute on Pension Math (New York Times)

7/19/2013 - Reverse mortgages can be hazardous to seniors' financial health (Los Angeles Times)

Call it the estate-devouring, nightmare home loan you hope to never encounter: a reverse mortgage with a base interest rate of 9.95%, plus a 50% share for the lender of increases in value of the house after closing, plus a 2% “maturity fee” to sweeten the payout even more. On top of that, there’s a… Read more 7/19/2013 - Reverse mortgages can be hazardous to seniors' financial health (Los Angeles Times)

7/16/2013 - Where Are Baby Boomers Going to Live? (US News & World Report)

There are many recommendations for the best places for baby boomers to retire, including the healthiest places, sunniest places, best places overseas, the most affordable places and the best places that you probably can’t afford. But people are funny. Sometimes they just don’t do what the pundits tell them to do. So where are baby… Read more 7/16/2013 - Where Are Baby Boomers Going to Live? (US News & World Report)

7/15/2013 - A smart strategy for collecting Social Security (CBS MoneyWatch)

Social Security benefits provide a significant proportion of retirement income for most Americans. Federal data shows that the government program provides 50 percent or more of all income for almost two-thirds of retirees, and 90 percent or more of all income for a little more than one-third of retirees. One key takeaway in these stats:… Read more 7/15/2013 - A smart strategy for collecting Social Security (CBS MoneyWatch)

6/12/2013 - Why Retirement Planning is a Two-Headed Problem for Small Employers (Bloomberg Businessweek)

Small business owners think that Americans’ lack of retirement security is a drag on the economy, according to a survey published today by the Main Street Alliance and the American Sustainable Business Council. Many of those same small business owners say it’s too expensive for them to offer retirement plans to their employees. Read the… Read more 6/12/2013 - Why Retirement Planning is a Two-Headed Problem for Small Employers (Bloomberg Businessweek)

6/12/2013 - Does the Longevity of Baby Boomers Bode Ill for the Federal Deficit? (Wisconsin Public Radio News)

Sara Imhof of the Concord Coalition, a national group dedicated to eliminating the country’s deficit, was in Madison Wednesday. Imhof says aging baby boomers living longer will have consequences for Medicare and Social Security. Read the full article at Wisconsin Public Radio News.

6/8/2013 - Want to Fix Social Security? Use the Right Wrench (New York Times)

Social Security is expected to run out of reserves by 2033 — a mere 20 years from now. With the public apparently opposed both to tax increases and to benefit cuts, the main politically feasible way to avoid such a fate seems to involve some monkeying with obscure aspects of the definition of benefits. Congress… Read more 6/8/2013 - Want to Fix Social Security? Use the Right Wrench (New York Times)