As a result of rollovers from 401(k) plans, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) have become the biggest form of retirement savings – bigger than 401(k)s. This development raises concerns because, compared to 401(k) regulatory safeguards, IRA investments have fewer protections. One...

Since working longer is the key to a secure retirement for the vast majority of older Americans, it is useful to take a look at labor force trends for those under and over age 65 for the last century. This brief proceeds in three steps. The first section describes the long-run decline in labor...

Over the past decade, researchers have focused attention on a new approach for encouraging Americans to adopt beneficial behaviors. This approach relies on making the desired behavior occur automatically unless an individual chooses to opt out. A prominent example is automatic enrollment in...

The brief’s key findings are: *While most multiemployer pension plans are finding their financial footing, a substantial minority face serious problems. *The key reason is a declining financial base, which results in negative cash flow. *Plans deemed in “critical” condition can raise...

The brief’s key findings are: Although the introduction of defined contribution plans by some states has received considerable press attention, activity to date has been modest. Moreover, most recent shifts involve either hybrid plans or cash balance plans, rather than stand-alone defined...

Medical and long-term care costs represent a substantial uninsured risk for most retired households. In 2007, spending on Medicare premiums and copayments among married couples age 65 and over averaged $7,600. But such statistics are of limited value to households trying to determine how much to...

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applicatons and benefit receipts vary greatly by state, which has led to concerns about potential inconsistencies in the way that states apply disability standards. An earlier brief concluded that more than 70 percent of the variation across states in...

Defined contribution plans, predominantly 401(k)s, are the primary source of personal retirement savings for American workers, making the investment decisions within these accounts a salient policy concern. These decisions are a result of two separate actions: the mutual fund options selected by...

The brief’s key findings are: The brief’s key findings are: *Despite a strong stock market, the funded status of public plans in 2013 remained unchanged at 72 percent for two reasons: *actuarially smoothed assets grew modestly; and *CalPERS, one of the nation’s largest plans, significantly...

The 2014 Trustees Report shows little change from last year: o Social Security's 75-year deficit rose modestly to 2.88 percent of payroll. o But the deficit as a percent of GDP is still 1 percent. o And trust fund exhaustion is still 2033, after which payroll taxes still cover about three...