May 2022
26May

The National Landscape of State Retirement Benefits. How Good Are Public Retirement Systems at Putting Employees on a Path to Retirement Income Security?

By Jonathan Moody & Anthony Randazzo  Retirement security is ultimately about retirement income. Families and individuals want to know that during their retirement years they will have enough weekly, monthly, or annual income to live comfortably and meet their basic needs. Of course, many people aspire to more than just the basics. Ask even a handful of individuals about how they want to live in retirement, and you’ll hear a wide range of preferences. Expenses can vary from family-to-family, too,...

May 26, 2022
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25May

A Comfortable Retirement Appears Out of Reach for Most in the U.S.

American workers say it will take $1.1 million on average to retire comfortably — but less than one in four figure they’ll be able to save that much. Just 22% of people approaching retirement age said they’ll have enough money to maintain a comfortable standard of living, according to the 2022 Schroders US Retirement Survey, down from 26% a year ago. The survey of 1,000 workers was conducted in mid-February, when the S&P 500 Index was higher than it is...

May 25, 2022
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23May

ESG factors increasingly put into hedge funds

Interest and investment in hedge funds that incorporate environmental, social and governance factors are on the rise among U.S. investors, although demand still trails that of European investors. While some hedge fund firms have included one or more ESG factors in their investment strategies for years or have created dedicated ESG funds, others still are evaluating the efficacy and return potential of investment in portfolio companies that meet ESG standards, sources said. "There are two ways to do ESG. You can...

May 23, 2022
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19May

The 2022 Pension Answer Book

By Stephen J. Krass A standard in its field, The 2022 Pension Answer Book discusses in detail the full spectrum of pension topics—from qualification requirements to taxation of distributions, from minimum distribution requirements to 401(k) plans. It covers the most up-to-date and significant legislative, regulatory, and case law developments affecting these plans. As a decision-making tool, combining theory and practice-based guidance, The 2022 Pension Answer Book offers insight and clarification on the critical issues affecting pension administration and compliance. In...

May 19, 2022
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19May

US. DoL Urged to Help Pension Plans Make Climate Impact

US pension plans should be required to disclose sustainable investment policies, according to the US Impact Investing Alliance. The alliance has called for mandatory action by the Department of Labor (DoL) in response to a request for input on potential new climate-related rules. It said providers of 401(k) pension plans should be subject to requirements to address the financial risks and impacts of climate change. In a letter to the DoL, Fran Seegul, president of the US Impact Investing Alliance, cited research...

May 19, 2022
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18May

US. Allianz subsidiary pleads guilty over a $7 billion investment implosion.

The German insurance firm Allianz will pay more than $6 billion over the implosion of a group of hedge funds two years ago that stuck public pensions, religious organizations, foundations and other investors with heavy losses. Read also US. DoL Urged to Help Pension Plans Make Climate Impact An American subsidiary of the insurer, Allianz Global Investors U.S., pleaded guilty Tuesday to securities fraud for failing to stop the scheme, which came to light after the funds collapsed early in the...

May 18, 2022
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18May

How Healthcare Costs Can Affect Retirement Planning

People in their 50s, 60s and 70s wear many hats: taking care of elderly parents, financially supporting grown children, working full- or part-time and volunteering in their communities—all while managing their growing healthcare needs. Baby boomers have redefined retirement, and today it looks completely different than it did a generation ago. There are reasons for that: People who are of retirement age now face a greater number of post-work years because we’re living longer. Retirement might last decades. Americans who...

May 18, 2022
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18May

Why are millennials better at saving than their parents?

Millennials started saving for retirement in their mid-20s, about 10 years earlier than baby boomers, a new Charles Schwab report says. But experts still predict that millennials will be less secure in retirement than their parents or grandparents. The most common retirement plans today tend to be riskier, with smaller potential payouts. Student loans, soaring housing costs, COVID-19, recessions and gig working are some of the other challenges millennials have faced. Millennials are now the world’s largest adult generation...

May 18, 2022
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17May

US. Trade groups say DOL shouldn’t single out climate risk

Two high-profile trade associations have cautioned the Department of Labor from issuing new climate-specific regulations for retirement plan fiduciaries. The Labor Department in February issued a request for information on what it should do to "protect retirement savings and pensions from risks associated with changes in climate." The RFI follows a May 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden that directed federal agencies to assess and mitigate financial risks related to climate change. The RFI featured a host of questions on...

May 17, 2022
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What Share of Noncovered Public Employees Will Earn Benefits that Fall Short of Social Security?
12May

What Share of Noncovered Public Employees Will Earn Benefits that Fall Short of Social Security?

By Jean-Pierre Aubry, Siyan Liu, Alicia H. Munnell, Laura Quinby & Glenn Springstead Social Security is designed to serve as the base of retirement support, to be supplemented by employer-sponsored plans. However, approximately one-quarter of state and local government employees – currently, around 5 million workers annually – are not covered by Social Security on their current job. Federal law allows these noncovered workers to remain outside of Social Security if their state or local plan provides comparable benefits. Since...

May 12, 2022
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