Are Pensions Worth Fighting For?

Just ask the staff at The New York Times. 

Disclosing Pensions: Public Rights, Privacy, and Financial Fraud

There is no question that it makes for good headlines to declare who is making what dollar amount in pension payments. Certainly, watchdog groups have taken advantage of doing so, or conjectured pay-out amounts to stir controversy, like Taxpayers United likes to do at press conferences.

Their position is that any funding taxpayers support should be transparent. As Dr. Tony Fargo, Indiana University Associate Professor of Journalism, told a news investigation team:  “From a public access standpoint, anything that involves the use of public money and the word secret is problematic.”

U.S. Senator Harkin Speaks Out for Pensions

Characteristics of a Healthy Retirement Plan

The principles of retirement security using the acronym SECURE, as created by The Segal Company,* succinctly highlight the characteristics of a healthy retirement system. Using this a jumping-off point, following is a brief consideration of each element – its importance as well as some current related issues.

How Older Americans Are Faring

The economic downturn has caused many Americans age 65 and older to experience higher expenses, lower incomes and depleted savings.

The result, according to AARP Public Policy Institute’s recently published review, How Many Older Americans Live: Ten Facts to Consider, is grim.