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Letter: Inaction of GOP, Democrats is suspect regarding health care
The Oct. 13 Associated Press story by Stephen Cohlemacher, “Social Security raise to be among lowest in years,” speculated the government shutdown might be a reason for the delayed announcement of the cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) that is provided by law to…
Report: Americans’ debt grows faster than retirement savings
A majority of Americans with 401(k)-type savings accounts are accumulating debt faster than they are setting aside money for retirement, further undermining the nation’s troubled system for old-age saving, a new report has found. Three in five workers with defined contribution…
Understanding Social Security
A recent “60 Minutes” report suggested the Social Security disability program is in financial trouble and will soon run out of money to pay benefits. It is true the Disability Insurance Trust Fund is projected to be fully funded only until…
Senior Democrat pushes firm line in U.S. budget talks
A senior House of Representatives Democrat set down a firm marker on Tuesday for newly convened U.S. budget talks, saying his party would not agree to significant cuts in large social programs without increases in tax revenue. Read more… …
Middle Class Americans Face a Retirement Shutdown; 37% Say “I’ll Never Retire, But Work Until Too I’m Too Sick or Die,” a Wells Fargo Study Finds
Nearly Half of Women Say Greatest Retirement “Financial Fear” Is a Loss of Social Security, Surpassing a Large Health Expense. As U.S. lawmakers engage in an ongoing fight over how and when to pay the country’s debts, more than half the…
Health Maintenance Organizations: How Will They Handle the New Regulations?
As we know, baby boomers are hitting their retirement age, and they are very likely to opt for managed care plans. This suggests that health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, have a big opportunity to grow. However, new legislation in the U.S.…
Retirement expert: Financial planning important for non-retirees, too
As older workers increasingly contemplate delaying retirement or putting it off entirely, they should also consider the financial-planning options available in Social Security, Medicare and employment-based retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k) accounts, says a University of Illinois expert…
SOCIAL SECURITY CAN SHOW A WAY FORWARD
Years of failed budget negotiations have illustrated the political difficulties of a big budget deal. Neither political party is willing to touch their preferred part of the budget without significant concessions from the other side. However, there may be a…
Don’t let inflation kill Social Security
PRESIDENT Obama and Congress are not the only people in Washington who can add a trillion dollars annually to their liabilities. The trust fund that covers Social Security ended last year with an unfunded liability of $12.3 trillion — up $1 trillion…
Budget Conference Provides an Excellent Opportunity to Carefully Examine Rep. Ryan’s ‘Entitlement’ Proposals
At the 11th hour, Congress bought itself some time to find a sensible path forward — a path that a majority in both houses can support and the president can sign. This should be an opportunity to step back from…