The Evolution Of Retirement Wealth

This report examines whether the current mix of tax preferences for employer-sponsored pensions and individual retirement saving in the U.S. is delivering the best possible retirement-preparedness across and within generations. Using data for 1989 through 2013, cohort-based analysis of life-cycle trajectories shows that (1) overall retirement plan participation was stable or even rising through 2007, though participation fell in the wake of the Great Recession and has remained lower; (2) participation is strongly correlated with income, and the shift in the type of pension coverage occurred within -- not just across -- income groups; and (3) the recent decline in retirement plan participation and defined contributions (DC) retirement account balance-to-income ratios is concentrated among younger families and lower-income families. Figures. This is a print on demand report.

Winner of the 1998 Paul A. Samuelson Award given by TIAA-CREF, The Evolution of Retirement is the first comprehensive economic history of retirement in America. With life expectancies steadily increasing, the retirement rate of men over age 64 has risen drastically. Dora L. Costa looks at factors underlying this increase and shows the dramatic implications of her findings for both the general public and the U.S. government. Using statistical, and demographic concepts, Costa sheds light on such important topics as rising incomes and retirement, work and disease, the job prospects of older workers, living arrangements of the elderly, the development of a retirement lifestyle, and pensions and politics. "[Costa's] major contribution is to show that, even without Social Security and Medicare, retirement would have expanded dramatically."—Robert J. Samuelson, New Republic "An important book on a topic which has become popular with historians and is of major significance to politicians and economists."—Margaret Walsh, Business History

When you offer your employees a 401(k) plan, you can’t just say “good luck” and expect success. Only a generation ago, employers provided pension plans that guaranteed employees a retirement income for life. Workers had to do little more than show up for work every day to earn benefits. Today, the responsibility has shifted. Workers are more responsible for their future than ever, yet they are ill prepared for the complexity of the issues that face them. It’s no easy task to prepare for retirement while juggling today’s financial demands. American’s are worried about their retirement, and with good reason. Longevity, market risks, taxes, uncertainty with Social Security, inflation, and soaring health care costs are a real concern. The lack of retirement readiness in the United States is troublesome. Terri McGray, CFP®, AIF® founder of Longevity Capital Management LLC, draws on thirty years of retirement expertise to help employers learn how to: • Reduce financial stress in the workforce • Support retirement readiness • Inspire and motivate action • Minimize costs and expenses • Lessen the workload and mitigate liability With easy-to-follow steps, Retire Ready will help you get your employees on the path towards retirement readiness.

This Palgrave Pivot provides a concise overview of pension systems which, whether paid by governments or by private companies, are the sole source of income for millions of people around the world. By 2050, two billion elderly people will have to be ensured some form of income while, at the same time, the prospect facing younger generations is of a gloomy future. This book breaks down the jargon, investigates different designs and analyses these designs' effects on financial sustainability, their adequacy when it comes to level and replacement rates, and their effects on intra- and inter-generational distribution. The author provides also an overview of the historical, demographic and political issues connected with the pension debate. This book will be of interest to students and academics, and professionals involved in the pensions industry.

This volume focuses primarily on changes in the U.S. pension system from 1983 to 2009. However, attention is paid to the entire retirement system, including the role of Social Security.

Half a century of UK gerontology research, theory, policy and practice are under the spotlight in this landmark critical review of the subject that places the country’s achievements in an international context. Drawing on the archives of the British Society of Gerontology and interviews with dozens of the most influential figures in the field, it provides a comprehensive picture of key developments and issues and looks to the future to plot new directions in thinking. This is the story of the remarkable progress of gerontology, told through the eyes of those who have led it.

American workers rely on their employers to provide a way to generate retirement income beyond their Social Security earnings. Many employers still offer traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plans. A growing majority, however, have replaced DB plans with account-based defined contribution (DC) plans. Virtually everyone acknowledges that the basic DC plan design is flawed. Yet as a society with low private savings and a fraying Social Security system, we count on this imperfect structure to serve as a retirement security bulwark. Workers and society both need the employer-sponsored retirement system to function well. Enhancing DC plan design therefore becomes critical. Defined Contribution Plans: Challenges and Opportunities for Plan Sponsors offers guidance to plan sponsors interested in better understanding the primary issues confronting DC plans. We wrote this book from the viewpoint of the plan sponsor seeking to improve the DC system, and it follows five major themes: the plan participant, the plan sponsor, plan design, investments and investment managers, and asset decumulation in retirement. We present the material conversationally from a high-level perspective. We have not sought to write an encyclopedia on DC plans but rather focus on the basic features of well-run plans. We address key challenges facing DC plans and offer associated design and policy recommendations for plan sponsors and other interested parties to consider. Plan design improvements almost certainly will be incremental, rather than sweeping top-down changes mandated by regulators. Plan sponsors individually will make the important decisions that have lasting consequences for participants and for society. Our objective is to spark interest among sponsors, encouraging them to carry out additional research and take action. We believe the DC system will be strengthened by informed sponsors advocating for and implementing thoughtful strategic changes to their plans.

Financial science, both quantitative and behavioral, can be used to improve the retirement planning effort. Despite a vast amount of literature on the topic, Secure Retirement recognizes the need to validate this knowledge and develop a comprehensive framework for investors.