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Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short
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The median household headed by a person 60-62 years of age with a 401(k) account has less than one fourth of what is needed to maintain a standard of living at retirement, according to data from the Federal Reserve and analyzed by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College for the Wall Street Journal. Including Social Security and any pensions or other savings, the savings are way short of what is needed for retirement. Households used in this data had a median income of $87,700 in 2009. The 85% needed for a decent standard of living upon retirement is $74,545. Social Security would provide an estimated 40% of pre-retiremment income, or $35,080 for that median family, leaving $39,465 that has to come from other sources. The median 401(k) account has $149,400 which would only provide a fixed income each year of $9,073- only one fourth of the $39,465 needed. To generate that $39,465, households have to have $636,673, and only 8% of American households approaching retirement have that amount. Half of the families have other pension income of $26,500 a year, which added to $9,073 in 401(k) income gets the total income up to $35,573. Other studies using different data by the Employee Benefit Research Institute show results that are largely similiar. The Employee Benefit Research Institute, is supported by 401(k) providers. Its estimate of the median person is based on individuals in the 60's who have worked at the same company for more than 30 years. This data shows an estimated median person having about $158,754, not much different from the Fed data. Why is the amount in most Americans 401(k) savings so low? There was a mistaken sense that a 6% annual contribution, with a 3% company match would be enough. Vanguard Group says the current median amount that people contribute is 9%, counting the employer contribution. Now Vanguard is advising people to contribute more, 12 to 15%, including the employer contribution. Other problems for the low savings is that saving started late, or contributions were suspended after a job loss, or medical emergencies, other debt. The stock market collapses of 2000-2002 and 2007-2009, added to the problems, by wiping out a portion of the savings. The low rate of interest on savings for most of the last decade hurt even conservative investors and lowers the kind of retirement account income used by seniors. The way people are coping with this is to work longer, in some cases into the 70's, cutting down on spending for food, travel, and taking greater risks for higher returns, risks that could make the situation worse.
Aging, Retirement and 401(K)'s in America- 2010-2016
03/30/2010
The situation confronting the baby boom generation as it retires in the U.S. The stock market boom-bust cycles of 2000-2002 and 2006-2008 have hurt the 401(K) retirement accounts of most Americans. High unemployment and the housing crisis with many home owners under water has only worsened the situation. The difficult situation for seniors earning little interest on their savings. The problem of outliving ones savings for seniors with their money invested in bonds in a low interest rate environment. The median savings of Americans of close to $10,000 with only 10% of Americans having saved about $1 million by age 65. Longevity today means Americans are likely to live to age 85.
Grouped Articles
Big 401(k) Mistakes … and How You Can Avoid Them
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Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg
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Suddenly, Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile
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Low Interest Rates Are Squeezing Seniors
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Chuck Schwab Is Worried About Small Investors. Should We Worry Too?
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Questions America asks it financial leaders in the light of the cratering going on in the world of finance and ordinary American's retirement savings.
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As a large part of 401 K's disappear and retirement savings are hurt badly Americans are asking questions of public servants and leaders in finance.
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Risk, volatility, and prospects for the U.S. stock market in 2010-2012.
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QE2-Inspired Stock Rally May Soon Disappear
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Shiller Metric Carries Warning for Stocks
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Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short
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Good practices for Americans approaching retirement in today's environment
02/19/2011
Vanguard Group says the current median contributions to 401 (K) and savings accounts in 9%, including an employer contribution of 3%. This is too low and Vanguard is recommending a 12-15% annual contribution.
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Big 401(k) Mistakes … and How You Can Avoid Them
Wall Street Journal 04/13/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/03/2011
Burton G. Malkiel: You're Paying Too Much for Investment Help
Wall Street Journal 05/28/2013
Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg
New York Times 06/08/2013
Suddenly, Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile
New York Times 06/15/2013
Vanguard Takes Fund Crown From Pimco
Wall Street Journal 11/05/2013
Savings habits of younger Americans after the economic crisis of 2008-2009
02/05/2008
For many the experiences of parents postponing retirement because of low savings, or facing unemployment and foreclosure, are leading to debt reduction and lower credit card use. Younger workers in the U.S. in 2012-2013 are also contributing more to 401 (K) plans. Vanguard says the median annual contribution to 401 (K) and retirement savings accounts is 9%, including a 3% employer contribution. Vanguard says this is too low and is recommending Americans contribute annually 12-15%.
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Economy Fitful, Americans Start to Pay as They Go
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Funding the budget and pension deficit in the U.S state of Illinois
10/16/2010
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Pension Pinch Busts City Budgets
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Illinois Pension Fix Faces Political Test
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Illinois Legislature Approves Retiree Benefit Cuts in Troubled Pension System
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American states' pension funds: A gold-plated burden
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Chicago Mayor Seeks Alterations to Repair Badly Underfunded Pension Plan
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For Some Bond Investors, Chicago Isn’t Their Kind of Town
Wall Street Journal 04/02/2015
Saving for Retirement in the U.S.
03/30/2010
The difficult situation of seniors earning little interest on their savings.
Grouped Articles
Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg
New York Times 06/08/2013
Suddenly, Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile
New York Times 06/15/2013
Low Interest Rates Are Squeezing Seniors
Wall Street Journal 03/30/2010
Chuck Schwab Is Worried About Small Investors. Should We Worry Too?
BusinessWeek 05/27/2010
The Case for Dividend Funds in Retirement
Wall Street Journal 04/15/2014
The Five Big Lies of Retirement Planning
Unknown 04/17/2014
The wildly underfunded pension system of the American state of New Jersey.
09/30/2010
Need to increase the retirement age to 65 from 62, and increase pension contributions to 8.5%, says Governor Christie of New Jersey. With the lower savings of workers in the U.S. as they approach retirement, adequately funded pension systems are critical to the safety net.
Grouped Articles
Pension Pinch Busts City Budgets
Wall Street Journal 10/30/2013
Illinois Pension Fix Faces Political Test
Wall Street Journal 12/01/2013
Illinois Legislature Approves Retiree Benefit Cuts in Troubled Pension System
New York Times 12/03/2013
BusinessWeek 09/30/2010
Public-sector pensions: Three-trillion-dollar hole
Economist 10/16/2010
American states' pension funds: A gold-plated burden
Economist 10/16/2010
Large income losses for people ages 55-64 and nearing retirement in the U.S.
05/27/2010
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 09/14/2011
Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg
New York Times 06/08/2013
Suddenly, Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile
New York Times 06/15/2013
Chuck Schwab Is Worried About Small Investors. Should We Worry Too?
BusinessWeek 05/27/2010
The Case for Dividend Funds in Retirement
Wall Street Journal 04/15/2014
Hiring Booms, but Soft Wages Linger
Wall Street Journal 01/10/2015
Retirement 101: Saving for Retirement
02/19/2011
Basic things one should know about saving for retirement.
Grouped Articles
Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg
New York Times 06/08/2013
Suddenly, Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile
New York Times 06/15/2013
The Case for Dividend Funds in Retirement
Wall Street Journal 04/15/2014
The Five Big Lies of Retirement Planning
Unknown 04/17/2014
10 Scariest Money Mistakes—Don't Be Tricked!
Unknown 04/17/2014
Five Big Investments You Don't Know You Have
Wall Street Journal 05/12/2014
Household debt, income and savings in the U.S.- 2010-2015
02/05/2008
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Wall Street Journal 02/02/2012
An Ambiguous Omen, U.S. Household Debt Begins to Rise Again
New York Times 02/18/2014
Economy Fitful, Americans Start to Pay as They Go
New York Times 02/05/2008
Deleveraging: It's Not Over Till It's Over
Wall Street Journal 03/11/2009
Wall Street Journal 04/04/2009
How Righteousness Killed the World Economy
New York Times 10/12/2014
How U.S. states overstate the extent to which pensions are funded.
10/16/2010
Using a discount rate of 4% (for government borrowing costs) would correctly show the extent to which pensions are funded in Illinois, than the rate currently used rate of 8%. Using Illinois methods Dutch plans would be 200% funded says an expert in Holland. With lower savings of American workers as they approach retirement adequately funded pension systems are critical to the safety net.
Grouped Articles
Pension Pinch Busts City Budgets
Wall Street Journal 10/30/2013
Illinois Pension Fix Faces Political Test
Wall Street Journal 12/01/2013
Illinois Legislature Approves Retiree Benefit Cuts in Troubled Pension System
New York Times 12/03/2013
American states' pension funds: A gold-plated burden
Economist 10/16/2010
Wall Street Journal 03/05/2012
Chicago Mayor Seeks Alterations to Repair Badly Underfunded Pension Plan
New York Times 04/01/2014
Efforts to fix the budget deficits in U.S. states: 2010-2012
01/05/2011
Some of the worst budget deficits are in Illinois, California and New Jersey, with other states not far behind.
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California’s New Problem: Too Much Money
New York Times 05/25/2013
Brown Set for Victory in California Budget Fight
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Illinois Deficit Leads to Talk of Big Tax Increase
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How to Revive the California Dream
Wall Street Journal 01/10/2011
Chris Christie: The conservative crush
Economist 01/08/2011
Illinois Braces for Tax Increases
Wall Street Journal 01/13/2011
Dow 36,000 and the serious dent in 401 (K) accounts in the U.S.
02/19/2011
How theories such as Glassman's about increasing gains on the stock market wiped out large portons of 401 (K) accounts in the U.S. Glassman explains why he was wrong and advises caution.
Linked Articles
Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short
Wall Street Journal 02/19/2011
Why I Was Wrong About 'Dow 36,000'
Wall Street Journal 02/24/2011
Glassman, Zweig on Dow 36,000
02/12/2011
Glassman on why he was wrong about Dow 36,000 and why he advises caution. Zweig on the flaws in Glassman's theory about the markets. The extreme volatility and uncertainty in today's stock markets.
Linked Articles
Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short
Wall Street Journal 02/19/2011
How Now, 36,000 Dow? The Ominous Undertone of Rallies
Wall Street Journal 02/12/2011
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