Ret plans - info for employees (BenefitsLink.com)Headlines re Ret plans - info for employees, gathered by BenefitsLink.comComfortable Retirement a Fading Dream for Many- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Today, for millions of older Americans, quitting their jobs is no longer an option. That's cold water for the leading edge of the Baby Boom generation, just now moving into its retirement years." (San Francisco Chronicle)http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/15/MNFK112ELJ.DTL What to Do with a Retirement Plan Lump-Sum Distribution- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Thanks to the funds in your 401(k) or other type of employer-sponsored qualified retirement plan, if you are retiring or changing careers, you may receive a large chunk of money -possibly the biggest you've ever seen. That's why it's important that you do not overlook the need to 'map out' a lump-sum distribution strategy to protect what you've accumulated. Ideally, it's best to choose a distribution option that meets your retirement needs, minimizes the impact of taxes, and...http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/BUSINESS/806160307 Consumption Structure, Welfare Goods and Retirement Income: Linking the Ageing Puzzles- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "While the empirical evidence tends to support some predictions of the life-cycle theory, a number of puzzles remain: an ageing-consumption, an ageing-saving and a saving-capitalisation puzzles have been put forward in the literature. This paper analyses the links between these three puzzles and develops a model relating usual life-cycle variables, social transfers (public health care expenditures and the generosity of pension systems) to the level of savings." (Social...http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1145145 Retirement Income Withdrawal Mistakes to Avoid- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The general idea is that retirees who anticipate long payout periods should plan on lower withdrawal rates. If there are fixed rate assets in the portfolio, these increase the success for low to mid-level withdrawal rates." (The National Underwriter Company; free registration or paid subscription required)http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/cms/nulh/Weekly%20Issues/issues/2008/23/Focus/L2... Should You Leave Retirement Funds at Old Job- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Workers who get laid off must decide whether to take their retirement plan with them or leave it with their employer." (Orlando Sun-Sentinel)http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-ymsavvy1508jun15,0,2872114.story Opinion You're Probably Saving Enough for Retirement- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Some people do suffer impoverished retirements, but they tend to fall into two categories: those who were poor for most of their lives, anyway, and those who unexpectedly lost their jobs or their health in their 50s. In neither case is 'more saving' the answer to the problem." (Tim Harford via Slate)http://www.slate.com/id/2193350/ Opinion How Can I Tell If I'll Have a Decent Pension- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Last week I mused about whether people in general were saving enough for retirement. (The answer: as far as we can tell, most people are.) This week I have decided to take on a far more important question: am I saving enough for retirement Apparently this activity is called 'retirement planning', which strikes me as a silly phrase given the imponderables involved." (Tim Harford on Undercover Economist)http://timharford.com/2008/06/how-can-i-tell-if-i%E2%80%99ll-have-a-decent-pension/ A Few Final Thoughts on Planning for Retirement- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The new retirement landscape requires us to take on a job once handled by professionals. We now play a larger role ourselves ensuring that we will have adequate resources. That means saving and investing, often on our own, and trying to protect against such unknowables as how long we may live and what financial markets will be like in the future. I've learned a lot in the past two years, and since today's column will be my last for The Washington Post, I would like to emphasize...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/14/ST2008061401392.html Santa Rosa County, Florida, Schools Give Workers $10,000 Retirement Incentive- (Found June 24, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The Santa Rosa County School District on Friday sent letters to 278 employees offering a $10,000 retirement incentive. The employees fall into two groups: - Employees eligible for normal retirement by July 1, meaning they have completed 30 years of service or are 62 years old and have completed at least six years with the district. - Employees in the Deferred Retirement Option Program who plan to leave on or after July 1." (pnj.com)http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/NEWS01/806140318/1006/NEWS01 Minority Women and Retirement Income: Pay, Social Security, Pensions, Savings and Investments (PDF)- (Found June 24, 2008 ) 20 pages. Excerpt: "The poverty rate for Black and Hispanic women over age 65 is twice that of older White women. This is just one of many startling statistics found in WISER's new report, published in conjunction with Mothers' Voices Georgia, and MANA, A National Latina Organization. The updated guide contains new data, reveals the many challenges minority women face when it comes to a secure retirement, and highlights the need for education and long-term planning on retirement income for.http://www.wiserwomen.org/pdf_files/minoritywomen08.pdf |