The Write Palette
  • WriteTime Memories
  • Blog: Camera in Hand
  • Photo Story Project Form
  • WriteTime Memories
  • Blog: Camera in Hand
  • Photo Story Project Form
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

12/29/2013 1 Comment

2013 Retirement Year in Review

The year 2013 was a mixed bag for retirement savings. Account balances continued to increase, primarily due to positive results on Wall Street, but other financial pressures continued to impact many participants despite their best efforts. Here are some of the key topics and trends covered in this blog throughout 2013:
  • two-thirds of savers worried about weak housing market
  • rising healthcare costs in retirement expected to challenge middle class
  • debt of the elderly and near-elderly becoming increasingly challenging
  • smartphones and tablets making inroads as communication channels
  • automated features continue to be well-received
  • account balances of long-term "consistent" participants show resilience

We will continue to monitor interesting trends in 2014, and welcome comments, feedback, and topic suggestions. Happy New Year to all!!



1 Comment

12/16/2013 0 Comments

Weak Housing Market Worries Savers

Although housing prices have increased recently, the improvement from the 2008-2009 downturn has been modest at best compared to the improvement in equities. The improvement has primarily benefited the top one-third of households, while the bottom two-thirds continue to struggle. According to the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College, equity prices have increased by 45% since 2010, adjusting for inflation, versus just 6% for housing prices. For the top one-third, the "at-risk" group declined slightly to 40%. Will the other groups showed a very slight improvement, more than half remain at risk (52% for middle income, 60% for lower income). The CRR notes that housing is a much more significant asset for most households than are equities.
0 Comments

12/10/2013 0 Comments

Pre-retirees Worried About Health Costs

According to a Nationwide Financial survey conducted by Harris Interactive, spiraling healthcare costs are top of mind for pre-retirees. The survey found that 61% are now "terrified" of healthcare costs in retirement, compared to under 50% when measured last year. Of those surveyed, nearly two-thirds have not yet spoken to a financial advisor about their plans for retirement, and even for those who have had such a conversation, less than one in four has discussed healthcare costs in retirement that aren't covered by Medicare. 

What makes the survey results even more disconcerting is that the survey focused on more affluent households - about 800 individuals over age 50 with household incomes of at least $150,000. One would expect that the concern is even greater for households with lower income.
0 Comments

    Blog Author - Ken Felsher

    With over 25 years of writing, editing, and research experience. I enjoy sharing with my readers my love of working with content on a variety of subjects.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All 401(k) 402(g) Boomers Catch-up DB Dc Deferral Limit Defined Benefit Defined Contribution ERISA Healthcare Participation Pension Professionally Managed RCS Retirement Retirement Confidence Tax Code Vanguard Women Working

    Archives

    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

© The Write Palette, 2020