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November 8, 2018 by Alan Daley

Retiree Finances – Some Pundits Disagree on the Facts, but Agree on Whom to Blame

Retiree Finances – Some Pundits Disagree on the Facts, but Agree on Whom to Blame

We are being subjected to polar extremes on the subject of the financial well-being of retirees.  Kevin Drum in Mother Jones claims we are looking at a world where “relatively speaking, retirees are doing quite a bit better than current workers. In fact, their incomes are growing more strongly than pretty much any other age […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: finance, retirement

April 4, 2018 by Alan Daley

Expect Widespread Financial Insecurity Among Many Future Retirees

Expect Widespread Financial Insecurity Among Many Future Retirees

In a December 2017 poll, many Americans felt they were just a paycheck away from insolvency.  About 43% fear an unexpected event would deplete their meagre savings, and another 34% find it difficult to make ends meet.  Still, 67% of Americans feel that their finances will get much or somewhat better in 2018, and only […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: retirement, savings, social security

March 30, 2018 by Alan Daley

Not Saving for Retirement?

Not Saving for Retirement?

In a December 2017 poll, many Americans felt they were just a paycheck away from insolvency.  About 43% fear an unexpected event would deplete their meagre savings, and another 34% find it difficult to make ends meet.  Still, 67% of Americans feel that their finances will get much or somewhat better in 2018, and only […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: ira, retirement, savings, social security

March 27, 2017 by Alan Daley

Looking for a Place to Park Your Nest Egg?

Looking for a Place to Park Your Nest Egg?

We used to think that when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, we would once again have a chance to invest our consumer nest eggs in low risk bonds that pay 4%-5%.  It may be a daydream.  Four upcoming changes in the financial market could hold rates down longer than we might expect.  Lurking on […]

Filed Under: Blog, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: federal reserve, interest rates, ira, retirement

March 2, 2017 by Alan Daley

Should States Regulate IRAs?

Should States Regulate IRAs?

Employees in companies that do not offer a 401k arrangement face a disadvantage in saving for retirement.  Tax exemption makes 401k retirement funds grow much quicker and the tax exemption is a strong incentive for employees to contribute regularly.  The employee benefits from participation and society benefits in future years because the 401k funded employee […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: 401k, ira, regulation, retirement

September 22, 2016 by Alan Daley

The Fed, Government Debt, Pensions and Retirement Savings

The Fed, Government Debt, Pensions and Retirement Savings

In the depths of the great recession, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) chose to push interest rates down by buying massive amounts of Treasury notes and bonds.  That tactic was meant to stimulate private sector investment and invigorate demand for additional employees.  Unfortunately, holding interest rates very low for 6 years has starved pensions and […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: debt, federal reserve, retirement, savings

March 28, 2016 by Alan Daley

Retirees Face Uneven Recovery

Retirees Face Uneven Recovery

The economic fortunes of American families are evolving at different paces after the great recession. From nearly 10% in 2009, unemployment has dropped to 4.9% today. During the recession, many abandoned their place in the labor force and the participation rate remains low today. The median family faces stagnation in income and net worth following […]

Filed Under: Blog, Consumer Tips / Health, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: economic recovery, retirees, retirement

November 30, 2015 by Alan Daley

Pensions: Be Careful of Government Involvement

Pensions: Be Careful of Government Involvement

The shortfall in retirement funds for American families is about $4 trillion.  Much of that gap is attributable to the demise of defined benefit pensions. Some government plans may help ease the shortfall, but they carry dangers of their own. Few employees are active in a defined benefit pension plan, which means that, for a […]

Filed Under: Blog, Finance / Insurance, Issues Tagged With: government, pensions, retirement

September 10, 2015 by Alan Daley

Retirement Disasters Paid From Your Pocket

Retirement Disasters Paid From Your Pocket

For some state and local governments, the weight of retirement obligations is oppressive. To avoid confessing to a complete disaster, they usually decide to cut benefits available to future employees, because governments can less readily rescind retirement benefits of workers who have already retired. This reduction in promised retirement income happens often enough that the […]

Filed Under: Blog, Finance / Insurance, Issues, Taxation Tagged With: benefits, pensions, retirement

August 11, 2015 by Alan Daley

Retirees in the Crosshairs: ACI’s Daily Caller Piece

Retirees in the Crosshairs: ACI’s Daily Caller Piece

Thinking of retiring in a few years? Beware of what is likely to come. Government has created a massive, new and costly benefit called the Affordable Care Act (ACA). At the same time, government has been burnishing existing programs to rapidly convert people into beneficiaries. Taxpayers will soon be hijacked to pay the unprecedented costs, […]

Filed Under: Consumer Tips / Health, Issues, News, Taxation Tagged With: aca, medicare, retirement

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Americans are facing challenges sometimes caused by questionable public policy and regulations that raise industry costs – both of which lead to higher consumer prices and fewer choices for consumers.  ACI's focus is to support concepts which spur competition, encourage innovation, create jobs and benefit consumers overall, while maintaining reasonable and necessary consumer safeguards.

We serve as an academic voice for consumers.  Our goal is to build awareness, survey consumer attitudes on public policy issues, facilitate discussion, and offer research-based solutions that have the best interest of consumers in mind.

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