Study: Employees Will Work into their 70s-80s
What Will Happen to Retirees’ Pensions? 
Average 401(k) Balance at Record High
RETIREMENT PLANNING » IRA & ROTH Accounts
Everyone has their own individual goals for retirement, but no matter what vision you have for your future, money will be required to make it all happen. A reverse mortgage may be the loan you need to materialize your dream.
Reverse mortgages are a specialized type of loan that uses the equity in your home as collateral to provide you with a reliable cash flow when it is time to officially retire. Reverse mortgage loans are not for everyone as there are some specific qualifications that need to be met in order to obtain one. They include: 
It’s no secret that U.S. public pensions are in danger. A recent report released by the Pew Center on States found that the deficits in U.S. state employee pension funds grew by 26 percent in fiscal 2009. State by state, even larger deficits can be seen.
State governments have struggled to manage their budgets for some time, leaving less money to run a number of programs—retiree pension funds just happen to be among many victims. But with so many governments having little to pay their retirees, what will happen to their pensions?
Savers who rely on 401(k) loans may soon be limited in the money they can borrow against their accounts. New legislation introduced by two senators on Wednesday is designed to counter the erosion of retirement assets by reducing the number of loans account holders can take out.
Americans Treating 401(k)s Like Rainy-Day Funds
A new report released by Fidelity Investments revealed the average 401(k) account balance in the U.S. reached a record high of $74,900 as of March 31. According to the report released on Wednesday, the increase was largely attributed to a rebounding economy and stock market gains.
Stock Market Gains Contribute to 12-Percent 401(k) Balance Increase
Aside from medical insurance, 401k plans are one of the best benefits an employer can offer their employees. 401k plans offer employees a way to save up for their retirement with tax-deferred contributions. Additionally, if the employee has to file for bankruptcy, the 401k money is protected from creditors staking their financial claims against their losses. To sweeten the deal even more, many employers actually match their employee’s contribution to their 401k plans, thus providing them with additional monetary perks to their job.
Employer Contributions
Individuals who plan to sign up for Social Security or other federal benefits after April 30 should be prepared to receive their money electronically. Benefits will no longer be issued via paper check starting next month. The switch in issuance is a part of the government’s plan to phase out paper checks for all recipients in the coming years.
Direct Deposit Mandatory for New Federal Benefits Recipients
The deficits in U.S. states’ employee retirement funds widened by 26 percent in fiscal 2009, according to a new study released by the Pew Center on the States. The study found the main reason for the growth in deficits was that governments were hit hard by investment losses, which meant they were unable to pay enough into their pension funds.
Deficit Grows to $1.26 Trillion
Drawing money from retirement savings has become more common according to a new national survey. The study found that 19 percent of Americans admitted to tapping their retirement funds over the past 12 months to cover emergencies.
Americans Feel Less Secure about Finances
Retirement is a fearful prospect for nearly nine out of 10 Americans, according to a new public opinion research report released by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) on Tuesday. The report,”Pensions and Retirement Security 2011: A Roadmap for Policymakers,” found the majority of Americans polled believe the nation’s retirement infrastructure is crumbling and nest egg savings are in danger.
Americans Anxious about Retirement
The Social Security tax reduction taxpayers have received has resulted in a 1-percent personal income boost, says a new report from the Commerce Department. However, despite this increase in income, consumers have only increased their spending slightly, most likely because they’re waiting to see improvement in the economy.