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A digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.



<a label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://files.constantcontact.com/701ae45c001/d1f735ad-5232-45d2-baa4-2794c32b641e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sudden-Stop Recession Pressures U.S. States&#8217; Funding For Pension And Other Retirement Liabilities</a> | <a label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://content.copera.org/retirement-roundup-recession-effects-on-state-pensions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">S&amp;P Global</a>



Nationally, pensions have been improving funding discipline, according to this report. But economic woes could undermine some of this progress. Colorado was mentioned for its “notable reforms,” though the story also noted the suspension of the direct distribution will have an effect.



<a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/601107/2020-election-retirement-security" target="_blank" label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">2020 Election: Retirement Security</a> | <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com" target="_blank" label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiplinger</a>



Presidential campaigns are full of ideas. Many of these ideas wouldn’t get off the ground without Congress agreeing to pass the necessary legislation. So why listen? Presidents have the ability to shape debate, set priorities, and persuade the public, which can end up making a difference. So when Presidents share ideas to, for example, change the way Medicare works, people listen.



<a href="https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/selecting-tdfs-ending-zero-can-affect-your-retirement-savings" target="_blank" label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selecting TDFs Ending in Zero Can Affect Your Retirement Savings?</a> &nbsp;| <a href="https://www.napa-net.org/" target="_blank" label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Association of Plan Advisors</a>



Do you invest in a target date fund? If so, what’s your birthday? That might seem like a strange question, but researchers found that your birth year can influence your investment choices, and not always for the best. People have a tendency to choose target date funds that end in a zero (2020, 2030, etc.) over those that end in a five, even if the latter is closer to their target date. As a result, people with a birth year of eight or nine tend to select funds designed for retirement around age 60, while those born in years ending with zero, one, or two tend to select funds with a retirement age closer to 70.



<a label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://money.yahoo.com/expert-the-donothing-approach-to-retirement-is-not-good-advice-now-140035637.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Retirement expert: The ‘do-nothing’ approach is not great advice right now</a> | <a href="https://money.yahoo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yahoo! Money</a>



Are you a do-nothing retirement planner? This article shows two types of “do-nothing” approaches to beware of. The first is never reviewing or updating your retirement plan. While many retirement plans allow you to put your investments on “autopilot,” this doesn’t take into account changes that take place in your life and outlook. The second “do-nothing” approach is to avoid the topic of retirement savings altogether.

Retirement Roundup: Recession Effects on State Pensions