
<p>Retirement insights from a Colorado PERA perspective</p>



<p></p>


A distant view shows a mountainous landscape with sloping peaks, green trees in the foreground, and a cloudy sky above.


<p>The investment staff at Colorado PERA have a large responsibility: managing more than $61 billion for the defined benefit plans and almost $6 billion for the defined contribution plans on behalf of current and former public employees.</p>



<p>We operate a low-cost investment program—management expenses amount to less than one-half of one percent of the total fund—and staff are always looking for ways to improve. One way we reduce costs for members is by managing a large portion of the portfolio internally rather than paying outside managers.</p>



<p>PERA started managing some assets internally in the 1970s, and we’ve been expanding that capability where appropriate over the years. We now internally manage about 60% of all <a href="https://www.copera.org/investments/defined-benefit-db-plan-assets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DB Plan investments</a>.</p>



<p>We estimate we save our members at least $65 million a year in fees by managing PERA Defined Benefit (DB) Plan assets in-house and, through reductions in administration and investment management fees, have achieved an 82% decrease in fees in the PERAPlus 401(k) plan since 2011.</p>



<p>A new strategy PERA’s investment team has been exploring in recent years is unitization.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What is unitization?</h3>



<p>Perhaps the easiest way to understand unitized investment products is to think of them like mutual funds—investors pool their resources in a fund which invests in a mix of investments, and each investor owns shares (or units) of the pool. This can make it easier for individual investors to have exposure to assets that are often only available to large institutional investors, since plan participants can own a portion of the overall pool instead of having to buy each underlying asset.</p>



<p>In the context of PERA’s investment program, unitizing offers to participants in the <a href="https://www.copera.org/investments/defined-contribution-dc-plan-investments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PERA Defined Contribution (DC) Plan</a> and the <a href="https://www.copera.org/retirees/peraplus-401-k-457-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PERAPlus 401(k) and 457 Plans</a> the opportunity to invest alongside the PERA DB Plan in a combined pool of assets while reaping the benefits of the professional management experience of our staff.</p>



<p>Unlike the DB Plan, participants in the DC Plan and PERAPlus plans make their own investment decisions and select from a variety of white label funds that are overseen by internal and/or external asset managers. One goal of unitization is to increase the amount of assets managed internally, which reduces the amount of money participants pay in fees to those external managers.</p>



<p>“We have a highly skilled team of investment professionals who work every day to be effective and responsible stewards of the DB Plan’s assets,” said Chief Investment Officer/Chief Operating Officer Amy C. McGarrity. “I’m glad we can extend some of that investment management expertise to our DC Plan and PERAPlus participants and potentially lower their investment management fees.”</p>



<p>PERA’s investment team began exploring unitization several years ago and completed work on unitizing the <a href="https://copera.org/pera-on-the-issues/asset-classes-explained-fixed-income" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fixed Income asset class</a> in 2022, producing cost savings for participants in the PERAdvantage Fixed Income fund. In early 2025, staff completed unitization of the <a href="https://copera.org/pera-on-the-issues/asset-classes-explained-global-equity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Equity asset class</a>, PERA’s largest, which allows for improved efficiencies in administration.</p>



<p>PERA’s investment team has long-term aspirations, including the potential of eventually unitizing the entire DB Plan portfolio or offering custom-built target retirement date funds.</p>



<p>Unitization is just one way PERA staff are working to innovate and modernize the services we provide to our members and ensure a secure retirement for the hundreds of thousands of current and former public employees who serve Colorado.</p>


Unitization: Leveraging PERA’s Investment Expertise to Benefit Our Participants


<p>The American public continues to hold positive opinions of defined benefit pension plans, according to <a href="https://www.nirsonline.org/reports/what-do-americans-think-about-pensions-for-public-employees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the latest survey data from the National Institute on Retirement Security</a> (NIRS).</p>



<p>Researchers contacted more than 1,200 adults aged 25 and older across the country to understand public opinion about defined benefit plans like what Colorado PERA offers. They found 86% of survey respondents think all workers should have access to a defined benefit pension, and not just public employees.</p>



<p>In addition, while Americans may be divided politically, the NIRS survey found strong agreement on the value of pensions. More than 80 percent of each political group—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—voiced their support for pensions.</p>



<p>Unlike a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k), a defined benefit plan like the PERA Defined Benefit Plan provides retirement income a person cannot outlive. That makes for a valuable benefit that can be a powerful tool in maintaining a qualified workforce.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2428" height="1414" src="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions.png" alt="Two pie charts showing results of a survey of Americans' attitudes toward pensions. The left chart shows 82% of Americans agree that pensions are a good way to recruit and retain qualified teachers. The right chart shows 84% of Americans agree that pensions are a good way to recruit and retain qualified public safety employees." class="wp-image-54938" srcset="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions.png 2428w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions-300x175.png 300w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions-1024x596.png 1024w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions-768x447.png 768w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions-1536x895.png 1536w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nirs-american-attitudes-on-pensions-2048x1193.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2428px) 100vw, 2428px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy: National Institute on Retirement Security</figcaption></figure>



<p>Defined benefit plans are most common in the public sector today, and the NIRS survey asked respondents whether they agreed that pensions are a valuable tool to recruit and retain workers who provide important public services, such as teachers and public safety workers. The survey found 82% agree that pensions help recruit and retain teachers and 84% agree that they help recruit and retain public safety workers.</p>



<p>Since 1931, Colorado PERA has been helping support Colorado’s public workforce by providing lifetime retirement and other benefits. In addition to the PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA members have access to defined contribution plans, health care benefits, and more, ensuring the state’s public workers have the tools they need for a secure retirement.</p>


Survey Finds Strong Support for Public Pensions


<p>Since 1931, Colorado PERA has been providing retirement and other benefits to the public employees who keep our state running. As the workforce and retirement landscape have changed, PERA also has adapted and grown; Colorado’s largest public retirement plan now covers nearly 700,000 current and former public workers.</p>



<p>PERA benefits, including the hybrid defined benefit plan and the option for some members to choose a defined contribution plan, have been valuable in helping public agencies recruit and retain employees for decades. Critics of defined benefit pensions, however, argue that today’s workers would be better served by other types of plans. An upcoming study will help shed light on that debate.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Purpose and scope</strong></h4>



<p>During the 2024 legislative session, state lawmakers passed <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1427" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Bill 1427</a>, which&nbsp;calls for the State Auditor, in cooperation with PERA, to enlist an independent actuarial firm experienced with public pensions to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the cost and effectiveness of the PERA Defined Benefit (DB) Plan to alternative plan designs, as well as providing an analysis of certain aspects of PERA’s current&nbsp;defined benefit&nbsp;and&nbsp;defined contribution&nbsp;plans.</p>



<p>The study will be similar in scope and purpose to&nbsp;<a href="https://content.copera.org/key-pera-features-make-colorados-largest-retirement-plan-efficient-and-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a study that took place following similar legislation in 2014</a>. That study compared various facets of the PERA DB Plan—such as cost per member, contribution rates, income replacement ratio, and&nbsp;portability—to other public and private sector plan types, including Social Security. The study is <a href="http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/audits/1409s_colorado_public_employees_retirement_association_pera_hybrid_defined_benefit_plan_study.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">available online here</a>.</p>



<p>Why refresh the study after a decade? In part, things have changed, and state leaders see value in having updated data. Since the last study, Colorado has seen tremendous growth, the public workforce has changed, and various reforms have put PERA on a path to full funding. This new study will incorporate all those changes to provide a more accurate assessment of PERA’s value to employers and the state as a whole.</p>



<p>While a lot has changed in the past 10 years, one thing that hasn’t is PERA’s commitment to providing retirement security to our members. The previous study concluded that PERA’s plan provides a better benefit at a lower cost than other plans, making it the best option for providing retirement benefits to the state’s public employees. We believe an updated study will show the same results.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s next?</strong></h4>



<p>The State Auditor and PERA have until the end of October to select an actuarial firm to conduct the study. Once a firm is selected, the study is likely to take several months to complete.</p>



<p>When the study is complete, PERA and the State Auditor will provide a report of the study’s findings to the governor, the Joint Budget Committee, the Legislative Audit Committee, and the House and Senate Finance Committees.</p>



<p>We’ll also provide a summary of the study’s findings here on <em>PERA On The Issues</em>. Make sure you’re <a href="https://www.copera.org/pera-on-the-issues/subscribe">subscribed</a> to our biweekly newsletter to receive all the latest updates.</p>


Why the State is Commissioning a Study on PERA’s Plan Design


<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.ncpers.org/costs-of-pension-reforms-income-inequality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The Hidden Costs of Pension Reforms: Rising Income Inequality, Lagging Economic Growth | National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems</strong></a></h4>



<p>Changes to the defined benefit pension landscape—including the shift from pensions to defined contribution plans like 401(k)s in the private sector—have contributed to worsening income equality among retirees over the years, according to new research. The study, from the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems, also concluded that income inequality has an overall negative effect on the economy by limiting growth.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-prices-inflation-federal-reserve-economy-2cd182eb34a7d6772ff573bec0bcf64d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Jerome Powell Says Fed to Soon Begin Reducing Interest Rates | AP News</strong></a></h4>



<p>Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed he’s ready to start lowering interest rates. At the Fed’s annual conference in Wyoming, Powell said it’s time for policy to adjust as inflation has eased and the job market has cooled. Though Powell didn’t specify when the central bank will start to lower rates, many experts expect the first cut to come when the Federal Open Market Committee meets in September.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/08/25/colorado-talk-about-dementia-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Colorado Hopes to Raise Awareness of Dementia, Start Conversations, With New Campaign | Colorado Public Radio</strong></a></h4>



<p>The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is launching a new campaign called “Talk About Dementia.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which can often go undiagnosed. Since early detection can be important for treatment, officials hope the campaign can help lessen dementia’s impact in the state.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2024/08/15/long-term-care-costs-emerge-as-a-top-issue-for-older-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Long-Term Care Costs Emerge as a Top Issue for Older Americans | ThinkAdvisor</strong></a></h4>



<p>Paying for health care is one of the top concerns for retirees and those who are preparing for retirement. A new survey of Americans aged 50 and older found people are especially concerned about the cost of home care, assisted living, and nursing home care. The cost of acute medical care was the second-highest concern, followed by the cost of prescription medications.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Income Inequality Rises with Decrease in Pension Access, Study Finds


<p>The Colorado Legislature this month approved a bill that directs the Office of the State Auditor to commission an updated study comparing the value of PERA’s&nbsp;hybrid&nbsp;defined benefit&nbsp;(DB) plan to other plan designs.</p>



<p><a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1427" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Bill 1427</a>&nbsp;calls for the State Auditor, in cooperation with PERA, to enlist an independent actuarial firm experienced with public pensions to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the cost and effectiveness of the PERA DB Plan to alternative plan designs, as well as providing an analysis of certain aspects of PERA’s current&nbsp;defined benefit&nbsp;and&nbsp;defined contribution&nbsp;plans.</p>



<p>The study will be similar in scope and purpose to <a href="https://content.copera.org/key-pera-features-make-colorados-largest-retirement-plan-efficient-and-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a study that took place following similar legislation in 2014</a>. That study compared various facets of the PERA DB Plan—such as cost per member, contribution rates, income replacement ratio, and portability—to other public and private sector plan types, including Social Security. The study concluded that PERA’s plan provides a better benefit at a lower cost than other plans, making it the best option for providing retirement benefits to the state’s public employees.</p>



<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://content.copera.org/key-pera-features-make-colorados-largest-retirement-plan-efficient-and-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Key PERA Features Make Colorado’s Largest Retirement Plan Efficient and Effective (from 2015)</a></p>



<p>As Colorado’s public workforce evolves, it’s important that Colorado PERA remain flexible enough to meet the membership’s changing needs. This study will help policymakers assess PERA’s continued value in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified public workforce in the years ahead.</p>



<p>If HB24-1427 is signed into law, the State Auditor and PERA will have until the end of October to select an actuarial firm. When the study is complete, PERA and the State Auditor will provide a report of the study’s findings to the governor, the Joint Budget Committee, the Legislative Audit Committee, and the House and Senate Finance Committees.</p>



<p>In addition to HB24-1427, lawmakers have passed two other PERA-related bills, both of which will expand provisions for PERA members who return to work in retirement. Those bills have been sent to the governor for his signature.</p>



<p><strong>RELATED</strong>: <a href="https://content.copera.org/2024-proposed-legislation-status/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Proposed Legislation Status</a></p>


Lawmakers Pass Bill to Refresh Study on Value of PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan


<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/02/01/biden-administration-launches-medicare-drug-price-negotiations/72411019007/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Kick Off with Price Offers on These 10 Drugs | USA Today</strong></a></h4>



<p>The federal government’s long-awaited drug price negotiations are now underway. The government isn’t releasing its initial offers, but it has released the initial list of drugs in question. The final negotiated prices will take effect in 2026.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fed-chair-jerome-powell-interest-rates-60-minutes-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Fed Chair Jerome Powell Shares Why Fed Hasn&#8217;t Yet Cut Interest Rates | CBS News</strong></a></h4>



<p>Many experts expect the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates this year, but Chair Jerome Powell say the Fed isn’t ready to do so just yet. While prices aren’t rising as quickly as they had been, Powell says he wants to see more evidence that inflation is down and staying down.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2024/01/31/alaska-senate-advances-public-sector-pension-plan-to-address-recruitment-and-retention-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Alaska Senate Advances Public-Sector Pension Plan to Address Recruitment and Retention Crisis | Anchorage Daily News</strong></a></h4>



<p>Alaska closed its public employee pension plan in 2006, and since then the state has struggled to attract and retain workers in important roles like teachers, firefighters, and police officers. A bill that would create a new pension plan is now making its way through the state legislature. It has passed the Senate and how heads to the House for further deliberation.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/05/economy/loud-budgeting-financial-trend-tiktok/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Loud Budgeting is In, Quiet Luxury is Out. Meet the TikToker Who Started the Financial Trend | CNN Business</strong></a></h4>



<p>You may have heard the term “quiet luxury,” but younger generations are starting to embrace its opposite—loud budgeting. It started out with a joke on TikTok, but creating a budget and being vocal about it with your friends is the new trend among those looking to get their finances in order.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Medicare Begins Drug Price Negotiations


<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.plansponsor.com/will-ibm-resurrection-of-cash-balance-plan-cause-a-ripple-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Will IBM Resurrection of Cash Balance Plan Cause a Ripple Effect? | PLANSPONSOR</strong></a></h4>



<p>IBM made headlines in November when it announced it was ending its 401(k) match program in favor of a new defined benefit retirement account, a rarity among private-sector employers. The move has experts debating whether more companies will follow suit and open or reopen pension plans for their employees.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/forces-that-shaped-2023-in-charts-8410463" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>8 Forces That Shaped 2023—in Charts | Investopedia</strong></a></h4>



<p>2023 has been a memorable year in the markets, with events such as bank failures, interest rate raises, and labor strikes sending ripples through the economy. Take a visual look at some of the major events that told the financial story of 2023.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/one-key-rule-for-understanding-rmds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>One Key Rule for Understanding Your 2023 RMD | Kiplinger</strong></a></h4>



<p>The impending end of the year might have you thinking about required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts like 401(k)s. Changes to RMD rules in SECURE 2.0 legislation have made it a little more complicated to determine who’s required to start taking RMDs when, so here’s a simple guide.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.nextavenue.org/unused-529-plan-money-good-news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Got Unused 529 Plan Money? Here’s Some Good News | Next Avenue</strong></a></h4>



<p>Another change included in SECURE 2.0 will allow for unused funds in 529 college savings accounts to be rolled over into a retirement account. Beginning in January, you’ll be able to rollover excess funds from a 529 plan into a child’s Roth IRA, kickstarting their retirement savings.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: IBM Reviving DB Plan; Will Other Companies Follow?


<p>Generation X – the group of Americans born between 1965 and 1980 &#8212; is often referred to as the “Forgotten Generation.” It’s a smaller group than both the Baby Boomers that came before and the Millennial generation that followed.</p>



<p>With the oldest members of Generation X soon approaching retirement, it’s important to look at where they stand financially. New <a href="https://www.nirsonline.org/reports/genx/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research from the National Institute on Retirement Security</a> (NIRS) finds that many members of Gen X are struggling to meet retirement savings targets and risk having a significantly lower standard of living when they stop working.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Access to employer-sponsored retirement plans</strong></h4>



<p>According to the NIRS researchers, the decline in the number of employers offering defined benefit (DB) pension plans is a major factor in Gen X’s retirement readiness. In 1980, more than 80 percent of workers in the private sector had access to a DB plan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.</p>



<p>Today, few private employers offer pensions to their workers. Most employees only have the option to save for retirement in employer-sponsored defined contribution (DC) plans like 401(k)s or on their own in individual retirement accounts (IRAs). According to NIRS, just 14 percent of Gen Xers were participating in a DB plan as of December 2020.</p>



<p>The potential challenge of relying solely on DC plans is a person’s retirement income depends on how much they contributed over the course of their working years and the investment gains they may have earned over that time.</p>



<p>Since Generation X was the first generation to enter the workforce when DB plans were on the decline, they’re the first to see the effects of that shift on their finances on a large scale.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Generation X’s retirement readiness</strong></h4>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href=""><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="" alt="" class="wp-image-5603" width="256" height="169"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy: National Institute on Retirement Security (click/tap to enlarge)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The NIRS researchers found that just over half of Gen Xers participated in an employer-sponsored retirement plan in in 2020. Of those contributing to a private account like a 401(k), the average balance was $129,994. The median account balance, which isn’t skewed by high earners, was $10,000 for individuals and $40,000 for households.</p>



<p>Additionally, 40 percent of Gen Xers have accounts with no balance at all, according to NIRS.</p>



<p>The researchers warn that retirees who don’t have enough savings to live on will have to rely on Social Security, which wasn’t designed as a full income replacement. In 2023, the average Social Security benefit is about $1,700 a month.</p>



<p>It’s not all bad news, however. The youngest Gen Xers are in their early 40s, which are often a person’s prime earning years. That means younger members of the generation still have time to bolster their savings and improve their retirement security.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How PERA combines the best of DB and DC plans</strong></h4>



<p>The State of Colorado created PERA in August 1931 and since then, PERA has grown to include DB and DC offerings covering more than 670,000 current and former public employees.</p>



<p>The PERA Defined Benefit Plan is available to all PERA members and is designed to provide lifetime income in retirement. The <a href="https://peraontheissues.com/pera-by-the-numbers-a-closer-look-at-the-2022-annual-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">average monthly benefit was $3,238</a> in 2022.</p>



<p>Some members have a choice between the PERA DB Plan and the PERA DC Plan, which features a variety of low-cost investment options for members who want to invest their retirement funds on their own. Members can also annuitize their account balance at retirement to convert it to regular monthly income.</p>



<p>PERA also offers the optional <a href="https://www.copera.org/peraplus-401-k-457-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PERAPlus</a> 401(k) to all members, and some PERA employers also offer the PERAPlus 457 Plan. Both are low-cost options for setting aside extra money for retirement, and both have Roth options for saving after-tax dollars.</p>



<p>Together, PERA’s defined benefit and defined contribution plans help ensure that Colorado’s public employees have the income they need in retirement, regardless of which generation they’re a member of.</p>


How the Shift Away From Pensions Has Affected Gen X’s Retirement Readiness


<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.copera.org/news-you-should-know-will-private-sector-pensions-make-a-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link"><strong>Could Defined-Benefit Pension Plans Make a Comeback? | Morningstar</strong></a></h4>



<p>Decades ago, it was much more common for workers in the private sector to have access to defined benefit retirement plans. Today, they’re largely only available to public employees. However, some experts say the time is right to consider reopening some of those closed or frozen plans, especially as companies struggle to hire and retain employees.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/20/politics/biden-first-veto/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Biden Issues His First Veto on Retirement Investment Resolution | CNN Politics</strong></a></h4>



<p>President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency this month, vetoing a congressional resolution that would have overturned a Department of Labor rule allowing — but not requiring — retirement plans to consider financially relevant environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions. <a href="https://peraontheissues.com/esg-making-sense-of-alphabet-soup/">Click here</a> to read about PERA’s integrative approach to investment stewardship and ESG.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2023/03/21/consumer-confidence-is-up-despite-current-bank-troubles-will-it-last/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Consumer Confidence is Up Despite Current Bank Troubles — Will It Last? | Marketplace</strong></a></h4>



<p>Recent turmoil in the banking industry, rising interest rates and other financial issues haven’t had much effect on personal spending so far. But there are some signs that that could soon change, with recent polling showing some declines in consumer sentiment about the economy.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/11/how-to-live-well-past-100-superager-sisters-on-longevity-health-tips.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>100-Year-Old Sisters Share 5 Top Tips for Leading a Long, Happy Life | CNBC</strong></a></h4>



<p>Shirley Hodes and Ruth Sweedler are 106 and 103, respectively, and still going strong. What are the key ingredients for living so long? There&#8217;s no secret sauce here, but some simple reminders about living a healthy life.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


News You Should Know: Will Private Sector Pensions Make a Comeback?


<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><a href="https://www.alaskajournal.com/2023-02-21/alaska-public-worker-shortage-fuels-renewed-interest-pension-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska Public Worker Shortage Fuels Renewed Interest in Pension Plan | Alaska Journal of Commerce</a></strong></h4>



<p>Defined benefit pension plans can be a valuable tool in recruiting and retaining public employees like teachers and public safety officers. Recognizing that, lawmakers in Alaska this year are continuing their efforts to re-establish a pension plan similar to the one the state closed in 2006. They hope to stop a worsening trend of public workers leaving Alaska for jobs in other states that offer better benefits.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/401-k-and-ira-balances-plunged-in-2022-7113335" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>401(k) and IRA Balances Plunged Over 20% in 2022 | Investopedia</strong></a></h4>



<p>2022 was a tough year in the markets, and workers’ retirement accounts were not immune. According to data from Fidelity, the average 401(k) balance was down more than 20 percent for the year, while the average IRA balance dropped by about 23 percent. The good news is that long-term, account balances are still showing good growth, with both 401(k) and IRAs up more than 30 percent over the past decade.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/470894/americans-fairly-satisfied-social-security-system.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Americans Fairly Satisfied With Social Security System | Gallup</strong></a></h4>



<p>Recent polling finds that Americans are split on their feelings about Social Security and Medicare. Forty-five percent of Americans told Gallup they’re satisfied with the programs and 45 percent said they’re dissatisfied. The survey found the groups that are most likely to utilize Social Security and Medicare — those who are older and who make less money — are also the most likely to be satisfied with them.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.nextavenue.org/key-facts-about-life-plan-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Key Facts About Life-Plan Communities | Next Avenue</strong></a></h4>



<p>If you’re planning what you want your later years to look like, or you’re helping a relative find long-term care, you may consider a continuing care retirement community, or life-plan community. These types of communities provide a wide variety of care and support services as you age, from independent living to memory care. Here are some factors to consider when making a decision.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><em>News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.</em></p>


Tag Archives: