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After my father died, I called his reverse mortgage lender and said the house was theirs. Little did I know that I'd get "sued," that the house had to go through foreclosure and that the process would...
View ArticleSend in the Robots (Don’t Bother, They’re Here)
At the "T3" financial software trade show last week, a pair of robots warmed up the crowd with jokes about the limitations of high-tech planning tools. RIJ visited with reps from three tech firms:...
View ArticleMust-Read Income Research of 2013
Many outstanding research papers on retirement income were published in 2013. The ten described here contain ideas that annuity product developers, annuity marketers and financial advisers can apply...
View ArticleFIAs Come In From the Cold--Sort Of
In this first of a series of RIJ articles on the evolution of fixed indexed annuities, you’ll hear from people at three broker-dealers: One who embraces them, one who still avoids them and one who...
View ArticleOur 401(k) System, in Black and White
Bloomberg and Strategic Insights gave two opposing views of defined contribution plans in separate reports in recent weeks. Bloomberg reporters called DC plan sponsors stingy. Strategic Insights, in a...
View ArticleRetirePreneur: Laura Varas
'To me, retirement is the most interesting area of finance because it’s about how we live our lives,' says Hearts & Wallets consultant Laura Varas. 'We should give people the freedom to plan, and...
View ArticleAARP points out income-related variations in Medicare premiums
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $1,258.80 a year and covers about 25% percent of Part B program costs, according to a new AARP Fact Sheet. People with higher incomes pay $1,762.80 to $4,028.40...
View ArticleStrengthen Social Security now, AAA urges
In a new white paper, the American Academy of Actuaries has reiterated its recommendation that the Social Security program be put on a permanently solid financial footing, but did not rule out the use...
View ArticlePublic savings plan proposed for private sector workers in CT
Following the lead of groups in California and a few other states, labor organizations in Connecticut are backing legislation to create a public, IRA-based retirement plan for workers in companies...
View ArticleASPPA criticizes two Obama budget proposals
As if he relishes poking Brian Graff in the eye, President Obama included two elements in his 2015 budget proposal that especially irk the CEO and executive director of the American Society of Pension...
View ArticleJPMorgan proposes “dynamic decumulation model”
"Greater lifetime income, through Social Security, pensions and/or lifetime annuities, allows individuals to increase both their withdrawal rates and equity allocations," says the adviser to...
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleSend in the Robots (Don’t Bother, They’re Here)
At the "T3" financial software trade show last week, a pair of robots warmed up the crowd with jokes about the limitations of high-tech planning tools. RIJ visited with reps from three tech firms:...
View ArticleMust-Read Income Research of 2013
Many outstanding research papers on retirement income were published in 2013. The ten described here contain ideas that annuity product developers, annuity marketers and financial advisers can apply...
View ArticleFIAs Come In From the Cold--Sort Of
In this first of a series of RIJ articles on the evolution of fixed indexed annuities, you’ll hear from people at three broker-dealers: One who embraces them, one who still avoids them and one who...
View ArticleThe Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from Vanguard, Prudential Financial, Nationwide Financial, LPL, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, the American Bar Association and AARP.
View ArticleSchlichter sues a hospital chain for “excessive” plan fees
The latest ERISA suit from St. Louis plaintiffs attorney Jerry Schlichter (pictured) claims that Novant Health Inc. violated its fiduciary duty by paying excessive fees to Great-West Life &...
View ArticleAIG’s Bermuda-based unit to offer captive insurance out-sourcing
AIG Captive Management Services in Bermuda will manage the regulatory requirements, financial reporting, and administrative functions for all customers participating in Grand Isle SAC Ltd.
View ArticlePoland’s clawback of privately-managed DC funds criticized
In a new report, the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) said the forced transfer—tantamount to state confiscation of private money—of OFE funds to the ZUS has damaged public...
View ArticleBeware of Oligopolies in Banking
"I suspect that 2014 will prove to be a critical juncture for determining the future of the banking industry and the role of regulators within that industry," said the vice chairman of the FDIC in...
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