Retirement

Ninety-four percent of Americans wish they did a better job of managing their money, and 89% of respondents in other parts of the world shared that sentiment, according to the ING Retirement Institute Research Institute.

There are two proposed pieces of legislation sitting in Congress that would seem to be no-brainers for helping people save for retirement and helping advisers help their clients.

As 401(k) balances rebounded in 2010, the executives running defined contribution plans named retirement readiness one of their top priorities, according to the “10th Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey,” conducted by Deloitte and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.

After three years of cautious spending and paying down debt, American households have significantly improved their balance sheets. Yet consumer confidence slipped in December as more people worried about the job outlook.

Despite the increasing proliferation of target-date funds in employer-sponsored retirement plans, many sponsors aren't very knowledgeable about the funds, Janus found in a survey.

It's no secret that the fiscal environment for all public agencies around the country is challenging, to say the least. Sales and property tax revenues are in decline. State budget cuts mean reduced cash flow for operating expenses, including salaries and benefits.

Employers gradually are becoming aware that the financial health of employees can have a resounding impact on a number of job-related factors, including absence, presenteeism, disability, retention and turnover, and productivity.

Though January is just another month on the calendar, it is filled with hope - and sometimes, with trepidation. So in keeping with that spirit, here are some thoughts on what is likely to happen this year.

Peter Browne may well be one of the most distinguished individuals on the sales side of today's financial services industry. His career spans five decades as a manager and leading producer at Union Central Life and co-founder of Price Raffel and Browne of New York and Los Angeles.

Rollovers into traditional IRAs occur evenly across all age groups and play a significant role in the growth of IRA assets, according to research by the Investment Company Institute and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.