Pensions in the news

Traditional pensions: Are they at risk?

Christian Science Monitor, by Kathleen Connell: Many defined-benefit plans are underfunded. Here's how to keep track of your benefits. (11/17/08)

What Happens if Your Employer Goes Broke

Kiplinger.com, by Kimberly Lankford: What will happen to my health insurance and retirement plans if my employer files for bankruptcy? (11/17/08)

For Many Seniors, an Ominous Retirement-Account Deadline

Washington Post, by Nancy Trejos: Millions of retirees older than 70 1/2 are required to take money out of their 401(k)s and IRAs by Dec. 31 of each year. But the amount they have to take out is based on their balance at the end of 2007. And the market sure looked a lot better last year than it does this year. (11/16/08)

Retirees fear for pensions and health benefits

Saginaw (MI) News, by Corey Mitchell: With General Motors Corp.'s stock tanking and the automaker possibly running out of cash before the end of the year, 73-year-old Kenneth Rathje and other retirees posed questions about pensions and health benefits. (11/16/08)

Which pension option is best?

Newsday, by Karen Klein: "My husband is about to retire after working 27 years. He was given a sheet from the human resources department advising us of our pension choices, but we're not sure what they are or which ones we should take." (11/15/08)

3 Things That Could Go Wrong With Your Pension

U.S. News and World Report (blog), by Emily Brandon: Workers lucky enough to have pensions generally have a better shot at a secure retirement than their pensionless peers with depleted 401(k)'s. But when companies face hard times, the future benefits workers expect to accrue in their pension plans are at risk. (11/14/08)

New rule could change pension payouts for some new retirees

MarketWatch, by Robert Powell: A growing number of defined-benefit pension plans, especially small- to-mid-sized plans, could be in trouble this year because of the struggling stock market combined with a little-known provision in the Pension Protection Act of 2006. (11/13/08)

Slump Leads More Firms To Halt 401(k) Matching

Morning Edition on National Public Radio, by Jenny Gold: A typical 401(k) plan might have the employer matching employee contributions dollar for dollar up to 4 percent or 5 percent of an employee's salary. But some companies are cutting back: General Motors, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Frontier Airlines and real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield are among those suspending their match programs. (11/12/08)

Part-time veterans' nurses getting full pensions

Associated Press via Google News, by Ramit Plushnick-Masti: In August, the Merit Systems Protection Board, a quasi-judicial agency within the federal government, sided with 158 nurses who wanted to retroactively receive full pensions for part-time work they performed over four decades for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The order became official late last month when the government chose not to appeal the ruling. (11/12/08)

What Will Happen to My Pension if My Company Tanks?

U.S. News and World Report (blog), by Emily Brandon: Retirement advice columnist answers a reader's question about what happens when a pension plan is taken over by the PBGC. (11/11/08)