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  • State Pension Update 2016: Louisiana end of session

    Last week, the Louisiana legislature concluded its second special session of the year. Sandwiched in between those special sessions was its brief regular session. Despite the ongoing budget challenges there, this was a successful year in the fight to protect…

  • State Spending and the Funding of Pensions

    If you are a long time reader of Defined Benefit, then you know that pensions remain the best way for working families to save for retirement. Pensions are more cost-effective than defined contribution 401(k)-style plans and provide more income in…

  • Make Retirement Security a Priority

    Last week NPPC’s Executive Director, Bailey Childers, submitted testimony to the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee encouraging them to include retirement security as part of the 2016 platform. So far this year, the presidential candidates have said little about retirement…

  • Real Pensions, Real People

    Teachers. Firefighters. Police officers. Behind every pension is a public servant who has dedicated their career to keeping our communities safe and prosperous. Popular rhetoric around public pensions often distracts from the true issue at hand; these aren’t numbers, these…

  • Pensions Keep People Out of Poverty

    A couple weeks ago, the New York Times ran an excellent article on women and retirement. The article discusses the unique challenges facing women in preparing for retirement. It also highlights that women who work in fields where defined benefit…

  • Puerto Rico and Pensions: the Basics

    Puerto Rico and its debt crisis remain in the news as Congress considers legislation to help the island territory restructure and manage its debt. Puerto Rico’s pensioners remain trapped in this crisis as well. Just last week, a new audit…

  • Student Loan Debt and Retirement: Part 2

    Back in March, we wrote about how high levels of student loan debt are decreasing retirement security for many Americans. A report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College had found that current levels of student loan debt…

  • 401(k)s are failing most American workers

    If you are a long time reader of Defined Benefit, then you know that we are no fan of 401(k)s here. As 401(k)s have increasingly replaced defined benefit pensions, the retirement security of many Americans has eroded. A new report…

  • Cities Are Sticking With Pensions

    As we explained last week, 2016 has been a good year so far for pensions in state legislatures across the country. However, states aren’t the only ones choosing to protect their workers’ retirement security by protecting pensions. Cities are also…

  • Are Hedge Funds Hurting Your Pension?

    Public pensions have a complicated and increasingly strained relationship with hedge funds. While many pensions have increased their investments in hedge funds and other alternative assets, other pensions are turning away from these funds and looking for less expensive investments.…

  • State Pension Recap: 2016 Sessions

    By this point in the year, many state legislatures have either already finished their 2016 session or will conclude within the next couple weeks. For working families and retirees, the news has been mostly good so far. Legislatures in several…

  • Donald Trump and Your Retirement

    [This post was updated in August 2016 to reflect new developments.] Donald Trump is now the Republican presidential nominee. After his decisive victory in the Indiana Republican primary, his two remaining rivals- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John…