Politics Archives - Retirement Income Journal

Progress for retirement provision in ‘Build Back Better’ bill

By Editorial Staff Fri, Sep 10, 2021

'Among other things, the legislation would require employers without employer-sponsored retirement plans to automatically enroll their employees in IRAs or 401(k)-type plans,' according to a report today in the...

Published September 10, 2021

Did QLACs Get a Last-Minute Haircut?

By Kerry Pechter Thu, May 6, 2021

The Ways and Means Committee considered raising the limit on pre-tax contributions to a deferred income annuity to $200,000, but then, apparently for budget reasons, let the current limit...

Published May 6, 2021

Secure 2.0: A Booster Shot for Qualified Savings Industry

By Kerry Pechter

The proposed bill would allow ETFs in variable annuities and remove the 25% limit on the share of IRA money that can be used to buy a Qualified Longevity...

Published May 6, 2021

Raising Revenue–and Consciousness

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Apr 8, 2021

With his Made in America Tax Plan, announced Wednesday, President Biden would raise corporate tax rates and try to stop transfer pricing worldwide. He wants to raise revenue and...

Published April 8, 2021

Will Biden tinker with tax deferral?

By Editorial Staff Thu, Feb 4, 2021

'Biden will equalize benefits across the income scale, so working families also receive substantial tax benefits' when they save, a former official told the Financial Services Institute.

Published February 4, 2021

New law to show who qualifies for a PPP loan

By Wagner Law Group Tue, Jan 12, 2021

This article, provided by the Wagner Law Group, explains the modifications made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues...

Published January 14, 2021

Treasury Nominee Janet Yellen (the Un-Steve Mnuchin)

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Nov 26, 2020

Yellen, the first woman nominated for Treasury chief, is an academic economist, not a Wall Streeter. As Fed chief, she was known as an interest rate “dove;” more inclined...

Published November 26, 2020

Biden’s Retirement Policy

By Kerry Pechter Fri, Nov 6, 2020

Biden has made strong promises about fixing Social Security, strengthening labor unions, and helping to finance a green economy. Will he be able to keep those promises? Does he...

Published November 6, 2020

The ‘Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020’

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Oct 29, 2020

The House has introduced a sequel to last year's SECURE Act. Once again, legislators have listened to the retirement industry and tried to remove what the industry considers obstacles...

Published October 29, 2020

A Look at Biden’s Social Security Plan

By Kerry Pechter Sat, Oct 10, 2020

There's more to Biden's proposal than raising payroll taxes on >$400k earners. The wealthy would see their benefits go up more in dollars, while the poor would see theirs...

Published October 15, 2020

Long Guns as Leading Indicators

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Sep 17, 2020

In past election periods, when I’ve canvassed door-to-door, some people have told me they won’t bother to vote because politicians are all alike. But they aren’t.

Published September 17, 2020

Two Cheers for DOL’s Lifetime Income Disclosure

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Aug 20, 2020

The Department of Labor's 'interim final rule' on disclosure of estimated lifetime income from 401(k) balances is welcome, but it lacks a critical feature. Public comments might improve it.

Published August 20, 2020

We Could Use Some Inflation

By Kerry Pechter Thu, May 7, 2020

The Treasury said this week that it will borrow (and spend) about $3 trillion this quarter, to cover its stimulus promises. Where does that money come from and where...

Published May 7, 2020

Please Don’t Raid Your Retirement Account

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Apr 16, 2020

It would be smart, not paternalistic, to ease today’s financial pain without contributing to an even bigger retirement funding crisis down the road.

Published April 16, 2020

The ‘Fed Put’ Hurts Annuities—and Retirees

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Apr 2, 2020

Low rates encourage excessive risk-taking. But the Fed keeps accommodating market sell-offs, which sets up a new round of boom and bust. Retirees (and the annuity issuers who serve...

Published April 2, 2020

An Imperfect Demand Stimulus

By George A. (Sandy) Mackenzie Thu, Mar 26, 2020

While the Great Depression of the 1930s saw a massive contraction in demand, the current crisis entails a massive shock to the economy’s supply side, writes our guest columnist,...

Published March 26, 2020

Why Bernie is So Demanding

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Feb 27, 2020

Sen. Sanders is the atavistic avatar of demand-side economics, which dominated public policy from 1932 to 1971. Supply-side economics has held sway since the Reagan years. The 2020 election...

Published February 27, 2020

Mike Bloomberg’s Retirement Security Plans

By Editorial Staff Thu, Feb 20, 2020

Bloomberg favors a public-option national workplace savings program, modeled on the federal Thrift Savings Plan. Its government match would be paid for with 'a reduction in the tax break...

Published February 20, 2020

Right and Left See ‘Reality’ Differently

By Editorial Staff Thu, Jan 23, 2020

Published January 23, 2020

The SECURE Act Set To Pass (Finally)

By Kerry Pechter Thu, Dec 19, 2019

'This is an early Christmas present,' said Melissa Kahn, managing director of the Defined Contribution team at State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), in an interview yesterday.

Published December 19, 2019

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