What to Do When Your Boss Stiffs Your 401(k)
Wondering why you haven't seen the performance you've hoped for from your 401(k) lately? A big reason may be that your employer isn't putting what it used to into the account.
benefits
Here's How Washington Is Likely to Trim Our Social Security Benefits
When Congress and President Obama make a budget deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, they're likely to use something called "chained CPI" to tweak how Social Security calculates cost of living adjustments. Here's a plain English explanation of what that means, and how it will effect your retirement.
Think Federal Workers Are Overpaid? Look Closer to Home
Want a good salary and benefits? Get a job with the federal government -- or so the prevailing wisdom goes. But if you really want to take home more than the average Joe, get a job working for the state.
The $7 Trillion Issue Presidential Candidates Are Avoiding
Social Security has promises to pay out $41.4 trillion in future benefits, but it has just $34.5 trillion in assets and expected income to cover those promises. You do the math.
What Mitt Romney Knows About Social Security That You Might Not
Mitt Romney recently turned 65, but won't be signing for Social Security anytime soon. It's not because he's rich, and it's not because he hopes to be in the White House, either: It's because he's following the smart money course.
How to Get Your Ex to Help Fund Your Retirement
If you're divorced, your ex-husband or ex-wife might still be able to help you feather your nest in retirement. And there's at least one former-spouse benefit you won't need to go to court to get access to: payments based on their Social Security earnings record.
How to Get Warren Buffett- Style Shareholder Perks
For investors who open a brokerage account and buy stocks, there's more to be had than just the promise of better investment returns. Some of America's best-known firms also offer perks to their shareholders -- and not just big-money shareholders, either.
5 Intriguing (and Less Painful) Fixes for Social Security
When it comes to Social Security's woes, the potential cures discussed the most are unpleasant: Raise the retirement age, reduce payments, or raise the tax rate. Fortunately, those aren't the only options.
4 Ways to Get the Most From Social Security
Most people's big worry about Social Security these days is that it won't be there at all when they retire. But what they should be worrying about is how to boost their benefits down the road. Here are four ways to do that:
How to Save on Health Insurance, Part 2: Individual Plans
With the unemployment rate at almost 10% and companies cutting back on benefits, millions of people are responsible for securing their own health insurance. Picking the right plan for you can be tricky, so DailyFinance asked consumer health experts for tips on how to maximize benefits while minimizing costs.
My Three Cents: How Much Are You Looking to Earn?
It seems like a trick question when the job interviewer asks: "How much are you looking to make?" In today's tough job market, your instinct might be to answer, "I'll take anything." But the smarter move is to do some research so you can walk into salary talks with a sense for your market value.
People@Work: Now, Governments Are Shifting Pension Burdens Onto Workers
During the past three decades, businesses of all sizes have shifted away from traditional defined-benefit plans to defined-contribution plans, also known as 401(k)s. Now, states and local governments are doing the same, even though many workers lack the necessary investing savvy.
Employers Win Workers
With Perks, Not Raises
To retain and attract top employees, U.S. companies are turning to perks such as subsidized training and flexible work conditions rather than raises. These incentives are finding a welcome among employees, too, especially educational benefits.
State Worker Retirements Are Soaring Across the Country
As wages and benefits shrink, state workers are retiring in droves. On top of all the layoffs, these retirements amount to a huge brain drain, and the problem will only get worse given the yawning budget gaps of states from coast to coast.
State Governments Are Just Adding to Labor's Woes
American labor unions have been in decline for a half-century now. About the only large unions still growing have been those in the public sector. Until now. Cash-strapped states are attacking unions where it hurts by trying to strip them of the right to collectively bargain.