The Hartford is launching a campaign to encourage people to take advantage of their employers 401(k) or other retirement plan for National Save for Retirement Week, Oct. 16-22. The Its in Your Power campaign is reaching out to 1.4 million plan participants, 32,500 plan sponsors and their financial advisors.

Americans do not know what it takes to be financially secure in retirement, according to the results of a survey by the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

It used to be that small businesses couldnt afford to offer retirement plans for their employees. It cost too much and the offerings for small businesses were few and far between. That has changed in the past few years, with more companies offering micro retirement plans.

A recent survey by the Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America found that 51 percent of non-retirees question whether their 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are adequate ways to save for retirement. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said they believe the safest place for their money, after paying their expenses,...

The market crash of 2008 prompted many individuals to learn more about and take better control of their retirement assets. Because of this trend, many companies offer online tools to help plan participants plug in numbers and see just how well they have planned for retirement.

With applications for Social Security Disability Insurance reaching 275,981 in September 2011, 19 percent higher than in September 2010, Allsup recommends working with a representative when approaching the Social Security Administration with a claim.

Transamerica Retirement Services will host a webinar for financial advisors and consultants at 4:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 19, 2011. The discussion will focus on defined benefit and cash balance retirement plans and how to identify potential clients who may benefit from these types of plans.

California passed this month a law that changes how life insurance benefits can be paid out to beneficiaries after the death of their loved ones. In the past, beneficiaries were given only one option, retained-asset accounts. Now, beneficiaries have the option of receiving their benefits in one lump sum payment.