Retirement

Employers who want to keep retirees' assets within their company-sponsored retirement plans need to reach out to people personally, according to a new LIMRA study.

Pension plans saw a $7 billion decline in market value and a $1 billion increase in pension liabilities in November.

People are living longer, which can complicate retirement planning, according to Northwestern Mutual. With longevity on the rise, individual retirement planning needs to include asset accumulation and savings, as well as strategies for managing the personal and financial risks that can arise when you live into your 80s or 90s.

A Democratic legislator serving on a commission studying Kansas' pension system questioned Wednesday whether Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has been improperly involved in its deliberations just before it recommended starting a 401(k)-style retirement plan for new public employees.

Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday continued efforts to save money on retiree benefit costs related to state employees.

Most retirees and pre-retirees worry about their health in retirement and how they will pay for any unforeseen healthcare costs. Nationwide Financial has launched its Personal Health Care Assessment to help advisors estimate their clients health care expenses in retirement.

Fifty-eight percent of employers surveyed state that financial illness plays a role in employee absenteeism and 78 percent said that concerns over financial problems while at work can have a negative impact on employee productivity.

A new study by Cogent Research found that although 52 percent of the estimated 315,000 U.S. retail investment advisors support at least one 401(k) plan, only 7 percent of those advisors are heavy plan producers, with $25 million or more in 401(k) assets under management.