Retirement Trends

Lincoln National Corp., the No. 2 seller of U.S. individual variable annuities, doubled last year, leading the S&P 500 life insurer gauge.

The Census Bureau has found that although the elderly were less likely to fall in and out of poverty during this time span, once they fell into poverty they stayed there for the entire three years of the study.

The changes were fueled by the mortgage crisis, which hindered retired individuals by reducing their ability to tap into home equity to help pay for health care or monthly bills

Medical benefits of retirees are not considered vested and thus can be changed, the court said.

A U.S. District Court has sided with a pension plan sponsor seeking the return of a $725,000 overpayment made to a participant who elected to receive a lump sum payout.

Will 2014 turn out to be a good year for pension stability? A good year for the growth of wealth through pensions? Maybe yes. Maybe no.