Planning to Retire

For Retirement Security: Get a Pension

By Emily Brandon

Posted: December 23, 2008

Simply finding a job in 2009 will be challenging for many people. “But if you can, seek an employer offering a traditional pension,” advises Beth Almeida, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security. “Pensions offer what Americans are looking for: the security and peace of mind of a regular monthly check that lasts as long as you do with payments continuing to your spouse even after you're gone. It’s a much better solution than on your own retirement that is subject to the wild volatility of the financial markets and can run out.” The average pension and annuity income for retirees over age 50 was $16,989 in 2007, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Public sector pensions were considerably higher, averaging $23,721, while the typical private sector worker got $12,721. If you add Social Security and a little bit of personal savings to those pension amounts, you should have a fairly comfortable retirement in most parts of the country.

More New Year's resolutions for retirement:

Delay retirement

Put off claiming Social Security

Get your 401(k) match

Avoid early withdrawals

Scrutinize 401(k) fees

Determine your risk tolerance

Rebalance your portfolio

Evaluate your target-date fund

Pay off your mortgage

Downsize

Bump up your contributions

More money-related New Year’s resolutions

Get a pension

That's great advice! Maybe you should also reccomond finding a job that has a salary of greater than $150,000 and retiree medical benefits as well!

of OH @ Jan 21, 2009 15:23:19 PM

Got a pension

In 2005, I left a sales job that paid commission to work for local government. In doing so, I took a pay cut. Why? Because the local government offered an old-fashioned defined benefit pension plan. I'll work there for 10 years and, thanks to a generous formula based upon age x years of service, will retire when I'm 55 on 50% of my salary. My old boss thought I was nuts taking a pay cut to work as a paper pusher but now she's calling me wanting to know how to pass the civil service exam to hire on.

Dave of CA @ Dec 24, 2008 00:17:09 AM

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Planning to Retire

Planning to Retire

Reporter Emily Brandon tells you how to get ready financially for retirement and to make your golden years the best they can be.

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