-
2 days ago | 
marketwatch.com | Alicia Munnell
EncoreMany of the drivers have played themselves outPublished: May 12, 2025 at 1:49 p.m. ETIt is unlikely the average retirement age will decline — but will it increase? Photo: Getty ImagesLet’s take a deep breath and step back from the daily news cycle, and take a look at recent trends in retirement patterns and what they are likely to look like going forward.
-
6 days ago | 
marketwatch.com | Alicia Munnell
EncoreLet’s see if fintech and state auto-IRAs are making a differencePublished: May 8, 2025 at 3:42 p.m. ETIndividual retirement accounts, or IRAs, which hold over half of total private retirement assets, were introduced as a way for workers without an employer-sponsored plan to save for retirement.
-
2 weeks ago | 
crr.bc.edu | Alicia Munnell
is a columnist for MarketWatch and senior advisor of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Some exciting news. Adam Scanlon, a representative in the Massachusetts House, has submitted a bill to establish “ a senior property tax deferral pilot program.”I have always been a great fan of thinking about the house as a retirement asset and about ways people can access the equity in their home to support themselves in retirement.
-
2 weeks ago | 
marketwatch.com | Alicia Munnell
Adam Scanlon, a representative in the Massachusetts House, has submitted a bill to establish “ a senior property tax deferral pilot program.”I have always been a great fan of thinking about the house as a retirement asset and about ways people can access the equity in their home to support themselves in retirement.
-
3 weeks ago | 
crr.bc.edu | Alicia Munnell
is a columnist for MarketWatch and senior advisor of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. In a recent blog, I pointed out that President Trump’s policies are undermining retirement security in three ways: disrupting Social Security’s ability to deliver services; reducing 401(k) asset values; and increasing layoffs and prices. Setting aside Social Security, the economic risks mentioned are all related to tariffs.
-
3 weeks ago | 
marketwatch.com | Alicia Munnell
A skewed distribution of income and wealth just adds to our problems. In a recent column, I pointed out that President Trump’s policies are undermining retirement security in three ways: disrupting Social Security’s ability to deliver services; reducing 401(k) asset values; and increasing layoffs and prices. Setting aside Social Security, the economic risks mentioned are all related to tariffs. The question is whether it is worth making the economy and the markets tank?
-
4 weeks ago | 
crr.bc.edu | Alicia Munnell
is a columnist for MarketWatch and senior advisor of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. In this new world, I have expanded my podcast listening to try to understand the other team. High on my list is “All In” – originally a group of four high-tech venture capital hosts, so clearly smart guys and very rich.
-
4 weeks ago | 
crr.bc.edu | Alicia Munnell
The brief’s key findings are:After a century of decline, work activity among older men stabilized in the 1980s and began to rise in the early 1990s. This turnaround reflected changes in Social Security, retirement plans, the nature of work, education levels, and health coverage. In response, the average retirement age for men rose by about three years to 64. In recent years, it has remained relatively stable as the changes that drove the increase have played themselves out.
-
1 month ago | 
crr.bc.edu | Alicia Munnell
is a columnist for MarketWatch and senior advisor of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. By attacking Social Security, crashing the stock market, and imposing unconscionable tariffs that will increase both unemployment and prices, Trump has taken aim at the retirement security of millions of American families. The attack on Social Security is shameful. The initial foray was justified by the widely debunked claim that 20 million dead people were receiving benefits.
-
1 month ago | 
marketwatch.com | Alicia Munnell
By attacking Social Security, battering the stock market and imposing tariffs that will increase both unemployment and prices, President Donald Trump has taken aim at the retirement security of millions of American families. The attack on Social Security is shameful. Trump administration officials justified the initial attack by repeating the widely debunked claim that 20 million dead people were receiving benefits.
