Strengthening the Retirement System Beyond Social Security

This book discusses the retirement system in the U.S. beyond Social Security. The Education and Labor Committee is exploring the shortcomings in our nation's retirement system and looking at solutions so that Americans can enjoy a safe and secure retirement. The current economic crisis has exposed deep flaws in our nation's retirement system. These flaws were mostly hidden when the market was doing well. Since the beginning of the crisis, trillions of dollars have evaporated from workers' 401(k) accounts. Millions of workers have seen a significant portion of their retirement balance vanish in just a few short months. The decline has forced many workers to consider postponing retirement or rejoining the workforce if they have already retired. For many retirees coping with rising costs for health care and other basic expenses, this loss in income is simply devastating. While fully restoring the lost wealth of the baby boom cohorts may not prove feasible, Congress can take effective steps to create a better retirement system for future generations. This can done at no cost to taxpayers, simply by having the government assume market risk by averaging returns over time. There are no economic or administrative obstacles to going this route, it is simply a question of political will. In any case, the message is that we need more organised retirement savings. A declining Social Security system and fragile 401(k) plans will not be enough for future retirees.