Issue Briefs

The average account balance among American workers who consistently held 401(k) accounts from 1999 through 2006 increased at an annual rate of 8.7 percent, according to the latest analysis of the EBRI/ICI 401(k) database, the largest of its kind. Among this consistent group, the median, or midpoint, account balance increased at an annual rate of 15.1 percent. EBRI Issue Brief Aug 1, 2007 40 pages

More changes are anticipated for the U.S. pension system as a result of legislative and regulatory activity last year. The article recaps the experts’ reactions—at EBRI’s spring 2007 policy forum in Washington, DC—to major developments in the pension world: Enactment of the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006, which imposed new funding rules on pension plans, among other things, and major accounting rules issued by the private-sector Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the public-sector Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Press release EBRI Notes Jul 17, 2007 12 pages

A new survey shows that about two-thirds of “traditional” (defined benefit) pension sponsors have either changed the plan in the last two years or intend to do so in the next two years. The most frequent plan changes have been to close the defined benefit plan to new hires or freeze it for all members. Pension plan sponsors say the driving forces behind these pension benefit reductions are a new law by Congress that in some cases significantly increases their pension plan costs, and pending accounting rule changes that are also expected to dramatically increase the cost and risk of offering a pension benefit to workers. EBRI Issue Brief Jul 10, 2007 32 pages

As the baby-boom generation ages, the U.S. labor-force participation rate is increasing for those age 55 and older, accordinig to a new report from EBRI. The increase for those ages 55–64 is driven almost exclusively by an increase of women in the work force. Press release EBRI Notes Jun 12, 2007 12 pages

Although minority workers are at least as likely as American workers overall to feel confident about their retirement security, their preparations lag behind, according to the 2007 Minority Retirement Confidence Survey (MRCS). According to the survey, less than half of African-American workers (48 percent, down from 62 percent in 2003) and Hispanic workers (41 percent, down from 60 percent in 2003) say they have saved money for retirement, making them less likely than workers overall (66 percent) to have saved. EBRI Issue Brief Jun 5, 2007 20 pages

Social Security: Benefits from Social Security are a growing source of income as the nation’s elderly population ages, according to a study by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). ERISA Pre-emption: EBRI is reprinting a 1993 article by one of the nation's experts on ERISA and pre-emption of state health insurance regulation. Press release EBRI Notes May 10, 2007 12 pages

A U.S. Census Bureau revision of data for 2004 and 2005 caused a small reduction in the overall number of uninsured U.S. residents and slightly modified the demographic and work place composition of the uninsured, according to a study released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). EBRI Issue Brief May 9, 2007 28 pages

Public-sector workers’ median tenure with their current employer is about 80 percent higher than private-sector workers, according to a study published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The study also finds that the percentage of long-tenured workers in the public sector declined in 2006 after a steady increase from 1991–2004. Press release EBRI Notes Apr 17, 2007 12 pages

A large percentage of American workers recognize the U.S. retirement system is undergoing major changes, but many are not adapting in ways that are likely to leave them well-positioned for a comfortable retirement, according to the 17th annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS). EBRI Issue Brief Apr 11, 2007 28 pages

The percentage of Americans age 65 or older who received pension income either from one of their own former employers or from a spouse’s former employer increased slightly from 1998 to 2003, according to a study by EBRI. The percentages include both former private-sector and public-sector employees. Press release EBRI Notes Mar 1, 2007 16 pages