Podcasts about retirement policy

Christine Benz, Morningstar's director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,' the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine talks with author and researcher Howard Gleckman about long-term care.  How Long-Term Care Differs from Conventional HealthcareWhy Americans Need More Long-Term Care Than Ever BeforeLong-Term Care Isn't Just in Nursing HomesDoes Medicare Cover Long-Term Care Costs?Who Should Consider Long-Term Care Insurance?The Financial Implications of Continuing Care Retirement CommunitiesHoward Gleckman's Experience with Long-Term Care Key Takeaways Hi, I'm Christine Benz from Morningstar and welcome to the How to Retire podcast. It's a companion to my book, which is also called How to Retire. Each episode will provide a bite-sized lesson about how to do some aspect of retirement well.If you read my work regularly, you know that I'm a little bit obsessed with the topic of long-term care, not just how to pay for it, but also all of the other dimensions of it, like the impact on families. To help discuss that topic, I reached out to Howard Gleckman. He is the author of a book called Caring for Our Parents, and he is also a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, where he is affiliated with the Tax Policy Center and the Program on Retirement Policy. He also writes a great blog for Forbes. I asked him to discuss the basics of long-term care, as well as the financial ramifications and implications for caregivers. More from Howard GleckmanBioForbes ColumnUrban InstituteTaxVox blogCaring For Our Parents, by Howard GleckmanHoward Gleckman on The Long View: ‘We Pretend This Isn't a Problem' Read more from Christine Benz.How to Retire: Tips for Entering RetirementThe Hidden Crisis in Long-Term CareHow Likely Are You to Need Long-Term Care?6 Steps for Smart Long-Term-Care PlanningWorried About Long-Term Care Expenses? Let's Do Something About It. Watch more from How to Retire.How to Retire: Prioritize Tax Planning in RetirementHow to Retire: Transition from Saving to SpendingHow to Retire: Consider a Retirement Bucket Portfolio StrategyHow to Retire: Know What ‘Enough' Means in RetirementHow to Retire: Understand the Role of Working LongerHow to Retire: Stay Flexible with Your Retirement Spending  Read what our team is writing:Christine Benz Follow Christine Benz on social media.X: https://x.com/christine_benzLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-benz-b83b523

In this podcast episode, Andrew Biggs, an expert in retirement economics, discusses the perceived retirement crisis in America, challenging the notion by presenting data on Social Security and private retirement savings. He argues that Americans are generally better prepared for retirement than commonly believed, emphasizing the substantial wealth embodied in Social Security benefits and the improvement in retirement plan structures over time.

New Zealanders are staying in paid work longer in an effort to transition into retirement, according to a new study.  The average age Kiwi's are choosing to retire has risen to 67 from 61, since the mandatory retirement age was eliminated in 2000.  Co-director of the Retirement Policy and Research Centre Michael Littlewood tells Jack Tame that New Zealand's state pension is generous, but not enough to live on for some. But, the real reason people choose to transition from full-time work to full-time retirement is not known.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest on the podcast today is Howard Gleckman. He is the author of a book called Caring for Our Parents and an expert on the topic of aging and caregiving. Howard is also a senior fellow at the Urban Institute where he is affiliated with the Tax Policy Center and the Program on Retirement Policy. He also writes a tax and budget policy blog called TaxVox, which is available at Forbes.com. Before joining the Urban Institute, he was a senior correspondent in the Washington Bureau of Businessweek.BackgroundBioUrban InstituteTaxVox blogCaring For Our Parents, by Howard GleckmanLong-Term Care and Cognitive Decline“Is Long-Term Care a Predictable Need, or an Unexpected One?” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, April 15, 2022.“The U.S. Needs to Help Seniors and Their Families Navigate Long-Term Care,” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, Oct. 11, 2022.“The Quiet Struggles With Those Living Alone With Memory Loss,” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, July 18, 2023.“Which States Provide the Best—and Worst—Long-Term Care Services?” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Oct. 2, 2023.“Why Are Care Delivery Models for People With Dementia Developing so Slowly?” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, June 27, 2023.“FDA Has Approved the Anti-Alzheimer's Drug, Leqembi. What You Need to Know,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, July 6, 2023.“Experts Raise Questions About the Safety of Anti-Alzheimer's Drug Leqembi,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, April 25, 2023.“Aging in Place Is all the Rage, But It's Not Easy,” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, March 21, 2022.Cost of Care“Medicaid Will Pay for a Common Alzheimer's Test But It May Not Be Reliable,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Jan. 9, 2024.“Why Medicare Is Right to Negotiate Drug Prices,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Aug. 30, 2023.“The Biggest Barrier to New Anti-Alzheimer's Drugs May Be Cost, Not Medicare Rules,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, June 14, 2023.“The War Over Whether Medicare Should Pay for new Anti-Alzheimer's Drugs,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, May 17, 2023.“The U.S. Predicts Big Increases in Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Costs,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, April 14, 2023.“Should You Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan?” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Nov. 1, 2022.Government and Policy“CMS' New Transparency Rule Can Help ‘Weed Out a Few Bad Actors' but Won't Impact Deals Much, Other Factors at Play,” by Shelby Grebbin, skillednursingnews.com, Dec. 6, 2023.“Forbes' Gleckman: Biden's PE Ownership Scrutiny Is ‘Two Beats Behind,'” by Amy Stulick, skillednursingnews.com, April 28, 2022.“Who Really Owns Nursing Homes, and How the Feds Are About to Learn More,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Nov. 27, 2023.“Should State Long-Term Care Insurance Funds Invest in Stocks?” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, June 22, 2023.Caregivers“Forget National Caregivers Month. Think About What Family Caregivers Need,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Nov. 7, 2023.“For the First Time, Traditional Medicare Will Pay to Support Family Caregivers,” by Howard Gleckman, howardgleckman.com, Aug. 23, 2023.OtherLotsa Helping HandsMedicare.govFive-Star Quality Rating System

Join us for a special episode of the "In conversation with" podcast, where Kim Dondo talks to Tom Selby, Head of Retirement Policy at AJ Bell, about regulating finfluencers. Finfluencers are social media influencers who give financial advice. They can be a great source of information, but they can also be misleading. So what should be done to regulate them? Tune in to find out!

Australia's superannuation system is a global leader.  Worth around AUD $3.4 trillion, the nation should be proud of the world's fifth-largest super system, one that covers around 16 million Australians as they work towards retirement.  So, why is the Australian Government seeking to legislate an “objective” for super? A public consultation on the objective recently closed, and CPA Australia has made a submission.  CPA Australia thinks that superannuation is only one component of a broader retirement savings system and, therefore, should not be considered in isolation.  Furthermore, there should be a clear long-term vision articulated for Australia's retirement savings system.  We speak with the author of CPA Australia's submission to learn more.  Listen now.  Host: Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content, CPA Australia Guest: Michael Davison, Senior Manager Advocacy and Retirement Policy, CPA Australia  For information on today's topic, you can read CPA Australia's submission on legislating an objective for the superannuation system.  And for more, CPA Australia has a summary page with policy perspectives to government policy, legislative or administrative announcements.  CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:  With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform.  You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Retirement and financial wellbeing depends on ensuring all Australians can access appropriate, high-quality financial advice. Right? However, aspects of this sector haven't worked as well as they could. Instead, consumers and advisers are grappling with high costs, a lack of trust and excessive documentation.  For these reasons, there has been a review (Michelle Levy's Quality of Advice Review, otherwise known as the QAR).  The aim of the review is to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality financial advice. The recommendations were made public in February 2023.  To dive into the QAR are two CPA Australia experts who made submissions and worked closely with government and industry to help find some practical solutions.  Want to learn more? Listen right now.  Host: Jennifer Duke, External Affairs Lead at CPA Australia Guests: Keddie Waller, Head of Public Practice and SME at CPA Australia, and Michael Davison, Senior Manager, Advocacy and Retirement Policy at CPA Australia You can also have a look at CPA Australia's Quality of Advice Review – Proposals for Reform. And read the media release explaining why the Joint Associations Working Group welcomes the release of the final report of the Quality of Advice Review For further information, CPA Australia has produced a Value of Advice research report which has some excellent insights. CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:  With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform.  You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

In DC Dynamics episode 9: Out in the street — the latest on retirement policy, host Ray Beeman, Washington Council EY's managing partner, and Washington Council EY colleague, Dave Koshgarian, discuss the latest retirement and pension policy developments, including the recent passage by the House of SECURE 2.0, which is now awaiting Senate action. The legislation promotes the creation of retirement plans by small businesses and encourages their employees to participate— all with the goal of helping hardworking Americans save for retirement.

Brian sits down with the Chantel Sheaks, Vice President, Retirement Policy at U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss the wave of Retirement Plan Lawsuits.

Elaine’s story of being a rental retiree may become very common in the future. It’s estimated that by 2053 almost half of over-65s will be renting in this country. Already, around one in four people between 50 and 65 don’t own the home they live in, based on data from the 2018 census. Dr Claire Dale from the Retirement Policy and Research Centre has been tracking the decline in homeownership and she believes it’s a concerning trendSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Panellists Catherine Robertson and Conor English discuss Fair Pay Agreements, Kiwisaver contributions, and free childcare at the Cricket World Cup. Participants: BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope, NZ Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff, Susan St John director of the Retirement Policy and Research Centre, and Andrea Nelson chief executive of the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup.

There are calls to have the Government rethink the way KiwiSaver is catered for women specifically.Auckland University Director of Retirement Policy Susan St John reckons the conventional career path for women is very different to that for men, with motherhood and other responsibilities getting in the way.She wants government contributions to be extended beyond the age of 65 to make up for lost years.Susan St John joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls to have the Government rethink the way KiwiSaver is catered for women specifically.Auckland University Director of Retirement Policy Susan St John reckons the conventional career path for women is very different to that for men, with motherhood and other responsibilities getting in the way.She wants government contributions to be extended beyond the age of 65 to make up for lost years.Susan St John joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVE 

New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease "Don't let yourself be sucked in by all of the publicity and marketing about the new drug for Alzheimer's. Think about whether it's got any benefit, the side effects— which can be very severe, and think about where that money otherwise would go." Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant, and Editor, TaxVox Blog ________________________________________________ Aducanumab (brand name AduhelmTM) received expedited approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 7, 2021, making it the first Alzheimer's disease drug approved after 18 years.    Since then, the FDA has changed the approval's original wording to suggest that it be used exclusively in select individuals with moderate cognitive decline or early Alzheimer's disease.   Further research is now being done because of the FDA's recent approval of Aduhelm, which sparked worries about its safety, efficacy, and cost.    In today's episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Towards An Age-Friendly World, we will be talking about The New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease known as Aducanumab (marketed as AduhelmTM). Today, I am joined by Howard Gleckman, a Senior Fellow with the Urban Institute, who will shed some light on the newest drug available for Alzheimer's disease. Part One Of 'New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease' Understanding Alzheimer's Disease In A Nutshell Alzheimer's disease is only one form of dementia; there are many other types, including Vascular disease, Lewy Body disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), Parkinson's, and mixed pathologies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form – 60-80% of all cases of dementia, but many people do have mixed pathologies, meaning they have more than one form of the disease. This is complicated because confirming what type or types of dementia a person has can only be done by autopsy (I've done a previous podcast on how Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed if you would like to learn more).    You can also learn more about Alzheimer's Facts and Figures (2021), an annual report published by the Alzheimer's Association, to learn more about the different types of dementia and associated characteristics (pages 6 and 7 of the 2021 report).  Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimer's Disease Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are trouble with your memory – remembering recent conversations, names, or events – or being depressed or apathetic, which means having a general lack of interest or enthusiasm about things you were formerly excited about.   As the disease progresses and moves into the moderate and advanced stages, symptoms include difficulty communicating with words, being disoriented, confused, having poor judgment, behavioral changes, and ultimately, in the end stages, difficulty speaking, walking, and swallowing.  "Not all people with MCI transition into Alzheimer's disease. We don't know or understand the mechanism of why that happens, why some people transition, or some people don't. So then you could be potentially giving a drug to a group of people that would have never progressed to Alzheimer's disease."  Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN The Brain Changes From A Grape To A Raisin With Alzheimer's In Alzheimer's disease, the brain shrinks – can be seen on a head CT; and two proteins called beta-amyloid and tau develop and somehow become toxic to the brain. The beta-amyloid clumps into plaques, which slowly build up between neurons, and abnormal tau accumulate, eventually forming tangles inside the neurons. As the level of amyloid reaches a tipping point, there is a rapid spread of tau throughout the brain. These plaques and tangles cause the neurons to lose their ability to communicate. The NIH has a great 4-minute video that shows you this process visually. Drugs For Alzheimer's: What's On The Horizon? Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that also plays an essential role in cognitive function related to memory and paying attention.  Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine – so cholinesterase inhibitors are oral medications that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.   Right now, we have at least 3 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors drugs approved by the FDA that work for a certain period but don't modify the disease course.   Scientists are working on new treatments for Alzheimer's that include  anti-amyloid therapy, anti neuroinflammation therapy, Anti-Tau therapy, Neuroprotection, cognitive enhancers, and medications that relieve the behavioral and psychological symptoms often seen in dementia.   Part Two Of 'New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease' Aducanumab (Brand Name AduhelmTM) The Newly Approved Alzheimer's Drug. Should You Take It? How Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Works (Or Suppose To Work)? Aducanumab (Aduhelm) is a monoclonal antibody developed in a facility to bind to the amyloid molecule that causes plaques in Alzheimer's patient's brains. According to most experts, the plaques develop first and harm brain cells, prompting tau tangles to grow within them, eventually killing the cells.  When Aducanumab binds to the plaque, the body's immune system attacks it, mistaking it for a foreign intruder and removing it. The goal is that after the plaques are eliminated, the brain cells would stop dying, and thought, cognition, function, memory, and behavior will improve. How Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Is Administered? The newly approved Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) is a Medicare part B drug. Most of us are familiar with the Part D drugs, which are the pills that we buy in the pharmacy. Part B drugs, on the other hand, are injectables or infusion drugs. That means you generally get this drug at a physician's clinic, an infusion center, or a hospital. Simply put, to take the drug, you need an intravenous infusion every four weeks — forever. Who Qualifies For Aducanumab (AduhelmTM)? Physicians may prescribe the medication for treatment in people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease based on the clinical studies that were conducted.  Early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients refer to people with Alzheimer's disease in the early stages of the disease, such as moderate cognitive impairment or mild dementia. People living with early stage Alzheimer's disease may be able to operate normally, or they may need assistance with more complex tasks such as bill payments, grocery shopping, cooking, or managing their checkbook. Those who need help with bathing, grooming, or other basic tasks are not in the early stages of the disease, and the medication is not recommended for them.   However, it's best to note that Alzheimer's disease does not affect anyone with moderate cognitive impairment or mild dementia. There are a variety of additional factors that contribute to these issues. Alzheimer's can only be diagnosed by an amyloid PET scan or lumbar puncture, both of which confirm the presence of Alzheimer's amyloid plaques. Most insurance plans now cover a lumbar puncture; however, an amyloid PET scan (which costs about $5,000) is not. Furthermore, what makes Alzheimer's disease different from other chronic conditions is the blood-brain barrier. How do you get the drug through that blood-brain barrier that's meant to protect the brain? "FDA's decision is giving people false hope. It's making them believe that if they scrape together somehow all of this money, there's going to be this magic cure for this disease, and we don't have the evidence that that's true."    Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant, and Editor, TaxVox How Much Does Aducanumab (Aduhelm) Cost? Howard Gleckman explained that Aducanumab is estimated to cost $56,000 per year by Biogen, the company that manufactures it. It is unknown if this medicine will be covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Biogen said they're working on a deal with the Veterans Health Administration (VA) to pay for this drug for veterans receiving VA treatment. However, VA said they would not include it in their formulary, and private insurance companies are all over the place.    Similarly, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is still not sure if they will cover the drug. And if they do, AduhelmTM would be covered by Medicare Part B (because it's an infusion) rather than Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). And even if they do decide to cover the medication, Medicare only pays 80% of Part B costs and 20% is out-of-pocket for consumers. Annual out-of-pocket costs would be over $11,000 -these costs  make the drug out of reach for many Americans. Howard asks that when considering the cost being $56 000 a year per person, what will it cost Medicare annually? When the drug has not been found to be effective,  we could be investing in the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) that we have evidence do work. The bottom line is that geriatricians and healthcare providers are left to explain to patients why they are not eligible to take this medication, and why  it's considered a "scam" by scientists and healthcare professionals alike. But, Does Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Work? Briefly stated, there were two major clinical studies to determine the drug's efficacy, side effects, and overall safety. One of the trials returned positive, indicating that the medication helped to halt the loss in cognition, memory, and functioning that is so common in Alzheimer's disease.    The results of the other extensive research were negative. The findings indicate that there's no evidence to prove whether the drug is working or not.   Another element to decide is that the perceived upside — if the medication performs as much as it did in the successful trial — is next to nothing.    The Role Played By The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA was established in 1906 to protect consumers from unsafe medications and unsafe substances that falsely claimed efficacy for some treatment without proof.  Long-standing FDA Approval Process for all drugs built on how clinical trials are conducted to move medication from the laboratory into use by human beings. With that, FDA approval can take 12-15 years at an average cost of $2.6 billion to a manufacturer. Biogen spent about 18 billion dollars to develop this drug.    Moreover, in 14 clinical trials, after significantly reducing beta-amyloid, this drug did not result in a significant change in Mini-Mental State Examination scores. In other words, there has been no convincing clinical evidence that clearing beta-amyloid from the brain results in any benefit to the patient. The FDA ignored the recommendation of an Independent Data Monitoring Committee that found zero evidence that this drug slowed down AD progression; in fact, patients given Aducanumab in the trials did worse than patients who received the placebo.  The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that the Phase III trial of Aducanumab be terminated.   These actions made by the FDA in ignoring the recommendations of the Expert Alzheimer's Disease Panel and approving the drug for use caused three members to quit and raised several controversies.  About Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant and Editor, TaxVox Blog Howard Gleckman is a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute. He is also affiliated with Urban's Program on Retirement Policy and is the author of the book Caring for Our Parents. He also writes two regular columns for Forbes.com, on tax policy and eldercare.   Connect with Howard by checking out his Personal Blog   About Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as an FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.  

We have a look at the challenges of urban planning amidst a housing crisis and fears new government policy could create 'urban slums'. Dr Claire Dale at Auckland University's Retirement Policy and Research Centre talks to Jesse.

Deloitte Australia has been slammed over a retirement policy after it settled a landmark $3.8m age discrimination suit brought by a current partner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deloitte Australia has been slammed over a retirement policy after it settled a landmark $3.8m age discrimination suit brought by a current partner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One lawyer has told Tom Elliott it wasn't legal in the first place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans face a pension crisis without a retirement policy Dan Hultquist joins Fairway Independent Mortgage A 74-year old widower with a 5-bedroom home needs a retirement nestegg

The pandemic has amplified the flaws of the nation’s long-term care system just as a new Administration takes power in Washington, DC. Urban Institute senior fellow Howard Gleckman will describe the key aging policy challenges facing the Biden Administration and discuss the reforms the White House may propose. Howard Gleckman is a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, where he is affiliated with the Tax Policy Center and the Program on Retirement Policy. He is the author of Caring for Our Parents (St. Martin’s Press) and writes a weekly column on aging issues for Forbes.com. In 2016, Mr. Gleckman was named one of the nation’s top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue Mr. Gleckman is president of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington and serves on the National Capital regional governing board for Johns Hopkins Medicine. He previously served as chair of the Board of Trustees of Suburban Hospital (Bethesda, MD)

In this episode, Susan Ryan talks with Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., where he is affiliated with both the Tax Policy Center and the Program on Retirement Policy. Gleckman is the author of Caring for our Parents, a book that tells the stories of the families who struggle every day with the care needs of their loved ones. Susan and Howard discuss the COVID-19 crisis and his assessment of the profound challenges and systemic flaws that have been exposed. In addition, Howard discusses the workforce issues, funding, lack of affordable and accessible options that address critical health disparities, and much more. Howard’s astute insights, experiences, and expertise are thought provoking and those that hopefully will spur you to take action. Get Howard Gleckman’s book here: https://howardgleckman.com/books/caring-for-our-parents/

Chase is joined on the show by Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Joe Antos, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Professor and Director of Health Law and Policy Programs, Lucy Hodder, and Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby. They discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the nation's health care system, as well as how states are responding to it and using federal relief funds.

Chase is joined on the show by Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Joe Antos, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Professor and Director of health law and policy programs, Lucy Hodder, and Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby. They discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the nation's health care system, as well as how states are responding to it and using federal relief funds.

Joseph Antos is the Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). AEI recently released a report outlining the four phases we may go through as a nation to navigate through the current COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Joe Antos joins us to discuss these phases, what we might see in the days to come and when we can expect to start reopening America for businesses and families.

Superannuation is a key part of retirement incomes policy – but just one part. This session looks at the purposes of the system. What does an “adequate” retirement income mean? Is the Australian system delivering enough income in retirement, and will it be able to do so in future? In the light of early access to retirement, we must even ask the question, are superannuation contributions still appropriate in the short run?Speakers: John Daley, chief executive, Grattan Institute and David Knox, senior partner, senior actuary, MercerModerator: Alex Proimos, head of institutional content, Investment MagazineLength: 45 mins

This week on the Retirement Trailhead Jason Lambert and David Topper begin the show taking about the impact that Government policy and elections may have on retirement. Then, it's time to look into 401(k) rollovers. Next, we dive into 529 plans and other ways to give to children and grandchildren. Finally, we close it our with the weekly market wrap.

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed appropriations legislation which included the passage of the SECURE Act. This legislation is broadly about increasing retirement security and making it easier for small businesses and part-time employees to access retirement plans, but there are some additional components to the legislation that will have an impact on retirement plans. Mike Barry joins the podcast to discuss those key components of the SECURE Act, including what it means for retirement and financial advice moving forward. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.bmogam.com/us-en/advisors/news-and-insights/secure-act-retirement-policy-you-can-use/.

KiwiSavers' nest eggs should be transferred into a state-guaranteed scheme at age 65 to provide them with incomes for life, pensions experts say.The proposal, dubbed KiwiSpend, came in a report prepared for the Commission for Financial Capability by Susan St John and Claire Dale from Auckland University's Retirement Policy and Research Centre.KiwiSpend could be used by people to supplement NZ Super to live comfortable lives in retirement, without running the risk of outliving their savings, seeing them eaten away by inflation, or lost in unsuccessful investments or financial exploitation, they said. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special tax scale for those aged over 65 could help claw back NZ Superannuation from high income earners.It comes from a report on the sustainability of NZ Super prepared for the Review team by Susan St John and Claire Dale of Auckland University’s Retirement Policy and Research Centre.One scenario would see a tax rate of 39% imposed, whereby the Superannuitant would have to earn $123,000 before the “break even” point was reached. Interim Retirement Commissioner Peter Cordtz told Simon and Phil St John and Dale’s suggestions were worthy of consideration.

Chase is joined on the show by Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby, former Congressman and Ambassador Dick Swett and Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute Joe Antos. They discuss bipartisanship, political dysfunction, a new report on health care reform from AEI and the Brookings Institution and more.

Mary Holm offers insights from conference on retirement income policies at the University of Auckland’s Retirement Policy and Research Centre.

Chase is joined on the show by Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby and Joe Antos, the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute. They discuss the nation's health care system and potential reforms to help reduce cost growth.

UNH Law's Health Law and Policy Programs, The Concord Coalition, and The Warren Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Service held discussion of the nation's health care system, including federal, state and community responses and strategies to address cost growth. https://law.unh.edu  Keynote presentation by US Senator Maggie Hassan Presentation of topics by Concord Coalition Director Robert Bixby Panelists: Joseph Antos, Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute Trish Riley, Executive Director of the National Academy for State HealthPolicy and President of it's corporate board John McDonough, Professor of Public Health Practice, Dept. of Health Policy & Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Director of the Center for Executive and Continuing Professional Education Moderated by Lucy Hodder, Professor of Law, Director of Health Law and Policy, UNH School of Law

Retirement policy is supposed to be a bastion of stability and security, but the history of that policy is characterized by constant change: changing demographics, workforce patterns, plan designs and political priorities – to say nothing of rising financial markets and falling interest rates. The resulting story has unfolded like a drama with an uncertain ending. Author, attorney and benefits professional Mike Barry has written a new book, Retirement Savings Policy: Past, Present and Future, telling that tale and speculating on how the story might continue. He joins host Jason Hammersla to talk about the fundamental risks of retirement savings, the trouble with tax incentives, exit ramps for employers and how The Office helps explain our idea of the workplace.

In the first hour, Chris interviews Joseph Antos, Ph.D & Scholar in Heathcare & Retirement policy from American Enterprise Institute. Topics range from the cost & quality of healthcare, a "single payer system", prescription drug costs, and more! Listen in!

On June 6, the Council released a document of some import: ten principles for building a national retirement policy. In an effort to forge such a policy, we have gathered the insights of our member companies that sponsor these retirement plans into this one document that summarizes our recommended approach. In this episode, Jason Hammersla talks with Lynn Dudley, the Council’s senior vice president, global retirement and compensation policy, about the provenance and purpose of these principles as well as the challenges that lay ahead.

In the second of a two-part conversation with former U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), host Jason Hammersla asks about the process and politics behind comprehensive tax reform, contemporary retirement policy challenges, and the rise of state-based benefits legislation.

Is America’s Social Security system bankrupt? Well, not exactly. It is, however, significantly underfunded. No shocker there. What’s perhaps more interesting is that we have the tools to fix the problem right now, says retirement guru Bradley Belt. He knows a thing or two. Belt used to run the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) where he was responsible for leading the federal pension insurance program and overseeing a $60 billion investment portfolio. The bigger challenge? Getting flimsy politicians on board. (No shocker there either.) As Belt says in the HedgeyeTV Real Conversations interview above: “Social Security is actually pretty easy to solve from a math standpoint. There are a few levers that you can adjust that actually most reasonable, rational people when you sit them down in a room would say, ‘Yes that’s a reasonable rational trade off.’ And you can actually solve for the fiscal deficit over the long term, but it’s more about the political willingness to change things.” SOCIAL SECURITY: HERE ARE THE NUMBERS The Social Security Board of Trustees estimates that the Social Security trust fund will be depleted by 2034. After that, under current law, just three quarters of scheduled benefits are projected to be payable to each retiring recipient from 2035 onward. Projecting that out 75 years, if Congress does nothing the expected benefits deficit would reach a staggering $11.4 trillion. These are obviously massive numbers, which explains why the issue is such a political hot potato. But Belt suggests some fixes in the video above. While Belt is now vice chairman of alternative asset manager Orchard Global Asset Management, he has spent much of his career working on retirement issues in the public sector. Belt served as executive director of the PBGC under President George W. Bush, which was set up by the U.S. government to fill the gap of employer pension plans that cannot afford to fulfill promised benefits. It’s an even bigger problems these days, Belt says. Private pension shortfalls will be exacerbated over the coming years by global trends, related to low productivity and population growth, he says. This suggests “lower returns over the medium to longer term.” On the public pension side, Belt is equally qualified to suggest fixes to Social Security. After serving on a Congressional commission called the National Commission on Retirement Policy during the Clinton Presidency, Belt and others put forth proposals like raising the retirement age – and indexing for gains in longevity. Belt’s discussion with Hedgeye CEO Keith McCullough above is thought-provoking. And should help you get up to speed on an issue affects all Americans.

Today is inauguration day and depending on your political leanings, it represents the beginning, the end, the beginning of the end or some other variation on that theme!  However, what I am excited about is sharing my recent conversation with Bob Holcomb, ERISA Attorney and Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at Empower Retirement where we discuss what employers should expect from retirement plan policy during the Trump Administration.  Now, despite what I just said a minute ago, Bob does a really nice job of providing a thoughtful and rationale view of the landscape to help you digest information and plan accordingly.  Our   conversation starts with what impact the President has on retirement policy, moves to initiatives in Congress, potential changes in tax policy that could impact both retirement plan sponsors and your participants, then on to the Department of Labor and closes with some predictions of what the future holds.    Before we get started, as a reminder we are getting ready to launch a podcast and social media research project where I am will be asking employers to to share your input on one question, thats it.  However, your answers to one simple question will produce a really interesting body of work which we will share verbally on the podcast and in a white paper with our email subscribers.  We’re kicking things off in February and fair warning, the only way to participate is if you’re an email subscriber, connected with me on LinkedIn or following me on twitter.  So don’t delay, go to 401kfridays.com/subscribe and you can take care of all of those in one stop.    Guest Bio Robert Holcomb is Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for Empower Retirement. In this role, Mr. Holcomb oversees retirement policy efforts on behalf of Empower Retirement and meets with members of congress, regulatory agencies and other policy makers on pension related matters. In addition, he interprets pension-related legislation and regulations, consults with clients and internal partners on legislative and regulatory issues. He currently is Chairman of the American Benefits Council (ABC) and works with other industry advocacy groups. Prior to joining Empower, Mr. Holcomb was employee benefit counsel for a national bank.  A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Mr. Holcomb has been in the retirement business for more than 25 years serving in client management, operations, technical consulting and sales support roles. He is a graduate of the University of  Kansas School of Law.     401(k) Fridays Podcast Overview A weekly podcast where Employers, Retirement Plan Sponsors and Fiduciaries come to hear candid insights from retirement industry leaders on important trends, topics and current events. Each episode is designed to explore a specific topic and leave our listeners with concrete ideas and strategies to enhance fiduciary protection, streamline plan operations or improve participant retirement readiness.   With over 50 episodes we’ve had the good fortune chat with attorneys, authors, investment managers, professors, business leaders and fellow employers to explore a wide range of topics including fiduciary best practices, investment commentary, legal and regulatory updates, plan design trends, employee engagement strategies and much more! Be sure to check previous episodes at www.401kfridays.com/podcasts.

Listen NowExcluding from taxable income the moneys employers spend in providing employees with health insurance dates back to WWII-era wage and price controls.  Today, this tax policy, that amounts to over $250 billion in lost federal tax revenue, effectively constitutes the third largest federal government expenditure on health care after Medicare and Medicaid.  Few tax experts would disagree that the tax exclusion constitutes bad policy.  Beyond lost tax revenues, the policy is, among other things, highly regressive, causes lower or stagnant wage growth, reduces health plan competition, contributes to excessive health care spending, incents the over-utilization of health care services, limits job mobility and negatively influences retirement decisions.   During this 25 minute conversation Dr. Antos discusses the extent to which the tax exclusion is responsible for employers providing employees with health care insurance coverage, what effect would capping or phasing out the exclusion have on coverage, how best can the policy can be reformed via a Cadillac tax or otherwise, what might be done to reform the tax exclusion under a Secretary Clinton administration and how the exclusion may play into future tax reform may legislation.   Dr. Joe Antos is the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).  Before joining AEI,  Dr. Antos served as the Assistant Director for Health and Human Resources at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).  Dr. Antos has also held senior positions in the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Management and Budget and the President's Council on Economic Advisers.  He recently completed a seven year term as Health Adviser to CBO and two terms as a Commissioner of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.  In 2013 he was named Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at George Washington University.   Dr. Antos earned his Ph.D. and MA in economics at the University of Rochester and his BA in mathematics from Cornell University.   For more background information about the exclusion and micro-simulation data on reforming the exclusion, see Jonathan Gruber's 2011 article in the National Tax Journal, at: http://www.ntanet.org/NTJ/64/2/ntj-v64n02p511-30-tax-exclusion-for-employer.pdf.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com