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New 401(k) Expense Reports Greeted with Yawns

"Details of the new reports were hammered out in seemingly endless discussions overseen by the U.S. Labor Department. Finally, however, their final form was adopted and the clock ticked forward. The future of consumer disclosure has arrived.... The only problem with the new reports, alas, is that all those tens of millions of 401(k) participants may not notice or care about them."

U.S. Underestimates Long-Term Costs of Obesity, Experts Say

"[E]stimates used by Congress ... project out only 10 years, while it may take much longer than that for complications of obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, to manifest[.]"

The Best Places to Find a Retirement Plan: Coverage Statistics for Various U.S. Locations

Excerpt: Workers from Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, Wis., and Huntsville-Decatur, Ala., had the highest participation rates in the private sector ...

Should You Plan for a Retirement Without Social Security?

"The Social Security trust fund that is used to pay retirement benefits is expected to be depleted in 2033. Once the trust fund is depleted, retirees may only receive 77% of their benefit amount. It is widely believed Congress will make changes to the Social Security system before the trust fund is depleted. Finance experts say those changes shouldn't affect older workers, but younger workers could see reduced benefits and should start investing more for retirement."

Many Individual Health Insurance Plans Heap Healthcare Costs on Consumers

"A first-ever U.S News analysis of nearly 6,000 health insurance plans marketed to individuals and families reveals that many of the consumers who enroll in these plans may confront budget-wrecking out-of-pocket costs that deplete their savings. Large numbers of plans severely limit coverage for such services as prescription drugs, maternity coverage, mental health treatment, and rehabilitation therapy.... If consumers choose plans that fail to meet their needs, it may be because they're confused."

Retirement Planning that Weathers Economic Storms

U.S. News recently interviewed several financial planners and advisers throughout the country. There were nearly as many different investment strategies for today's market conditions as there were advisers.

Author Roger Lowenstein Says Aging Boomers Plus Paltry Savings Make for a Coming Crisis

Excerpt: In his latest book, While America Aged: How Pension Debts Ruined General Motors, Stopped the NYC Subways, Bankrupted San Diego and Loom as the Next Financial Crisis, journalist Roger Lowenstein explores America's deeply flawed retirement system. He talked with U.S. News about solving this major economic conundrum.

Retirement Saving Strategies for Business Owners

"[O]nly 14 percent of entrepreneurs expect to fund their retirement by selling their company ... Most of the entrepreneurs surveyed (59 percent) think they will achieve most of their retirement income goals by saving current earnings. Yet they don't put their retirement money where their mouths are: Only 33 percent have individual retirement accounts ... while 32 percent have Roth IRAs and 13 percent have simplified employee pension IRAs. Unfortunately, 40 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed don't save at all."

Flexible Schedule Helps Keep New Moms in the Workplace

'When confronted by one or more job demands, a flexible schedule provides working moms with alternatives for meeting those demands while caring for their newborns. When working moms are better able to control their work environment and adapt, work-related stress is less likely to become a family issue,'

Fidelity 401(k) Balances Down 27 Percent

Excerpt: Fidelity Investments, the world's biggest mutual fund firm, began a round of job cuts today as part of a plan to reduce its work force by 7 percent. Company revenue dropped sharply because of last year's stock market plunge. Some customers also shifted funds into safer investments with lower fees. Interestingly, the giant 401(k) provider reported 10 percent retirement plan growth last year. The number of participants in 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other workplace savings plans increased by 5 percent to over 14.2 million customers in about 19,000 plans. Here's a look at how the average Fidelity 401(k) participant fared last year.