Rauner making moves on pension reform

By Ted Dabrowski

01/21/2016

On Jan. 21 Gov. Bruce Rauner reignited reform talks surrounding Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

TAGS: pensions

Kentucky governor-elect: 401(k)-style plans for new government employees

By Ted Dabrowski

11/23/2015

Kentucky’s governor-elect wants 401(k)s for new government employees.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/06/2015

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

Coming up short: What if Illinois’ pension funds miss their investment targets?

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/02/2015

Without real reforms, low investment yearly returns of 4 to 6 percent over the next 28 years could cost Illinois taxpayers anywhere from $100 billion to $200 billion above what they’re already expected to pay in contributions.

Solving Illinois’ pension crisis

By Benjamin VanMetre, Ted Dabrowski

06/08/2015

Actuarial analysis offers options to transition to a defined-contribution retirement plan

Take note, Illinois: Transition costs not an issue in Pennsylvania’s pension reform

By Benjamin VanMetre

03/30/2015

Pennsylvania’s reform efforts mirror the national trend of modernizing public and private retirement systems with 401(k)-style defined-contribution plans.

TAGS: 401(k), GASB: Governmental Accounting Standards Board, self-managed plans

State of the state: 10 pension facts every Illinoisan should know

By Benjamin VanMetre

02/03/2015

How bad the pension crisis really is, and why getting politicians out of the retirement business is the only way to solve it.

TAGS: pensions

IL government workers trapped in failing pension funds; other states give workers options

By Benjamin VanMetre

01/29/2015

Utah passed a 401(k)-style reform plan in 2011. The state’s pension funds had a 50 percent chance of becoming insolvent by 2028 prior to the state’s reform plan – but the reform dropped that chance to 10 percent.

TAGS: 401(k), state worker pay

Allegheny Technologies to modernize retirement benefits with 401(k)-style plan

By Benjamin VanMetre

12/18/2014

Allegheny Technologies is making the switch to a 401(k)-style plan despite the fact that the company’s defined-benefit plan is currently 87 percent funded. Regardless of how well funded some defined-benefit plans can be, the plans are no longer affordable or sustainable.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

With costs on the decline, 401(k)s increasingly attractive

By Ted Dabrowski

12/11/2014

The list of reasons for denying government workers the benefits of 401(k)-style plans in favor of politician-controlled pensions is short at best, and it’s growing shorter every day.

TAGS: 401(k), Chicago, pensions

Oklahoma

Rauner making moves on pension reform

Kentucky governor-elect: 401(k)-style plans for new government employees

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

Coming up short: What if Illinois’ pension funds miss their investment targets?

Solving Illinois’ pension crisis

Take note, Illinois: Transition costs not an issue in Pennsylvania’s pension reform

State of the state: 10 pension facts every Illinoisan should know

IL government workers trapped in failing pension funds; other states give workers options

Allegheny Technologies to modernize retirement benefits with 401(k)-style plan

With costs on the decline, 401(k)s increasingly attractive

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students