Canary in the Coal Mine - Day

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

12:35PM - Imbeciles

To maintain living standards into old age we need roughly 20 times our annual income in financial wealth. This number is startling in light of the stone-cold fact that most people have next to nothing in retirement accounts. 75% of Americans nearing retirement age have less than $30,000 saved.

It is irresponsible to deny that regardless of how much you throw 401(k) advertising, financial education and tax breaks at them, the retirement system simply defies human behavior. Basing a system on people’s voluntarily saving and evaluating the relevant information for sound investment choices is like asking the family pet to dance on two legs.

This do-it-yourself pension system has failed. You don’t like mandates? Get real. Just as a voluntary Social Security system would have been a disaster, a voluntary retirement account plan is a disaster.

Viss pareizi, tikai nevis "20 × income", bet "25 × expenses". To nav grūti iekrāt. Pie 70% savings rate, tie ir mazāk kā 10 gadi.

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