Retirement Advisor

The market crash of 2008 prompted many individuals to learn more about and take better control of their retirement assets. Because of this trend, many companies offer online tools to help plan participants plug in numbers and see just how well they have planned for retirement.

With applications for Social Security Disability Insurance reaching 275,981 in September 2011, 19 percent higher than in September 2010, Allsup recommends working with a representative when approaching the Social Security Administration with a claim.

Transamerica Retirement Services will host a webinar for financial advisors and consultants at 4:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 19, 2011. The discussion will focus on defined benefit and cash balance retirement plans and how to identify potential clients who may benefit from these types of plans.

The names of 110,000 retired public employees in Oregon and how much they receive in pensions will be made public next month as part of a court settlement between the state retirement system and two newspapers.

California passed this month a law that changes how life insurance benefits can be paid out to beneficiaries after the death of their loved ones. In the past, beneficiaries were given only one option, retained-asset accounts. Now, beneficiaries have the option of receiving their benefits in one lump sum payment.

Automatic employee enrollment into a company 401(k) plan raises participation for all racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study by Vanguard.

Are investors overreacting to the prospect of a recession?

Annuity Think Tank has started a television site dedicated to annuities, called annuity television. The consumer site will offer educational annuity videos, while providing annuity white papers, free reports and daily annuity-related blogs.