FACT SHEETS

The Pension Rights Center publishes fact sheets that translate complex pension rules and concepts into plain English. The fact sheets below include explanations of topics currently in the news as well as summaries of basic concepts. We have also included fact sheets published by other organizations, government agencies, and firms.

Identifying and Resolving Common Pension Problems

We have also included fact sheets published by other organizations, government agencies, and firms.

General
Pension freezes and other changes
Pension funding
Spousal benefits and divorce
Defined contribution plans (such as 401(k)s)
Public pension plans

General

• Pension Challenges and Opportunities
• Why People Need Pensions
• Tips for Keeping Track of Your Pension
• Think Twice when Choosing a Lump-Sum or an Annuity
• Federal Pension Insurance Protections
• Defined Benefit Pensions and the PBGC
• Phased Retirement
• What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
• Retirement Programs Comparison Chart (Ice Miller, LLP).
• List of Advantages and Disadvantages for DB and DC Plans (Gabriel, Roeder, Smith and Co.)

Pension freezes and other changes

• Pension Freezes
• List of Companies that Have Frozen or Changed Their Pension Plans
• List of Companies That Have Changed or Temporarily Suspended Their 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Your Employer's Bankruptcy - How Will It Affect Your Employee Benefits? (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
• Benefit Cutbacks in Single-Employer Plans
• Benefit Cutbacks in Multiemployer Plans

Pension funding

• Retirement Plan Contribution and Benefit Limits
• How Well-Funded is Your Pension Plan?
• Find Out if Your Pension Plan Can Afford To Give You a COLA
• What are Q-SERPs?

Spousal benefits and divorce

• Inequities in the Law
• Pension Rights at Divorce
• State Plans and Divorce

Defined contribution plans (such as 401(k)s)

• List of Companies That Have Changed or Temporarily Suspended Their 401(k) Matching Contributions
• A New Type of Savings Plan: The Roth 401(k)
• A Look at 401(k) Plan Fees (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
• Mutual Fund Fees and Expenses (Securities and Exchange Commission)

Public pension plans

• 2006 Comparative Study of Major Public Employee Retirement Systems (Wisconsin Legislative Council)
• Key Facts Regarding State and Local Government Defined Benefit Retirement Plans (National Association of State Retirement Administrators).