5 Ways President Obama Plans to Change Your Retirement

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I like it!

sheree of VA 10:54AM December 26, 2011

I think the match for people making under $75k should be much higher. The cost of living and cost of daycare/ school is making it impossible for families to save at all. We need to get the retirement and medical options working for the future generations. However we also need to address what the "real" cost of living is in this country by metropolitan area because SS is not even close and all company benefits continue to decline.
I agree that we need to address the Bonuses paid to executives including stock and profit sharing when the general employee is not gaining additional compensation. In fact disposable income is decreasing for the majority.
Education is also a cost that must be addressed. Each year the preschool-high school cost is increasing as the schools loose funding and this is passed on to the parents. Registration for elementary school is $160-205 per kid. The current cost of preschool/day care for a 5 year old is over $1000 per month per kid here~! And the cost of full day kindergarden and after care is $750-1000 month! Not to mention that college has become unaffordable for the middle class. The amount that I have paid to the elementary schools could have been my savings or a college fund.

Post baby boomer of CO 4:51PM July 18, 2011

In general I agree with the proposal, but
1. Income tax: Should all tax burdens be taken away from Seniors who have worked 35 or more years and payed into the system. They should not be afraid of losing their homes because they can not pay their real estate taxes.
2.Automatic workplace pensions: Should a match be given to families earning less that $75,000 or individuals earning less than $ 75,000? Should a match be given to all taxpayers?
Although this is a start & a nice gesture, an individual/family saving $1000. with a match of 50% over 40 years totals $60,000. Hopefully, that IRA has great returns.
3. Company pensions: The majority of companies have already slashed pensions. The have opted for 401k's over pensions. It's much cheaper.
4.Is this the 1st year a person or a family has earned $250,000.? Did they earn much less in the past? Are they saving for their own retirement or do they have a pension? Although $250,000. is a lot of money, if he/she is saving for their own retirement and with the amount of taxes they are being asked to pay because of the high income, the person making $150,000., paying less taxes and having a full pension with benefits, may actually be better off in the long run.
5.Medicare: Any savings on prescription drugs should be looked at, but the quality should not be lowered.

JustAnOpinion of MA 1:15PM January 30, 2010

In general I agree with the proposal, but should a match be given to families earning less that $75,000 or individuals earning less than $ 75,000? Is this the 1st year a person or a family has earned $250,000.? Did they earn much less in the past? Are they saving for their own retirement or do they have a pension? Although $250,000. is a lot of money, if he/she is saving for their own retirement and with the amount of taxes they are being asked to pay because of the high income, the person making $150,000., paying less taxes and having a full pension with benefits, may actually be better off in the long run.

JustAnOpinion10 of MA 12:58PM January 30, 2010

I am for the changes! Thank you for addressing the social security situation now. We need it fixed.

V. Clay of MO 11:15PM December 31, 2009

Just like Health Care, this too will turn into a battle for perk's. Give me this and I'll give you that.
What we need is a Government for the people, not for a few!

Bill of AL 9:15AM December 17, 2009

I am in strong favor of all 5 of President Obama's Plans to Change Your Retirement. All 5 will benefit the lowest of the middle class and even help many poor. Getting even the smallest share of the wealth to those who will IMMEDIATELY put it into the economy in a grand try at a Trickle Up Economy.
I like it!

Mycroft of WI 10:13AM October 21, 2009

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lCawwTLPjguZykTb of 1:47PM August 10, 2009

RECALL OBAMA, AND HAVE ANOTHER ELECTION. HE IS DOING A VERY POOR JOB.

JIM THOMPSON of CA 3:06PM August 02, 2009

Universal health care should be a secondary issue and something the government should not take on. A more serious problem looming for many Americans nearing retirement is the bleak outlook of their retirement years and the feeling that the life they have known all along will be severely altered to become poverty stricken. My suggestion is for the president to present tax breaks to employers who reinstate traditional pension plans for their employees. Then it would shift the concentration from social security benefits as the sole source of income to employer sponsored plans.
The impact to the economy (and Business) would be tremendous since many people are severely curtailing their spending due to the bleak outlook of their impending retirement years.
Also, anyone living in the US illegally should not be allowed into any government entitlement system. It is enough of a burden on our economy that schools provide education for the offspring of illegal immigrants which is funded by the taxpayers via local property taxes.

Carol of NJ 9:25AM June 19, 2009