Increasing Retirement Funds By Integrating Existing Retirement Fund Sources (And By Increasing Saving For Retirement)

The Wall Street Journal recently pronounced that “A generation of Americans is entering old age the least prepared in decades.” The article authored by Heather Gillers, Anne Tergesen and Leslie Scism documents how a “combination of economic and demographic forces has left older Americans with bigger bills and less money to pay them… more than 40% of households headed by people aged 55 through 70 lack sufficient resources to maintain their living standard in retirement.”

This is a counsel of despair that ignores the potential for increasing the spendable funds available to existing and soon-to-be retirees by integrating existing retirement fund sources. Also ignored is the potential for incenting younger consumers to save more for retirement. The two objectives are closely related, and this article covers both.