Published: October 1, 2010
Tags: democrat, election, George W. Bush, Paul Ryan, Pommer, Ponzi scheme, Republican, retirement, Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold, Social Security, tax, U.S. Senate
By Matt Pommer Republican Ron Johnson says most people now in their 20s, 30s and 40s don’t expect Social Security to be around when they retire. Johnson has been riding the Social Security issue in his bid to oust Democrat Russ Feingold from the U.S. Senate. Johnson is seeking senior citizen votes by claiming Social [...]
Published: September 10, 2010
Tags: Congress, Early Retirement Reinsurance Program. Doyle, Pommer, retirement, Ron Johnson, Scott Walker, Wisconsin
By Matt Pommer More than 50 Wisconsin employers have signed up for the federal Early Retirement Reinsurance Program to help continue health coverage for those retiring between ages 55 and 64. The program will reimburse 80 percent of annual health care costs for each eligible retiree and eligible spouse, surviving spouse or dependent. The $5 [...]
Published: February 19, 2010
Tags: health care, insurance, Medicare, Paul Ryan, reform, retirement, road map, Social Security
By Matt Pommer Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, is promoting an economic road map that would dramatically affect those younger than 55. It includes major changes in Medicare and Social Security, including increasing the age of Medicare eligibility in “gradual steps” to age 69 and six months. Medicare eligibility is now at age 65. Ryan’s road [...]
Published: January 29, 2010
Tags: 401(k), Congress, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Obama, retirement, saving, State of the Union, target date fund
By Michelle Hicks Dolan Media Newswires Boise, Idaho — Prior to his State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people, President Obama outlined for the middle class retirement security initiatives that include significant implications for employers. One proposal is aimed at employers that do not offer retirement plans. They would be required [...]
Published: January 22, 2010
Tags: budget, law, pension, Pew Center for the States, retirement, State Investment Board, Wisconsin
By Matt Pommer Wisconsin’s public employee retirement system is well-financed. Whether that is good news or bad news may depend on how you view credit and debt. In mid-January the State Investment Board reported that money in the basic, core pension program was up 22.2 percent to $67.8 billion in 2009. More than 142,000 retirees [...]
By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press Writer MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Sen. Alan Lasee, a cowboy-hat wearing Republican who unsuccessfully fought to bring back capital punishment in Wisconsin, said Monday he was retiring after 36 years in the Wisconsin Legislature. Lasee, 72, of De Pere, said he decided to retire rather than run for re-election [...]
Another annuity cut projected for Wis. retirees MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Even though the stock market rebounded in 2009, the state investment board is projecting a 1 percent cut in benefits for retirees in the Wisconsin Retirement System. Benefits paid to the 144,000 retirees went down 2.1 percent last year for the first time thanks [...]
By DAVID TWIDDY AP Business Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Are you going to be ready for retirement? Retirement-plan ratings firm Fiduciary Benchmarks on Monday unveiled a new index that measures how well 401(k) plans for thousands of companies are preparing their employees. Besides evaluating individual company retirement plans, the Retirement Readiness Index also [...]
Published: August 28, 2009
Tags: QEO, qualified economic offer, retirement, school board
Matt Pommer How about a pay freeze or only small raises for teachers? Other public employees are taking temporary reductions, partial furloughs and layoffs, but fewer teachers are retiring, leaving an overabundance in many areas. State aid has been reduced in scores of school districts. Unemployment in Wisconsin hovers around 9 percent. Major increases in [...]
Published: July 30, 2009
Tags: Al Banaszak Inc., Construction, economy, Generation Growth Capital Inc., J.F. Cook Co. Inc., Kapur & Associates Inc., recession, retirement, Schneider Consultants Inc., Social Security, T.L. Reese Corp.
Sean Ryan sean.ryan@dailyreporter.com “It was a good run, but the last three years, or six or four or eight, have just been pure hell,” Al Banaszak said. So, in December he retired and closed his Lake Mills excavation company, Al Banaszak Inc. Amid economic stress and uncertainty weighing heavy on the construction industry, many executives [...]
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