Inflation Driving Seniors Back Into The Workforce

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


Inflation in the U.S. hit a 40 year high of 7.9%, which is causing financial problems for many seniors.  Economists say that this is forcing many retirees back into the workforce.  Thankfully, this may ease staffing shortages which has hit a number of industries.  “We’re beginning to see the migration of the older cohort who expected to live on fixed income in a low interest-rate and low-inflation environment, Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US LLP, told The Wall Street Journal.  “Really what you’re dealing with is an inflationary shock that has elicited a change in behavior,†he said.   The share of people over 55 either working or looking for a job rose to 38.9% in March from 38.4% in October.  That translates to more than 480K people in that age group entering the labor force during the last six months.

Monterey, CA Many Retirees Not Prepared For A Financial Shock

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


A new study which was published by the Society of Actuaries Research Institute’s Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program found that many retirees and pre-retirees aren’t prepared for a financial shock, and the likelihood of that happening is increasing.  Many economists are saying that the odds are increasing that we will soon enter a recession, and Russia’s attack on Ukraine is likely to wreak havoc on the stock market.  According to the study, about half of pre-retirees report that they already experienced a financial shock, along with 4 in 10 retirees.  These shocks have reduced the assets of pre-retirees by 25% or more and their spending by 10% or more.  Experts urge retirees to build a reserve fund.  Half of pre-retirees could only afford to spend $10K or less on an emergency while retirees reported they could afford no more than $25K.  There are plenty of great financial advisors on the Monterey Peninsula and you should consult with one yearly.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/retirement/2022/03/25/retirement-prepare-sudden-financial-hardship/7157673001/

AT&T Unexpectedly Cuts Retiree Benefits

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


AT&T has angered many former employees by reducing life insurance and death benefits as of January 1 for approximately 220K former workers.  One former employee, Dean Allison, told The Wall Street Journal that he accepted an early buyout offer to retire in 1998 and was promised a death benefit of $63K would go to his wife.  AT&T notified him that they will pay no more than $15K if he dies.  Managers who retired had their life insurance pegged at 1x their annual pay.  That number has been reduced to just $15K.  Putting more flames on the fire, the company has excluded executives from the death benefit reduction.  The heirs of Randall Stephenson, who left the company in 2020 after serving as its CEO, will receive a massive payout of $3.6 million under his current life insurance plan.  AT&T’s finance chief John Stephens has the most to gain from the benefits reduction.  The company offered to pay him an extra $500K if he meets any one of three financial targets, one of which is cutting $1 billion or more from AT&T’s obligation for retiree pension and benefits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-slashed-promised-life-insurance-for-former-workersand-time-runs-out-at-year-end-11640544022