La administración Biden ha propuesto una ley para ayudar a la gente a ahorrar más en la jubilación y evitar las comisiones "basura" de asesores financieros sin escrúpulos. Según la Casa Blanca, un asesor financiero puede recibir una comisión de hasta el 6.5% por recomendar algunos productos de seguros, lo que plantea un conflicto de intereses.

Tras 36 años de servicio como educadora, Melondia Franklin Corpus finalmente alcanzó su meta de jubilación en mayo pasado. Pero seis meses antes de solicitar la jubilación comenzó a llegar una avalancha de llamadas y solicitudes de asesores financieros que ofrecían servicios y planes de jubilación con pocos detalles.

"Un tipo me llamo y fue casi una especie de venta por presión," dice Corpus. "'Esta oferta solo será valida por esta semana', bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, y yo dije: 'No quiero comprometerme, por favor envíame más información' , déjame verlo.'"

Aunque Corpus evitó caer en una mala situación, dijo que un amigo que se jubiló justo antes se metió en una inversión sin darse cuenta de que no podía tocar sus fondos durante cinco años sin penalización. La nueva propuesta pretende estandarizar las normas para todos aquellos que ofrecen asesoramiento y venden productos de jubilación. Un comunicado del Insured Retirement Institute atacó la propuesta de Biden, afirmando que la "norma perjudicará a los mismos consumidores a los que quiere ayudar y agravará la crisis de jubilación del país al limitar el acceso a un asesoramiento financiero sólido".

Las normas fiduciarias existentes de la Ley de Seguridad de Ingresos de Jubilación de los Empleados y de la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores no cubren de manera integral todos los productos de inversión, como las transferencias únicas de 401(k) a una IRA. Corpus dice que las nuevas protecciones son un paso hacia la dirección correcta y deberían expandirse a todos los consumidores.

"Un asesor nunca debe recomendar algo a ningún cliente, independientemente de su situación, en función de su comisión," asegura Corpus. "Creo que los jubilados, sin duda, pero debería ser en todos los ámbitos."

La Casa Blanca utiliza un producto de inversión, las anualidades de índice fijo, como ejemplo de cómo las tarifas basura pueden costar a los ahorradores hasta 5 billones de dólares al año. Mientras tanto, el Insured Retirement Institute afirma que "Biden y el Departamento de Trabajo mostraron incomprensión sobre cómo funcionan la industria de seguros y los productos de anualidades en beneficio de los consumidores" y se ofrecieron a brindar educación e información. La propuesta está abierta a comentarios públicos durante 60 días antes de que se realicen posibles revisiones.



get more stories like this via email

A new national survey says one in five Americans 50 and older has nothing in savings for retirement.

Wisconsin workers young and old are being urged to take action now, to avoid added financial stress in their later years.

The survey results were issued by AARP this month.

Just affording basic expenses right now is a concern for many. But AARP Wisconsin's Communications Director Jim Flaherty said you don't want to be caught off guard when retirement nears.

He acknowledged that it can be hard for younger adults to plan that far ahead, when they're juggling expenses like student loan debt - or for older individuals managing costly medications, and higher grocery bills.

"A lot of times, because they're just trying to get by and they do have to live paycheck-to-paycheck," said Flaherty. "But this is one way to say, 'Hey, if you can live with a little less from your paycheck every week, that will sure grow.'"

Researchers note that 57 million Americans don't have access to a retirement plan through their work.

Wisconsin has not yet joined the list of states that have created state-operated retirement accounts, where employers and their workers can contribute money each pay period.

Supporters hope the issue is revisited next legislative session.

Flaherty said a combination of individuals being proactive and policymakers easing household budget pressure can hopefully put more people on a path toward a healthy retirement.

He said making progress can deter them from looking elsewhere to spend their golden years.

"Let's have an infrastructure that makes drugs affordable, that makes healthcare affordable, that makes retirement savings something that's part of their plan," said Flaherty. "And that'll keep Wisconsinites here."

And groups like AARP have encouraged Congress to address long-term stability concerns for Social Security, so that younger workers can anticipate full benefits.

Some Republican lawmakers have floated cuts, but senior advocates contend any solutions to make the program stronger should not be tied to deficit talks.

Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet.

Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access.

"Our goal through the broadband office and with all our stakeholders throughout Oregon is to provide access to all 112,000 unserved locations and as many of the 60,000 underserved locations as we can," Batz explained.

The state has received federal funding from a variety of sources, including nearly $690 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and more than $150 million from the Capital Projects Fund approved in the American Rescue Plan Act from 2021.

Oregon's Digital Equity Plan has also been approved and along with it, nearly $10 million in funding.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said there was a time when high-speed broadband internet was considered a luxury.

"Now, it's such a big necessity for everyone, including for older adults," Shrestha pointed out. "Because we know that if you don't have connectivity, you're not going to be able to see your doctor when you want to. Telemedicine is not going to be possible."

Batz added his office is working to ensure every Oregonian can get on the internet.

"It is an interesting challenge," Batz observed. "Nothing has been done like this in Oregon's history of trying to get internet access to everybody. So, it's going to be quite the challenge and it's absolutely going to require participation from everybody to make this happen."

Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.

Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.

House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.

Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.

"We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years," Nelson pointed out. "Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues."

Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.

State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.

Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.

"For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes," Nelson emphasized. "And of course, the staff of the nursing home that's in the community."

Census data show South Dakota's population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.