Center for American Progress Action Fund Center for American Progress Action Fund

Promoting Retirement Security

All Americans, regardless of their backgrounds, deserve the opportunity to have a comfortable retirement after a lifetime of providing for their families and strengthening the U.S economy. As the aging U.S. Baby Boomer Generation reaches retirement, the challenges to secure a retirement living standard continue to grow. Millions of families have counted on their private wealth to supplement their Social Security benefits. However, due to the current economic downturn, much of this wealth has disappeared. Record debts and sharply low asset prices have destroyed financial wealth, the burst of the housing bubble has decimated home values, and traditional defined benefit plans have disappeared as employers have terminated or frozen their pension plans. Ensuring the well-being of low- and moderate-income families in their golden years will require promoting universal access to equitable, efficient, and secure private retirement savings.

Featured Content

The Benefit of Defined Benefits External link to the CAP Web Site

David Madland compares defined benefit and 401(k) plans, and shows that in uncertain times, defined benefit plans are the safer bet.

Retirement: Weller and Madland on the Retirement Savings Program, April 23, 2008 External link to the CAP Web Site