— BILL STATUS UPDATE: Senate Bill 5740 passed the Senate on Friday, March 8 with a bipartisan vote of 31-17. Click here for AARP statement on Senate passage. It passed the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Business on April 2; passed the House Appropriations Committee on April 8; and is now heading to a House floor vote. For Immediate Release March 21, 2019 Contacts: Christina Clem / 206-604-9864 Cathy MacCaul / 206-218-5915 AARP, Small Businesses Urging Passage of Retirement Savings …
— Recently AARP South Carolina approached Dean Peter Brews, University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business about a feasibility study for a multi-employer retirement plan for South Carolina employees. This idea has worked well in other states where employees did not have access to a retirement plan through their employers. AARP South Carolina wanted to find out if this was a feasible plan for the Palmetto state and, if so, what it would cost based upon the projected participation. …
— By Cathy MacCaul, AARP Washington Advocacy Director A new retirement savings initiative has launched in Washington. The Retirement Marketplace officially opened the nation’s first online savings portal in March, where businesses and individuals can comparison shop for low-cost, state-verified retirement savings plans. The Retirement Marketplace at www.retirementmarketplace.com was created to help approximately 2 million Washingtonians who do not have access to retirement savings plans through their workplace. We know a secure retirement is out of reach for millions of Americans, especially those …
— 69% of companies that don’t offer a plan say cost is a concern; “Secure Choice” would afford them a state-facilitated option Nearly three quarters of New York small businesses that don’t offer their employees a retirement savings plan would likely do so if a state-facilitated option existed, according to a new survey commissioned by AARP. More than half of New York’s private sector workforce – over 3.5 million New Yorkers – lack access to a retirement savings plan such as …
— Thinking of starting your own business? Have a great concept but no idea where to begin? We recently invited Bob Nelson, Massachusetts District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to sit down with Kara Cohen, Community Outreach Director for AARP Massachusetts, to discuss free resources for entrepreneurs, including training, mentoring, loan and financing information, and more. Watch the video here, and check out the links below to the numerous free resources available to help small business owners, from …
— Are you 50 or over and want to start or grow a small business? Join us at a special Networking Event in Asheville on Thursday, October 5 and get inspiring ideas and meet people who can help you get started with your business plan, financing, expert mentoring and more. AARP in the Mountain Region has teamed up with Mountain BizWorks, SCORE and other community resources to offer fun with purpose. Join us to explore the real possibilities for you and entrepreneur-ism. Whether …
— Fail to Address Retirement Savings Crisis, Woefully Underfund Services to Help Older NYers Age in Own Homes and Support Family Caregivers ALBANY, N.Y. – Although the new state budget is being touted as a boon to New York’s middle class, AARP says the 2017-18 spending plan fails to address two critical middle class issues: the growing retirement savings crisis and older New Yorkers’ ability to age in their own homes. Over half of all private sector employees in New York …
— Assembly Committee Advances Bill to Help Millions of Working NYers Achieve Middle Class Retirement; Surveys: Overwhelming Support in NYS, Nationally ALBANY, N.Y. – AARP New York applauded today’s vote by the State Assembly Government Employees Committee to advance “Secure Choice” legislation but called on state leaders to include the state-facilitated workplace retirement savings option in the state budget for the fiscal year that begins next month – and help millions of working New Yorkers start saving for their retirement. “Any …
— Crisis Will Only Get Worse if Not Addressed in Final 2017-18 Budget ALBANY, N.Y. – Although over half of all private sector employees in New York – more than 3.5 million New Yorkers – lack access to a pension or 401(k) at work, Governor Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers have failed to include a state-facilitated workplace retirement savings option in their 2017-18 state budget proposals. The Senate and Assembly released their “one-house” budget proposals this week; the Governor released his …
— 4/5 of NY Small Businesses Want State to Act; Bipartisan Backing ALBANY, N.Y. – AARP today delivered 10,000 petitions from New Yorkers across the state to Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders asking them to include a state-facilitated workplace retirement savings option in the final 2017-18 state budget due by the end of this month. The petitions urge the Governor and lawmakers to incorporate “Secure Choice” legislation – which has bipartisan support in both houses – into the final spending …