- Are HSA Investors Born Or Made?
Both...And familiarity with the mechanics of the account often propel owners toward investing
A new EBRI study has found only about 6 percent of accountholders invest their health savings accounts (HSAs), despite unique tax benefits extended to them. Those investors, the research finds, appear to be inherently prone to invest but can also be educated to invest.
read more - COVID-19 Fuels North American Employers to Pursue Cost-Containment Strategies
Hiring freeze is the most prevalent strategy; relatively few employers are freezing salaries or delaying pay raises
As concern over the effect that COVID-19 will have on their businesses escalates, North American employers are eyeing a series of cost-containment strategies that include hiring freezes and, to a lesser extent, wage freezes or delayed raises, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.
read more - With Covid-19 Outbreak, Life/Health Insurers Get Real World Test of Enterprise Risk Management Programs
Will 'pandemic scenario' preparations, installed after 2007 crisis, work?
AM Best believes insurers have done well in implementing improved enterprise risk management (ERM) controls since the financial crisis a decade ago, but until the COVID-19 virus outbreak, these changes have not faced a significant test.
read more - Retirement Investors Holding the Line During Market Correction
Majority of savers in defined contribution plans are not planning to take drastic actions
Americans in defined contribution retirement savings plans are largely maintaining their investment positions and not taking overly drastic actions in response to market volatility caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, show new studies from Empower Retirement.
read more - Is it Possible to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Track in Volatile Times?
An actuary provides counsel for those in various life stages
By Dennis Ho
As markets continue to plunge and uncertainty about the impact of COVID-19 remains, the health of our retirement funds is adding to the concerns many of us are facing. Rest assured there are action most of us can take, even during these difficult times, to make sure our retirement plans remain on track.
read more - Further Global Interest Rate Cuts Anticipated as Economic Buffer for Coronavirus Impact
Fed cuts funds rate by 50 basis-points; Canada, Australia follow suit
AM Best anticipates further U.S. and global interest rate cuts in the first half of 2020 as governments strive to provide economic buffers against the potentially wide-ranging impact of the Coronavirus.
read more - AICPA-Led Coalition Expands Support for Small Business Funding
Group urges fast distribution of stimulus funds through payroll processors
More than a dozen new members have joined an American Institute of CPAs-led group advocating the use of payroll processors to quickly distribute governmental funds to small businesses so they can meet payroll and avoid layoffs.
read more - COVID-19 Brings New Uncertainties to Health Care Spending and Health Insurers
How the calculus of this pandemic might impact the inherent actuarial assumptions of health insurers
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, its effects on U.S. health care spending and health insurers for 2020 and beyond are uncertain, according to FAQs on COVID-19 and Its Effects on Health Spending and Health Insurance, published today by the American Academy of Actuaries.
read more - Empower Retirement Urges Congress to Enact Disaster Relief for Retirement Savers
American savers need help during unprecedented time of COVID (19) and market volatility
Empower Retirement is asking the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service for regulatory guidance and relief packages for Americans saving for retirement.
read more - Senator Alexander: “We Are Going to Have to Pay What It Costs to Contain This Disease”
As Senate sends to president second bill to fight COVID-19, Tennessee's Lamar Alexander warns paid leave plan hurts employers and shortchanges employees
I would rather Washington work with the states and their existing programs to make sure states have sufficient funding on top of their own funds to deal with the large number of laid off auto workers, restaurant workers and workers at small businesses
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