One big job for PBGC is to make sure that companies with pension plans finance those plans and PBGC's safety net. The best outcome is always for a company to keep its own pension plans. But when it can't, we also fight in court to recover the money that the company owes for its pensions.
A recent case involved the Daytona Beach, Fla. News-Journal, a newspaper in receivership – meaning that a court ordered the sale of the paper. The business owed PBGC $15 million for pension benefits that the newspaper owed its employees but that PBGC is now paying.
But in court, another creditor made a claim for an amount greater than the value of the entire business, based on its former ownership of the company. A Florida court gave that claim priority – leaving PBGC and others out in the cold.
A PBGC staff attorney researched Florida law and found that the court had made an error. With that information PBGC successfully appealed the ruling. Florida law says that claims arising from debt get priority over claims arising from ownership. The appeal kept PBGC's claim alive and may yet enable PBGC to collect significant funds from the newspaper.
"The decision supports the general rule that debt comes before equity," said Chief Counsel Izzy Goldowitz, "so it's an important precedent."
Read the appeals court's full decision. [PDF]
A secure retirement is every worker's dream, but successful retirement planning is what makes that dream a reality.
There are many tools and resources to help make the process a lot simpler and less daunting.
For instance, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has a great online publication complete with interactive worksheets to help you with the process of retirement planning.
Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning is available online and can also be requested in print.
We hope this resource is helpful!
As many retirees rely on a fixed income, the decision of where to retire can sometimes be tough. The golden ticket is finding a place that is not just affordable but enjoyable. Many retirees want a place that is alive with arts, culture, and community.
Luckily, AARP has done the research so you can get the most bang for your buck! Their listing of the “10 Best Places to Live on $100 a Day”:
- Spokane, Washington
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Morgantown, West Virginia
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- San Antonio, Texas
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Grand Junction, Colorado
- Gainesville, Florida
Read AARP’s full article: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/livable-communities/info-07-2012/best-places-for-low-cost-retirement.html?intcmp=HPBB2C
