LONDON -- The last five years have been tough for those in retirement. Portfolio valuations have been hammered, and annuity rates have plunged. There's no sign things will improve anytime soon, either, as the eurozone and the U.K. economy look set to muddle through at best for some years to come.

A great way to protect yourself from the downturn, however, is to build your retirement fund with shares of large, well-run companies that should grow their earnings steadily over the coming decades. Over time, such investments ought to result in rising dividends and inflation-beating capital growth.

In this series, I'm tracking down the U.K. large caps that have the potential to beat the FTSE 100 over the long term and support a lower-risk, income-generating retirement fund (you can see all of the companies I've covered so far on this page).

In this article I'm going to introduce the five top-scoring shares so far and see how they compare. They are Unilever (NYSE: UL) , Tesco (LSE: TSCO.L) , Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-B) , SABMiller (LSE: SAB.L) , and British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) .

First, let's take a look at how each of them scored against my five key retirement share criteria:

Criterion

Unilever

Tesco

Royal Dutch Shell

SABMiller

Follow this link:
Are These the 5 Best Retirement Shares in the FTSE 100?

Sharp Corp. (6753.TO) on Tuesday said it will offer voluntary retirement to about 2,000 domestic workers in November as part of a previously announced labor reduction plan aimed at addressing the company's serious financial woes.

The hard-hit Japanese electronics maker, which racked up a record 376.08 billion yen group net loss in the fiscal year that ended in March and predicts a Y250 billion loss for the current fiscal year, has been pursuing a number of different avenues, including job cuts, to strengthen its financial standing.

Last week a person close to the matter said Sharp is mulling selling the TV factories--one in China and the other in Mexico--as part of talks with Taiwanese partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (2317.TW).

Earlier this month, Sharp unveiled a plan to cut 5,000 workers. The staff reduction, excluding the latest voluntary retirement plan, will take the form of natural attrition and other steps.

The Japanese company said Tuesday it will offer early retirement to workers at the parent company and its major domestic subsidiaries between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14.

The program will cost around Y27 billion, it said. The cost has already been factored into its earnings outlook for its business year ending March 2013, released earlier this month.

Separately Tuesday, NEC Corp. (6701.TO) said that a total of 2,393 workers groupwide have accepted the voluntary retirement offer it made in July.

The Japanese computer maker and provider of technology services will report extra expenses worth Y2.9 billion for the second quarter ending September, in addition to expenses it already booked in the previous fiscal year.

But its cost cutbacks will moderate the additional cost burden, so it kept unrevised its previous earnings outlook for the first half and full business year through March 2013.

Write to Hiroyuki Kachi at Hiroyuki.Kachi@dowjones.com

View post:
Sharp to Offer Voluntary Retirement to 2,000 Japan Staff

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

When it comes to retirement planning, Generations X and Y have learned from the mistakes of their elders2, while the younger Generation Z shows some signs of nest egg naivety1, according to new survey findings released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (AMTD).

Nearly 60 percent of Gen X (59%) and Gen Y (56%) make regular, automatic contributions toward their retirement savings2, compared to 46 percent of non-retired Baby Boomers2. And when it comes to getting a jump on their nest egg, younger generations are eager to get started both Gen X and Gen Y started saving for retirement, on average, in their mid- to late-twenties2. Thats nearly a decade earlier than Baby Boomers who, on average, stared saving at age 352.

For even the most sophisticated investor, retirement planning can be a tough concept to grasp, said Carrie Braxdale, managing director, investor services, TD Ameritrade, Inc., a broker dealer subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. Gen X and Y have accepted the reality of the past few years, and rather than being discouraged, they are using what they've witnessed to their advantage by saving earlier and regularly. The hope is that tomorrows investors, Gen Z, follow suit as they near retirement.

For the teens and young adults of Generation Z (ages 13-22) who have grown up in households that struggled through the recession, the question remains as to whether they have been tainted by the gloom and doom or driven to be better. According to the survey, Gen Z generally understands the importance of saving money over half (56%) said they have a savings account thanks to the influence of early conversations about money with their parents1. But, those conversations have largely been about saving in general (82%) or saving for college (67%), rather than preparing for retirement (38%)1. Just eight percent of Gen Z reported they are currently saving money for their golden years1.

In fact, many Gen Z savers have a very different outlook on retirement saving strategies and timing when compared to their parents:

The good news is that Gen Z is starting off with a good understanding of the importance of saving, said Braxdale. But that doesnt mean they should wait to become more educated on proper long-term savings habits. We encourage parents to talk to kids specifically about retirement savings to ensure they understand the importance of getting a head start and taking advantage of the power of compounding.

TDAmeritrade's website offers a number of free retirement planning resources that can help investors explore many of these questions and more including:

1. A "Cost of Waiting" Calculator that can help you understand why starting to save earlier is better in the long run

2. WealthRuler retirement calculator that can help you estimate your retirement readiness

Read more:
Young Americans Start Saving for Retirement 10 Years Earlier than Parents, Grandparents

Originally posted here:
Double Shot Interview: Diana Crossan, Retirement Commissioner with Amanda Morrall - Video

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transamerica Retirement Services announced today that it will host a webinar for third party administrators and financial advisors that covers the governments current legislative landscape on retirement plans, and how this affects financial professionals and retirement plan sponsors. The webinar will be hosted by Jeanne de Cervens, vice president and director of federal government affairs for Transamerica, on September 18 at noon Eastern Time.

Ms. de Cervens will provide insight on many topics surrounding retirement plans, including tax reform, Multiple Employer Plans, mandatory retirement plan coverage proposals, workplace initiatives, and what the insurance and retirement plan communities are doing to protect tax incentives.

Transamericas Speakers Bureau is a wonderful opportunity to hear from thought leaders in the retirement plan arena, said Stig Nybo, president of Transamerica Retirement Services. I anticipate this webinar will be popular with TPAs and financial advisors, as Jeanne is sure to provide engaging and insightful commentary on a wide range of issues facing policymakers in the months to come.

Jeanne de Cervens is an attorney based in Washington, D.C., and serves as the chief government liaison for Transamerica regarding federal tax, insurance and retirement security issues. She interacts with U.S. Congress Members and federal regulatory agencies, trade associations and financial services organizations. She has been involved in legislative, regulatory and employee benefits issues for more than 20 years, and serves on the Board of the Tax Coalition, a non-partisan organization promoting the exchange of ideas among professional women in federal tax policymaking.

Ms. de Cervens represents Transamerica in various coalitions and groups focused on developing broader policy initiatives impacting the retirement plan business, including the Conversation for Coverage and the Global Coalition on Aging.

Third party administrators and financial advisors can register for the webinar by calling Transamerica at (888) 401-5826 and selecting option one, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

About Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation

Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation (Transamerica or Transamerica Retirement Services), which is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, designs customized retirement plan solutions to meet the unique needs of small- to mid-sized businesses. Transamerica and its affiliates have more than 17,0001 retirement plans totaling more than $20 billion1 in assets. For more information about Transamerica, please refer to http://www.TA-Retirement.com.

1As of December 31, 2011.

Read more from the original source:
Transamerica Retirement Services to Host “Legislative Landscape for 2012 and Beyond” Webinar on September 18

A single financial misstep right before retirement can mean the difference between peace of mind and constant money worries in later years.

Misinterpreting a spouse's retirement dreams, failing to plan for emergencies and spending too much are just a few of the mistakes folks approaching retirement may make.

Below, financial advisers weigh in on how to avoid these and other mistakes before you turn in your office I.D.

1. Failing to coordinate

Certified financial planner Christine Fahlund recalls one couple she worked with: The husband thought he had diligently prepared for retirement, including regularly crunching numbers on an online retirement-planning calculator. In his calculations, the husband assumed his wife would retire in six years while he would retire right away.

[More from WSJ.com: How to Avoid Medicare Land Mines]

But once he retired and reminded his wife of their "plan," she was livid. Turns out she had told him several years earlier that she "might" be willing to work six years longer, but had since decided she was no longer willing to do so. The husband ended up going back to work.

To avoid such confusion, as early as five years before retirement, couples should write down their plans and answer questions such as when they'd each like to retire, where each would like to live, what each wants to continue doing in retirement and what new activities each wishes to pursue.

They'll want to revisit these plans annuallyespecially during the six months prior to either spouse's retirement dateshe says.

2. Not expecting the unexpected

See the article here:
Avoid These Common Pre-Retirement Blunders

Home > News

LYNN He spends an average 55 hours a year on School Committee business, but the Retirement Board calculated John Fords service as an elected official in years, not hours, last week when it voted to accept Ford as a future city retiree whose pension will be partly paid by local taxpayers.

Board members Buzzy Barton, Richard Biagiotti, Claire Cavanagh and Stephen Spencer voted last Tuesday to credit Ford for eight years service on the committee. Board Chairman Michael Marks only votes to break a tie.

Fords entry into the system expands the number of elected officials entering Lynns public retirement system. The systems 1,200 former city employee members divide up $31 million-worth of pensions annually. Lynn taxpayers foot $23 million worth of that cost.

Board Director Gary Brenner said the board had little choice but to accept Ford into the system because elected officials like Ford qualify for admission into public retirement systems under state law. Ford, said Brenner, is the first local School Committee member to be voted in by the board.

I think were the only people in the city who dont get something, Ford said last Wednesday.

Brenner estimated city taxpayers will eventually pay about 30 percent of Fords pension once he retires from his job as an aide to state Rep. Steven Walsh based on pension worth 25 percent of his aides salary.

Fords legislative salary is listed on the state website as $30,000 a year.

When his pension is calculated, were responsible, Brenner said.

Read the original:
Retirement board OKs Ford pension

Note: All figures are based on IFRS and are shown in Canadian dollars. All comparisons are with the corresponding period of2011, unless otherwise stated.

Jennifer Gregory - National Vice-President, Business Development, Group Savings and Retirement

MONTREAL , Aug. 27, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada today announced the appointment of financial services industry veteran Jennifer Gregory as incoming National Vice-President, Business Development, Group Savings and Retirement. Based in Toronto , Mrs. Gregory will be responsible for creating a strategic vision and a national roadmap in order to grow Standard Life's group savings and retirement business across Canada . Her appointment is effective September 17 .

"The group savings and retirement segment being the cornerstone of Standard Life, I am very pleased to have attracted an executive with such in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in this industry," said Charles Guay , President and Chief Executive Officer. "Given her extensive involvement in the business community, Jennifer significantly adds to the Toronto office and brings considerable strength to our overall management team. Her arrival ties in perfectly with our continued efforts to be an industry leader in long-term savings and investment solutions."

Prior to this appointment, Mrs. Gregory held several senior positions at Great-West Life Assurance Company since 1993. Most recently, she was Vice-President National Accounts, Group Retirement Services where she gained a strong understanding of the group retirement capital accumulation plan industry in Canada and spearheaded organizational change to provide an exceptional intermediary and plan member and sponsor experience.

Mrs. Gregory has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Alberta. She also holds designations as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and Registered Pension Associate (RPA).

Note to Editors In the second quarter of 2012, Standard Life Financial's overall premiums and deposits reached $1.3 billion (up 13% from $1.2 billion in 2011), including $709 million from the group savings and retirement business (up 15% from $616 million in 2011).

About Standard Life Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh , Scotland. Standard Life has around 6 million customers worldwide and operates in the United Kingdom , Europe , North America and Asia Pacific, and globally with Standard Life Investments Ltd.

In Canada , Standard Life has been doing business for almost 180 years. Standard Life Financial Inc., which wholly owns The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada and Standard Life Mutual Funds Ltd., is Standard Life plc's largest operation outside the UK. With about 2,000 employees, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group benefit and retirement plan members.

As of June 30, 2012 , Standard Life plc had $327 billion in assets under administration, including $42billion in Canada through Standard Life Financial.

Read the original post:
Standard Life hires a seasoned sales leader for its group savings and retirement business

JUPITER, Fla., Aug. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU) announces the formation of The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU), which will offer corporate retirement plan sponsors an exclusive and unique training and certification program designed to improve their retirement plan. The Mission of The Plan Sponsor University is to educate and train employers to better manage their corporate retirement plan(s) on behalf of their participants, help improve outcomes and to introduce plan sponsors to the very best plan advisors who can help them to accomplish these goals.

TRAU, a collaboration with the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education, revolutionized the retirement plan industry in 2010 by offering the prestigious C(k)P - Certified 401(k) Professional designation for plan advisors. TPSU follows suit by offering the first comprehensive and national online and in-person workplace retirement plan certification program to business owners, financial professionals, benefits specialists and other plan fiduciaries.

TPSU offers employers charged with the responsibility of company retirement plan oversight the opportunity to increase their knowledge and expertise in areas such as retirement plan design and operation, management of their fiduciary obligations, improving outcomes for those who participate and, upon completion of the program, awards the enrollee certification as a C(k)PS - Certified 401(k) Plan Specialist.

"Managing retirement plans and helping plan participants has become increasingly complex. Plan sponsors need state-of-the-art training available online and created by a nationally recognized educational organization delivered in person by qualified professionals," said Fred Barstein, Founder and Executive Director, The Retirement Advisor University.

TPSU courses and curriculum will be offered regionally around the country conducted by local plan advisors starting in the spring of 2013. Advisors that present the curriculum and train those who enroll in The Plan Sponsor University must meet strict criteria established to ensure that only the most experienced and qualified retirement plan professionals become Adjunct Lecturers at TPSU. The criterion to become a TPSU Adjunct Lecturer includes:

TPSU is currently recruiting adjunct lecturers to teach in several regions that remain available. Financial professionals who are interested and feel they meet the criteria may apply at http://www.TPSUniversity.com.

About TRAU

TRAU, The Retirement Advisor University collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education is the first retirement planning certification program associated with a nationally recognized institution of higher learning. Participating advisors and wholesalers can benefit by earning certification that has real meaning to plan sponsor clients, prospects, and the retirement industry as a whole. http://www.TRAUniv.com

About TPSU

The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU), an affiliate of TRAU, offers the first comprehensive online and in-person workplace retirement plan certification program for business owners, benefits specialists and other employer fiduciaries. http://www.tpsuniversity.com

See the original post here:
New Retirement Plan Training Offers Help to Employers & Employees

Q: I fortunately or unfortunately qualified for social security disability and have a few questions about retirement benefits. Next year I can take my pension early or I can wait and take a larger pension when I reach age 65. If I take my pension early, I dont think that will have any impact on my social security benefits since it is not earned income; is that correct? Also, what happens when I reach the age where I can take social security retirement benefits? Would I be better off switching to social security retirement benefits versus disability?

Sorry about your disability but Im glad you are receiving benefits. The pension wont impact your disability benefits like earned income, but it may cause some of your benefits to be taxed.

If you are single and your combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000, 50 percent of social security disability or retirement benefits will be subject to income tax. If your combined income is more than $34,000, up to 85 percent of benefits will be subject to tax.

If you are married filing jointly, with combined income of $32,000 to $44,000, 50 percent of benefits will be subject to tax. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85 percent of benefits will be subject to tax. Combined income is defined as your Adjusted Gross Income + Non-taxable interest + 1/2 of Social Security Benefits.

Full retirement age is based on your year of birth. For those born from 1943 through 1954, full retirement age for social security purposes is 66. For those born in later years retirement age increases two months a year until it reaches 67 for those born in 1960 and later. You can retire before you reach full retirement age, but your benefits will be permanently reduced by a percentage which is based on the number of months you begin benefits before your full retirement age.

Twenty-five percent is the maximum reduction for people born between 1943 and 1954. As the increase in retirement age phases in, the reduction for taking early benefits will gradually increase to 30% for those born in 1960 or later.

When you are receiving Social Security disability benefits and reach full retirement age, nothing will change except your benefits will be called retirement benefits rather than disability benefits. This switch will be automatically done for you by the Social Security Administration.

It is rarely a good idea to switch from Social Security disability benefits to early retirement benefits, because in most cases disability benefits are paid as if you are at full retirement age, no matter how old you are. The disability benefit amount is based on how much you paid into Social Security while you worked. If you are receiving a disability benefit from workers compensation, you may want to consider switching from Social Security disability to early retirement benefits. Your Social Security disability benefit is reduced by a certain percentage if you are getting a workers comp benefit. Your retirement benefit is not reduced by a workers comp benefit. If you are receiving workers comp, not yet at full retirement age but are age 62 or over, ask the Social Security Administration to calculate the difference in benefits for you. If this looks favorable, you can request to be changed from disability status to retired status.

Before making this status switch, get assurance that they will keep you technically disabled so that you can stay on Medicare. Also, analyze the impact on your future benefits as well as the impact on any benefits for dependents and, if married, those of your spouse.

Holly Nicholson is a certified financial planner in Raleigh. She cannot answer every question. Reach her at askholly.com or P.O. Box 99466, Raleigh, NC 27624

Go here to see the original:
Social Security disability benefits versus retirement benefits