A glass jar full of coins and plant growing through it with some coins and plant leaves.

Do Catch-Up Contributions Increase 401(k) Saving?

Issue Brief by Qi Guan, Matthew S. Rutledge, April Yanyuan Wu, and Francis M. Vitagliano

July 7, 2015

The brief’s key findings are: To encourage Americans to save more for retirement, some suggest raising 401(k) contribution limits. To assess such an option, this analysis estimates the effects of a 2001 increase in 401(k) limits that also introduced a higher “catch-up” limit for those 50 and over. The increase in the limits did boost…

Mature man is hired to handle outreach to senior adults

Dog Bites Man: Americans Are Shortsighted About Their Finances

Issue Brief by Steven A. Sass, Anek Belbase, Thomas Cooperrider, and Jorge D. Ramos-Mercado

February 17, 2015

The brief’s key findings are: Americans need to save more on their own for retirement, but human nature suggests they will focus more on day-to-day financial needs. Analysis of a recent survey confirms that a household’s level of financial satisfaction is tied more to short-term – rather than long-term – concerns. Even households that ar…