Retire2Enjoy  : Retirement Calculators, Savvy Senior, GO TEXAN, Gun Barrel City, Big Spring, Arkansas State Police, First Command Financial Behaviors Index

The Savviest Retirement Calculators

According to the Savvy Senior, some of the best retirement calculators on the Web today are offered through large financial service companies. The syndicated columnist then illustrates this claim with some examples:

• WealthRuler available at TD Ameritrade

• Retirement Income Calculator provided by T. Rowe Price

• MyPlan Retirement Quick Check offered by Fidelity

If you wish to avoid company sites, the Savvy Senior points out other free retirement calculators such as:

"Choose to Save" created by the Employee Benefit Research Institute

CNN Money p-rovides a number of calculators that project what and how much you need to save for retirement, and how you compare with other people in your age and income level

MSN Money has a "Retirement and Wills Center" that offers a retirement planner and calculator and gives tips and strategies for saving for retirement.

Yahoo Finance offers retirement information and a variety of calculators

AOL Money & Finance provides financial and retirement calculators

Another Statistic from the Arkansas State Police

The Arkansas State Police Retirement System posted a return of minus 23.5 percent in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the worst among five Arkansas state retirement systems.

In comparison to the poor record of the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas State Highway Employees Retirement System's return was minus 15.3 percent, the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System was minus 15.9 percent, the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System was minus 18 percent, and the public employees retirement system's was minus 20.89, according to reports and officials for these systems.

Medical Bills: The First Command Financial Behaviors Index

The majority of middle-class Americans are expressing concern about paying for medical costs during retirement and dramatically underestimating the financial burden they’ll be expected to bear says the First Command Financial Behaviors Index ™. The Index reveals that 72 percent of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about health care costs in retirement, with those closest to retirement expressing the most concern. Respondents predict that they will need about $33,000 above traditional retirement savings to cover health care costs during retirement. This estimate is only a fraction of the $166,000 in out-of-pocket expenses estimated for someone retiring today and living to age 100.

GO TEXAN: Big Spring

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples has officially recognized Big Spring as a GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community (CRC). Big Spring is the 27th community in the state to be certified.

GO TEXAN: Gun Barrel City

The Texas Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples has also recognized Gun Barrel City as a GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community (CRC). Gun Barrel City is the 22nd community in the state to be certified. Gun Barrel City is east of Dallas.

A Slap in the Pilots’ Face: News from ACPA

The Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) has expressed disappointment with a decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that would deny pilots the right to negotiate a fixed age of retirement. The decision flies in the face of ACPA pilots, who recently voted by a margin of three to one to uphold the current retirement age of 60.

Flexing the Incentive in Oneida County

Oneida County of New York is considering an Early Retirement Plan for County employees who retire by January 1st.

The size of the incentive will be based on the numbers who retire. Employees who participate will receive a lump sum of $10,000 each if 1 to 49 employees participate; $15,000 if between 50 and 99 employees participate; and $20,000 each if 100 or more employees participate. An estimated 300 employees would be eligible to participate in the early retirement plan.

Hoping to Save Ulster County

Ulster County (New York) is offering a voluntary targeted early retirement program to 31 retirement-eligible employees. If all 31 accept the offer, the program would result in a potential savings to taxpayers, over the initial 5-year period, of approximately $6.62 million dollars in salary and benefits. These 31 were selected because the individuals are retirement eligible and their positions will not be refilled.

Double-Dipping through the Revolving Door

The New Haven Board of Education spent $70,000 this past year, and likely more than $1 million over the past 29 years, granting early retirement bonuses to parting administrators, many of whom soon returned to work, retaining the bonuses while collecting a state pension and a new salary. Of those retiring from the district and later returning to work, at least 90 percent of administrators collected bonuses.

According to district data, 25 retirees are currently back at work, collecting a pension and a salary.

Saving Equally?

A new study by financial services firm Edward Jones finds that nearly a third of parents (29%) are saving equally for retirement and their children's college education. Approximately another third (31%) are favoring one over the other, but 26% aren't saving for either. Younger parents ages 35 to 44 are more likely to save equally for retirement and college education (37%), than older parents ages 55 to 64 (23%).