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Most Recent News:
A Mutual Fund Giant Speaks Up for the Little Guy
October 21, 2009: John C. Bogle, creator of the first index mutual fund and founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group, attacks what he sees as abuses in the very industry he helped pioneer.

SEE ALSO

• Holding On to Your Home (updated October 7)
• Looking at the Job Market  (updated October 2)
• Investing and Saving (updated September 30)
• Worrying About the Future (updated September 10)
• Stimulating the Economy (updated October 8)
• Looking Ahead (updated September 3)

Holding On to Your Home

New! Reverse Mortgages Ripe for Abuse
October 7, 2009: Consumer group says tougher regulations are needed to avoid a repeat of subprime problems.

Older Low-Income Workers on the Brink of Homelessness
September 22, 2009: For the poorest and most vulnerable workers, the recession has been especially hard. Many appear on the brink of homelessness, faced every day with choices between basic necessities.

An Escape Route From Foreclosure
July 22, 2009: The minimum age to qualify for a reverse mortgage is 62. But the older you are, and the greater the value of your home, the more you can borrow—which could be the key to saving your home from foreclosure.

Shoulda Known Better
July 16, 2009: How a N.Y. Times economics reporter fell into the subprime mortgage trap.  An interview with Edmund L. Andrews, author of Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown.

Accidental Landlords
July 15, 2009: Can't sell your house? Rent it out.

All Under One Roof
May 1, 2009: The recession is accelerating increase of three-generation households.

No American Dream for Underwater Homeowners
April 14, 2009: More than 60 percent of residents in Yuba County, Calif., owe more than their home is worth. 

Tough Job Market Forces Families Into Multigenerational Living
April 3, 2009: It's no surprise that many college graduates are moving back home becuase of the brutal economy. But here's the twist: Many Boomers are are doing the same.

‘Making Home Affordable’ Plan Could Help Millions of Troubled Homeowners
March 10, 2009: The new plan may help reduce monthly payments if a mortgage is as much as $729,750—nearly 75 percent higher than the $419,900 ceiling of the foreclosure relief plan announced last month.

Obama's Foreclosure Plan
Feb. 23, 2009: The president's new plan to help slow the avalanche of mortgage foreclosures certainly won’t help all troubled borrowers keep their homes. But for millions whose home values have plummeted while their monthly payments have soared, the proposals do offer real hope.

Troubled Homeowners May Get Mortgage Relief After All
Jan. 12, 2009: Democratic efforts to rewrite bankruptcy laws so that judges can help troubled borrowers avoid foreclosure gained a surprising new ally after Citigroup, the nation’s third-largest bank and one of the largest issuers of home mortgages, agreed to drop its opposition.

Why Bankruptcy Doesn't Help With Foreclosure
Jan. 6, 2009: Thousands of Americans are now learning that there isn't any foreclosure help to be found in bankruptcy codes, written a generation ago and not updated effectively, despite today’s era of exotic home loans and steep, sudden drops in property values.

Mortgage Relief Leaves Many Behind
Nov. 13, 2008: The plan announced Nov. 11 to rework mortgages held by finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be offered only to borrowers who are 90 days delinquent on their loans and who can afford to pay up to 38 percent of their gross income toward housing.

Housing Costs Excessive, Census Reports
Nov. 13, 2008: Gone are the days when house payments represented no more than a quarter of your income. Now, for many Americans, housing costs are through the roof.

How to Stay Put When You Can't Afford Your Own Neighborhood
Oct. 28, 2008: After a lifetime spent putting down roots in their neighborhood, gentrification is forcing many longtime city dwellers out. Older residents who can no longer afford to stay in their homes are being pushed to move in with friends or family in faraway places, or into nursing homes or shelters.

Why Are More Older Americans Sleeping in Their Cars?
Oct. 1, 2008: The face of homelessness in the U.S. is changing. A small but growing number of lower- and middle-income Americans—people who never expected to become homeless—have been driven out of their homes and onto the street by the nation’s economic turmoil and the record foreclosure rate.

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Looking at the Job Market

New! Unemployment Rate Rises Again
October 2, 2009: The labor market worsened in September and pushed the nation’s unemployment rate to 9.8 percent, its highest level since June 1983, the government reported Friday.

From Job Loss to Peace Corps
September 16, 2009: When Bob Graham, 65, from Atlanta, lost his job as a sales manager in the tire industry last summer, he first tried to find a new job. Finding himself stymied, he returned to a path he had briefly considered 45 years earlier—the Peace Corps.

Face-lifts for a Recession
September 9, 2009: Cosmetic surgery could help older workers compete for scarce jobs.

Hard Times Drive Older Workers Back to School
September 1, 2009: Most want to sharpen job skills, according to a new AARP Bulletin poll.

The End of Retirement?
September 1, 2009: Millions are working at age 70, 80, even 90.

Quick-Start Careers
August 19, 2009: These 11 positions are secure, available and require minimal training.

Michigan Jobless to Run Out of Benefits
August 18, 2009: By year’s end, 100,000 Michigan residents who already suffered through losing their jobs will run out of unemployment benefits. Even in a state numbed by economic struggle, it is a staggering blow to families and the system.

Worker Pay and Benefits Suffering
August 13, 2009: Workers this year saw the lowest salary increases in at least three decades

Dip in Unemployment Rate
August 7, 2009: The jobless rate fell to 9.4 percent in July, a dip of 0.1 point from June—and job news for older workers improved as well.

Retirement Dreams Deferred
July 14, 2009: Financial fears send retirees back into the job market, but the competition is fierce.

Video: Tax incentive brings more filmmakers to Detroit
Thanks to a new 42 percent tax incentive for filmmakers, unexpected opportunities have risen in Detroit. Around $250 million will be spent by filmmakers in Michigan in 2009.

Gloomy Jobless Picture Turns Gloomier
July 3, 2009: June was another disappointing month for American workers as job losses jumped to unexpected levels and the national unemployment rate rose to 9.5 percent, a 26-year high. And the unemployment rate for people 55 and older jumped to 7 percent in June, pushing into record territory for the third month in a row.

Jobless Auto Workers Go Back to School
July 1, 2009: Michigan is ahead of most states in reinventing programs to move workers from shrinking industries into new careers. Could it be a model for the rest of the nation?

Job Fairs Supply Hope, Frustration—and Few Jobs
June 10, 2009: Job fairs are popular with employers and job seekers because they offer a wealth of possibilities in a short time. But do they work?

Uncertain Economy Changes Outlook on Job Status
June 8, 2009: The economy’s doldrums are prompting the 45-and-older crowd to view employment and retirement in a different light.

Unemployment Highest in 26 Years
June 5, 2009: The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.4 percent in May, the highest level in 26 years, the government said Friday. The one-month increase was 0.05 percent.

Men Hit Harder by Unemployment
June 1, 2009: Of the estimated 5.7 million Americans who have lost their jobs since the recession started in December 2007, 80 percent are men.

Out of Work, Out of Insurance
May 27, 2009: Here's what you need to do to remain covered by a health plan if you lose your job.

Recession's Grip May Be Weakening
May 15, 2009: Glimmers of an economic recovery seem to be emerging, though older Americans may continue to feel the pain for months to come.

50+ Workers Not Calling It Quits
May 12, 2009: Instead of forcing them out of work, the recession is forcing many back into it.

Jobless Rate for Older Workers at a Record High
May 11, 2009: Nearly 1.85 million people age 55 and older were out of work last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, and the jobless rate for that group rose to 6.4 percent.

Furloughed: Suddenly Millions of Workers Have Time Off
April 8, 2009: Soldiers and prisoners aren’t the only ones getting furlough notices these days. State and local governments, companies both large and small, universities and even hospitals have also been sending people on temporary leaves of absence … unpaid leaves of absence.

Outrage: Jobless Benefits Can Cost You
April 1, 2009: Some banks view unemployment benefits as another potential revenue stream and are charging thousands of jobless people fees to access their unemployment money.

Fired at 50
March 2, 2009: Three stories of real people facing real unemployment challenges.

Unemployment Benefits to Cover More Workers Under Stimulus Plan
March 2, 2009: For the first time, low-wage and part-time workers could be eligible for unemployment checks under a little-debated provision of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill.

How Unemployment Benefits Affect Social Security
March 2, 2009: Can you collect unemployment compensation and Social Security benefits at the same time?

Lost Your Job—or Afraid You Will?
Feb. 25, 2009: AARP Bulletin answers 12 questions asked by people like readers about job loss, unemployment, finding a job, losing employer benefits and more.

Older Workers Hit Hard by Continuing Job Losses
Jan. 9, 2009: The U.S. unemployment rate in December rocketed to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent. For those age 55 to 64, nearly 4.9 percent (about 1.1 million) were unemployed. And among workers age 65 and older, 5 percent (326,000) were out of work.

What to Do When Your Employer Suspends Matching 401(k) Contributions
Jan. 6, 2009: Your company is no longer matching your 401(k) contribution. Should you keep saving in the plan?

Where the Jobs Are
May 14, 2008: Four decades ago, Dustin Hoffman’s character in The Graduate was advised to go into “plastics.” Today that celebrated gem of career advice might be “health care.”

Job Search Resources and Websites for Older Workers

7 Fundamental Rules for Crafting a Rock-Solid Resume

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Investing and Saving

New! Dave Ramsey Preaches the Gospel of No Debt
September 30, 2009: The radio and TV money management expert knows firsthand what it’s like to recover from bankruptcy.

New Rules Make Saving for Retirement Easier
September 23, 2009: Saving for retirement should be a snap. Yet one of the reasons the U.S. savings rate has been so dismal in recent years is that there are too many barriers to doing it easily.

Ask the Experts: Adjusting Your Portfolio for a Volatile Market
September 1, 2009: I’m about a decade from retiring, and watching the ups and downs on Wall Street. How should my portfolio be divided in this volatile market?

Save Energy, Save on Taxes
August 26, 2009: Certain energy-efficient home improvements, such as a water heater, qualify for a tax credit that is subtracted from what you owe the IRS, or added to your refund.

Bank Fees Gallop to a Record
August 24, 2009: Overdraft fees and bounced-check penalties are now the top source of revenue for many institutions.

Banks Swamped by Bad Loans
August 19, 2009: If you’re having trouble getting a business loan or a mortgage from a bank these days, the problem may not be with you or your credit history. The problem may well be with your bank.

Bye-Bye, Megabank?
August 13, 2009: Credit unions and community banks are among alternatives with lower costs and better service.

New! Ask the Experts: U.S. Guarantee for Money Market Funds
August 12, 2009: I’m worried that the value of money market shares will drop below $1. How much longer will the government guarantee these funds?

Ask the Experts: When You Suspect Investment 'Churning'
August 5, 2009: It appears that my broker was churning my account to collect high commissions. What should I do?

Consumer Debt Cuts Across Generations
July 1, 2009: Americans from 18 to 80 are struggling with debt, a new survey finds—including 60 percent of those in the 50-plus cohort.

Victory Gardens Growing Anew
June 24, 2009: During this time of economic anxiety, Americans are flocking into their gardens or community-based gardening projects to grow their own food.

Couples Disagree About Retirement, Finances
June 17, 2009: Disagreement about broad retirement goals is slightly higher since the economic  downturn; couples haven’t “fully digested” the effects of the financial crisis.

Debt Rises for Boomers During Economic Crisis
May 29, 2009: More boomers have acquired significant debt during the economic downturn than any other age group, raising the prospect that many will carry that debt into retirement.

Fixing the Broken Buck
May 25, 2009: Money market funds generally had been viewed as investments that, at a minimum, would preserve an investor’s principal. That all changed last September. But new safeguards are being developed.

Seven Ways to Beat the Bank
May 20, 2009: The upheaval in today’s economy is forcing banks to find new ways to strengthen their bottom lines—and much of that effort is coming at your expense. Here's how to keep its hands out of your pockets.

Credit Card Fees Up, Credit Limits Down
April 15, 2009: Higher interest rates. Reduced credit limits. The closing of underused accounts. After years or decades of never making a late payment, exceeding their limits or encountering other problems with their credit,  why are bad things happening to good cardholders?

Your Financial Future: Is It Still Wise to Invest?
April 9, 2009: It’s harder in unprecedented times to believe in the conventional wisdom about investment—that, despite downturns in the markets, over the long run investing in a diversified portfolio will pay off.

Young Adults React to Parents’ Saving Struggles
Many in their 20s and 30s are beginning to see their parents struggle with money, debt and retirement savings—and it’s influencing the way they view investing and saving.

Fabulously Frugal: Living Well on Less Money
April 1, 2009: Sky Yardley and his wife, Jane Dwinell, aren’t panicking about today's tough economic times—they learned long ago to live well on less.

Lessons From the Recession
March 9, 2009:  Older adults have a lot to teach about navigating a stormy economy.

Spend or Save?
March 9, 2009:  Conventional financial wisdom for the ages.

Investing in Your Company’s Stock Not a Good Idea
Feb. 12, 2009: Lots of workers who invested in their employer’s stock have watched that stock price fall in the deteriorating economy.

Working Longer—The Best Way to Afford Retirement
Jan. 15, 2009: Even before the current financial disaster, there were reasons for delaying retirement. But if you weren’t thinking about it before, odds are you are now when you look at the balance in your retirement plan.

Penalty Waived for Retirees for Mandatory Withdrawals in 2009
Dec. 23, 2008: Thousands of older Americans who are legally required to take distributions from their shrinking retirement savings accounts will get a break next year.

401(k) Plans: Too Risky for Retirement Security?
Dec. 17, 2008: As the nation’s economic troubles deepen, the most popular retirement savings plan for American workers is coming under increasing scrutiny for its inability to weather the current financial storm. The question is, will it remain viable for the future?

A Market in Distress: What Near-Retirees Should Do
Sept. 17, 2008: Should you sell off investments and withdraw from stocks? Should you jump at buying opportunities created by falling stock prices? Or should you move into other investments or shove wads of cash under the mattress?

Five Ways to Survive a Recession
Sept. 10, 2008: Financial experts say there are ways you can protect yourself.

How Do I Protect My Money in a Bear Market?
July 23, 2008: Investors can protect themselves against bear market losses by buying shares in bond funds or in balanced stock-and-bond fund.

Should You Stash Your Cash?
Nov. 19, 2008: Don’t overdo cash reserves, experts say. Even those approaching retirement within five years probably shouldn’t have more than 30 percent of their savings in cash or cash equivalents.

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Worrying About the Future

New! Your Financial Future: The Pollyanna Solution
September 10: When it comes to money and health, an optimistic outlook may pay off.

Consumer Bankruptcies Surge
August 11, 2009: Older people are the fastest-growing group of bankruptcy filers in the U.S., experts say.

Despite Wall Street Gains, Worst Is Not Over
June 25, 2009: Recent gains on Wall Street should not be confused with renewed prosperity on Main Street, economists say.

Americans Worry They Can’t Afford Health Care in Retirement
May 19, 2009:  Alarm clocks, packed lunches, daily commutes and the 9 to 5 grind—retirees may have left all that behind, but there’s one thing they share with their workforce counterparts: a deep pessimism about their ability to pay for their medical expenses.

For Many, Retiring Will Mean Tighter Belts
April 22, 2009: Entering retirement? Be prepared for a step down in your quality of life —especially if you have a health problem and wind up needing long-term care.

Tough Times for Retirees
Jan. 21, 2009:  How are people on fixed incomes faring? Worried and not well.

Falling Gas Prices Provide Relief, but Older Americans Still Worry About Health Expenses, Mortgage Payments
Jan. 9, 2009: A majority of Americans age 45 and over worry that they won’t be able to pay their health care expenses over the next 12 months, and one in three fears that mortgage or rent payments will become unaffordable, according to an AARP poll released Jan. 7.

Why Money Worries Are Keeping Us Up at Night
Nov. 10, 2008: According to an American Psychological Association poll released in October, the miserable economy “significantly stressed” a whopping 80 percent of Americans in September, up from 66 percent in April.

Staying Healthy When the Economy Is Not
Nov. 5, 2008: To cope in today's bad economy, it seems that people may be taking shortcuts with their health care. But patients should be very careful about treating their health care expenses in the same way as other expenses.

Top Questions Members Are Asking AARP About the Current Financial Crisis

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Stimulating the Economy

New! Bills Seek $250 Social Security Payment in 2010
September 17, 2009: If Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., have their way, Social Security recipients will get a one-time payment of $250 next year in lieu of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Social Security COLA Hike For 2010
August 24, 2009: Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce emergency legislation next month that would ensure Social Security beneficiaries get a cost-of-living increase next year after all.

Clunker Deals Sting Consumers
August 14, 2009: Shady tactics shift financial risk to buyers.

Cash for Clunkers: Is It a Good Deal?
June 26, 2009: A new $1 billion voucher program rewards consumers for replacing their old gas-guzzlers with new, more fuel-efficient cars.

Obama Proposes Sweeping Consumer Protection Plan
June 18, 2009: A new Consumer Financial Protection Agency was proposed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, as part of a sweeping plan to upgrade “an outdated system of financial regulation” that failed to prevent the nation’s financial crisis.

New Credit Law May Squeeze Cardholders
May 20, 2009: The best credit card customers may see interest rates rise, annual fees reappear and rewards programs shrivel as the sweeping credit reform bill Congress approved Wednesday sends banks scrambling to recoup losses and manage risks, industry experts predict.

Senate Approves Credit Card Reforms
May 19, 2009: The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday for sweeping credit card reforms that consumer advocates say will end years of unfair and deceptive tactics by issuers.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Addresses 50+ America
May 11, 2009: These are extraordinarily challenging times, writes U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, but this administration has taken extraordinary actions.

The Check Is in the Mail: Senior Stimulus Payments to Begin Arriving Today
May 7, 2009: More than 52 million Social Security beneficiaries will today begin receiving an extra $250 payment, as part of the effort to reinvigorate the American economy and boost consumer spending.

Stimulus Money Means Jobs for Michigan
May 4, 2009: Investment in green energy and transportation is trickling down to a company that builds seats for buses in Michigan.

Senior Stimulus Payment on the Way
May 1, 2009: Extra cash is heading your way if you receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.

Potential Stimulus Payment Glitch
April 23, 2009: The slated "senior stimulus payments" could cause problems for retirees at tax time.

Fed Cracks Down on Credit Card Issuers
April 22, 2009: New rules approved by the Federal Reserve Board will alter the way credit card companies increase interest rates, allocate payments and more.

Drop in Gambling Revenue Could Mean Higher State Taxes
April 21, 2009: With revenue from lotteries, casinos and riverboat gambling down, states must find some way to fill budget holes. Will raising taxes be the solution?

COBRA Aid Part of Stimulus Package
March 17, 2009:  The federal plan includes a second enrollment chance and premium reductions.

Unemployment Benefits to Cover More Workers Under Stimulus Plan
March 2, 2009: For the first time, low-wage and part-time workers could be eligible for unemployment checks under a little-debated provision of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill.

Obama Leads Exploration of Path to Fiscal Responsibility
Feb. 23, 2009: President Obama named rising health care costs as the nation’s ”single most pressing fiscal challenge we face by far” as he convened a summit of domestic leaders in the White House this afternoon.

The Stimulus Package and Older Americans
Feb. 16, 2009: Older Americans, Medicaid recipients, workers and the unemployed will gain big benefits from the sweeping $787 billion stimulus bill.

House Approves Compromise Stimulus Bill
Feb. 13, 2009: The House of Representatives today passed a massive fiscal stimulus bill aimed at resuscitating the U.S. economy, approving it on a largely party-line vote of 246 to 183.

The Economic Stimulus Plan: What It Means to You
Feb. 11, 2009: A look at several features of the economic stimulus bill with an emphasis on what they mean to 50-plus Americans.

Senate Passes Economic Stimulus Bill
Feb. 10, 2009: The Senate today passed an economic stimulus bill that President Obama and congressional Democrats called crucial to pull the U.S. economy out of its downward spiral but that drew scant support from Republicans.

The Auto Bailout: What It Means for Older Workers
Dec. 10, 2008: Should America’s automotive industry ever get its bailout, the crippled industry is virtually certain to shed thousands of jobs in a major restructuring effort that could hit older workers hard.

The Bailout Plan: What It Means to You
Oct. 3, 2008: What do you get out of the financial rescue package that promises to inject up to $700 billion in an effort to get bad investments off the books for financial institutions?

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Looking Ahead

New! Directions for the Road to Economic Recovery
September 3, 2009: Interview with Mark Zandi, author of Financial Shock: Global Panic and Government Bailouts—How We Got Here and What Must Be Done to Fix It.

New Credit Card Rules Kick In
August 18, 2009: The first phase of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009—better known as the Credit CARD Act—takes effect Aug. 20.

Recession or Not—Let’s Fight Global Poverty
June 18, 2009
There’s still ample money around to markedly improve the living standards for the world’s “bottom billion,” says the author of Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet.

Consumer Watchdog Elizabeth Warren Speaks Out
June 1, 2009: Elizabeth Warren chairs the special congressional panel monitoring the $700 billion banking bailout. And her anger is for the $5 trillion lost in 401(k) and other retirement accounts, losses that scrambled the nest eggs of millions of hard-working taxpayers, consumers and homeowners.

New! Health Care Troubles Trump Social Security
May 14, 2009: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the administration doesn’t plan to start building a bipartisan consensus on fixing Social Security’s finances until after it has won passage of legislation aimed at expanding health care coverage while restraining costs.

Did Failed Lenders Create Their Own Crisis?
May 7, 2009: An investigation by watchdog group Center for Public Integrity finds bailed-out banks funded most of the top 25 subprime lending firms.

Road to Economic Recovery Is Health Care Reform, Says Obama
Feb. 25, 2009: President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that the nation’s road to economic recovery runs through the fields of health care reform, particularly in obtaining coverage for some 46 million uninsured Americans.

Economic Recovery: We’re in Alphabet Soup
Feb. 4, 2009: Will the resurgence be as rapid and robust as the downturn—and trace a V? Or will it resemble the dreaded L?

Q&A With Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize Winner and Author of The Return of Depression Economics
Dec. 22, 2008: Paul Krugman has long been intrigued by the unique challenges of restarting an economy in free fall—long before the credit crisis of 2008 plunged the United States into a severe recession and made his intellectual quest even more relevant.

Q&A With Michael Lewis, Editor of Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity
Dec. 15, 2008: If there’s one lesson to be learned from Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, it’s that investors should be terrified by combinations of the words “fundamentals,” “economy” and “strong.”

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