National Institute on Retirement Security

09/03/2026

It’s hard to save for retirement when today’s bills keep getting bigger. Rising costs for housing, healthcare and other major expenses are putting the squeeze on middle-class families — leaving less money available to build financial security for the future.

In the latest episode of the Retirement in America podcast, NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan talks with economist Christian Weller about the affordability pressures facing Americans and what the middle-class squeeze means for retirement security. Watch the full conversation to hear Dan and Christian connect the dots between the financial challenges families face today and their ability to prepare for tomorrow.

Full episode: https://www.nirsonline.org/research/retirementinamericapodcast-episode4/

09/03/2026

Eight in ten Americans say the nation faces a retirement crisis, while 61% are concerned they won’t achieve financial security in retirement. What’s driving that anxiety and what can policymakers and retirement leaders do about it?

Join NIRS Research Director Barbara Butrica and Executive Director Dan Doonan on September 8 at 2:00 PM ET for a webinar examining new NIRS research on Americans’ views about retirement security. The discussion will explore:

-- How rising costs, debt and inflation are affecting retirement security
-- Concerns about the future of Social Security
-- Americans’ views on pensions and workplace retirement plans
-- Attitudes toward AI financial advice and cryptocurrency in retirement accounts
-- What the findings mean for the future of retirement policy

Research: https://bit.ly/3Un2gWY
Register: https://bit.ly/4gzCA0O

08/28/2026

How much retirement income can $100,000 in savings actually provide?

Only 9% of Americans selected an annual income range consistent with a commonly used withdrawal guideline — only $4,000 in first-year retirement income.

The finding points to a significant gap between retirement savings and Americans’ expectations about the income those savings can generate.

Research: https://bit.ly/3Un2gWY
Webinar: https://bit.ly/4gzCA0O

08/26/2026

NEW research finds Americans are increasingly worried about retirement security as affordability pressures make it harder to save.

Key findings from Retirement Insecurity 2026: Americans’ Views of Retirement:

• 80% say the U.S. faces a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020.
• 68% say preparing for retirement is becoming harder.
• 77% say debt prevents them from saving adequately for retirement.
• 45% are uncomfortable with AI playing a role in delivering financial advice.
• 77% say cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans is risky.
• 85% want Washington to make retirement security a higher priority.

The findings point to a fundamental challenge: Americans are being asked to save more for retirement at a time when housing, healthcare, debt and other everyday costs are putting growing pressure on household budgets.

Research: https://bit.ly/3Un2gWY
Webinar: https://bit.ly/4gzCA0O

08/20/2026

A NEW episode of the Retirement in America podcast is out today: “The Middle-Class Squeeze: What It Means for Retirement Security.”

Dan Doonan sits down with economist Dr. Christian Weller to connect the dots on the affordability challenges families face today and their ability to build financial security for tomorrow.

They dig into some of the biggest pressures facing middle-class Americans — rising housing and healthcare costs, job insecurity, caregiving responsibilities, and a retirement system that too often puts the burden and risk on individuals.

The conversation also explores why pensions can provide workers with greater peace of mind, the role of state auto-IRA programs in expanding retirement savings access, and how retirement policies could better support middle- and lower-income workers.

Listen to Episode 4 of Retirement in America on the NIRS website, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.nirsonline.org/research/retirementinamericapodcast-episode4/

07/29/2026

What's the connection between teacher pensions and student success? Republican Alaska legislator Chuck Kopp, who helped lead the bipartisan effort to restore teacher pensions, says the answer is continuity.

When teachers stay, students build lasting relationships with educators who know their strengths, challenges, and history. But when turnover becomes the norm, those connections disappear—and student achievement suffers.

In this clip from the latest episode of the Retirement in America podcast, Kopp explains why retirement security isn't just about educators—it's about creating the stable learning environment students need to thrive.

Watch the clip, then listen to the full episode here: https://www.nirsonline.org/research/retirementinamericapodcast-episode3/

07/28/2026

NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan is quoted in this MarketWatch story about legislation targeting retirement accounts worth more than $10 million. Dan notes that the proposal addresses a tax preference that disproportionately benefits households with exceptionally large retirement accounts, while preserving retirement savings incentives for typical workers.

Read the article: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-super-rich-use-401-k-s-and-iras-to-sidestep-taxes-on-millions-of-dollars-this-proposed-law-would-cut-them-off-04b37e9a

More than 200 individuals had a total of more than $85 billion in tax-sheltered retirement accounts

07/22/2026

Why is Alaska struggling to keep teachers, firefighters, and police officers?

According to former Alaska House Speaker Chuck Kopp, the state spends millions training public employees only to watch many leave for states that offer pensions.

In this clip, you'll hear why he believes Alaska's current retirement system is unsustainable and why lawmakers from both parties are pushing for change.

🎧 Watch the full Retirement in America podcast episode to learn more. https://www.nirsonline.org/research/retirementinamericapodcast-episode3/

07/21/2026

Last chance to register! Artificial intelligence is quickly moving from concept to implementation, and public pension systems have a unique opportunity to use AI to improve operations, enhance member service, and strengthen decision-making.

Join us tomorrow, July 22, at 2:00 p.m. ET for "From AI Readiness to AI Results: Implementing AI in Public Pension Systems."

Linea Solutions experts will share practical strategies for moving beyond AI experimentation to measurable results. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale existing initiatives, you'll leave with actionable insights you can put to work right away.

Register: https://www.nirsonline.org/events/from-ai-readiness-to-ai-results-implementing-ai-in-public-pension-systems/

07/16/2026

🎙️ New episode of Retirement in America is out today!

Eliminating pensions contributed to Alaska's public workforce crisis. Now, lawmakers from both parties are working to reverse course.

In the newest episode of Retirement in America, NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan and Alaska State Representative Chuck Kopp discuss how Alaska became the only state to eliminate traditional pensions for most newly hired public employees -- and how that decision contributed to shortages of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other essential public workers.

They also discuss the bipartisan effort to create a modern retirement plan designed to strengthen recruitment and retention. The conversation explores:

• Why retirement benefits matter for recruiting and retaining public employees
• How workforce shortages affect essential public services
• Why Alaska's experience offers lessons for every state
• The bipartisan effort to create an innovative shared-risk retirement plan

Watch/listen: https://www.nirsonline.org/research/retirementinamericapodcast-episode3/

Learn how Alaska's decision to eliminate public employee pensions contributed to teacher, police, and firefighter shortages—and why lawmakers are working to bring retirement security back.