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Battle of the Boomers

www.news-journalonline.com


August 29, 2007


A recent analysis from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College suggests many baby boomers won't be financially ready to retire.

The center has joined the national debate over how much savings is enough -- and has done so on the side that says there's a shortfall.

"We just don't believe people are saving too much," Alicia H. Munnell, a professor of management sciences at Boston College and director of the retirement research center, told The Associated Press.

A recent academic study looked at the retirement preparedness of Americans who were in their 50s in 1992 and concluded that at least 80 percent had more than enough assets for retirement. Other scientists have argued that Americans may be saving too much.

The new Boston College study evaluated the same 51-61 age group, but looked at their finances in 2004, and found 32 percent to be "at risk" for not being able to maintain their preretirement standing of living in retirement.

The difference between the results, the center said, has to do with changes in the financial environment. For one thing, Americans now must wait until they're older than 65 to collect full Social Security benefits; meanwhile, lower interest rates mean they'll probably collect less on annuities and other investments. And many of today's workers do not have pensions like the earlier generation but must rely on worker-funded 401(k) retirement accounts, the center said.

So what do boomers in the Volusia-Flagler market have to say about their retirement savings? We asked them whether they thought they were saving enough.

-- Business Writer Valerie Whitney contributed to this Associated Press report

Do you think you have enough money for retirement?

"No, I don't. I am changing jobs as we speak." Jean Nedd, 52, Daytona Beach

"Probably not. I was a single mother for most of my life. Raising three daughters made it difficult to save." Grace Galasso, 56, Daytona Beach

"No. You can never have enough money. As you get older, prices go up. Then, there is inflation. A good example is trying to buy a house or a car. Say you started saving five years ago and the price was one thing. Now it has gone up." James Davis, 55, Daytona Beach

"I know I don't. I don't make enough. I am a welder and the most they want to pay you is $8 an hour in Florida. I could make $30 an hour up north." Donald Stephens, 53, Ormond Beach

"No. Working in Florida is a tropical depression. You have to leave the state to earn enough money to support a family. It's a good thing I'm single." Steve Conn, 53, Holly Hill

"Yes. I've got enough saved. I used my 401(k)." Cindy Tyminski, 53, Port Orange

"Probably not, but I hope I do. I keep my fingers crossed that my minimal Social Security will still be there. Then, I have a career that will allow me to keep working even when I'm older." Doug Landrum, 54, Ormond Beach

"No. You never have enough money for retirement. Life changes." Peter Coltune, 55, New Smyrna Beach

"Yes. We are secure. You save, plan and learn from experience to not get overextended. Learn how to say no." Faye Tibe, 53, and Carmen Tibe, 54, recent transplants to Daytona Beach from Padre Island, Texas.


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