Protecting Your Pension for Dummies

The current investment/economic enviornment could profoundly change many retirement benefits. This book takes complicated information and presents it in a very readable format that is sprinkled with humor. Pensions is one area where a person can not afford to be a dummy - this book will take you out of the dummy status - it is an excellent source of information.

Virtually the entire pension investment and consulting industry is devoted to chasing employers to sell them products or services and speaking and writing well over the heads of the vast majority of the ordinary people who make up the millions of plan participants. It's little wonder that studies show year after year that the American workforce in increasingly mystified by the terms and procedures of their own employee benefit programs. As an ERISA attorney with more than 35 years experience, and founder of an online employee benefits counseling firm, BenefitsZoom.com, I have rarely found a book so well written for the end user of pension plans. Employers would do well to save a few dollars from the big bucks they pay their brokers and pension consultants and include a copy of this book with each summary plan description they distribute about their pension plans.

As a pension lawyer, I know how difficult and arcane the pension laws can be. Yet they affect tens of millions of employees. I also know how difficult it can be for employees to get access to an understandable explanation of these pension rules. Without this knowledge, employees are at a real disadvantage in understanding and enforcing their rights. And these rights pertain to many employees' most valuable asset other than their home. This fine book covers the waterfront of all of the important pension concepts and rules in an impressively understandable and readable manner. The reader should not be daunted or intimidated by the subject of pensions when this resource is available. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their retirement savings and well-being. This is one subject where it pays not to be a "dummy."

This book is a must read for anyone who is worried about retirement and the ins and outs of retirement plans. The information is extremely informative and invaluable. As a financial planner and long term company employee, this book answered the many questions and concerns regarding my 401k and pension benefits that my company corporate benefit department couldn't answer. It is an easy read and cuts through the legal "mumbo jumbo" to present information in a simple and understandable format. If "Knowledge is power" then this book will definately give you the power you need to be in control of your retirement plan and financial future. Anyone putting away money through a company retirement can't afford not to buy this book.

This book is a virtual Cliff's Notes for corporate executives and human resources professionals who must be able to answer questions and speak intelligently about corporate pension plans. The book is neither intimidating nor simplistic. It seems like a great resource for those who need to clearly understand pension plans, whether they are participants or professionals in the business world. I especially like the book's handy format, using icons which alert the reader to the importance of certain issues and information. If you or your spouse has a pension plan, this book can save you big money. Knowing your rights equals keeping more of your assets. You will learn how to make informed, insightful decisions. The only "dummies" regarding this book are those who don't read it.