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Retirement Leader Calls for Action to Improve Retirement Readiness
[May 08, 2014]

Retirement Leader Calls for Action to Improve Retirement Readiness


DES MOINES, Iowa --(Business Wire)--

The current defined contribution system offers a solid foundation for retirement success, but key stakeholders must do their part to ensure a path to financial security in later years. That's according to Dan Houston, president of retirement, insurance and financial services at the Principal Financial Group®, who asserts his views in a new book on aging.

Houston, a 30-year veteran of the retirement industry, is one of 16 thought leaders contributing chapters to The Upside of Aging: How Long Life is Changing the World of Health, Work, Innovation, Policy and Purpose. The authors offer new ways to think about the critical implications of the aging global population; focusing on the opportunities and significant potential of a "massive demographic shift (that is) changing our world."

In Houston's chapter, "Financial Security: Longevity Changes Everything" he focuses on the challenges of funding what he calls the "new retirement"-an age of discovery and exploration that could last 20, 30 even 40 years.

"This may be the first time in history where someone spends more years in retirement than a traditional working career. But those longer lifespans come with a substantial cost," said Houston. "Armed with the right savings vehicles, sound guidance and self-discipline, today's worker can ensure that aging is a time of fulfillment as opposed o one of financial stress."



Calls for action
Houston believes over the next two decades, 90 percent of workers can be on track for a secure retirement but recognizes it will take action by workers, employers, financial professionals, investment managers, plan service providers and policy makers. He outlines specific actions, highlighting the benefits to each of the stakeholders of an aging generation that is financially independent.

"Ensuring financial well-being in later years not only benefits individuals, but also the economy and society as a whole," said Houston. "We are all better off when our experienced elders have the financial freedom to continue contributing as mentors, entrepreneurs and community advocates."


The Upside of Aging, published by Wiley, is available on Amazon.com (News - Alert). Read an excerpt from the book and Houston's blog on the topic.

Houston is called on frequently as an expert on retirement savings issues. He has appeared before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to discuss the importance of educating the workforce about financial needs in retirement. Houston also joined the joint forum of U.S. Senate Committees on Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to discuss "Private-Sector Retirement Savings Plans: What Does the Future Hold?" Houston is a frequent contributor to The Principal Blog.

For more research, analysis and insights, visit The Principal Knowledge Center and connect with us on Twitter.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal Financial Group has $495.5 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.2 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2 As of March 31, 2014.


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