A bill sponsored by five Democratic senators seeks to authorize a 50% annual government match on up to $1,000 invested in a 401(k), IRA, 403(b) or 457(b) government retirement savings plan. If enacted into law, the Encouraging Americans to Save Act would also make the match available to participants in state and local government retirement programs such as OregonSaves.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the Whistleblower received 5,282 reports in fiscal 2018, an 18% increase compared with fiscal 2017, according to an SEC report to Congress. The agency paid $168 million to 13 whistleblowers in fiscal 2018, up from almost $50 million to 12 individuals in fiscal 2017.

One important factor in clients ensuring their retirement security is "empowering their kids to live financially fulfilling and independent lives," writes Greg Powell of Fi Plan Partners. He offers four tips on this topic for advisors to pass on to their clients.

David Lenok uses characters from Stan Lee's Marvel Universe to discuss issues surrounding elder planning and abuse. Lessons include the importance of guardianship decisions and leveraging technology to improve the lives of elderly clients.

After the US Labor Department proposed its fiduciary rule in 2015, brokers' sales of funds paying "unusually high excess loads" declined, according to a report from Morningstar. "This reduction in the distortionary effect of conflicted payments suggests that firms put in place effective policies and procedures to mitigate conflicts of interest in response to" the rule, the report said.

Despite a strong economy, Americans' confidence about retirement has declined, according to a survey from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and Heart + Mind Strategies. More than 60% of survey respondents said it is more difficult to retire on time now than it was five years ago.

Societal taboos are part of the reason women have less retirement savings than men, argues Marguerita Cheng of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. Cheng discusses the idea of "money silence," saying it "prevents women from discussing money matters."

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