General Discussion

Music Man

(1,664 posts)

56. I'm a millennial public school teacher.

Thu Jul 6, 2017, 02:38 AM

Jul 2017

Fortunately, I have a teacher's pension, and it is a good feeling to know that I have something steady to look forward to. Pensions have been falling by the wayside since the emergence of 401(K)'s in the '80s, when EVERYTHING was starting to be privatized.

On the other hand, our state's legislature (Kentucky) has not been fully funding the teacher's retirement account for a decade now, and it's become a manufactured crisis. Some states have switched their teacher and public employee accounts to defined contribution systems, often to disastrous results. West Virginia did so in the '90s before ultimately switching back to a defined benefit plan for their teachers.

Just imagine how much worse the pain of 2008 would have been if Bush had had his way in 2005 and privatized Social Security. Politics matters.

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Where did baby boomers go wrong? This generation isn't financially prepared for retirement [View all] Zorro Jul 2017 OP

We'll do fine. greymattermom Jul 2017 #1

I won't drop my standards. It's a mobile home or Hortensis Jul 2017 #74

Inflation, cost of healthcare, eroded wages leftstreet Jul 2017 #2

Pensions also vanished starting in the 1980s DBoon Jul 2017 #127

You do get that many baby boomers lost their pensions right? Demsrule86 Jul 2017 #3

That is what happened to me. leftyladyfrommo Jul 2017 #6

You own those poor decisions. It's your fault. tazkcmo Jul 2017 #33

Yea. That job choice in my 20's set the stage for failure. leftyladyfrommo Jul 2017 #49

And most of them get away scot-free and take their money with them. Same for CEOs that rape RKP5637 Jul 2017 #77

lost our house DiverDave Jul 2017 #155

We almost lost our house too...we did lose a pension but fought for a lesser buyout...lost our kids Demsrule86 Jul 2017 #183

And life doesn't go according to plan GP6971 Jul 2017 #36

I did everything right. leftyladyfrommo Jul 2017 #85

"My ambitions have come to nothing... DBoon Jul 2017 #128

+1,000 !! CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #139

Exactly Zoonart Jul 2017 #9

Sad CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #140

Add the devaluation of several currencies malaise Jul 2017 #13

"lost" maybe..."stolen"..oh, yes! dixiegrrrrl Jul 2017 #41

Well said!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2017 #79

Many of us never had pensions. greatauntoftriplets Jul 2017 #107

That is true also...first generation to be offered 401K's instead of pensions...the 2008 Demsrule86 Jul 2017 #110

When you look at how incomes have failed to keep up ... surrealAmerican Jul 2017 #4

Don't worry, they will just steal it from their children and grandchildren! AngryAmish Jul 2017 #5

Once their children and grandchildren move out of their houses. Nt NCTraveler Jul 2017 #7

Bingo Hekate Jul 2017 #14

They'd move out sooner if they had decent jobs. white_wolf Jul 2017 #22

I find even faint criticism of Boomers BannonsLiver Jul 2017 #35

and less student loan debt... sfwriter Jul 2017 #38

My response was lighthearted at the other poster. NCTraveler Jul 2017 #63

My apologies. white_wolf Jul 2017 #114

Traditionally, old people lived with their children treestar Jul 2017 #68

And you know how well that worked out Warpy Jul 2017 #141

In the old days, people had to work till they dropped. Kaleva Jul 2017 #8

My parents had a pension from my father's employment. Hamlette Jul 2017 #40

My parents, grandparents, great-grandparents never had a pension. Kaleva Jul 2017 #61

Mine either. Skidmore Jul 2017 #148

My dad worked for the same company for 40 years. Had a full pension and full health coverage. RKP5637 Jul 2017 #81

You say that... tonedevil Jul 2017 #54

Has any generation adequately saved for retirement? Kaleva Jul 2017 #62

I Am A Young Boomer RobinA Jul 2017 #80

What was your industry/job? Kilgore Jul 2017 #103

Industries/Jobs RobinA Jul 2017 #118

This message was self-deleted by its author shanti Jul 2017 #159

My parents, grandparents and greatparents lived on Social Security Kaleva Jul 2017 #113

Liberals went out of power in 1969, which is when many older Boomers Warpy Jul 2017 #10

Since Reagan, the federal tax code, laws and legislation have favored the wealthy Bluepinky Jul 2017 #34

word. nt TheFrenchRazor Jul 2017 #51

I fit in this bucket! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2017 #84

Ah, the personal finance industry - HughBeaumont Jul 2017 #104

"We were robbed. And so are you." Wait a minute. Boomers have held significant political power RadiationTherapy Jul 2017 #111

A statistical norm is not disproven by a few outliers Warpy Jul 2017 #120

Obviously, Boomers were "consulted" about "the running of the country" every local and RadiationTherapy Jul 2017 #163

You mean like YOU ARE? Warpy Jul 2017 #165

I have to have a "big fix" just to point out that passive, defeatist language RadiationTherapy Jul 2017 #166

Ah, Grasshopper, you refer to the 1%, do you not? Hekate Jul 2017 #124

"Grasshopper"?? Like I'm a student and you're a master? RadiationTherapy Jul 2017 #162

Oh Wise One, the 1% has been fucking us all over for some time now. Hekate Jul 2017 #164

I'm not really into titles. RadiationTherapy Jul 2017 #167

Remember when Bethlehem Steel went bankrupt and zeroed out the pension fund? No? Hekate Jul 2017 #11

That started with ST. Ronnie. Prior to RR pension plans were considered a liability. doc03 Jul 2017 #30

I am a GenXer but I remember Bethlehem Steel and many others screwing workers out of their anneboleyn Jul 2017 #44

We "effing" elected Ray-gun maxrandb Jul 2017 #12

"Reagan Democrats" came from my father's---the "Greatest"---generation. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #16

Baby boomers would not have done that alone treestar Jul 2017 #69

Here's my standard reply to those who think we had, and have, it made. TIME, May 1971, my class: WinkyDink Jul 2017 #15

I Graduated RobinA Jul 2017 #83

My first, and career-long, teaching job (finally acquired in a mid-year!) paid $6,700/annum. $6,700. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #88

my first job as a lawyer paid $16,500 per year. inflation counts for much of that. n/t Hamlette Jul 2017 #125

We were, then my husband got sick. Now were not. Luz Jul 2017 #17

Well, first, I had to take care of my aging father. hamsterjill Jul 2017 #18

I just retired last Friday calguy Jul 2017 #19

I think so too, though its mostly due to frugality and good fortune bhikkhu Jul 2017 #25

america's corporations and wall street looted and stole the retirement $$ in 2007 - 2008 nt msongs Jul 2017 #20

Being laid off in 2009 wiped me out nini Jul 2017 #21

The only reason we will be okay is that we were lucky enough to have phylny Jul 2017 #23

I will be paying off my student loan until the day I die. smirkymonkey Jul 2017 #24

If you are on an income based repayment plan, you should be eligible for loan forgiveness mythology Jul 2017 #32

It's grad school loans. smirkymonkey Jul 2017 #46

In short what happened was wages used to rise with Productivity... bagelsforbreakfast Jul 2017 #26

I wish I could rec every post here catrose Jul 2017 #27

No more unions in the private sector and lost power in public ghostsinthemachine Jul 2017 #28

We lost over half of our 401K samplegirl Jul 2017 #29

Yes. The "normal" annual stock market rate of return was 7-8%. While Bush was in office, it averaged spooky3 Jul 2017 #37

You have that right CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #133

Huh?!1 Us Boomers are *over* & living our lives. What's with this?!1 I'd think the next gens UTUSN Jul 2017 #31

We made advertising self aware. Initech Jul 2017 #39

That and hey, you get to do all of this . . . HughBeaumont Jul 2017 #99

Yup - rack up the debt and then you're fired! Initech Jul 2017 #108

Modern advertising uses methods perfected by the Nazis Rollo Jul 2017 #146

These are the most annoying advertisements right now: Initech Jul 2017 #152

Haven't heard that one yet... Rollo Jul 2017 #160

we got lucky RussBLib Jul 2017 #42

So has my IRA but that's the problem............ Bengus81 Jul 2017 #71

I'm Going To Disagree A Bit With That ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #75

The end of guaranteed pensions. Most boomers AJT Jul 2017 #43

Yes, And I Believe RobinA Jul 2017 #86

This is precisely the deal PA Dem. Gov. Wolf has struck, re: Public School pensions. Into 401Ks. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #89

People don't work for one company for 40 years anymore MichMan Jul 2017 #173

In Australia your pension follows you from job AJT Jul 2017 #174

"We recommend saving $1,025,478 at retirement." BeyondGeography Jul 2017 #45

Everybody has a story. The_jackalope Jul 2017 #47

Boomer bashing is fun, isn't it? SammyWinstonJack Jul 2017 #98

Right. And unlike so-called hippie bashing, around here it's occasionally quite real. Hekate Jul 2017 #122

But like hippie bashing, it discredits the accomplishments of boomer DBoon Jul 2017 #130

Republicans. L. Coyote Jul 2017 #48

Hey, Zorro, did you read Jackalope's post? Hekate Jul 2017 #50

I posted an article about the unpreparedness of many boomers for retirement Zorro Jul 2017 #90

Insert long and thoughtful reply here, unfortunately eaten by my iPad before I could post... Hekate Jul 2017 #121

And it wouldn't hurt you to limit your comments to the topic at hand Zorro Jul 2017 #143

the rules changed, with no real education Skittles Jul 2017 #52

Because of a disconcerted effort to get rid of pensions and push 401k. AgadorSparticus Jul 2017 #53

Don't lump all baby boomers together radical noodle Jul 2017 #55

Agreed. We are in the same boat. Hamlette Jul 2017 #126

I'm a millennial public school teacher. Music Man Jul 2017 #56

PA just made that switch. A Democratic Governor has betrayed us. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #92

50% of Americans have NO retirement savings whatsoever. stopbush Jul 2017 #57

They trusted somebody over thirty? Tactical Peek Jul 2017 #58

I still don't. (I'm 67.) WinkyDink Jul 2017 #91

Less than a year away from full retirement age here... Rollo Jul 2017 #59

My husband was always driven to save. We will reap the benefits of his discipline. n/t phylny Jul 2017 #137

A lot of us saw working off the grid as a good idea. tirebiter Jul 2017 #60

I live in an east coast city. Employment is not a problem, though it is difficult for older people Squinch Jul 2017 #64

Where did boomers go wrong? Where did all the money go? Sancho Jul 2017 #65

They didn't. The generation treestar Jul 2017 #66

We lost big chunks of retirement in 1987, Ilsa Jul 2017 #67

Wages have been stagnant for decades and the cost of living has gone up significantly. Vinca Jul 2017 #70

Good grief. Skidmore Jul 2017 #72

Gee...Reagan,Union BUSTING,pensions gone POOF for starters.... Bengus81 Jul 2017 #73

I blame the Millennials Orrex Jul 2017 #76

this. Joe941 Jul 2017 #87

"Wrong"? kentuck Jul 2017 #78

There was that liitle thing called "Vietnam," with oh, about 55,000 dead Baby Boomers. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #94

As compared to those little things called WWI and WWII? kentuck Jul 2017 #95

Those generations aren't doing the griping now, though, are they? No; it's the scot-free AFTER- WinkyDink Jul 2017 #100

The generational jackpot winners were too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam BeyondGeography Jul 2017 #102

Well, I'm prepared. cwydro Jul 2017 #82

Here's my two cents. Baitball Blogger Jul 2017 #93

The disappearance of pensions is a big reason TexasBushwhacker Jul 2017 #96

And those poor people who bought when the market leftyladyfrommo Jul 2017 #151

And with interest rates going up, it will heat up again TexasBushwhacker Jul 2017 #158

Why do these economist asshole insist on blaming individuals for systemic market failures? killbotfactory Jul 2017 #97

Because that's the Big Lie promulgated by well-off and smug Republicans. WinkyDink Jul 2017 #101

The ole blame the victim. Solves all the problems. Canoe52 Jul 2017 #109

Thank you. nt raccoon Jul 2017 #123

Loss of pensions, benefits, job security, steep increase in the cost of living, medical care... (nt) ehrnst Jul 2017 #105

we were lucky enough to start saving early so we are very well set... samnsara Jul 2017 #106

Lack of education about money Johnny2X2X Jul 2017 #112

I First Ran Into RobinA Jul 2017 #116

I saved nini Jul 2017 #117

Life happens, we need more support Johnny2X2X Jul 2017 #119

I agree that people should plan for that rainy day more than do nini Jul 2017 #149

It is kind of difficult to save CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #138

I keep saying this! Financial planning is KEY to a secure life. Honeycombe8 Jul 2017 #142

Sorry but it's not rare. inanna Jul 2017 #168

Simply not true anymore Johnny2X2X Jul 2017 #169

Deadhead stickers on cadillacs loyalsister Jul 2017 #115

Don't forget "Beverly Hillbillies" and "Gilligan's Island" JustABozoOnThisBus Jul 2017 #129

Two Deadheads that have or had Cadillacs CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #135

Lack of pension bhcodem Jul 2017 #131

The IRA CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #132

You're so young, though. Your income will grow with the years... Honeycombe8 Jul 2017 #144

It is too late already CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #154

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. There is always Social Security as a safety net, & Medicare. Honeycombe8 Jul 2017 #156

I am on SSDI CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #157

+1. I see. Honeycombe8 Jul 2017 #170

The boomers I know are caught between thucythucy Jul 2017 #134

+1,000 !! CountAllVotes Jul 2017 #136

"Here's how a janitor amassed an $8M fortune" Honeycombe8 Jul 2017 #145

The key to a happy retirement... Rollo Jul 2017 #147

Now why, do you suppose, would Marketwatch publish such an article? janx Jul 2017 #150

5 words - Ronald Reagan, Trickle Down Economics walkingman Jul 2017 #153

Plan D: Reverse mortgage Rollo Jul 2017 #161

Unfettered capitalism betrayed them, and all of us. alarimer Jul 2017 #171

I wonder what the average income would have to be to achieve those results? Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2017 #172

Here are some possibilities why Wolf Frankula Jul 2017 #175

Stagflation...I'm swooning catrose Jul 2017 #178

The rules changed on us. Eom pirateshipdude Jul 2017 #176

Not our fault. no_hypocrisy Jul 2017 #177

Reagan left office nearly 30 years ago MichMan Jul 2017 #179

I respectfully disagree. no_hypocrisy Jul 2017 #180

How was Reagan able to pass everything? MichMan Jul 2017 #181

Even though the House and Senate were democratic, no_hypocrisy Jul 2017 #182

That's what you get with incompetent leadership NobodyHere Jul 2017 #184