Pension Policy

The Robert M. Ball-Lisle C. Carter Retirement Policy Institute is a new Pension Rights Center initiative that will focus on ensuring that the views of the consumers of retirement programs – employees, retirees and their family members – are fully represented in policy debates on issues that will affect their future economic security.

The Center is in the process of raising funds for the Institute from individuals, organizations and foundations. The Center’s Board of Directors voted to establish the Institute because, in the words of Board Chair Nancy Altman, “Too often decisions about highly complex issues such as the funding of pension plans, tax incentives for savings plans, and proposed modifications of Social Security are discussed solely among academics and special interest groups without input from affected individuals.” She notes that over the years, the PRC has demonstrated on an ad hoc basis that consumer input can “make all the difference” in the development of sound policies, but has lacked the resources to dedicate staff to ensure this input on a full-time basis.

The Institute has been named after two long-time PRC Board members, Robert M. Ball, former Social Security Commissioner, and Lisle C. Carter, former member of the President’s Commission on Pension Policy, two of the nation’s foremost retirement policy experts.