Warren Buffett, who knows something about accumulating wealth, famously said, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” In other words, if you want a comfortable retirement—start saving early.
Many Americans follow Buffett’s advice by participating in a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. However, a recent analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that 30 million full-time employees do not have access to any kind of employer-based retirement benefit—and 13 percent of them live in one state: California. According to Pew’s research, only 51 percent of California employees have access to a workplace retirement plan, below the national average of 58 percent. And among all California workers regardless of access to a plan, only 44 percent participate.
Read the full editorial in The Sacramento Bee
Chris Hoene is executive director of the California Budget & Policy Center. John Scott directs the retirement savings project for The Pew Charitable Trusts.