PPI Reports on Financial Services
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A First Look at Older Americans and the Mortgage Crisis
This first-ever analysis of mortgage data by age shows that older Americans have been significantly impacted by the mortgage crisis, with more than 684,000 homeowners age 50+ in delinquency or foreclosure during July-December 2007, according to this Insight on the Issues by Alison Shelton of AARP’s Public Policy Institute. (6 pages)
September 18, 2008
By: Alison Shelton, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
The Deathcare Industry
Major changes are taking place in the funeral and burial industries. How federal and state regulators are responding to the deathcare industry's ongoing transformation are reported in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sharon Hermanson (8 pages)
May 1, 2000
By: Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
FYI: The Subprime Market: Wealth Building or Wealth Stripping for Older Person
While the “democratization of credit” has led to record numbers of Americans reaching the American dream of homeownership, there is growing evidence that many borrowers are now being sold products that strip, not build, home equity and household wealth. In this AARP Public Policy Institute FYI report, Sharon Hermanson discusses ethnic background lending disparities, predatory loan practices, and increasing foreclosure rates. (4 pages)
June 30, 2007
By: Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Older Consumers’ Attitudes Toward The Use of Credit Scores
How much do people know about credit scores? Older persons are much less likely (39 percent) than younger persons (67 percent) to be familiar with credit scores, according to this Data Digest by Sharon Hermanson and Ann Jackson of the AARP Public Policy Institute. (6 pages)
July 31, 2005
By: Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ann McLarty Jackson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Experiences of Older Refinance Mortgage Loan Borrowers: Broker- and Lender-Originated Loans
Older refinance borrowers with broker-originated loans are much more likely to report that they did not initiate the contact about the loan, relied more on the broker than borrowers with lender-originated loans, and are more likely to have received loans with less favorable terms. An AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Kellie Kim-Sung and Sharon Hermanson. (4 pages)
January 1, 2003
By: Kellie Kim-Sung, AARP Public Policy Institute; Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Older Subprime Refinance Mortgage Borrowers
Key findings from a national study of the experiences of older prime and subprime refinance mortgage borrowers are detailed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Neal Walters and Sharon Hermanson. (4 pages)
July 1, 2002
By: Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute; Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Home Loan Protection Act: A Model State Statute
This AARP Public Policy Institute model state statute designed to protect consumers from abusive mortgage lending practices was written by Mike Calhoun of the Self-Help Credit Union and Margot Saunders, Elizabeth Renuart and Mark Benson of the National Consumer Law Center. (31 pages)
November 1, 2001
By: Mike Calhoun, Attorney, Self-Help Credit Union; Margot Saunders, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center; Elizabeth Renuart, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center; Mark Benson, National Consumer Law Center; Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Self-Help Credit Union; National Consumer Law Center
The Alternative Financial Services Industry
An overview of the growing array of financial services (such as check-cashing outlets, payday lenders, pawn brokers, rent-to-own stores, subprime mortgage lenders) that are a major credit and banking source for low-income and working poor consumers. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief, Sharon Hermanson and George Gaberlavage discuss the industry's growth and address policy issues that affect consumers. (16 pages)
August 1, 2001
By: Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute; George Gaberlavage, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Credit Scores and Mortgage Lending
Credit scores are numbers calculated to measure the risk of delinquency or default posed by an individual seeking credit. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief, Neal Walters and Sharon Hermanson describe the important role credit scores play in mortgage lending and discuss policy issues associated with their increased use. (8 pages)
August 1, 2001
By: Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute; Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Risk Preferences and the Investment Decisions of Older Americans
The impact that attitudes toward risk have on individual and household investment decisions of people age 51 to 61 is explored by Vickie Bajtelsmit and Alexandra Bernasek of Colorado State University in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper. (62 pages)
June 1, 2001
By: Vickie L. Bajtelsmit, Colorado State University; Alexandra Bernasek, Colorado State University;
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
JOIN US!! December 11, 2009
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Join us for a discussion of how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and learn what European nations are doing as well.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
