Reader Responses February 27, 2017

SURVEY SAYS: Most-Anticipated Daily Activity

Every day I look forward to the evenings when I can spend time reading or watching a good show.
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Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Which activity in your daily routine do you look forward to the most?”

Less than 2% selected ‘eating supper;’ 2.9% said the commute from work; 4.3% chose ‘time in the morning to read, watch the news and/or drink coffee;’ and 5.8% said play with and/or walking my pet. Slightly more than 7% selected ‘spending time with my children;’ 8.7% said going to sleep; and 11.6% chose ‘reading.’

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‘Exercising’ was selected by 15.9% of responding readers, and ‘watching TV’ was selected by 13%.

More readers chose ‘other’ than anything on the list (29%). Most of those responses were a combination of or variation of things on the list.

“Other’ responses included:

  • Reading bedtime stories to my sweet granddaughter. Time with her is the highlight of each day!
  • Unwinding at the end of the day by making dinner and drinks with my spouse, then catching up on one of our favorite TV shows
  • I look forward to 9:00PM, for that when I make my Black Russian and sit and watch a show on TV.
  • Listening to audiobooks on the commute to/from work
  • Gym on Tuesdays, bowling league on Wednesdays
  • Crocheting while watching something interesting on the Roku service.
  • The kids are grown and I don’t have a pet so those options are out. I try to reserve an hour for myself in the evenings. I usually spend it on my iPad — often reading on the Kindle app, but sometimes playing games or checking Facebook (time to catch up on kids and grandkids).
  • Nothing
  • A bit of time for a game (bejeweled) on Facebook and reading posts and news
  • Spending the evening with my husband.
  • Cooking dinner
  • All of the above are surely better than the alternative, eh.
  • Besides reading NewsDash, phone call from my son on his evening commute.
  • Heading up to bed to read my Kindle before going to sleep.
  • Climbing into a warm cozy bed.
  • The commute home from work on the train. Me time without the driving stress.
  • Spending time with my spouse
  • I enjoy any time at home, whether it is lounging (read, TV, puzzles) or doing projects (cleaning, organizing).
  • My after-work cocktail on the deck
  • Practicing Piano

In verbatim comments, the majority of readers stressed how important it is to destress and unwind. Many described how their most-anticipated daily activity makes them feel. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who reminded me of the part of the day I most anticipated when my children weren’t grown: “Specifically, the moment I pick my kids up each day. They’re (usually) so happy to see me and so excited to tell me about their day. All of my worries are temporarily suspended.” 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

The dogs are the highlight of my day! <3 Especially on days when I have time to work them on sheep (herding.)

Specifically, the moment I pick my kids up each day. They're (usually) so happy to see me and so excited to tell me about their day. All of my worries are temporarily suspended.

Listening to audiobooks on the commute to/from work is my idea of multi-tasking.

Walking out the front door of the office elicits such a sense of freedom; the 40 minute drive home listening to music further calms my mind and body. To open the gate of my front garden I am truly happy to be home where my husband and daughter await leaving all that is my working career behind.

Really it's what you can fit in around work. I would love to sleep, love to read, but work comes first in our society.

This question caused me to really think. I can't come up with any activity in my daily routine that I look forward to. I do what I'm supposed to do. Get up, go to work, eat, read, sleep, repeat.

When I can go for a good run after work,that will wipe a stressful day from my mind!

I like the creativity of making a meal. Not every night, mind you, but 3 to 4 times a week....

TV, meh. Can't believe how much I'm paying to watch programs I saw for free while growing up.

I live for the weekends - just so I can sleep in!

Every moment we are awake, we are bombarded with stimuli. It is nice to recline, close our eyes and let sleep rejuvenate our bodies, mind and soul.

There's more than one thing that I look forward to each day.

I'm retired, so my daily routine is pretty much routine.

By reading, I mean an actual book, not a screen. I like the feel of a book in my hands and turning physical pages.

Need my time early every morning in the office to read WSJ and drink coffee before the deluge starts all over again.

Spending time with my kids when it doesn't involve homework 🙂

Going to the gym after work allows me time to decompress from the day so I enjoy my evenings more.

It's great to get home (or stay home) and put on sweats to do whatever I please!

Tough choice between reading and watching tv. But tv wins out as I think back to last night & how much I enjoyed watching the Syracuse/Duke basketball game. On those nights when there is a favorite sports team or an episode of a engaging tv show on, I look forward to watching tv and forgetting about the routine and stress of my day.

My commute is so tiring that eating dinner and sleeping are my only activities during the week

I turn off all electronic devises and read Brain Candy or something Spiritual before bed. Reading helps me turn the events of today and tomorrow off, and promotes relaxation.

I started taking piano lessons at the age of 57. I really look forward to the hour that I spend each evening at the piano. It seems so much more productive than sitting in front of the TV listening to everyone's opinions about the things happening in the world today!

After exercising, coming home for dinner and then read the paper.

NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.
Data and Research February 24, 2017

ICI Research Highlights Broad Support for DC Plans

Among retirement account-owning households expressing an opinion, nearly all have favorable opinions of 401(k) and similar retirement accounts.

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Nearly all U.S. households with defined contribution (DC) retirement plan accounts agree that “it is important to have choice in, and control of, the investments in their retirement accounts,” according to a new survey released by the Investment Company Institute (ICI).

A study breaking down the survey findings, “American Views on Defined Contribution Plan Saving,” reports that U.S. households “strongly favor preserving retirement account features and flexibility.” For example, the vast majority (89%) of all households disagree with the statement that the “government should take away the tax advantages of DC accounts,” and 90% “disagree with the idea of reducing the amount that individuals can contribute to DC accounts.”

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“Even among households that do not own DC accounts or individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 82% reject the idea of taking away the tax treatment of DC accounts,” says ICI President and CEO Paul Schott Stevens. “Our research shows, time and again, that Americans strongly support keeping tax incentives for retirement saving because those incentives are critical in promoting plan participation and contributions.”

According to ICI data, Americans “also resist suggestions to change individual investment control in DC accounts.” Nine out of 10 agree that retirees “should be able to make their own decisions about how to manage retirement assets and income.” Nearly the same number “disagree with investing all retirement accounts in an investment option selected by a government-appointed board of experts.”

“Nearly eight out of 10 households disagree that retirees should be required to trade a portion of their retirement accounts for a fair contract promising them income for life,” the study points out.

NEXT: Once committed, savers stick to it  

“Our survey demonstrates that DC plan participants appreciate the opportunity to save from every paycheck, as well as the tax treatment for their retirement nest egg that a 401(k) plan offers,” agrees Sarah Holden, ICI’s senior director for retirement and investor research. “DC plan participants’ overall support for maintaining investment control is strong, and they typically agree that their DC plans offer a good lineup of investment options.”

The ICI research shows that among retirement account-owning households expressing an opinion, nearly all (94%) “have favorable opinions of 401(k) and similar retirement accounts.”

Related to this, 90% of DC account-owning households “agree that employer-sponsored retirement accounts help them think about the long term, not just my current needs,” and 91% agree that payroll deduction “makes it easier for me to save.”

“These top-line results are similar to previous survey results, with responses varying little across age and income groups,” ICI notes.

Other findings suggest there is some concern that DC accounts, while highly valuable, may not be totally effective as lifetime retirement income vehicles. In fact, it is only 82% of those who own DC accounts or IRAs who believe such accounts will actually “help the individual achieve their retirement goals.” This figure drops to 63% among households that do not own a DC account or IRA.

The full study is available for download here. 

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