The White House fact-sheet

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The White House fact-sheet on the “participants” in the North Carolina Bamboozlepalooza event <$NoAd$>…

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CONVERSATION PARTICIPANTS

Andrew Biggs, Associate Commissioner for Retirement Policy, Social Security Administration (Washington, D.C.)

Andrew was appointed to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2003. Before joining SSA, he served as a staff member for the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services, a Social Security analyst at the Cato Institute, and a staff member on the Commission to Strengthen Social Security. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, a Master’s from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Dawn Baldwin, Teacher, Lenoir Community College (Merritt, North Carolina)

Dawn teaches English at Lenoir Community College in Kinston, North Carolina. She recently purchased her first home in October 2004 and will move into her new home in the next four to six weeks when construction is complete. Dawn has a 401(k) plan through Lenoir Community College and is looking to open an IRA, but Social Security will play an important role in her retirement. Dawn is concerned about the future of Social Security for herself and her son. She says that personal retirement accounts would make her feel as if she had an important role in her own retirement. She wants Social Security reform to happen sooner rather than later so that her son can rely on Social Security.

Noel Council, Retired Senior (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Noel worked as a senior designer for IBM in Raleigh for over 31 years. His wife, Ruth, is a retired nurse. Noel’s retirement income is comprised of his pension from IBM – a tax-deferred savings plan that he started at IBM and now is managed by Merrill Lynch – and Social Security. He says that Social Security is an important part of his retirement income. Noel would like to see his children and grandchildren receive the benefits of Social Security that he and Ruth have seen. He likes the idea of personal retirement accounts because they give the individual more control and ownership.

Cyndi Godfrey, Corporate Communications Manager, Godfrey Lumber Company, Inc.

(Statesville, North Carolina)

Cyndi’s husband, William, and his three brothers own and operate a third-generation lumber company, Godfrey Lumber Company, Inc., which was started by the brothers’ father. Godfrey Lumber has approximately 80 employees. Cyndi works in Corporate Communications at Godfrey Lumber. Cyndi and William are planning for their retirement through their Roth IRAs and a profit-sharing plan. They would like to do more personal investing in preparation for their retirement because they are uncertain of the future of Social Security. Cyndi likes the idea of personal retirement accounts because she feels that they would put her in the driver’s seat when planning her own retirement. She also believes that personal retirement accounts would be beneficial to her employees because they would be part of a system that is updated for this generation.

Matthew “Skip” Long, President and CEO, National Jobs Partnership (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Skip is the President and CEO of National Jobs Partnership, a company that equips churches and faith-based organizations to provide job training and support enabling individuals to secure meaningful employment. He is a former associate pastor at Raleigh Mennonite Church. He is on the leadership team of Christ Our King Community Church in Raleigh. Skip says that ownership is very important to minority communities, and personal retirement accounts would put the individual in control of his or her own retirement. He says that this empowerment regains hope in people’s lives. He also likes that a personal retirement account could be left for future generations because when both of his parents passed away, the money that had been put into Social Security through all their years of work just disappeared. He says that it is important to him to be able to leave a legacy for his children.

Participant #1 is interesting …

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