For a growing number of Americans, retirement accounts are doing double duty as savings accounts for the future and emergency funds for the here and now. Vanguard Group says that 2023 saw early withdrawals from a record 3.6 percent of the 5 million accounts it administers, up from 2.8 percent in 2022. Roben Farzad, host of NPR’s "Full Disclosure" podcast, joins John Yang to discuss.
“Living beyond your means” is kind of an insidious term. It is true that if you can’t afford your food or rent you are living beyond your means, but the problem is that that phrase suggests it’s your own fault. There’s no consideration of the fact you might be working two jobs full time and still can’t afford a livable home.