Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers appointed UW–Madison Professor J. Michael Collins as a public member of the Governor’s Task Force on Retirement Security. The task force will study issues facing the growing number of retired people in Wisconsin, particularly the amount of money they have saved.

Twelve scholars from across the United States participated in a week-long intensive workshop in June hosted by UW–Madison’s Center for Financial Security Retirement and Disability Research Center with support from Howard University’s Center on Race and Wealth.

The Center for Financial Security Retirement and Disability Research Center (CFS RDRC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison received a second year of funding from the US Social Security Administration (SSA). One of just four RDRCs in the country supported by SSA, UW–Madison’s is the only one focusing on the financial well-being of economically vulnerable families, older people, people with disabilities, low-wealth households, and children.

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved the promotion of UW–Madison faculty member J. Michael Collins to full professor at its June meeting.

In response to increasing out-of-pocket medical costs, Professor J. Michael Collins brought together various stakeholders May 16 to discuss the intersection of healthcare and financial capability. The workshop, Managing Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses: How Well are Families Prepared for a World of High Deductibles, highlighted Collins’ survey of public employees with health plans through the Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds (ETF).

Building on the strengths of its affiliates and partners, the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been awarded a five-year cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration's Retirement and Disability Research Consortium. La Follette School Associate Professor J. Michael Collins is the center’s director.