Financial Planning

• Social Security covers about 45% of pre-retirement income Are seniors savings enough? Chicago Federal Reserve
• People retire later if they understand Social Security better NBER
• Tax Benefits of 529 Plans Vary Widely Wall Street Journal
• Time spent selecting financial adviser can pay off USA Today

U.S. Economy

• After years of saving, shoppers treat themselves USA Today
• U.S. trade deficit totaled $43.5 billion in October, improving for fourth consecutive month. Chart:  St. Louis Federal Reserve

Europe

• S&P Puts 15 Eurozone Countries On Credit Watch NPR
• European Banks Go Crazy For The Greenback Planet Money
• European Central Bank Cuts Rates To Match Record Low NPR
• What The Economist was writing about the world economy in 1931 The Economist

Miscellaneous

• The unusual case of Green Bay Packers shares Financial Times Alphaville