A Dartmouth economist, working with colleagues from Harvard and MIT, has developed projections of future levels of retirement wealth to address what some analysts have called a “perfect storm” of events that threatens the retirement security of future retirees.

The average value of Americans’ 401(k) plans will be substantially higher in real terms by the year 2040 even if stock market returns fall short of their historical values, according to new research by a team of economists from MIT, Harvard and Dartmouth.

Fine print in the new Pension Protection Act passed last year is now coming to light. Much of what we heard is laced with new requirements, and many workers are going to get caught in a web of confusion if they relay on the basic new rules outlined by the press.