National Dialogue Survey
Investing in Private Markets


Welcome to the Investing in Private Markets Survey of the National Dialogue on Social Security. Its purpose is to learn more about participants' views on options for reform of the Social Security system.

The requested demographic information will be used for statistical purposes only. Persons who have already registered for the National Dialogue need only enter the E-mail address they used when registering. If you have not yet registered for the National Dialogue, please complete all the requested fields. Thank you for completing the survey.


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A number of proposals to reform the Social Security system involve investing in stocks. There are two basic categories.

Under the first category, the Social Security system invests its reserve trust funds in stocks. This proposal aims to increase the funds available to the entire system to support the basic level of benefits.

Under the second category, the government helps fund individual retirement accounts that are managed by the government or the individuals themselves. This proposal supplements the existing system of benefits, attempting to increase individual retirement benefits. The individual accounts do not improve the funding for the systems basic level of benefits.

1. Which category of investment options, if any, do you favor?

Investment of Social Security's reserve trust funds in stocks to gain a higher return for the system
Creation of individual investment accounts to gain a higher return for individuals
Both
Neither
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Questions on investment of Social Security reserve trust funds:

2. If the Social Security system is allowed to invest its reserve funds in stocks, who should make the investment decisions?

Board of Trustees of the Social Security system. The Board is comprised of three ex officio members, i.e., the Secretaries of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services, and two members of the public appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress. Both public members may not be from the same political party.
An independent board appointed by the President and approved by Congress (similar to Federal Reserve Board). The terms of these members would be staggered to not coincide with the term of the President's tenure.
Other
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3. Do you believe there are some companies in which the Social Security system should not make investments (such as tobacco companies, gun manufacturers, or companies moving plants abroad)?
Yes
No
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Questions on individual investment accounts:

4. Would you be willing to accept a lower basic level of retirement benefits from Social Security in the future if you could invest a portion of your taxes in an individual investment account?

Yes
No
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5. If Congress established individual investment accounts, would you want to actively buy and sell stocks to make short-term profits or would you choose stocks to be held for the long-term?
Actively buy and sell for the short-term
Invest for the long-term
A little of both
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6. Investing in the stock market will be new for many Americans. Should the government provide educational programs to help individuals invest the funds in individual retirement accounts, or do you believe mutual funds and other major financial institutions will provide sufficient information?
Yes
No
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7. Do you believe that the costs of a system that allows individual management of private accounts will be significantly higher than a system in which the government manages the investment of funds?
Yes
No
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8. If your answer to the previous question is yes, do you believe the benefits to workers justify the additional costs?  
Yes
No
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9. Do you believe that the Social Security system should provide any protections (beyond the basic level of Social Security benefits) for people who lose money in individual retirement accounts?
Yes
No
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10. Other suggestions or comments:
     


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