Many of us are concerned about the condition of our retirement savings after the roller coaster ride we have been on for the past two years. In 2008, Americans saw their retirement assets drop by 22 percent on average.
Fortunately, those folks who stayed the course saw their retirement assets jump back up by two trillion dollars, or 14 percent, largely driven by investment returns. Nearly two-thirds of America's retirement assets are held in employer-sponsored plans.
The financial crunch of 2008 has no doubt changed retirement plans for many Americans. The values in retirement accounts are rising slowly. If you have a short-time until retirement, a conservative investing approach is advised. Diversification is also very important.