Take Ownership of Your Retirement Before It's Too Late

The traditional defined-benefit pension plan was a key component of many Americans' compensation packages until the 1980s. Employees could be confident that the combination of pension and Social Security benefits could adequately see them through their golden years. Except for certain public sector professions, such as police, firefighters and teachers, for most employees, pensions have gone the way of the typewriter.

Retirement is no longer about reaching an arbitrary age and calling it quits. It's about retiring once you're financially prepared for the years ahead. To retire without the fear of running out of money, younger workers need to actively consider their retirement savings plans for decades leading up to retirement.

Most Americans put some funds aside in pre-tax accounts and should be inclined