To get back to 50-50 that fast, five of the next seven would have to be heads. You can't count on 11 percent a year. You could suffer a devastating downturn on the eve of retirement, and not enjoy significant gains again for the rest of your life. There are, fortunately, some ways to improve the odds of remaining financially sound, ranging from the simple to the more exotic. Have a plan.
Many investors simply reach for the biggest returns they can get.
With a good plan that pins down your future financial requirements, you can figure the rate of return it will take to get there at your savings level. If 8 percent returns will do it, you don't need to take the risks involved in reaching for 12 percent. Save more, save longer. A slight increase in the amount saved every month can give you a much bigger nest egg in the end. You can get the same result by saving longer - by starting earlier or putting off retirement a few years.