If individuals take ownership of their jobs, have values, maintain a good work ethic and are loyal, success is inevitable. But working for one employer throughout a career is more a myth now than the historic norm. The average American changes jobs every five years, which doesn't allow for tenured retirement. This trend also doesn't provide much job security, meaning we may not have the opportunity to save later, especially if the economy changes. Many retired people are struggling on fixed incomes, in part because they relied solely on Social Security to provide their retirement earnings.
Some workers benefit from retirement plans provided in part by their employers.
If the cost of living continues to rise at the current rate, we'll need more than those programs to provide adequate income during our retirement years, especially if we want to maintain our preretirement lifestyles. More than half of the nation's elderly lived in poverty when Social Security was begun in 1935. Some believe that Social Security won't be around forever. No matter how old you are, it's time to take personal responsibility for your future, begin a retirement plan and stick to the program in order to be self-sufficient for a lifetime. Post your thoughts in The Public Forum.