How Long Will It Take Your Nest Egg to Recover?

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The one thing you can never buy back is time and good health. I choose to sacrifice some luxuries now to accelerate time to retire. It's all a race to an unknown end. Focus on meeting the basics of food, shelter, and clothing. You then have the flexibility to go over and above that. Good luck to all!

Mike of CA 5:43AM May 22, 2009

My theory is to retire early. There are many things I want to do right now that require good health and I have witnessed so many people waiting to retire when they are 65 or older. Very few of them have limited desires for active activities. So, why not retire early, enjoy biking,hiking, and other things while a person still can and desires too..? I can always go back to work when I'm 65...

Bill of IA 9:27AM May 15, 2009

I am planning on retirement next summer and will be 56. My company has full health benefits after retirement which may be in jeapordy with the uncertain economic conditions of today. Were planning on spending our winters somewhere warm. I expect to work part time for a few years after I retire.

Bill of IA 9:22AM May 15, 2009

Look folks, no one gave you a retirement right when you were born. You were given your talents and the opportunity to use them. Some people never want to retire. Some never want to work. If you want retirement, then do WHATEVER it takes to make your wish come true. If you don't have any money become a hobo. If you want healthcare, then which is more important: retirement or healthcare? I retired two-and-a-half years ago, and if I have to I will go back to work doing anything I can find to give me the money I need to keep going. And lastly, if I can't do it, then I'll just work until I die. So be it. The one most important thing to remember is that even a poor American is rich compared to about 80 percent of the world. Be Happy!

kegler299 of TN 7:31PM May 14, 2009

I agree with JB. There needs to be some kind of help for those of us who have worked our entire lives--- via college or not-- to retire some day-- bang and now were out! SS is a joke and I'm not saying it has to support us(SS) but none of us saw this herendous downfall coming. Putting all our hard earned money for retirement in stocks an bonds and then have it blown away! To be truthful most won't see retirement if they(we) have to work beyond the retirement age just to catch up. For what? To be put in a home to wilt away and never be heard from again. Believe me I work in a LTCU and it's devastating!! There needs to be some type of compensation for us especially when you're let go from a job of 16 years, finally find another which is casual to part-time sometimes with NO BENEFITS and you see NOTHING coming along in the future. To be truthful I'll be dead along with how many others!!!! There is no retirement anymore. Wise up Washington!

MKKrueger of MI 3:56PM May 14, 2009

My husband lost his job of 31 yrs, pushed out the door into early retirement, whether he wanted to or not. We just aren't ready money wise, so I Guess we are just screwed

Diane of KY 2:24PM May 14, 2009

The calculations do not figure in how difficult it will be for those past retirment age to recover. The answer is that they cannot. I propose an Obama bailout for retirees. That would be a much better use for the money than giving it to banks and failed auto companies.

JerryB of MD 2:00PM May 14, 2009