The results from the Retirement Reality Calculator demonstrate some of the major issues of financial security in retirement.

• Many retirees will not have enough income and/or assets to afford the typical costs of living.
• Female and minority elders tend to have less income, fewer assets, and higher rates of poverty.
• Unexpected events, such as a major illness or natural disaster, can often tip the balance towards a financial crisis.

As mentioned earlier, this module was intended to provide a general overview using national averages. However, you can explore these same issues in greater detail by using one of the many retirement planning calculators available. These will provide more detailed predictions based on individual situations.

To learn more about your own retirement future, try using one of these online planning calculators:

Retirement Calculator (U.S. News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/money/moretcal.htm

Estimate Your Social Security Benefits
http://www.ssa.gov/planners/calculators.htm

To continue learning about this topic, explore the links in Further Resources >>