When asked how they viewed retirement, 64% of respondents to a recent survey indicated that it was an opportunity for a whole new chapter in life, 23% indicated it was a time for rest, 9% indicated it was a continuation of what life was, and 3% indicated it was the beginning of the end (Source: U.S. News & World Report, June 12, 2006).
In 2004, for households with individuals age 65 and older, 38% of income came from Social Security, 27% from working, 13% from assets, 10% from private pensions, 9% from government pensions, and 3% from other sources (Source: An Update on Private Pensions, August 2006).
Approximately 74% of individuals between the ages of 50 and 59 are very concerned about the cost of health insurance in retirement (Source: Kiplinger's Personal Finance, November 2006).
In 2005, women in full-time jobs earned an average of 81% of what men performing comparable jobs earned. This disparity varied greatly depending on age. Women between 25 and 34 earned 89% as much as men, compared with 75% for women between 45 and 54 (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006).