Retirement: a cause for optimism... or maybe not

Consumer Reports News: March 20, 2012 04:38 PM

A survey released today by Country Financial puts a hopeful spin on Americans' retirement prospects. In a press release titled "Golden Years Look More Golden for Middle-Income Americans," the company reports that "35 percent of Americans now think it is possible for a typical middle-income family to save for a secure retirement.... up six points from this time last year and the first increase in five years."

Sounds like good news, but not so fast...

Also out today, a survey from M&I Wealth management titled "U.S. Residents Not Confident in Their Ability to Save for Retirement." It reports that a majority of us, 57 percent, lack confidence that we'll be able to afford our "ideal retirement lifestyle."

Which survey should we believe? Maybe both. The difference seems more a matter of point of view than of wildly contradictory data. One's glass is 35 percent full, the other's 57 percent empty.

Whether you're optimistic or doubtful about retirement (or a little of each), here's some of our most recent advice:

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Where to put your money: We judge advice and brokerage service at major financial companies

—Greg Daugherty