Retirement-planning solutions tend to focus on which savings
vehicle or asset allocation mix will be most effective, while
sidestepping the elephant in the room: Americans do not save
enough during their working years, leaving most people
unprepared for retirement. Americans savings are often
insufficient to fund even a portion of most future retirees’
expected lifestyles.  Most qualified plan participants determine
how much to save for retirement based on the amount of income
they can afford, or are willing, to defer. Next, they consider
maximizing their company’s matching contribution if they are
fortunate enough to have one. But aside from these initial
decisions, consumers usually never change their savings rate
except, possibly, to decrease the percentage deferred.  Study
results released by Employee Benefit Research Institute earlier
this year found “47% of Americans today between ages 56 and 62
would run out of funds necessary to pay for basic retirement
expenditures if they retire at 65.”  Many people