From the Article:

Here are just some of the risks you have to contend with in retirement:
Longevity risk (running out of money)
Inflation risk (seeing a lower standard of living)
Market risk (bear markets)
Interest rate risk (fluctuations in yield or outright bond losses like we saw in 2022)
Sequence of return risk (you get poor returns at the outset of retirement)
And those are just portfolio management-related risks. You also have to contend with health risks, unforeseen expenses, family issues and life getting in the way of your best-laid plans.
Your two best forms of risk management in retirement are diversification and flexibility with your plan.
Every strategy comes with trade-offs. Unfortunately, there is no investment panacea that offers 100% certainty during retirement.
We tackled this question on the latest edition of Ask the Compound:

Article:
planning-for-early-retirement
Ask the Compound:

I can buy and sell EMPIX at Fidelity, but that may be because I invested in it long ago. This may change. CBYYX is available at Fidelity at a low minimum but only for some retirement plans. SHRIX is available no load at InteractiveBrokers, see Mutual Fund Search Tool there. A small problem: it is offered with 500K minimum.

when CBYYX wasn't open to me at Fidelity, i transferred a single share over from Schwab and then was good to go ... except that F charges a fee for CBYYX trades and S does not.

I can buy and sell EMPIX at Fidelity, but that may be because I invested in it long ago. This may change. CBYYX is available at Fidelity at a low minimum but only for some retirement plans. SHRIX is available no load at InteractiveBrokers, see Mutual Fund Search Tool there. A small problem: it is offered with 500K minimum.
And tropical storm Milton is forecast to become a hurricane Sunday night, and be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by mid week. Life is never dull.

Barron’s Funds Quarterly+ (2024/Q3–October 7, 2024)
https://www.barrons.com/topics/mutual-funds-quarterly
(Performance data quoted in this Supplement are for 2024/Q3 and YTD to 9/30/24)
Pg L2: With the new CEO Salim RAMJI onboard, Vanguard is making some changes. Rather than lowering the ERs by tiny/small amounts across the board, it will move selectively in areas of active management with disruptive low ERs, with an initial push into active bond funds. It has also developed in-house capabilities for bonds, unlike its equity and allocation/hybrid funds that mostly use external advisors. In the passive area, the ETF giants are Vanguard and iShares/BlackRock, and mutual fund giants are Vanguard and Fidelity (not so well-known). But growth in the passive fund area is limited for these giant players. That game has been played and these parties have won.
Growth areas now are ETFs (tax-efficiency and market hour trading), bond funds (much larger and fragmented market compared to equities), alternatives (private-market is huge now as many unicorns and smaller companies remain private longer; but Vanguard won’t touch cryptos), RIA channels (but that won’t work without improving Vanguard’s poor M-F, 8-8 customer service). Rather than pushing into all areas at once, it will move selectively into areas with maximum disruptive low-cost effects.
Pg L7 In 2024/Q3, gold funds, China funds and bond proxies (bond funds, utilities, real estate. Dividend stocks) rallied due to geopolitics (for gold), the Fed rate cut and China easing. The value funds also did well. (By @LewisBraham at MFO)
More on Funds & Retirement
INCOME. Dividend and dividend-growth stocks are coming back in favor after the Fed rate cut. US ETFs: SCHD, VYM, VIG, DIVB; China ETF: PGJ. Several stocks are also mentioned.
RETIREMENT. MEDICARE open enrollment period (OEP) is from October 15 – December 7. As there are many changes for Parts B, D, C/MA, don’t just throw away the recent notices you got about them; drug formularies may change too. Part D will have $2K out-of-pocket limit for covered drug costs (so, you will be out of luck if the drug isn’t covered); premiums will also go down a little. Medicare Advantage/C plans face higher costs and tighter government reimbursements, and many insurers are curtailing (reducing extra coverages, increasing premiums & deductibles) or exiting (Wellcare/Centene-CNC in 6 states) the MA/C market. Humana MA dropped a notch in its government rating and is discontinuing MA/C in 13 counties. If your MA/C plan is discontinued, and you don’t do anything, you will be enrolled in the original Medicare and will have the opportunity to get Medigap insurance without medical underwriting; normally, it’s hard to go back from MA/C to original Medicate due to the underwriting required for Medigap insurance. Make sure that your doctors are still in the plan.
Barron’s weekend issue has CASH TRACK charts showing 4-wMA of flows. A screenshot link will be included quarterly in the Summaries.
https://i.ibb.co/Chcbzrj/Barrons-Cash-Track-100524.png

Barron’s discontinued quarterly FUND CATEGORY PERFORMANCE table in 2024 that were used to highlight the best and the worst performing fund categories. The new MFOP Quarterly tool (see MFO, October 2024) can generate a similar table and the screenshot links for Top 5 and Bottom 5 follow. Both Barron’s and MFOP use Lipper fund databases.
Q3 Top 5 https://i.ibb.co/bJT3M6T/MFOP-Quarterly-Top5-100424.png

Q3 Bottom 5 https://i.ibb.co/CwV2Vx3/MFOP-Quarterly-Bottom5-100424.png

LINK

Inflation isn’t just increasing prices. It’s also increasing wages. The two may not move in perfect harmony. Longer term it tends to even out. But it can appear herky-jerky on either side of the coin. The old adage / warning about the hazards of living on a fixed income during retirement ring true today. Over decades you’d be swamped by price increases without having either a good COLA adjustment or alternative sources of income (ie investments). Likely, the one area seniors probably need most as they age - health care - has increased more than the rate of inflation in recent years.
I’m wondering if the short strike affected the cost of imports and hurt foreign based companies that import to the U.S. - if only briefly. And unconfirmed media reports suggest shoppers had begun to hoard necessities again with some Costcos running out of paper towels and toilet tissue. Amazing how everything is interconnected.

Fidelity is offering a 3 part webinar... part 1 is on 10/10/24 on the follow topics:
Topics:

• How annuities, Social Security, bonds, and other sources may fit into a monthly income plan
• How your retirement spending might evolve as your priorities change
• Strategies for allocating your assets into different types of accounts
• Investing in retirement, with ideas for determining your mix of stocks, bonds, and short-term investments
• Preparing for “what-if” scenarios, such as market volatility or retiring earlier than expected

Register for free:
https://fidelityevents.com/insightsretirementplan2024?cc_source=em_Promo_1165758_1_0

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/35315/000003531524000754/filing8127.htm
497 1 filing8127.htm PRIMARY DOCUMENT
Supplement to the
Fidelity® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund
Class A, Class M, Class C, Class I, and Class Z
March 30, 2024
Prospectus
Class/Ticker
Fidelity Advisor® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund - Class A/FMBMX
Fidelity Advisor® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund - Class M/FMBFX
Fidelity Advisor® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund - Class C/FMBEX
Fidelity Advisor® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund - Class I/FMBGX
Fidelity Advisor® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund - Class Z/FMBHX
At a meeting held on September 19, 2024, the Board of Trustees of Fidelity Salem Street Trust ("Board") approved on behalf of Fidelity® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund ("Fund") the reorganization of the Fund into an Exchange Traded Fund ("ETF"), which will continue to be managed by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC ("FMR" or the "Adviser") (such reorganization, the "Conversion"). The Board, including all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Fund, determined, with respect to the Conversion, that participation in the Conversion is in the best interests of the Fund and the interests of the existing shareholders of the Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Conversion. The Conversion is subject to shareholder approval.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
If shareholders approve the Conversion, Fidelity® Municipal Core Plus Bond Fund will be converted from a mutual fund to an ETF in April 2025.
If you are an existing shareholder of the Fund, and your account CAN hold an ETF, your Fund shares will be converted if the Conversion is approved, and no action is needed by you.
If you hold the Fund in an account that CANNOT hold an ETF (i.e., your account is not permitted to purchase securities traded in the stock market), there are certain actions you can take. See the "Questions and Answers" section below for further information.
A Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Shareholders of the Fund is expected to be held during the first quarter of 2025 and approval of the Conversion will be voted on at that time. A combined proxy statement and prospectus containing more information with respect to the Conversion will be provided to shareholders of record of the Fund in advance of the meeting.
If approved, the Fund will be reorganized into a newly created ETF, Fidelity Municipal Bond Opportunities ETF, which is a series of Fidelity Merrimack Street Trust. The Fund and the ETF have identical investment objectives, principal investment strategies, and fundamental investment policies.
In connection with seeking shareholder approval of the Conversion, effective the close of business on January 13, 2025, new positions in the Fund may no longer be opened. Shareholders of the Fund on that date may continue to add to their fund positions existing on that date. Investors who did not own shares of the Fund on January 13, 2025 generally will not be allowed to buy shares of the Fund except that new Fund positions may be opened: 1) by participants in most group employer retirement plans (and their successor plans) if the Fund had been established (or was in the process of being established) as an investment option under the plans (or under another plan sponsored by the same employer) by January 13, 2025, 2) for accounts managed on a discretionary basis by certain registered investment advisers that have discretionary assets of at least $500 million invested in mutual funds and have included the Fund in their discretionary account program since January 13, 2025, 3) by a mutual fund or a qualified tuition program for which FMR or an affiliate serves as investment manager, 4) by a portfolio manager of the Fund, and 5) by a fee deferral plan offered to trustees of certain Fidelity funds, if the Fund is an investment option under the plan. These restrictions generally will apply to investments made directly with Fidelity and investments made through intermediaries. Investors may be required to demonstrate eligibility to buy shares of the Fund before an investment is accepted.
If, and only if, the Conversion is approved by Fund shareholders:
Effective on the date of shareholder approval of the Conversion, any sales charges, contingent deferred sales charges, 12b-1 fees, and finder's fee payments applicable to any class of shares of the Fund will be waived.
Effective March 14, 2025, Classes A, M, C, I and Z of the Fund will be consolidated into the retail class of the Fund and the Adviser will contractually reimburse the retail class to the extent total operating expenses, subject to certain exclusions, exceed 0.30% through the date of Conversion. The Adviser may not terminate this arrangement before the expiration date without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
Effective the close of business on March 28, 2025, new positions in the Fund may no longer be opened. Existing shareholders may continue to hold their shares and purchase additional shares through the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions until the Conversion takes place.
The last day to redeem Fund shares or exchange Fund shares for shares of another Fidelity mutual fund is April 3, 2025. If you do not want to receive shares of the ETF in connection with the Conversion, you can exchange your Fund shares for shares of another Fidelity mutual fund that is not participating in a conversion or redeem your Fund shares. Prior to doing so, however, you should consider the tax consequences associated with either action.
As part of the Conversion, the Fund will be liquidated. The Conversion will be on April 4, 2025.
If shareholder approval of the Conversion is delayed due to failure to meet a quorum or otherwise, the Conversion will become effective, if approved, as soon as practicable thereafter. All dates may change if the closing date of the Conversion changes. Effective dates are as of close of business.
Fidelity believes that the Conversion will provide multiple benefits for investors of the Fund, including lower expenses, additional trading flexibility, and increased portfolio holdings transparency.
The Conversion will be conducted pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Liquidation ("Plan"). The Conversion is structured to be a tax-free reorganization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As a result, Fund shareholders generally will not recognize a taxable gain (or loss) for U.S. tax purposes due to the Conversion (except with respect to cash received, as noted below)...
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562565/000094590824000345/0000945908-24-000345-index.htm

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/751173/000199937124012863/hyb_497-100324.htm
497 1 hyb_497-100324.htm DEFINITIVE MATERIALS
MANNING & NAPIER FUND, INC.
(the “Fund”)
High Yield Bond Series (Class I, Class S, Class W and Z)
(the “Series”)
Supplement dated October 3, 2024 to:
· the Summary Prospectus for the Series dated March 1, 2024 (the “Summary Prospectus”), as supplemented on July 31, 2024;
· the Prospectus for the Series dated March 1, 2024 (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented on July 31, 2024; and
· the Statement of Additional Information for the Series dated March 1, 2024 (the “SAI”), as supplemented July 31, 2024.
This supplement provides new and additional information beyond that contained in the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and SAI, and should be read in conjunction with the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and SAI.
________________________________________________________________________
Effective as of the close of business on November 4, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Series will be offered on a limited basis and investors will not be eligible to purchase Class I, Class S, Class Z and Class W shares of the Series, except as described below. In addition, both before and after the Closing Date, the Fund may from time to time, in its sole discretion based on the Series’ net asset levels and other factors, limit new purchases into the Series or otherwise modify the closure policy set forth below at any time on a case-by-case basis.
Effective on the Closing Date, the following groups will be permitted to continue to purchase shares of the Series:
Shareholders of Record
·Shareholders of record of the Series as of the Closing Date are able to continue to purchase additional shares in their existing Fund accounts and may continue to reinvest dividends or capital gains distributions from shares owned in the Series.
Beneficial Owners in Omnibus Accounts, which are Shareholders of Record
If the shareholder of record is an omnibus account, beneficial owners in that account as of the applicable closing date are permitted to continue to purchase, as further described below:
·Employer-sponsored retirement plans (and their successor, related and affiliated plans), which have the Series available to participants on or before the Closing Date may continue to open accounts for new participants and can purchase additional shares in existing participant accounts. A new employer-sponsored retirement plan may establish a new account with the Series only if the plan has been accepted for investment by Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”) by January 31, 2025;
·Institutional investors (including successor, related, or affiliated accounts) may establish a new account with the Series only if the account has been accepted for investment by the Advisor by the Closing Date (Institutional investors include, but are not limited to, corporations, qualified non-profit organizations, charitable trusts, foundations and endowments, governmental entities, municipalities, and hospitals investing for their own account.);
·Fee-based advisory programs (including rep as advisor and portfolio manager programs) may continue to utilize the Series for program accounts if the account program has been accepted for investment by the Advisor;
·Registered Investment Advisory firms who have included the Series in their discretionary models by the Closing Date and utilize an approved clearing platform may continue to make Series shares available to new and existing accounts. These particular firms must be accepted for continued investment by the Advisor on or before the Closing Date;
·New discretionary accounts managed by the Advisor.
PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1359057/000089418924006071/hoodriversmall-capgrowthfu.htm
Filed pursuant to Rule 497(e)
Registration Nos. 333-133691; 811-21897
MANAGER DIRECTED PORTFOLIOS TRUST
(the “Trust”)
Hood River Small-Cap Growth Fund
(the “Fund”)
Supplement dated October 2, 2024
to the Prospectus, the Summary Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information
dated October 31, 2023, as previously supplemented
Effective as of the close of business on October 4, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Fund will be closed to most new investors. Hood River Capital Management LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund (the “Adviser”), believes that limiting investments in the Fund will help ensure that the Fund can be effectively managed in accordance with its investment objective and strategy. The closing is intended to promote long-term investments in the Fund, thereby contributing to a more stable asset base and the continued efficient management of the Fund. This decision was made after considering the current size of the Fund (approximately $3.21 billion as of August 31, 2024) and the availability of common stocks of small cap companies that meet the Fund’s investment criteria.
Only investors of the Fund as of the Closing Date, whether owning shares directly through the Fund’s transfer agent or through a bank, broker-dealer, financial adviser or recordkeeper (“Financial Intermediary”), are eligible to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund will continue to permit the following types of investments in the Fund:
•Additional share purchases or reinvestment of dividends or capital gains by existing Fund shareholders;
•Investments made through qualified retirement plans (such as 401(a), 401(k) and other defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans) for which the Fund is an eligible investment alternative and whose records are maintained by a Financial Intermediary having an agreement with the Fund in effect on or before the Closing Date;
•Investments by new or existing clients of an individual financial adviser representative who already had client assets invested in the Fund on the Closing Date;
•Investments by clients of registered investment adviser firms and other Financial Intermediaries who have an existing business relationship with the Adviser that, in the judgment of the Adviser, would not adversely affect the Adviser’s ability to manage the Fund effectively;
•Investments by a Trustee or officer of the Trust, an officer, director or employee of the Adviser, a member of the immediate family of any of those persons, or clients of the Adviser; and
•An investment that officers of the Adviser determine, in their sole discretion, would not adversely affect the Adviser’s ability to manage the Fund effectively.
The Fund may ask you to verify that you meet one of the guidelines above prior to permitting you to open a new account in the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to prohibit a transaction otherwise permitted if the Fund believes doing so to be in the Fund’s best interest. In addition, the Fund reserves the right, at any time, in its sole discretion, to further modify or amend the extent to which the future sales of shares are limited.
For additional information regarding restrictions on new purchases of shares of the Fund, please contact the Fund at 1-800-497-2960 (toll free).
Investors should retain this supplement for future reference.

Drawdown with annuities can balance retirement income and liquidity:

A retirement income strategy that pairs a deferred annuity with a drawdown strategy can offer retirees a balanced retirement experience. This solution provides a hedge against longevity risk, can help deliver adequate income over the long term, and also, with appropriate allocations, maintains a reasonable level of liquidity should retirees wish to access their retirement savings.

Drawdown_with_Annuities_Balance_Retirement

It is concerning that the IRS chart discussing the differences between RMD for IRAs and Defined contribution plans still uses 72 as the age for RMDs ( even though it says it was updated 8/2024)
" April 1 of the year following the later of the year you turn 72 (70 ½ if you reach 70 ½ before January 1, 2020) or the year you retire (if allowed by your plan). If you are a 5% owner, you must start RMDs by April 1 of the year following the year you turn 72 (70 ½ if you reach 70 ½ before January 1, 2020)."
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/rmd-comparison-chart-iras-vs-defined-contribution-plans
The "FAQS" page has the correct information
"(73 if you reach age 72 after Dec. 31, 2022). "

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1314414/000158064224005882/altegriscrabel497.htm
97 1 altegriscrabel497.htm 497
Altegris/Crabel Multi-Strategy Fund
Class A Shares CMSAX
Class I Shares CMSIX
(a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust)
Supplement dated September 27, 2024 to
the Prospectus and Statement of Information dated April 29, 2024
The Board of Trustees of Northern Lights Fund Trust (the “Board”) has determined based on the recommendation of the investment adviser of the Altegris/Crabel Multi-Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders that the Fund cease operations. The Board has determined to close the Fund and redeem all outstanding shares on October 28, 2024.
Effective at the close of business September 27, 2024, the Fund will not accept any purchases and will no longer pursue its stated investment objectives. The Fund may begin liquidating its portfolio and may invest in cash equivalents such as money market funds until all shares have been redeemed. Any capital gains will be distributed as soon as practicable to shareholders. Shares of the Fund are otherwise not available for purchase.
Prior to October 28, 2024, you may redeem your shares, including reinvested distributions, in accordance with the “How to Redeem Shares” section in the Prospectus. Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, a redemption is subject to tax on any taxable gains. Please refer to the “Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions” section in the Prospectus for general information. You may wish to consult your tax advisor about your particular situation.
ANY SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT REDEEMED THEIR SHARES OF THE FUND PRIOR TO OCTOBER 28, 2024 WILL HAVE THEIR SHARES AUTOMATICALLY REDEEMED AS OF THAT DATE, AND PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS OF RECORD. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR DIRECTLY OR THE FUND AT 1-877-772-5838.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTORS
If you are a retirement plan investor, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of a redemption of Fund shares. If you receive a distribution from an Individual Retirement Account or a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA, you must roll the proceeds into another Individual Retirement Account within sixty (60) days of the date of the distribution in order to avoid having to include the distribution in your taxable income for the year. If you receive a distribution from a 403(b)(7) Custodian Account (Tax-Sheltered account) or a Keogh Account, you must roll the distribution into a similar type of retirement plan within sixty (60) days in order to avoid disqualification of your plan and the severe tax consequences that it can bring. If you are the trustee of a Qualified Retirement Plan, you may reinvest the money in any way permitted by the plan and trust agreement.
This Supplement and the existing Prospectus dated April 29, 2024, provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. Both the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information dated April 29, 2024, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference and can be obtained without charge by calling the Fund at 1-877-772-5838.

This is why VOO,VTI indexes have been recommended by Bogle and Buffett. It's a cap weighted index. No need to trade. All you got to do is add monthly for 3-4 decades and enjoy your retirement.

It took Jean-Marie Eveillard a couple of attempts to find his successor, but he seemed to land on a good one with Matthew McLennan. I was always scared away from the expense ratio though. I hope Jean-Marie is enjoying his retirement on a beautiful yacht somewhere right now.

Most of what Marks said recently is old news. The massive peacetime budget deficits really started under Reagan when they admitted they wand "to starve the beast".
His famous quote about the 12 most dangerous words in the English language " I am here from the government and I am here to help", probably would not be very popular in Florida today.
GOP in particular is always fighting against government spending, and supporting tax cuts until they want disaster assistance or bailout or money for their personal investments ( look at Devoes supporting her investments in charter schools). Dems do it too but at least they admit government is not the problem.
Marks also does not discuss the way the financial industry ( him included) has taken over control of the government for their own benefit. Repeal of Glass-Stengel, legalization of stock buybacks to support option based compensation, total lack of legal consequences for 2008 bailouts , allowing private equity to buy, control and bankrupt hospitals ambulances and health care, and CEO pay hundreds or thousands of times the average worker and people who actually help people ( with no consequences for bad or even criminal performance) all are consequences of a government run for the financial industry.
Our politics are in the mess we are in today because all of these actions and NAFTA (a Democratic achievement) have destroyed the working class, made homes unaffordable and eliminated the chance for a decent life and retirement unless you work on Wall Street.
What does it say about a nation when over 30% of the brightest University students major in finance, not engineering, medicine, biomedical research?
The NYT just had a long analysis of NAFTA. I would also recommend "Democracy's Discontents " by Michael Sandel

Per WSJ:
Fidelity slashed the amount certain customers can deposit into their cash-management accounts to $1,000 from $100,000, people familiar with the matter said. The Boston firm is also subjecting some account-holders to a 16 business-day hold on deposits before the money is made available for withdrawal or investment.
The restrictions don’t impact retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans. Instead, they focus on cash management accounts, a type of brokerage account used to make purchases, pay bills online and withdraw funds from ATMs. Deposited checks typically take two to six days to clear.
The scheme targeting Fidelity’s mobile-app shares some similarities to the check-fraud scams that have hit JPMorgan Chase and other banks recently.
The organizers rely on social-media platforms such as Telegram and TikTok to recruit customers of those firms. In exchange for access to their accounts, customers are promised a cut of the proceeds. The swindlers deposit fake or doctored checks and then quickly withdraw those funds.
< - >
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/fidelity-slashes-deposit-limits-following-fraud-wave-37b3e970?mod=hp_lead_pos10

There are two primary problems with self-directed retirement plans. First, the old grasshopper and the ant fable. Some people save for the future, others live for today. The other big problem is how to live off your savings. It seems to me that many people would be better off buying an annuity with at least some of their savings, providing guaranteed income for the rest of their lives. My wife and I both have pensions, but in reality they are just annuities. We treat our IRAs (formerly 401Ks) as the inflation adjustment for our pensions, which lack that feature.
Finally, there is always Social Security. I am a big fan because it provides a base of income that isn’t affected by the stock and bond markets. It is also inflation adjusted.

I don’t have the answer. But it seems idiotic to expect every Tom, Dick & Harry to possess the foresight and financial discipline to save for something that may well be 30+ years away and to have enough stashed at that point to make it last another 30 years if necessary. Maybe the guy’s a great construction worker, or reliable mechanic or metal worker or whatever. That doesn’t endow him with the financial know how or discipline to make the 401K viable. Many don’t save enough, raid the money when younger or in their first few years of retirement or make bad investment decisions. Now, if they did all of the preceding correctly, they still wouldn’t know when they would die and how to make their assets last precisely the right length of time. Albeit - buying an annuity would partially solve the latter issue,

We act as if we are the only country in the world that has tried to deal with the general question of a reasonable and efficient retirement system. It seems to be beyond anyone's ability to evaluate systems used world-wide, eliminate those that would not work here for various structural reasons, select the best options from those that would work here, and get on with it.
Our systems seem to have square wheels, while I suspect that many better systems may have gone with round wheels.
Lack of good faith (or maybe even any faith) in our political arena (as usual).

“Larry Fink, the chairman and chief executive of BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset-management companies, wrote that the United States was facing a retirement crisis due in no small part to self-directed retirement financing. Fink said that for most Americans, replacing defined-benefit plans with defined-contribution plans had been “a shift from financial certainty to financial uncertainty” and suggested that it was time to abandon the “you’re on your own”approach.”
I’m sure Mr. Fink and BlackRock have a solution to remedy that uncertainty.