If you were to read much of the financial literature that is published for those nearing retirement age, you would be hard-pressed not to believe that most Americans are retiring at age 60 with multi-million dollar investment portfolios earning 10 percent annual returns. However, the facts present a much more depressing picture for the majority of Americans nearing retirement. From 2007 to 2010, U.S. median household net worth fell by a staggering 38 percent. And as of 2012, more than 67 percent of Americans 65 and older have less than $50,000 in savings, aside from the value of their residence. With an average personal savings rate at a historical low of only 3.6 percent and median annual income of only $37,625, American's are currently saving less than $1,340 per year. And with the average Social Security retirement payment at only $1,233 per month, it becomes apparent that most Americans today have grossly inadequate investments and income-producing assets necessary to afford a retirement beyond mere subsistence. In other words, most people in the United States have no other options except to retire into poverty. A common bit of advice given by financial planners to soon-to-be retirees is to postpone retirement, to keep working, or if separated from your profession, to take a low-wage job. Statistical evidence suggests that people should never quit working at something – if they're interested in a long life. However, working at menial jobs for minimum wage is far different than working for yourself at something that holds your interest and provides personal satisfaction. In planning for your retirement, you should keep in mind also that retiring at an age that is too old to physically enjoy the activities of your interests will not be a very happy scenario. Nevertheless, the only reason why this advice is so often and so glibly served up is because financial planners generally have no other solutions to offer. The truth is, the last thing someone at age 60 wants to be doing is working at a low-wage job or wasting away in substandard living conditions. At the same time, the prospect of life without an income other than perhaps rapidly-diminishing Social Security income is nothing more than depressing. Yet, this is the reality for most Americans – not seven-figure investment portfolios. There is no question that the economy presents a very difficult and sometimes even hostile environment in which to retire. And statistical evidence suggests that this environment will continue to deteriorate for a period lasting well into the foreseeable future. Even if your financial condition is relatively affluent and your retirement income is to include a life-long pension, your financial security in retirement is subject to unprecedented and potentially-destructive conditions. Such conditions as high inflation, price controls, commodity shortages and increased taxes could devastate even the healthiest portfolios. These conditions will not simply go away and it is unlikely that any meaningful solution is politically possible. The official course of action is to do what the federal government has been doing somewhat successfully for decades – ignore the problem. The consequences of this, however, will lead to a devestated economic environment. The U.S. and the world are far into unchartered territory with such conditions, so it is impossible to know exactly how events will unfold. But in planning for your retirement, you would be wise to consider these facts and the potential risks that they pose to your physical and financial security. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to protect yourself from the intensifying hardships. The solutions presented here are available to anyone, rich or poor, who is willing to create value through dedication and hard work.