IF YOU'RE LIKE MANY AMERICANS WHOSE RETIREMENT SAVINGS TOOK A MAJOR HIT during the market meltdown a few years ago, you're probably wondering if you'll ever be able to retire. The eye-popping stock market drop in early August and the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating no doubt add to your jitters. Or maybe investment performance isn't your major worry. A spate of unemployment or depressed home values can make yesterday's vision of retirement seem like an impossible dream. Don't be discouraged: Recent statistics on recovering 401(k) and IRA balances suggest that many savers are already back on track. Plus, "Americans have proved themselves to be both resilient and resourceful," says Jay Wintrob, president of SunAmerica Financial Group, which recently released its "Retirement Re-Set" study. More than 80% of respondents to the survey said they learned important lessons in the past several years. "They are course-correcting - intending to work longer, save more, spend less and adjust their lifestyle expectations," Wintrob says.
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