Social Security is becoming a bigger concern for most Americans, with many starting to doubt that they'll receive benefits in retirement. Some of the most pessimistic forecasts might be overblown, but it's important to understand the forces that will shape Social Security in the decades to come. As you plan for retirement, consider the potential changes to federal benefits and how you can prepare to manage those changes.

According to research from the insurance carrier Nationwide, there's been a sharp increase over the past decade in the number of people over age 50 who think there's a chance that Social Security will run out of money in their lifetime. Even worse, those concerns have coincided with a decline in the number of households that expect to have their own assets in retirement accounts. This was largely driven by a decline in the prominence of defined benefit pension plans, though the outlook for 401(k) and IRA savings has also worsened.

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Source Fool.com