The past nine months have been brutal for stock investors. Those who are years away from retirement may, at this point, be sitting tight and waiting for things to improve. But near- and current retirees are in a different and more frightening situation.

It's one thing to see your IRA or 401(k) plan balance plunge when retirement is nowhere near. It's another thing to see those lower numbers on screen at a time when you may be gearing up to start taking withdrawals, or you're already in the process of doing so.

In a recent Nationwide survey, 62% of savers aged 45 and over said they're worried about the impact of market volatility on their retirement income. And that's a valid concern. But it's also one you can address so you don't have to sweat a stock market downturn when you're on the cusp of retirement (or in the midst of it).

Continue reading

Source Fool.com