Ziggy, I really appreciate your candor in pointing out the slow extinction of the pension. Barring anyone who works for a union, I personally don't have any close friends under the age of 50 whose employer offers one--once they leave the job--even if it's after 30 years--that's it. They get nothing. I have some friends who are teachers and worked very hard throughout their careers, retired, and now get a very comfortable supplemental retirement income from their jobs. Unfortunately, they are not in the majority.