401(k) Investors Who Stayed the Course in 2008 - 2009 Were Big Winners

What should you do about the latest stock market volatility? Nothing at all, according to a recent survey from Fidelity Investments. The mutual fund giant's just-released report shows that people who maintained a long-term savings and investing strategy are emerging as clear winners from the 2008 - 2009 downturn. This evidence is good to keep in mind as you're reeling over the latest market downturn. Read here for details, along with ideas to help you stay the course.

Please keep reading below for this month's selection of helpful blog posts and articles on retirement. Because of the recent stock market volatility, there's a special focus this month on insights to help you keep focused on your long-term goals.

Double-Dip Recession? How to Protect Your Retirement     

With all the attention being given to the debt downgrade and a possible second recession, it's a good time to review my mother's successful retirement experience to see what we can learn. She just turned 90, has been retired for more than 30 years, and, during this time, has survived four major meltdowns - and counting. Let's take a look at why she's doing so well in her retirement years. Her story inspired my 10-step plan to recession-proof your retirement years.

Just a quick note: This is a multi-page blog post - please be sure to click through to read all the pages.   

Stock Losses - Why They Hurt More Than You Thought

As the stock market continues to take hits, many investors are feeling the pain again, including my fellow CBS MoneyWatch blogger Allan Roth, who's especially feeling it after putting in a buy order for more equities. In fact, the latest stock market plunge de jour is hurting more than even he thought it would. You may be feeling the same way too, but here's why you need to work through the pain.

Read here for some tips to keep calm during the latest market craziness.   

The market's recent volatility has put new focus on a key question older investors have been asking themselves since the 2008 stock market crash: What is the correct retirement portfolio equity exposure for investors who are close to retirement or who are already retired?

Ask the experts, and you'll get answers that are all over the map. Read here for a sampling of those answers plus helpful insights into this challenging question in this excellent post from Mark Miller, publisher of the website RetirementRevised.

I recently received a question from Pauline of Mission Viejo, California, regarding the money she's saved for retirement. I think both her question and my answer can help readers with the hot topic of investing your retirement savings. Generating a lifetime retirement income takes careful planning. Beware of receiving "free" advice from salespeople who may not have your best interests at heart. Read here for an insightful case study.

Just a quick note: This is a multi-page blog post - please be sure to click through to read all the pages.   

I've written previously about the potential threat of ruinous long-term care expenses, and my posts are full of strategies - supported by facts and figures - that can help you be prepared. But people often need personal stories to really "get it." I recently heard three horror stories that made me think that this is what gets me going in the morning - doing what I can to help prevent situations like these.

Will Social Security be there when you retire? I get this question every time I talk with anybody about retirement planning. My answer: Yes! Read here to learn my reasons.

Worried that your retirement plans are shot, thanks to a really rotten decade for investors? Don't despair. There are many ways to fix your retirement -- some of them so counter-intuitive that they sound just plain weird. But when you know the details, these five weird retirement fix-its are truly wonderful.

Read here to learn more from fellow CBS MoneyWatch blogger Kathy Kristof.