Economy Shows Value Of Guaranteed Income

The current investment market slump may be increasing U.S. consumers’ interest in collecting a steady stream of retirement benefits.

Researchers at Principal Financial Group Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, have published statistics supporting that conclusion in a summary of results from a recent survey of 1,331 U.S. workers ages 18 and older who work at businesses with 10 to 1,000 employees, and of 726 U.S. retirees ages 60 and older.

The researchers found that 65% of the workers who participated said having a guaranteed monthly income is the most important element in efforts to manage retirement savings, while 60% said having a contingency plan in case of medical illness is the most important component.