“A startling new retirement-planning need”

Ameriprise (the old IDS that recently severed ties with American Express) has sponsored a new study of retirement.

Most interesting finding: People nearing or in retirement worry a lot about their children's lack of financial savvy.

Coddling could be one reason. The study reports that the number of households with children over age 18 living at home increased by 69% from 2000 to 2004! Also, Boomers tend to feel they've been poor role models when it comes to demonstrating financial responsibility.

I can think of a couple of other reasons for parental worry:

• Couples who delayed having children are more likely to retire before their kids mature.

• Today's young adults tend to carry a far higher debt burden, student loans and credit-card debt, that built up during their college years.

The Ameriprise study, conducted by Ken Dychtwald and Harris Interactive, also reveals regional differences. Westerners, it seems, are more likely to prepare for retirement than easterners.