Oregon

but that was with a portfolio that was 80% stock (Index funds - no individual stocks) but now we're close to retirement so I rebalanced to 55% stock/45% bonds. My return will drop but now I'm more concerned about the preservation of my funds. I would like to think this is due to my investing skills but it was pure luck. Both my wife and I reached our peak earnings during Obama's stock market boom and were able to build our retirement nest egg. If this was 2008 we would be screwed.

I'm also fortunate to be in the North Carolina State Retirement System, which is 90% funded and is one of best five retirement systems in the country. Their return assumption rate is 7.2%, which they lowered from 7.2% in 2016, and the employer contribution rate increase was phased in over three years. There's no way you can have a conservative investing strategy and get a 9% rate of return.