To our readers:

IN the last six years, the United States has had four major tax overhaul bills, all of which have affected retirement planning in one way or another. Meanwhile, what most people call the corporate pension isn't what it used to be, as companies restructure, merge, or ``terminate'' defined benefit pension plans in favor of defined contribution plans. And even though inflation has been relatively tame in recent years, the memories of double-digit inflation are fresh enough to concern those trying to develop a long-range retiement plan.

Despite these uncertainties, the experts contacted for this month's PF say you should push ahead with savings and investment plans for retirement. It will take careful planning, consistent savings, and wise investing to wring out as many uncertainties as possible.