In a new Forbes column, Dan Doonan, NIRS executive director, says that many Americans are worried about retirement. But, substantial differences emerge across generations. Millennials (72 percent) and Generation X (59 percent) are significantly more more pessimistic about achieving financial security in retirement as compared to Baby Boomers (43 percent) and the Silent Generation (26 percent).

He adds that going forward, it will be critical for policymakers to find ways to strengthen our retirement infrastructure so these generations can be self-sufficient in their older years. Failure to act means that a comfortable retirement after a lifetime of work will only be a dream that cannot be fulfilled for most Millennials, Generation X, and generations that follow. Read the full column here.