Retirement security isn’t a single number — it’s a mix of legal protections and asset allocation choices. Employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s are protected from creditors under ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act), while IRAs get separate protection in bankruptcy proceedings under federal law, with an inflation-adjusted exemption limit. Bank deposits are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank; brokerage accounts get similar protection from SIPC, though neither insures against investment losses.

Diversification — spreading savings across stocks, bonds, cash, and in some portfolios a modest allocation to physical assets like precious metals — reduces the risk that any single market event wipes out your savings. There’s no universal formula for the right mix; it depends on your timeline, risk tolerance, and other income sources like Social Security. Be skeptical of any claim that one asset class alone makes your retirement ‘secure.’