For a notion once synonymous with the"golden years," the idea of retirement today conjures up at least as much anxiety as pleasant anticipation for many of the baby boomersfast approaching it.The financial crisis took a hefty toll on both their 401(k)s and their confidence, with a host of articles warning about the unpreparedness of the next generation of retirees.

And it's not just a perception issue.Elevated unemploymentanda housing market still well off its highscombine withinflationary health-care costs and stubbornly low yields to paint a difficult picture for retirement, just about any way you slice it.

This week, Morningstareditors and strategists, including our director of personal finance ChristineBenz, as well as notable outside expertswill tackle the issues head-on,with a practicallook at controlling retirement expenses, anticipatingnew spending patterns, playing catch-up, and prepping a portfolio for drawdown mode. We'll cap off the week with a live Q&A where you can pose your own retirement-related questions to our expert panel.

Though the retirement landscape is challenging,we believe investors can gain some comfort and control by assessing their current situation and crafting a sensible plan to maximize their saving and investing efforts.This week, we aim to stack the deck in your favor. Be sure to bookmark this page and return each day, asnew reportsare posted. And don't forget to tune in Friday for our live Q&A webcast; we look forward to hearing from you!

Monday, Sept. 10: How Much Do You Need in Retirement? Digging Into the 80% Rule for Income Replacement in Retirement Consider these swing factors to create a customized income-replacement rate.

Will Your Income Needs Trend Down as You Age? The data may say yes, but there are some important considerations to bear in mind.

What Unexpected Expenses Crop Up in Retirement? Dental care, as well as skyrocketing health-insurance premiums and property taxes, top readers' lists of unwelcome in-retirement costs.

Don't Discount Inflation When Planning for Retirement As seniors' spending patterns change, so too does their exposure to rising prices.

Related Reports from Morningstar's Archives:

Tuesday, Sept. 11: Are You on Track?

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Morningstar's Retirement Readiness Week