Average Retirement Length: 20 Years

According to SmartMoney, the average length of retirement has risen from 8.1 years in 1950 to almost 20 years in 2007. This is because of a combination of people taking early retirement and life expectancy increasing.

To have a happy, healthy and long retirement you'll need to plan your finances well and, more importantly, protect your health. Having a positive attitude toward aging is one of the best ways to add healthy years to your life.