The concept of a traditional retirement is certainly at risk for most Americans. Healthcare costs continue to rise, on average most Americans save too little, large companies continue to shed older employees, and we are all living longer. CBS MoneyWatch put out an article a while back speaking directly to this issue.
Why Traditional Retirement is Dead
In my view, entrepreneurship is one of the best defenses to address some of these issues. By building a business, an individual has more control over their ability to work and generate cash flow which can be used to build a solid balance sheet for retirement. In addition, the equity of your own business can be the icing on the cake when ready to exit. With that said, entrepreneurship is certainly not for everyone. Risk of failure and capital requirements can keep many from venturing out on their own.