The long and winding road to retirement is getting longer and, in some cases, may never end for many Americans, according to a revealing new survey commissioned by ING DIRECT, the nation’s largest direct bank. The survey results reaffirm ING DIRECT’s aggressive effort to help more Americans save responsibly and rebuild their nest egg.

According to the results, four in 10 Americans believe the current economic climate will force them to retire up to 10 years later than originally expected or not at all. Americans will be chained to their jobs longer than ever before just to keep up with their bills and ensure food is on the kitchen table. The survey results also noted that over 60 percent of Americans are significantly more concerned about saving enough money for retirement and having the right type of retirement plan than they were six months ago.

"The current economic rollercoaster is making people queasy about retirement. As a result, more people think the bright lights of their golden years are fading further into the sunset. Now is the time to stop brushing the topic of retirement under the rug, and take matters into your own hands. Review your long-term financial goals and develop a responsible retirement plan that works well for you," said Arkadi Kuhlmann, President of ING DIRECT USA.

With more retirement accounts battered and bruised by the economic turmoil, Americans are unsure about how to re-grow their investment accounts and safely meet their retirement goals. The ING DIRECT survey also found:

- Nearly half of all Americans (47 percent) have "no clue" how much money they need to retire;

- Despite nearly two years of economic turmoil, 65 percent of Americans have not adjusted their retirement investments;

- One in five Americans (19 percent) are still banking on Social Security to be their main source of retirement income; and

- One-fifth (21 percent) of Americans are contributing less to retirement than they were last year.