The $1,000 a month rule provides a valuable starting point for retirement conversations and planning. J Studios/Getty Images

The retirement crisis in America is real, and the numbers are staggering. According to the latest data, the median retirement account balance is just $87,000 , an amount that is nowhere close to high enough to maintain most people's standard of living. Meanwhile, Social Security benefits average only about $1,900 per month currently, leaving a significant gap between what retirees need and what they'll actually receive. And, with traditional pensions increasingly rare and healthcare and living costs rising , millions of seniors and soon-to-be retirees are facing the harsh reality that they haven't saved nearly enough for their golden years.

But in today's

See Full Page