Excerpt: Karen Friedman, policy director for the Pension Rights Center in Washington, said US workers and retirees shouldn't panic. Most retirement plans are healthy, and the fact that a firm might have an underfunded plan does not mean that it is in trouble. 'If the plan is underfunded and your industry is in trouble, then it is more likely that the plan will be terminated,' she said. 'However, if the economy goes up and interest rates pick up, your plan could be better off in the future.'  MORE >>