The stock market has averaged annual gains of 10 percent over the long haul, but over the course of your investing time frame of 10 (or 20 or 30) years, it might average considerably more or less. Remember, too, that retiring at age 50 means you might need to live off your nest egg and retirement income for perhaps another 50 years - and that can be a tall order! When a company's stock price declines, nobody necessarily benefits directly. Founded in 1997, I launched a subscription service in 1999 and later became the U.S.