Has the current economic state made retirement plan participants more or less risk tolerant? The intuitive answer would be less risk tolerant, but that might not be correct. When participants were asked if they were willing to take on a significant risk to earn a high return in March 2008, 31% said yes. When asked the same in May of 2008, 37% said yes. This jumped from 23% in March of 2007. The group seemingly most affected by the economic changes in this measurement is the 35-49 year-olds, those nearing retirement with alacrity (though all ages increased their risk willingness). In March of 2007 only 20% were willing to take a significant risk; now 37% are more comfortable with risk.