This can be considered effectively a worst case scenario, as the couple retired just one year after the worst 10-year stock market performance in American history, from 1999 to 2008.

FORBES: Social Security Personal Accounts And The Financial Crisis

But the optimism didn't extend to the market for initial public offerings, at least not for most sectors, after a major summer slowdown and erratic public-market performance that followed some seemingly successful debuts.

WSJ: Cloudy Funding Forecast Ahead For Start-Ups

During the meeting Mr Cook said he sympathised with shareholders who found Apple's recent stock-price performance a "disappointment", after the iPhone maker lost around a third of its market value since September's peak.

CNN: Apple shareholders in protest vote on pay

In a difficult market she has turned in a decent performance (2.2% a year)--after costs that can best be described as indecent.

FORBES: Peekaboo!