How to Financially Plan for Retirement

Planning for retirement is one of the most important things you can do for your own peace of mind. More than anything else, financially planning for your older, wiser years will ensure that you won't run into difficulties once you stop working full time.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Plan for Retirement Financially

1. Start planning for retirement as early as possible. If you are in your 20s or 30s, think about investment, savings and IRAs. This is the right time to invest aggressively and take risks. Look into opportunities that offer the most return in the long run, since you can afford to wait the additional time to reap the benefits.

2. Set up a plan in steps. Financial experts recommend setting up goals based on where you want to be 7, 5 and 2 years before the actual retirement age. This will give you time to plan and execute a number of ideas and would allow you to modify the plan if you find that you are not able to meet those goals.

3. Make a plan to pay off all your debts long before you retire. It should be your goal to go into retirement with no outstanding credit-card debt, but you should also plan on finishing up your mortgage by the time you retire.

4. Decide how much money you need to live comfortably. Think about day-to-day expenses, but also add things you want to do that you are not doing right now, such as traveling or pursuing a hobby full time. Take inflation and price changes into consideration, and don't forget to plan for unforeseen circumstances.

5. Step up the intensity of your plan as you approach your actual retirement age. Catch up by increasing the amount and the frequency of your contributions, and invest in additional stocks if you can afford to do so.

6. Consider looking for the help of a financial planner to set up a good investment and savings plan. This is especially important if you have little to no knowledge about finances or if you are looking to invest large quantities of capital and need the guidance of a professional.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't count on Social Security to carry you financially through your retirement years. Unforeseen circumstances can tap into your savings quickly.

• If you find yourself far behind on payments and savings, consider getting a second job, downsizing to a smaller house or car or revising your budget so you can save more.