Retirement planning is a mystery for a lot of people. Nearly half (39%) of households do not have a formal plan. While you probably don't need to map out a plan for every dollar you'll need in retirement; you do need a plan.
This post will focus on retirement planning and what you need to know about your sandy beaches and little umbrella drinks.
Many people put off retirement planning because they see no real need to start. It's likely more than a decade before most of us can tell our boss what to do with his weekly efficiency reports.
While having an investment account is a good start, you don't know how much you'll need or how to get there until you think about what retirement will look like. Who knows, after mapping out your retirement plans, you might find that you've got a little extra.
Your cost of living and what you want to do in retirement will have a lot to do with how much you'll need. The general rule of thumb is that you'll need about 80% of your pre-retirement income.
The best advice you can get for reaching your retirement needs is to start early. Investing for retirement is much more about asset allocation and getting free money than being lucky in picking stocks.
How Do I Get There with Retirement Planning?