Retirement is a complex topic. This is an awesome infographic that simplifies everything.

Start small and grow your savings

The magic word is compound interest, which, in its most basic terms means that interest is earned on both the original amount saved plus the interest earned on that savings. The key to making compound interest work most efficiently is to let compound interest do its work over a long period of time. Starting to save for retirement as early as possible is the easiest thing you can do to make sure you reach your savings goals. For every ten year, you delay saving for retirement, you’ll need at least three times as much to catch up.

Know your financial needs, be realistic

There is no magic number out there when it comes to how much you need for retirement. Calculating how much you will need for retirement requires many guesses or assumptions including how long you think you might live. It’s no surprise that CNBC reports that 81 percent of Americans don’t know how much they need to retire. Forty percent of Americans estimate that they will need $500k to retire which is about 250k short of the average retirement cost.

Adhere to the 3 Ps – plan, prioritize, protect

Having a retirement plan is crucial to reach your savings goals. Experts suggest analyzing your savings based off of monthly income that your savings can provide. With all the different options and accounts for saving, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to go it alone; financial advisers can help you map out your plan. On the most basic level, it is suggested that people save 15% of their pay over a thirty-year period. It’s inevitable that life happens and often times life can be full of unexpected costs. Don’t let these unexpected expenses derail your retirement savings. It is crucial that people have also saved for an emergency fund so that you can keep your retirement savings safe.

Enroll in Employer-Based Plans