A starter guide to retirement: 5 steps toward a secure future

Published 3 Min Read

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It’s not easy to prepare for one’s financial needs 40 years into the future, and yet a retirement plan is supposed to help workers do just that. But how can employees get into this mindset, especially as they’re first starting out? 

Some experts estimate that workers will need approximately $1 million to retire comfortably, with the average couple needing $315,000 for healthcare expenses alone. And while everyone’s necessary nest egg will vary depending on what standard of living they wish to maintain, saving enough money to live on after 65 is a daunting task for just about every American — especially as social security funds dwindle and the cost of living continues to skyrocket.

For Gottfried, the first question workers should ask themselves is if their employer provides a retirement plan. Typically that would be in the form of a 401(k), or if the employer is a non-profit or educational institution, they are required to offer a 403(b), which is similar to its better-known sibling, explains Gottfried. 

Read more: Debt stress is impacting retirement savings, and mental health

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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