Are you saving enough for retirement?

One of the best things you can do for your financial future is to start saving for retirement as early as possible. The longer you save, the longer compound interest can work on your behalf. Are you saving enough for retirement?
However, it’s not just about starting immediately. You also have to take into account how much you are setting aside. Even more, than the way your money is invested, the amount of money you save influences how successful your retirement is.
Before you assume that you are saving enough for retirement, really take a step back and evaluate your situation. You want to make sure that you are truly setting aside enough money for the future.

Be realistic about your gains

Your first step is to be realistic about the gains you can expect. Many people expect that stocks will return 10% a year and that bonds will return 5%. This just hasn’t been the case in recent years. Even over a long period of time, it’s far more realistic to expect that stocks aren’t going to return much more than 7% on an annualized basis.
Part of the problem is that investors think that setting aside $200 a month for the next 30 years is going to be enough. Even at 10%, you’re still not going to break $500,000 with a $200 a month contribution. At 7%, you’ll be a little bit short of $250,000 at the end of 30 years. That’s a big difference, and you need to be prepared for that difference in performance. Assuming a 10% return can be devastating to your retirement plans, especially since it may not happen. It’s always better to base your estimate of gains on a more conservative figure.

You just need to set aside more

There are a number of great, tax-advantaged options to help you save for the future. With the RRSP and TFSA, it’s possible for you to receive tax advantages for contributing to your future financial stability.
You need to contribute more. It’s vital that you contribute more. Max out as many tax-advantaged plans as you can, and then turn to other types of investment accounts if you need to. It’s important to set aside as much as you can for retirement. The truth is that investing $100 or $200 a month just isn’t going to do it for you.
Unless you are investing that $200 a month for 50 years, it’s probably not enough. Most of us don’t start investing $200 a month when we’re 15 and investing until we’re 65 to end up with a $1 million nest egg. Instead, you’re more likely to invest for 30 years, which means $900 a month is necessary, with a 7% return, to hit the $1 million mark.
Really look at your situation, and consider your future. Be realistic about the expected returns, and recognize that you probably need to invest much, much more than you are right now. Consider your needs and your future needs, and create a new investment plan that takes these things into account. Then get started, as soon as possible, to set aside as much as you can. You’ll be on a much better course for a successful retirement.