Contributed by: Kelsey Arvai, MBA
Saving for retirement can feel like flossing your teeth; we know we should, but sometimes it is easier to keep putting it off. If you are young and have yet to prioritize your retirement savings, you are not alone. According to Investment Executive, only 58% of Millennials are actively saving for retirement. While this might sound as scary as flossing your teeth, time is your greatest advantage.
When comparing a 25 and 35-year-old who have each saved $10,000 in their 401(k)’s, the 25-year-old could build a $200,000 retirement fund by the time they are 65 without adding any more money (assuming an 8% rate of return). In contrast, the 35-year-old could reach $100,000 of savings by age 65 without saving another dime (assuming an 8% rate of return). Both are able to grow their savings massively, thanks to compounding interest. The 25-year-old has had more time (10 years) for their interest to compound, hence the $100,000 advantage over the 35-year-old. The lesson here is that the sooner you start saving for retirement, the more time you will have to take advantage of compounding interest.
Compounding happens when your savings are reinvested to generate their own earnings, those earnings create more, and so on. This is the key to helping grow your savings, and getting started early pays off. With time on your side, saving becomes much more pleasant and accessible. If you have access to an employer-based retirement plan, it is a good idea to make the most of it. Most employers will also match some of your contribution, and it is in your best interest to contribute at least that match, so you are not leaving any money on the table. For example, if your employer matches up to 3%, it would be most beneficial to you to defer at least 3% of your paycheck (pretax) so that you retain the full 6% (3% of your deferral + 3% employer match) of your income going into your retirement savings.
Since the deductions are pretax, meaning the savings happen before the check hits your bank account, you will likely hardly notice your money being put away once you have created the habit. The longer you wait to plan for your retirement, the more you will need to invest later on. In your twenties and thirties, a longer time horizon before you retire affords you the ability to invest largely in stocks, where you will be able to handle market losses and benefit from market growth.
An early start is only the beginning for retirement savings. It is important to stay consistent with your commitment to your retirement savings. The sooner you start saving, the better - reach out to us if you have any questions on how to get started!
Kelsey Arvai, MBA is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® She facilitates back office functions for clients.
This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Kelsey Arvai, MBA and not necessarily those of Raymond James.