Try This Road Map to Plan Your Retirement

When it comes to retirement, the vast majority of Americans lack a concrete conception of what it actually means to plan for retirement. If you've had a successful career, you most likely have a retirement account, such as a 401(k), through your employer, and you may actually have a decent amount saved there.

But a retirement account and a retirement plan are not the same thing.

Instead of viewing your retirement strictly through the lens of savings in retirement accounts, I encourage you to look at it holistically. Think about it like you would think about building a house. If you're building a house, your first step wouldn't be to buy things like windows, doors, light fixtures, etc. You need a plan first, a blueprint. Financial instruments are like the parts that make up a house. Obviously, you will need them, but first