Retirement planning is essential, but do you really know how to do it effectively? The truth is that retirement planning is about more than just saving money. It’s about making smart decisions, and those decisions start long before you reach retirement age. For instance, do you know which investment categories will provide the best income? After you retire, do you know which accounts you should withdraw from first?
When it comes to retirement planning, some of the life decisions that will impact your retirement involve things like how to take care of your children and parents while you’re still working without sacrificing your own retirement efforts. It involves considering your plan five to 10 years before you retire, when you still have time to shift things around, and possibly lower your tax burden—which can net you more retirement income.