Think carefully about specific plans you have made for your retirement, such as buying a home or traveling. Remember also that things like automobiles, roofs and dishwashers wear out and need to be replaced whether you are working or retired. Having to fund these items in addition to maintaining your standard of living may affect your investment strategy. These sources should be considered in setting your investment goals. For example, if your personal savings are in a very conservative investment vehicle such as a bank certificate of deposit or money market fund, you might want to use more aggressive investments in your MMBB accounts.
All investments carry some degree of risk.
Other investments have different types of risk, such as a company's financial failure or a declining economy. You need to decide how much and which types of risk you are comfortable with. Later in this Guide you will find a detailed discussion of investment risk. Read that section, then decide on an investment strategy that is consistent with your retirement goals. But you can ask for help.