While many people give significant thought to life at work, far fewer plan appropriately for life after work. Retirement can seem so far off that it s difficult to envision. On top of that, the financial demands of everyday life can leave little opportunity to fund a retirement nest egg. The fact is, however, that retirement can easily span two or more decades.
People avoid thinking about retirement for a host of reasons.
As we progress through our lives, we are often faced with continued demands on our time and resources as we search for our first home, help raise our children, and help provide for aging parents. While it s easy to find reasons to postpone retirement planning, it s still vital to realize the importance of a little financial discipline early on. An early start may lead to rewarding results with compound interest working to your advantage. This example clearly shows the potential power of compounding interest over time. With each passing day, however, the beneficial effects of compounding will have less and less of an impact.