Why Retirement Planning Can’t Wait: A Decade-by-Decade Kickstart

By Riley Croswell

Most people in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s push retirement planning to “future me.” After all, who wants to think about gray hair and golden years when you’re still building a career, paying off student loans, or raising kids?

But here’s the truth: the earlier you start saving and investing for retirement, the less agonizing—and the more rewarding—your financial journey will be.

This article starts a short series on saving and investing by decade: your 20s, 30s, and 40s. Look at it as a guide that shows you how to change your money plan as life changes. Whether you’re starting your first career or juggling family expenses, there is a way.

Retirement may feel distant, but the earlier you start planning, the stronger your financial foundation will be. With AI reshaping the way we invest and build wealth, tools like my book AI Wealth Strategies: Smart Paths to Prosperity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence can guide you. Explore it here.

The Time Value of Money: Why Saving Early Makes a Difference

Let’s play around with a simple example:

Alex starts saving at age 25. They put aside $200/month into a retirement account that earns an average 7% interest annually.
Jordan saves at age 35. They save twice as much — $400/month — but with the same 7% interest.

Who has more money at age 65?

Even though Jordan saved twice as much, Alex had about $100,000 more.

That’s the trick of compound interest: your money working for you, but only if you wait long enough. Every year that passes is money left on the table.

Why People Delay (and Why It’s Risky)

These are some common excuses — and their stealthy price tags:

“I don’t make enough yet.”
Even $50/month is something. Waiting until you “feel ready” typically means never getting started.
“Retirement is too far away.”
That’s exactly the point — the further away it is, the more your money will grow.
“I’ll save later when I make more.”
Life has a strange way of filling new income with new expenses — house, kids, vacations. If you don’t establish the habit up front, “later” never does arrive.

Traditional saving methods are no longer enough on their own. AI-powered strategies can help you maximize returns and make smarter choices for long-term security. I go into detail about this in AI Wealth Strategies, which you can find here.

A Roadmap by Decade

Every person’s financial path is unique, but here’s a rough outline of what to prioritize by decade:

20s: Create the foundation.
Focus on habits, not numbers. Start a retirement account, start small, and learn about investing basics.
30s: Grow and consolidate.
Income normally rises, as do expenses. This is the decade to boost contributions and diversify the investments.
40s: Catch-up and protect.
You have fewer years until retirement, but more income potential. It’s time now to maximize savings and reduce financial threats.

We’ll explore deeper into every decade in upcoming posts.

Three Things You Can Do Right Now (At Any Age)

1.Automate Your Savings.
Set up automatic transfers into a retirement account. Make it a non-negotiable bill.

2.Start Small, But Start Now.
Even $25 per week will stack up. The habit is more valuable than the dollar amount in the beginning.

3.Know Your Retirement Account Options.
If you’re in the U.S., learn about:

401(k): typically employer-matched with a potential match.
IRA (Traditional or Roth): individual accounts with tax benefits.
HSAs (Health Savings Accounts): triple tax advantage if qualified.

Final Thoughts

Retirement planning isn’t an endless preoccupation with money — it’s an escape. An escape from having to work to survive, because you can work because you desire it. An escape from financial worry so you can travel, enjoy time with family and friends, or pursue long-held passions.

And the good news? You don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to retire comfortably — you need consistent habits.

This series will walk you through each decade, starting with your 20s.

Want more? Subscribe to our blog and get notified when Part 2: Saving and Investing in Your 20s — Build the Foundation goes live.

Pro Tip: At the end of the series, I’ll be sharing a free “Retirement by Age Checklist” — a one-page guide you can print and stick on your fridge. Make sure you don’t miss it!

The best time to start planning for retirement is today. With AI on your side, you can prepare more effectively and confidently. Learn how in AI Wealth Strategies: Smart Paths to Prosperity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence here.