Retirement savings is an important part of financial planning. Chances are good the financial institution where you have your checking and savings accounts is a subsidiary of a bank holding company. This means that the money you save in these accounts are insured by the FDIC up to a certain limit. Retirement savings is different from other savings accounts in that it is specifically designed to provide income in Retirement.
Retirement planning in the United States has been focused mostly on saving, not spending. Instead of focusing on what happens in Retirement – when you no longer have a steady paycheck – many people focus on the money they need to save before Retirement. This means that Retirement savings is often seen as a rainy-day fund or a way to build a nest egg for the future.
Traditional Retirement savings plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs have been the mainstay for many years. These plans allow you to save money on a pre-tax basis, and the money grows tax-deferred until you withdraw it in Retirement. This can be a great way to save for Retirement, but it does have some drawbacks. For one, the money you contribute to these accounts is not available until Retirement, which can be a long time away.