Tip! For myself I consider the type of IRA retirement planning more convenient. The IRA retirement plan also offers putting the funds into special account but it allows more freedom in using the funds.

Are you ready for retirement? Sure, you’re mentally prepared to leave the everyday rat race, to throw your alarm clock in the garbage, and to spend your days doing whatever you so please. The question is: are you ready financially? If you’re like most Baby Boomers, the answer is probably “no”.

A recent study by the Employee Benefits Research Institute showed that over 50 percent of workers ages 45 to 54 have less than $50,000 saved for retirement. The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College completed a study that showed nearly 54 percent of low-income Baby Boomers born between 1955 and 1964 are at risk for missing their retirement savings goal. Research by Fidelity Investments shows that most Baby Boomers have enough saved for retirement to replace just 59 percent of their full-time working income. The numbers don’t lie: most Boomers are not ready to retire, regardless of what they think.

But all is not lost. It’s never too late to start planning your retirement. However, the closer you get to retirement age, the more aggressively you need to save. It’s also possible that you might have to work a few years longer than you thought you would, or pursue money making ventures outside of your life-long career.

Tip! This is were retirement planning comes in and the earlier in life you start this the better. All the pleasures of retirement can only be enjoyed if your income is sufficient to support you and your spouse.

Okay, say you’ve hit the big 5-0. Retirement is suddenly not such a far off proposition, but a short-term reality. In no way are you ready financially, so it’s time to buckle down. The first thing you need to do is take a good, long look at that 401(k) of yours. Max it out. That’s right, make yourself a budget and sacrifice if you must, but find every last available dime and pump it into that fund. It deserves your attention. Thankfully, there’s something called a “catch-up provision” that was created for people just like you. It allows people 50 and over to add an additional $5,000 to their 401(k) over the maximum allowed by law in 2006. Not bad. For IRAs, you can contribute up to $1,000 per year as a catch-up in 2006. Do it. It’ll be well worth it.

Once you’ve maxed out your retirement funds, take a look at your personal budget. Sit down and find out where all your money is going, and where you can save. Pay off high-interest credit card debt as fast as you can, refinance car or home loans, phase out your more expensive habits or hobbies; do whatever it takes to save a few extra dollars per month towards your nest egg.

Tip! -Not taking retirement planning seriously

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