WEALTH AND ESTATE PLANNING

Saving for retirement is complicated, so it's not surprising that a few fundamental guidelines have become popular over the years to help simplify complex ideas.  Here are four that you might have come across in reading, researching, or just talking with friends.  Like most guidelines, they offer helpful starting points but need to be examined critically and adjusted for your specific situation.

Save 10% of your pay for retirement.  This is a good beginning, but many retirement experts suggest saving 15% of your salary.  If you started late, you may need to save more.  At the very least, save enough to receive any matching funds offered by your employer.  Consider this: If you save just 6% of your salary and your employer offers a full 6% match, you are already saving 12%!