Save on a Rainy Day
not just for a rainy day
By Brandon P. Smith
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

You've heard the saying before: save for a rainy day. We'd like to suggest you save on a rainy day. Just as April's showers bring May's flowers, your savings today can help make your retirement savings flourish in the future.

According to a recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 43 percent of Americans have saved less than $10,000 for retirement; 27 percent have saved less than $1,000.

If you haven't started already, now is the time to begin saving for your retirement - no matter what your age. If retirement is near, you'll want to jump into the fast lane right away.

If you're younger and retirement seems a lifetime away, it's still in your best interest to begin saving now, as compound interest will work to your advantage. Investors and financial advisors agree that saving when you're young will make a world of difference when the time comes to draw on your retirement savings.

Don't take our word for it. You can check out the numbers yourself. A great place to start figuring out how much you will need for retirement is to learn how much you could expect from Social Security. You can do that in minutes with Social Security's online Retirement Estimator.

The Retirement Estimator offers an instant and personalized estimate of your future retirement benefits based on your earnings record. Try it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

We encourage saving for retirement, but there are reasons to save for every stage of life. A great place to go for help is www.mymoney.gov. MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401(k) plan, the resources on www.MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.

Throughout the site, you will find important information from 20 federal agencies government wide. Another excellent resource is the Ballpark Estimator at www.choosetosave.org/ballpark. This online tool takes complicated issues, like projected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings, and turns them into language and mathematics that are easy to understand.

These online resources are a great way to spend a rainy day. And if you're hungry for more, dive into a wealth of further information at www.socialsecurity.gov