Financial Dieting Can Help You Plan For Retirement

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – When you think dieting, do you think finances? If you want to lose weight you need to change your habits. The same can be said when it comes to saving for retirement.

The stricter your financial diet is now; the better off you'll be 20 or 30 years from now.

According to a CBS News poll, saving for retirement ranks second as the financial matter that worries Americans the most.

Retirement – the ten letter word that most workers discuss but don't necessarily always make a priority.

"Tracking money isn't fun, but it's important to do," Michelle Monson said.

Monson is a certified financial planner for Thrivent Financial and has more than a decade of experience in the financial advising industry. She primarily helps people who are just starting to think about their financial future or those who are ticking toward retirement.

"It's important to understand what your absolute needs are," Monson said.

Also asking the questions, what are the things you spend money on? According to Monson, savings accounts for college, Roth IRA's, 529 plans and some municipal bond funds are some of the best after tax vehicles to make investments.

According to research conducted by Fidelity Investments last year, a couple retiring today at 65 is expected to pay around $220,000 of health care costs.

With that in mind, Monson said it's important to look at the big picture and no matter what, it's never too late to start saving.

"It's not too late to start planning. Having some sort of financial plan whether you're using an online tool or a financial planner, it's never too late to plan," Monson said.

We're doing a little research of our own! We're curious about when people think they will retire. Take our poll below and let us know you're retirement plan.