Why is Retirement Planning Important for Gen Z?

Retirement is often the last thing on the minds of young adults in their 20s and 30s. 

With decades of career growth and advancement ahead of them, it’s easy to put off planning for retirement. However, the rising costs of living and looming uncertainty over social security benefits mean that the earlier you move through the phases of retirement, the better. 

Keep reading to learn why it’s crucial for Gen Z to plan for retirement: 

Take Advantage of Compound Interest 

Compound interest is one of the most significant benefits of planning retirement early on. 

Compound interest simply means the interest earned is reinvested and grows exponentially over time. 

If you start saving in your 20s or 30s, you’ll have more years to reap the benefits of compound interest, helping you build a substantial retirement nest egg. 

The longer you wait to start, the less time you have to save, thereby diminishing the benefits of compound interest. 

Waiting Means You’ll have to put More Money Aside to Reach Your Goal 

People often feel they have more time to catch up on retirement planning, but that’s incorrect. Actually, a significant advantage of starting your retirement planning early is that you need to save less each year to hit your retirement goal. 

The longer you wait, the more challenging it might become to attain your financial target, which means you’ll need to put aside more money to meet your goal. This also means you’ll have less funds to spread around for your current monthly expenses, paying off debts, and savings. 

You Won’t Have to Rely on Social Security 

Social Security benefits have been in jeopardy in recent years, and some think there is uncertainty about how much will be available to Gen Z in retirement. 

If you start planning for your retirement early on with a private retirement plan like 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you may be able to avoid counting on Social Security as your primary source of income. 

Get Ahead of Inflation 

Because retirement planning is a long-term strategy, you should consider inflation when estimating your retirement expenses. Inflation happens when changes in the balance of supply and demand in the economy affect consumer purchasing power. Inflationary pressures can chip away at your savings many years down the line, and unfortunately, this is not something you can predict. 

Over time, the cost of living, including food, shelter, gas, and healthcare costs, increases, meaning you’ll need more money to maintain the same lifestyle as you have now. Starting early could help you plan and adjust accordingly. 

Achieve Early Retirement 

Finally, starting early with retirement planning may help you realize your goal of early retirement. 

Early retirement is more achievable when you start planning as a Gen Zer because you’ll have more time to accumulate savings, invest wisely, and take advantage of other opportunities. 

By developing and sticking with a solid retirement plan, you could set yourself up for a comfortable retirement and even retire earlier than your peers.

Bottom Line

Younger generations often dismiss retirement planning as something to worry about later. 

However, Gen Z should recognize that the sooner they start planning for retirement, the better off they’ll be. 

By taking advantage of compound interest, you can grow your savings more reliably to provide for longer-term goals like early retirement. Starting early also means you’ll have more time to adjust for inflation and won’t have to rely solely on social security benefits. 

Remember, the earlier you start planning for retirement, the more secure your future might be.

Source: 

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/inflation-cost-of-living/