It's never too early to start saving for retirement. But your strategy at 25 won't be the same as when you're 65.
In fact, as you get older, there are some key ages you want to keep in mind. For example, once you hit age 50 you can boost how much you contribute to your 401(k) and IRA because you'll qualify for "catch up" contributions. By the time you turn age 59 1/2, you can access money in IRAs and other retirement accounts without having to worry about incurring early-withdrawal penalties, which disappear at this age.
To learn more about the significant age milestones on the path to retirement, take a look at our slide show. The timeline lays out what you need to do, and when you need to do it, to make the most of your savings.
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Retirement Timeline
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Dow Trims Its Loss to 498 Points: Stock Market TodayMarkets are wondering more and more about returns on the enormous amounts of capital hyperscalers are investing in AI.
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5 Mark Cuban Quotes Every Retiree Should Live ByThe billionaire businessman and Shark Tank alum has some advice that may surprise you.
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What Does Medicare Not Cover? Eight Things You Should KnowMedicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
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15 Reasons You'll Regret an RV in RetirementMaking Your Money Last Here's why you might regret an RV in retirement. RV-savvy retirees talk about the downsides of spending retirement in a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or other recreational vehicle.
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457 Plan Contribution Limits for 2026Retirement plans There are higher 457 plan contribution limits in 2026. That's good news for state and local government employees.
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Estate Planning Checklist: 13 Smart Movesretirement Follow this estate planning checklist for you (and your heirs) to hold on to more of your hard-earned money.
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Medicare Basics: 12 Things You Need to KnowMedicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
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The Seven Worst Assets to Leave Your Kids or Grandkidsinheritance Leaving these assets to your loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. Here's how to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
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SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2026SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $70,000 in 2025, and up to $72,000 in 2026.
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Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
