(Prosperity - Rebecca M Haggerty)
Ding, ding! Time to start thinking about … retirement!
1. Start Picturing What You Want From Retirement. By this point you should have money set aside for your future and be thinking about how much you need. Here at Prosperity, we’re pretty partial to the MSN Retirement Calculators. 
Picturing what retirement means for you and what you want it to look like, whether it’s kayaking in Northeast Canada, touring vineyards in the south of France or sitting back and reading all those New Yorker magazines you never got around to. Contribute the maximum allowed to your retirement plan if you haven’t already.
2. Continue To Build A Good Investment Portfolio Outside of Your Retirement Plan. That’s money you can access if you need or want to retire early, since traditional retirement accounts don’t let you touch the money without penalty until you’re about 60.
3. Make Sure Your Retirement Plan Is Properly Allocated. Owning different kinds of stocks and bonds allows you keep your money safe and growing. Just how you should divide your money depends on how much risk you can stomach (remember those jumpy markets) and how many years away you are from retirement. Your portfolio should shift from a long term growth strategy to more liquid assets as you age.
