We Asked: How are you preparing for retirement?

Here is what you told us...

I would advise everyone to have a retirement account. Talk to a financial expert. I put in $14,000 a year. It takes some getting used to, but now I don’t miss the money so much. In this day and age, we need to prepare for it. Invest what you can, but definitely invest in retirement.
Lori Ledbetter
Los Angeles, California

I am already semiretired, and I don’t plan to stop working because I love my work. I expanded my opportunities for income for the last 13 years by learning new skills and by refining and improving the ones I already had. A divorce and other major life changes forced me to get serious about retirement: work harder, diversify, save money (not spend it) and follow through on a financial advisor’s plan. Hiring a financial advisor was one of the smartest things I ever did. Sticking to that plan and making a commitment to take care of my financial, physical and emotional health—no matter what else was going on in my life—was the best decision I ever made.
Lana Ryder
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

I have great hope for the future, but also great uncertainty. I prepare by preserving my health, ethics, integrity and education. Money would be nice, but money comes and goes. I do not focus on money; I focus on human relationships. It is our relationships in life and business that sustain us.
Jen Whitewing
Boise, Idaho

I opened a massage and acupuncture healing center, but have come to the realization that I cannot do it all. I created this dream, was the massage therapist, office manager, cleaning lady and marketing director. Now, I am at the point in life where I want to take an early retirement, slow down, smell the roses and travel. I have taken each part of what I’ve done and have now delegated to more people. When the time is right, I will eventually sell my business and pass on the baton to the right person. I am now free to enjoy more time with my family [and] travel, but still have a sense of purpose.
Sandra L. Panek
Pelham, New Hampshire

I have been putting $3,000 to $5,000 a year in a SEP IRA for at least five years now.
Shawna Conner
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

I have been working as a licensed massage therapist since 1999. Because of difficult financial problems stemming from my husband’s former business partners and resulting legal fees, we have been pouring everything into our debt reduction. I am 56 [years old], and don’t feel anywhere near preparing for retirement. I love what I do in my practice with massage, craniosacral therapy and emotional-release processing. I have looked into other career options, none of which seem satisfying or as lucrative. However, I am not putting anything, other than social security, towards retirement and neither is my husband.
Trudy Barnes
Provo, Utah

In this world of chaos, I’m really not too concerned with my retirement. My concerns lean toward living family who need my love and support. The time and money spent now isn’t leaving much for my retirement, [but] will I live to regret it? Maybe, but I’ll never regret spending that extra [time] to go visit them and be present in their lives.
Vic Olsen
Salt Lake City, Utah

I am investing up to the maximum amount each year in a Dividend Growth Mutual Fund IRA. I also own some rental property as well as my own home. I plan on continuing to purchase rental real estate as my funds allow. I will sell some of it as it appreciates or use the income it generates to support my retirement.
Timothy Mulcahey
Portland, Oregon

I am planning for retirement through a retirement fund. Business with massage therapy has been real slow lately, so I am unable to contribute to my retirement fund like I would like to.
Jim Baer
Kearney, Nebraska