I’m a Financial Planner: 4 Retirement Moves You’ll Regret Not Making in 10 Years

Core Insights - Retirement planning requires making financial sacrifices today for a comfortable future, emphasizing the importance of long-term decision-making [1] Group 1: Retirement Account Contributions - Maximizing contributions to tax-advantaged retirement accounts is crucial for enhancing savings, with potential regrets for not doing so in the future [3] - The IRS will increase the maximum annual contribution for 401(k) accounts to $24,500 in 2026 from $23,500 in 2025, and for IRAs to $7,500 from $7,000, with catch-up contributions for those over 50 rising to $1,100 from $1,000 [4] Group 2: Employer Matching Contributions - Ensuring participation in a 401(k) plan to receive full employer matching contributions is essential, as it represents free money that can significantly impact future savings [5] - The opportunity cost of not participating in an employer matching program is substantial, equating to turning down potential growth of contributions [6][7] Group 3: Automating Savings - Automating retirement savings contributions is recommended, treating it as a regular budget item that will yield benefits in the long run [8]