Financial Experts Share the Simple Retirement Advice They’re Giving To Clients in 2026

Core Insights - Financial experts emphasize the importance of simple retirement advice for 2026, focusing on strategies to protect and grow retirement savings Group 1: Separating Funds - It is advised to separate short-term money from long-term investments to safeguard retirement savings, preventing premature withdrawals from retirement accounts [2] - Emergency savings are crucial as they help individuals manage unexpected expenses without derailing retirement plans, leading to longer investment periods and higher retirement balances [3] Group 2: Managing Retirement Income - Retirement should be treated like a paycheck, with a fixed monthly deposit into checking funded from a cash reserve of zero to three years, while the remainder is invested for long-term growth [4][5] - This approach allows for steady spending, utilizes market volatility effectively, and provides better control over tax implications during withdrawals [5][6] Group 3: Maximizing Contributions - It is essential to contribute enough to retirement accounts to receive any available company match, as this represents free money that significantly enhances 401(k) balances over time [7] - Common employer match formulas include a dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% of salary and a 50 cents on the dollar match for the next 2%, with a recommendation to save about 15% of pre-tax income annually, including the match [8]