You've no doubt heard from multiple sources (including Kiplinger) that the key to financial security in retirement is to save early and often. Thanks to the value of compound interest, even small contributions to a 401(k) or other retirement savings plan when you’re starting out will add up significantly over time.
However, there’s math, and then there’s reality. Young workers face multiple financial demands, including student loan payments, mortgage and auto payments and rising childcare costs. It’s not unusual for individuals in their twenties and thirties to put their savings on hold or limit their contributions until those obligations begin to diminish and they reach their highest-earning years.
