It is vitally important that anyone who wants to retire at 65, as I do, plan for that day. A saying we have in the financial services industry is "Failing to Plan, is, Planning to Fail" Put at minimum, 15% of your GROSS PAY in a Target Retirement Mutual Fund like the Vanguard Target Funds. Vanguard also has the lowest portfolio management fees. Fidelity and others are much higher. Have your pay taken out before tax. This will reduce your taxable income and you will not see the money and therefore not spend it. This is another vitally important part! You will learn you live without that 15%, as I have. Put the money in a mutual fund as early in your work career as you can and leave it alone. The economy runs in cycles....expansion or inflation and recession...this is normal in a Capitalist economy unless you have a Socialist president that we have now. Hopefully, this will change in November. Nevertheless, keep having the money put in on a monthly or bi weekly basis...you will need IT and Social Security to live on if you plan to retire. Call a Certified Financial Planner(fee based) and meet with him to have him set up your retirement, living will, estate planning, life insurance and help you understand where you are and what you need to do. You will be glad you did!