Saving vs. Investing to Reach Your Financial Retirement Goals One recent report says that 64% of Americans will only have $10,000 in their retirement accounts when they retire. If that seems like a lot right now, it's not even close to enough to live on when you stop working.  Retirement can last for 30 years or more. [1]    Saving is good, but it can only get you so far. If you have put off planning for your retirement, it's not too late to start. You could have the retirement of your dreams, but it will take some planning, work and time. Today, we'll talk about seven compelling reasons why taking charge of your finances now can help you in the long run. Inflation Matters. Prices of goods and services will go up and down over time. But overall, prices tend to go up over time, and this is called inflation. Over time, inflation can make the money you've saved worth less. Putting money away in a separate account for retirement is a good first step, but you sh...