Retirement Planning for Absolute Beginners

How to Save and Invest Before You Retire

Retirement isn’t an age or a number. It’s a plan you can build.

If you’re thinking about retirement, these are the questions that matter:

• What does retirement actually mean for me?
• How much money do I really need?
• Am I saving enough — or already behind?
• How do I make sure my money grows for retirement?

If you want to know how to save and invest with retirement in mind, start here.

A Simple, Beginner-Friendly Retirement Guide (Before You Retire)

Most people were never taught how retirement planning really works. Not in school. Not at work. And often not until it feels too late.

This book is designed for the years before you retire — when you’re still working, still saving, and still making the most important decisions that shape your future. It focuses on building a clear, simple foundation so you can move forward with confidence.

If you’re looking for advanced, later-stage topics like Roth conversions, IRMAA planning, or long-term care optimization, those typically come after this stage. This guide helps you build the plan that makes those decisions easier down the road.

The Three Numbers That Shape Your Retirement Plan

You’ll learn how to calculate:

• Your annual spending number
• Your retirement number
• Your monthly savings number

No jargon. No hype. Just practical guidance you can use immediately.

Inside you’ll learn how to:

• Understand what retirement really means (income, not an age)
• Choose the best retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth, taxable)
• Build a simple, low-cost retirement portfolio using index funds (based on past performance)
• Create a realistic savings plan based on your timeline
• Stay on track — and adjust as life changes

Built for Busy Beginners
You can build your retirement plan in just a few focused hours using the step-by-step framework in this book.

By the end of this short, practical guide…
You’ll have a retirement plan you actually understand — and a clear set of numbers you can start acting on today.

Simple steps. Clear explanations. A future you can feel good about.

Readers get access to free companion resources, and additional beginner investing tools are available on Hanif Bagwandeen’s website.