How To Set Realistic Career Goals To Speed UpYour Retirement Efforts

The average retirement age in the UK is between 64 and 65 years, plus or minus a few months
here and there; guest post from Dana S. Webb 

This doesn’t have to mean you have to wait until your golden years to retire, and
there are ways to put yourself in a position now to clock out permanently many years sooner.

Today’s tips touch on a few career and financial decisions you can make that will help.

Set SMART Goals.

If you haven’t heard of SMART goals before, now’s a great time to get acquainted with the idea.
Essentially, Smart goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed. At the very
least make sure that you set a date to complete specific goals, whether that’s to save X amount
of money or to be in a higher position.

Earn certifications.

Depending on your industry, earning certifications can help you make more money faster. Even
if you’re only making 10% more than now, that gives you an extra 10% that you can put directly
into savings, which can then either be invested or earn interest for the future. You might even
consider certification as a CNA, medical coder, or phlebotomist so that you can have a lucrative
part-time job.

Know where to invest.

As you can see on the DIY Investor site, there are many different ways to invest your hardearned money. While no individual should invest in the same way as someone else, it does pay
to understand your risk tolerance and goals. For some, it might make sense to invest in stocks,
while others might be happier with alternative investments.

Sell your skills.

Even if you are currently employed, your boss may not fully understand the value of your
contributions. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a raise, especially if you’ve recently
breezed through a performance review. Monster also says asking for a raise is a smart choice
after you’ve made a significant achievement or taken on additional job responsibilities. Each of
these milestones means that you are more skilled than you were before, and that deserves a
merit increase.

Be an entrepreneur (at least part-time).

The only way to achieve true wealth is to work for yourself. However, if you’re holding out for
certain retirement benefits offered by your company, then your entrepreneurial endeavors may
have to be your side gig. WiseStamp offers several tips on starting a side business, including
learning from other people’s mistakes, knowing which skills you need, and understanding your
competitive advantages.

Learn how to save.

When you retire, there’s a good chance you will have money coming in. That means you need
to put away as much as possible now. Unfortunately, learning how and when to save is often a
challenge. Start by eliminating debt and setting savings goals. You’ll also want to prioritize
paying yourself first. US-based Regions Bank also recommends skipping exotic vacations and
spending more money on items that will help you save in the long run.

The best way to ensure that you can take early retirement is to set SMART goals that help you
make an actionable plan. A combination of this, smart investing, and responsible money
management now can help you lead an easier life in the future. During your endeavors, don’t
count out the power of alternative investments, entrepreneurship, and skipping expensive
vacations now so that you can better enjoy your life at retirement.

Bookmark DIY Investor for access to additional content and resources that can help you get
ahead financially, no matter where you are in life.

Image via Pexels