I’m a Financial Planner: 4 Retirement Moves You’ll Regret Not Making in 10 Years
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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One of the biggest challenges of retirement planning is making financial sacrifices today so you can live comfortably many decades in the future. It’s not always easy to look that far ahead, but doing so will help you avoid regrets later on.
That applies to the near future as well as the distant future. Not making the right decisions now means you could be second-guessing yourself in only a decade or so.
Here are four retirement moves you should make today so you don’t regret not making them 10 years down the road.
Maxing Out Retirement Accounts
One of the best ways to boost your retirement savings is to contribute the maximum amount to your tax-advantaged accounts. Not doing so is something you’ll regret in a decade because you will have missed out on the opportunity to grow your savings faster, according to Melissa Murphy Pavone, certified financial planner (CFP), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and founder of Mindful Financial Partners.
“Ten years from now, people often wish they had taken fuller advantage of 401(k) [plans], IRAs, HSAs and catch-up contributions,” she told GOBankingRates. “Time, not timing, is the most powerful asset.”
The maximum annual contribution you can make to a 401(k) account will rise to $24,500 in 2026 from $23,500 in 2025, according to the IRS. The limit on annual contributions to an IRA will rise to $7,500 from $7,000, while the IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals 50 and over will increase to $1,100 from $1,000.
Getting an Employee Match On Your 401(k)
Another important step is ensuring that your 401(k) contribution qualifies for a matching contribution from your employer. That match essentially means you are getting free money — and if you don’t take advantage of it now, you’ll regret it in the future.
“People should do whatever it takes to participate in their company’s 401K plan to the level to get the full employer match,” said Dr. Robert Johnson, chartered financial analyst (CFA), chairman and CEO at Economic Index Associates and professor of finance at Creighton University.
The opportunity loss of not electing to participate in an employer matching program is “substantial,” Johnson told GBR.
“If you have a 100% employer matching program, you are essentially electing to turn down the equivalent of 100% of what your own contributions would grow to,” he added.
Automating Your Retirement Savings
Regardless of which types of retirement savings accounts you have, it’s always a good idea to automate your contributions and increase them over time. Think of it as a regular budget item that will pay off well into the future.
“Small, steady increases compound significantly over a decade,” Pavone said. “Many people regret not being more consistent early on.”
Making an Estate Plan
Younger adults might not put a lot of thought into creating an estate plan or building a trust fund, but it’s something you’ll be glad you did once you hit retirement age. If you don’t have an estate plan 10 years down the road, you might find yourself regretting it.
In addition, be sure to keep your plan current and updated to align with changing tax and regulatory requirements, recommends Kevin Quinn, J.D., founder and president of Legacy Counsellors, P.C., an estate and business planning law firm that serves clients in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“My advice is to be diligent in your planning and don’t abandon your trust,” he told GBR. “Now is the time to preserve and protect your wealth.”
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