Do you think you're ready for retirement? If you do, you're distinctly in the minority. According to a recent survey by Yahoo Finance, 64% of Americans are likely to retire with less than $10,000 in their retirement accounts. And almost half of those surveyed said they had no money put aside for retirement. None. Zero. Zilch. Take a look at this graphic illustrating the results of that extremely worrisome survey. It's possible that a lot of these people are counting on Social Security to fund their retirements. But that's a very bad idea. Keep in mind that Social Security was created distinctly to keep elderly Americans out of poverty. Nothing more. To be sure, it does a great job of that. Without the program - one of the most popular government projects in U.S. history - about 38% of older Americans would have income below the poverty line. But that's all that Social Security will do: keep you out of poverty. Do you want to enjoy your retirement years? Travel? Treat your grandchildren to enjoyable outings and vacations? Dine at restaurants with good friends? Social Security will not pay for those things. It will put basic food on the table and help pay rent, and that's it. The estimated average Social Security benefit this year is about $1,500 a month, or $18,000 a year, according to the AARP. That doesn't even come close to a living wage in the U.S. You Need to Start Now It doesn't matter how old you are. You could be just starting your career and thinking you have plenty of time. Don't think like that. You need to start now. So if you think that you, like the majority of Americans, are not doing enough to ensure a comfortable retirement, there are many actions you can take today to change that. And the first thing you'll need to do to start is adopt these six retirement habits right now. Establish your retirement goals. Take advantage of your 401(k). Pay off your debt. Set a budget. Maximize your Social Security benefits. Focus on building wealth.
So don't wait. Start today. But preparing for retirement isn't about just saving money throughout your career. You can play an active role in funding your retirement by engaging in some smart investing. And Chief Investment Strategist Alexander Green has what he calls the "Single-Stock Retirement Play," and he says it could become the cornerstone of your retirement. Alex is known for his legendary recommendations - so when he says this is an astonishing, little-known investment, you should take note. If you're interested in learning more about how you can pad your retirement account, just click here to get started. Enjoy your weekend and stay safe, Matt | 
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