At every age, key planning steps are crucial for meeting retirement goals, according to a CNBC poll.

• A CNBC poll found that 44% of workers are "cautiously optimistic" about meeting their retirement goals, while 27% are "realistic" about it.
• Millennials and Gen Xers are roughly equally behind in retirement planning or savings, with about half of each group citing paying off debts or loans as the main reason.
• A majority of workers in the survey believe that attaining a comfortable retirement is more challenging than it was for their parents.

While many American workers are hopeful about achieving their retirement objectives, most believe it will be difficult for them to do so comfortably.

A CNBC poll found that 44% of workers are "cautiously optimistic" about meeting their retirement goals, while 27% are "realistic" about it.

A majority of workers, 69%, are concerned about being able to afford to stop working or retire fully, while 80% worry that Social Security will not be enough to live on in retirement. In a survey, 82% of workers said achieving a comfortable retirement is "much harder or somewhat harder" to achieve than it was for their parents.

SurveyMonkey conducted a CNBC report that polled 6,657 U.S. adults, including 2,603 retirees and 4,054 full-time or part-time workers, self-employed individuals, or business owners.

The need for workers to rethink their retirement plans has been driven by factors such as the decline in traditional pensions, the rising cost of health care, and increasing life expectancy.

"According to Joseph Coughlin, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, retirement is being retired as people often discover within a year or two that they need more money or something to do."

To achieve your retirement goals, consider implementing smart strategies at any age.

In your 20s & 30s: Maximize tax-advantaged savings

A majority of young workers surveyed in the CNBC poll, including 43% of Gen Z and millennials, express a guarded optimism about achieving their retirement objectives.

Rianka Dorsainvil, a certified financial planner and founder of YGC Wealth in Lanham, Maryland, stated that for individuals in their 20s and 30s, retirement is a distant concept that allows them to have the financial freedom to work because they want to, not because they have to.

Early retirement investing in tax-advantaged accounts maximizes the potential of compound interest.

Numerous employment prospects can provide the ability to adjust schedules and prioritize saving for the future. Many individuals in their 20s may hold a full-time job and engage in a secondary or part-time occupation during evenings or weekends.

Nate Hoskin, a certified financial planner and founder of Hoskin Capital in Denver, Colorado, advised that one could save in both a 401(k) plan at work and a self-employed retirement plan, such as a SIMPLE-IRA or Solo 401(k), simultaneously.

Ensure that you contribute enough money to your 401(k) plan to receive the full company match, and aim to increase your contribution percentage each year.

Contributions to traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans reduce your taxable income immediately, providing a tax break. However, you'll owe taxes on the withdrawn funds at your future tax rate during retirement.

Young workers who qualify can benefit from Roth accounts, which allow after-tax contributions that grow and can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement.

In your 40s: Monitor rising expenses

As you approach your peak earning years, your expenses may increase just as quickly. A CNBC poll found that about half of millennials and 47% of Gen Xers cited paying off debts or loans as the primary reason they felt behind in their retirement planning or savings.

Dorsainvil suggested that it's time to reevaluate financial goals by prioritizing paying off credit card and high-interest debt, increasing emergency savings, and avoiding dipping into retirement funds for unforeseen expenses.

To avoid "lifestyle creep," ensure that your expenses do not increase faster than your income. Evaluate your spending habits and identify areas where you can reduce or eliminate expenses.

In your 50s: Estimate your retirement income

Despite the fact that 48% of GenXers aspire to save $500,000 or more for retirement, the same percentage have currently saved $50,000 or less. Additionally, nearly 20% of this age group are uncertain about how much money they will need to spend each year on living expenses and other purchases in retirement.

It's time to boost your savings in your 50s and calculate your retirement income.

Catherine Valega, a CFP and founder of Green Bee Advisory in Winchester, Massachusetts, stated that not enough individuals engage in financial planning, which leads to a lack of awareness of the figures they encounter early on.

In 2024, you can increase your retirement savings by making "catch-up" contributions to your 401(k) or IRA. The maximum contribution for a 401(k) is $23,000, but if you're 50 or older, you can add an extra $7,500. For an IRA, the maximum contribution for 2024 is $7,000, with an additional $1,000 if you're 50 or older.

Retirement savings calculators can estimate the growth of your savings and the monthly income it could provide, taking into account Social Security benefits.

Valega stated that even if you're behind in saving, estimating your retirement income presents an opportunity to figure out how to make it work.

""We won't dwell on past mistakes. Instead, let's focus on what we can do now. What are our strengths and income-generating abilities? Then we can move forward," she said."

In your 60s: Test drive your retirement

According to a CNBC poll, 38% of baby boomers in their 60s and 70s are "on schedule" with retirement planning and savings, while 41% are "behind schedule."

Before entering your 60s and approaching retirement, consider taking a "test drive" to envision your retirement experience. Contemplate your activities, companions, and location.

Coughlin advised considering the question: "What actions will you take on any given Tuesday, as there will be numerous Tuesdays with expenses, challenges, and opportunities?"

Although many individuals now live into their 90s and beyond, a CNBC poll reveals that the number of people who believe they will "realistically" be able to engage in travel, hobbies, and family time during retirement is significantly lower than those who say they would "ideally" do so.

Before committing to a new lifestyle and location, test it out during your time off from work. Engage in activities you think you'd enjoy and vacation in the places where you believe you'd like to live. Additionally, evaluate your retirement budget by comparing the costs of housing, transportation, food, entertainment, and healthcare in that area to what you're currently paying. Try living within that budget for a few months while still working to see if it's feasible.

To achieve financial security, regardless of your age, Hoskin advised sticking to some fundamental principles. These include spending less than you earn, saving a substantial portion of your income, putting that money in the right accounts, and investing it for the future. This cycle, he said, is the key to creating generational wealth.

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