Q: Isn’t It Too Early to Think About Retirement at 18? I Have More Urgent Things to Worry About
A: I hear this often. And I understand it. Retirement feels abstract when you're eighteen. But here's the thing - you're not actually saving for retirement at 18. You're saving for options.
The money you invest in your early twenties doesn't just grow. It compounds. At a historical average return of around 7%, money roughly doubles every ten years. So $5,000 invested at 22 could become $40,000 by the time you're in your fifties, without another dollar added.
That's not retirement planning. That's option-building. Future-you gets to decide what those options are: early retirement, a career change, a business, a dream trip, a contribution to your children's education.
The urgent things are real. I'm not dismissing them. But "urgent" and "important" are not the same thing. Paying your rent is urgent. Starting an investment account is important. Both deserve attention.
The good news: you don't have to choose between them. Start with $25 a month. Automate it. Forget about it. Check it in ten years.
You'll thank yourself.
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