There are lots of things in life you can't control, but your savings for the future don't have to be one of them. At Edward Jones, we partner with you to understand why you're saving and then can help you figure out what you can do today to help get there. So what can you do today to make a difference down the road? Well, when it comes to saving for retirement, we think there are three main things to think about.

The power of three

  1. Time: how long you save
  2. Money: how much you save
  3. Return: how much your investments earn

Time and money

You control both time and money. And while you may think you have little control over the return, you actually control more than you think. You control the "how," or how you have your money invested. That's because how much you have in cash or fixed income versus growth investments can affect your return potential greatly.

Systematic investing

One simple way to incorporate investing into everyday life is through systematic investing. For example, by automatically investing a set amount of money each month into a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) at Edward Jones, you can help make sure you're putting away as much money as you can. This may help you reach retirement even sooner.

We're here to help

If you want to see how some of these changes can impact the big picture and better position you to reach your goals, just ask your Edward Jones financial advisor. You can review different scenarios together to see what makes the most sense for you. Even small changes, such as saving a bit more, can be beneficial over the long term. Systematic investing doesn't guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Investors should consider their willingness to keep investing when share prices are declining.