You never know what life will bring, but regardless of your age or career path, this financial planning checklist for educators can help you achieve the lifestyle you want in retirement. “You can’t just pick any amount of money to put aside each month,” says Alex Kokoves, managing director of GLP Financial Group and a professional who has been helping educators reach their retirement goals for 35 years. The twenties are the perfect time to start planning for retirement because you have free time and can take advantage of compound interest, which means your money will grow faster and you won’t have to save as much to reach your goals. Do you dream of moving to a warm place and reading by the pool or traveling the world? Do you want to spend your days gardening, crafting, or visiting family? It’s nice to dream about retirement, but you have to plan for it to happen. Maybe you have children who are in college and you plan to work for a few more years to keep saving for retirement, but your financial commitment is starting to dry up. If you have used this checklist to plan for retirement, you know that retirement is within your reach. For 50 years, GLP has been helping educators meet their financial retirement goals. “Things happen,” Kokowes says, “and plans sometimes change as retirement approaches. “However, a well-managed plan has the ability to unfold. Whether you’re a teacher in your 20s or 60s, you’ve probably thought about life after retirement. If you are in your 30s and just starting out in teaching, you need to transfer your savings from your previous jobs into retirement. It’s never too early or too late to start. That’s why we’ve created this checklist for retirement planning with teacher age in mind. Our checklist for age-appropriate teacher retirement planning is a good place to start. Continue to meet with your financial advisor regularly, make scheduled contributions, and stick to your plan. You may be tempted to take money from your retirement account to cover other expenses, but don’t do it for your long-term future. The next step is to work with a professional financial advisor to help you find a customized solution to bridge the gap between your retirement benefits and your current salary. The next step is to work with a financial representative to create a personal plan.