{"id":83670,"date":"2026-04-24T20:09:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/6-money-moves-to-make-in-your-20s-to-help-you-get-ahead\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T20:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:09:17","slug":"6-money-moves-to-make-in-your-20s-to-help-you-get-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/6-money-moves-to-make-in-your-20s-to-help-you-get-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"6 money moves to make in your 20s to help you get ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Retirement may feel a lifetime away when you\u2019re just starting your career. But planning early can help you set yourself up for success when you do reach retirement age.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->For many Americans today, retirement is more likely to bring feelings of insecurity than preparedness.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Just 61% of Americans of all ages (including retirees) feel confident they\u2019ll have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, according to the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research. That\u2019s down from 67% in 2025, and the lowest level of confidence since 2017.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->If you want to ensure you feel confident by the time you retire, the sooner you start saving, the better. And if you\u2019re in your 20s, you can take some important steps over the next several years to make the most of the decades ahead.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>Read more: <\/em><em>How to start investing: A step-by-step guide<\/em><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CDS Widget\" src=\"https:\/\/templates.cds.yahoo.com\/remote\/widget?campaignId=4ec2331a-fbb0-4230-81e2-d38f75a95135&amp;lineItemId=7198ba35-cdf3-466f-bde1-5c14788716b5&amp;contentId=92d6a622-b151-4002-862d-d871868dd68b&amp;viewId=Fme1v38fPNTzRBiHqPAxig&amp;providerId=yahoo_personal_finance_397&amp;site=finance&amp;spaceId=1183300100&amp;commerceSiteId=us-finance-pnr&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ffinance.yahoo.com%2Fpersonal-finance%2Finvesting%2Farticle%2Fmoney-moves-to-make-in-your-20s-191339909.html\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"480\" data-testid=\"iframe-with-resizer\" class=\"yf-16wd5dt\"><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->These are the steps experts recommend making today to best help your future self.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Perhaps the most important move you can make is also the simplest: Start saving. Establish a savings habit now that you can continue for decades to come.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Even if you\u2019re only contributing a small amount, get started while time is on your side.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cA lot of times people will be so afraid of doing the wrong thing that they do nothing,\u201d said Kevin Shuller, CFA, CFP, founder and chief investment officer at Cedar Peak Wealth.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Just taking some action can help you feel more prepared. Regardless of the amount they\u2019re contributing, workers of all ages who participate in a retirement plan are more than twice as likely (70% vs. 32% who don\u2019t participate in a retirement plan) to say they\u2019re at least somewhat confident in their financial security in retirement, according to the Retirement Confidence Survey.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>Read more: <\/em><em>How much money should I have saved by 30?<\/em><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->When you think about retirement savings, there\u2019s a good chance it starts with your employer\u2019s 401(k).<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cFor a lot of people, just participating in the 401(k), if your employer offers it, gets you most of where you need to go for your 20s,\u201d said Shuller.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->And there\u2019s a double benefit: \u201cNumber one, the savings come out of your paycheck automatically, so you do not have to think about it. And then you get the added benefit of, for most employers, the match. That\u2019s free money.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->You may not be able to max out your annual 401(k) contributions in your 20s, but a good goal is to contribute enough to get your employer\u2019s full match.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->For example, your employer might offer a 100% match on your 401(k) contributions, up to 5% of your salary. In practice, that means you can double the amount you contribute each year just by putting 5% into your 401(k) \u2014 before even accounting for growth once that money is in your account and invested. And with automated contributions, you won\u2019t have a chance to miss the money from your paycheck before it\u2019s gone.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->A Roth IRA is another tax-advantaged retirement account with major benefits. This account can help supplement your 401(k) retirement savings or offer an alternative if you\u2019re not eligible for a 401(k) through your employer.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cRoth IRAs are absolutely the way to go, especially for younger people,\u201d said Stephen Dissette, investment advisor representative at Horter Investment Management.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Roth IRAs have income limits, so you may not be eligible if you make over a certain amount in the future. That\u2019s one reason to take advantage when you\u2019re young \u2014 before you advance in your career. And because these accounts aren\u2019t tied to your employer, you can start saving even if you don\u2019t have a full-time position or a job with retirement benefits.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Roth IRA contributions are made after tax, so your money grows over time and can be withdrawn tax-free when you reach retirement age. This is different from 401(k)s and traditional IRAs; with those accounts, your contributions are made before tax and taxed as income when you withdraw in retirement.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Like your other accounts, you don\u2019t have to max out your contributions to start saving. Invest what you can as early as possible, so you can take advantage of long-term growth.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cWith a lot of IRA providers, you can set up an automatic $20 a month going into the IRA,\u201d Shuller said. \u201cMost people can swing that. That\u2019s just one meal that you\u2019re not eating out per month. I think that the idea is to start, no matter how small it is, just to get in the habit.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->An emergency fund may not directly be part of your retirement plan, but it still plays a major role throughout your working years and into retirement. Building your savings cushion now can help you avoid taking on high-interest debt or dipping into retirement savings in the future for unexpected costs or periods of income loss.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Experts recommend an emergency savings goal of three to six months of expenses in a high-yield savings account. But that sum can take time to save. In the meantime, contribute what you can.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cYou can put small amounts away,\u201d said Dissette. \u201cI\u2019m not talking crazy numbers, I\u2019m not talking about hundreds of dollars. I\u2019m talking about $25, $50 a pay period or a month.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->What\u2019s more, he said, you can contribute to both your shorter-term emergency savings and long-term retirement savings. You don\u2019t have to sacrifice one for the other; just keep adding what you can. \u201cIt\u2019s about getting in that right mindset.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"article-figure-image\" class=\"yf-750ceo\">\n<div class=\"image-container yf-lglytj\" style=\"--max-height: 247px;\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper yf-lglytj\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 960 \/ 247; --img-max-width: 960px;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Ag6he0u2VI8OXdmyka8rRg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTI0Nw--\/https:\/\/d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net\/images\/user-uploaded\/banking_hysa_cta.png\" alt=\"Banking HYSA CTA\" loading=\"eager\" height=\"247\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-lglytj  loaded\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->For many young Americans, credit card debt is already a growing obstacle. As of 2025, the average credit card debt for Gen Z was $3,493, according to data from Experian.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Debt payoff won\u2019t directly add to your retirement savings, but it will free up extra cash from interest payments to use toward retirement contributions. In fact, Americans without debt are much more likely to be at least somewhat confident in their retirement savings, according to the Retirement Confidence Survey (85% compared to 32% of workers who say debt is a \u201cmajor problem\u201d).<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->The challenge is figuring out how to prioritize debt and savings. On paper, the numbers often favor paying down debt before you start making any retirement contributions, Shuller said. \u201cIf you\u2019re paying 25% on your credit card debt, there\u2019s basically no investment that\u2019ll make up for that. So credit card debt needs to be paid off before you start thinking about investing.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->But the reality isn\u2019t so straightforward.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Even while you prioritize debt payoff, Shuller said, \u201cThere\u2019s a tremendous amount of value to building the saving habit. Even if it is just $20 a month. The $20 is nice, the habit that you\u2019re building is even more valuable.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Beyond traditional retirement savings accounts, a life insurance plan may be something to consider as you begin to think about retirement. It may be a way to save for the future beyond annual contribution limits for other retirement accounts.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cLife insurance can be a very strong complement to long-term planning,\u201d Dissette said. Life insurance can help protect your spouse or dependents if anything happens to you, and a cash value policy offers access to cash in the future.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->A permanent life insurance policy (like whole or universal life insurance) offers coverage throughout your entire life (unlike term life insurance). You\u2019ll make regular premium payments, and part of those premiums go toward the policy\u2019s cash value, which you can withdraw or take a loan from in the future.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->But these policies may not be for everyone. Premiums can be costly, and you may want to use the money toward other retirement accounts. Plus, the benefits may not be as useful if you\u2019re single and have no dependents.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Retirement may feel a lifetime away when you\u2019re just starting your career. But planning early can help you set yourself up for success when you do reach retirement age. For many Americans today, retirement is more likely to bring feelings of insecurity than preparedness. Just 61% of Americans of all ages (including retirees) feel confident [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":83671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_daextam_enable_autolinks":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[452,7452,161,7451,347,2814],"class_list":["post-83670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news","tag-contributions","tag-kevin-shuller","tag-retirement","tag-retirement-confidence-survey","tag-retirement-plan","tag-savings"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e26a724a-007b-419b-b789-3e6a7fc59642.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}