Tips on planning for secure retirement

Right now is the perfect time to start planning for a secure, comfortable retirement. And you can count on Social Security to help you begin the process.

Set up an online Social Security account at social security.gov/myaccount so you can verify your lifetime earnings record and make sure you get credit for all your contributions to the Social Security system through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act payroll taxes.

You can use your earnings history and our online retirement estimators and calculators to get a glimpse of what your Social Security retirement future looks like. You’ll find important details such as your retirement age, life expectancy and estimates of how much you may receive in future retirement benefits from Social Security.

It’s important to keep in mind that Social Security replaces about 40 percent of your pre-retirement income, on average. So, a responsible retirement plan includes planning for more than Social Security.

Here are some more things you can do now to build your financial security:

• Contribute to pension plans offered by your employers.

• Maintain and grow savings accounts.

• Open and regularly contribute to an individual retirement fund.

As you plan for a finan- cially secure future, please keep in mind that the Retirement Estimator and benefit calculators provide you with estimates — not guarantees. Social Security can’t provide your actual benefit amount until you apply for benefits.