When it comes to achieving your dream retirement lifestyle, the single most important factor is the age you begin setting aside your retirement savings. The earlier you start saving for retirement, the better. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes for you to achieve your financial goals.

Ideally, you’d begin your retirement savings when you enter the workforce, in your early 20s or even younger. This gives your money over 40 years to accumulate and take advantage of compounding interest. While it’s never too late to start saving for retirement, you may need to be more aggressive and strategic to stay on track.