As you rush to work, run to pick up the kids, or scramble to make dinner, retirement may seem like a far-off dream. Or maybe you try to talk to your partner about planning for the future, only to end up in a fight about how much to save now so you can enjoy life later. You delay this money conversation hoping that, in time, it will get easier. The truth is that waiting can be detrimental to achieving a secure future. So the time to talk about retirement is now.

In the fall issue, we address reader questions about how to make the most out of open enrollment season at work, year-end tax planning, and expectations for the stock and bond markets in the years ahead.

In this summer’s issue of VESTED, we address reader questions about new regulations from the Department of Labor affecting financial advisors, gifting via qualified charitable distributions, and stock market behavior in election years.

Many people are aware of the benefits of using a traditional 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA) to save or invest money for their retirement, but they may have either not heard of—or possibly overlooked—the advantages of Roth savings opportunities within their employers’ retirement plans.

Accumulating a substantial nest egg for your retirement years may seem overwhelming, but there are smart ways to plan for retirement at every age, says Eric Freedman, chief investment officer for CAPTRUST.

When it comes to saving for retirement, starting early is crucial, says Michael S. Pratico, a CAPTRUST financial advisor in Falmouth, Maine.

“The key to building wealth is simple in theory but difficult to do: Spend less than you make and invest the rest,” says Jean Duffy, a CAPTRUST financial advisor in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Saving and investing for retirement is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to plan for it, work at it and, if possible, get help from investment professionals.