Lesson 1 SLIDE 1 --- Welcome everyone! Today, we're starting an important conversation, one that might seem far off, but is incredibly relevant to your lives right now. The purpose of this initial lesson, is to empower you. To give you the knowledge and confidence to build financial security for your future: retirement. We're going to explore why thinking about your future retirement *today* is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. Let's get started. --- 

 SLIDE 2 ---  When you hear the word 'retirement', what's the very first thing that pops into your head? Move beyond age. What images, feelings, or activities come to mind? Do you see – travel, pursuing hobbies, relaxing... What does 'retirement' look like *to you* personally? Let's take a moment to think about your retirement. Keep those visions in mind as we move forward. Remember that retirement isn't just an age; it's a phase of life filled with potential. --- 

 SLIDE 3 --- Let's define retirement in a practical sense. At its core, retirement is a phase of life where you transition from relying primarily on earned income from a job to living on savings, investments, and potentially other income sources like Social Security. The key phrase here is 'financial independence'. Unlike generations past where company pensions were common safety nets. 

But for most people today, individual savings and investments play a much larger role in funding retirement. This shift means that *planning and saving ourselves is not just an option, but a crucial part of securing our financial well-being* for those later years. You may be in retirement for 20 or more years. Look at the slide timeline. education, career, retirement --- 

 SLIDE 4 --- Now, let's fast forward 40, 50 years... Imagine your future self. What does a typical day look like? What do you want to be *doing* with your time? Where do you want to live? What kind of lifestyle do you want to have? Are there hobbies, travel plans, or personal projects you hope to pursue without the constraints of a full-time work schedule? These aspirations – your dreams for your future life – are the powerful fuel for your retirement savings goals. Saving isn't about giving something up today; it's *about making those future possibilities* a reality. --- 

 Slide 5 - Reality check - Traditional company pensions are becoming rare. You have a personal responsibility to build your retirement fund. Also keep in mind that people are living longer and your savings may need to last 30+ years 

 SLIDE 6 --- Your biggest advantage is time, this the most important concept we'll touch on today, especially for you as young adults in your 20 or 30s: Time. You have something incredibly valuable on your side right now: decades. Decades until you reach that traditional retirement age. This vast amount of time is your biggest asset when it comes to saving and investing for the future. Time allows your money to do something truly powerful – it allows it to *work for you*. The longer your money is invested, the more potential it has to grow significantly. --- 

 SLIDE 7 --- This brings us to the core message: Why 'NOW' is the time to start thinking and acting on retirement savings. It's because of something often called 'the magic of compounding'. The earlier you start, the more you will save.

 Think of it like that snowball – starting small, but picking up speed and mass as it rolls down a hill.  A smaller amount saved starting today has the potential to grow into a much larger sum than starting 10 or 20 years from now. Starting NOW means you avoid the stress and difficulty of trying to play catch-up later in life. --- 

 This chart show the amount you would have if you started saving $7,000/yr in a taxable account earning 5% interest.  you can see that by staring early, you will have a lot more when you reach 65.  

We will be going over strategies on how you could save even more. So if you haven't started saving yet, the best time to start will be NOW!

 SLIDE 8 --- Thinking about retirement saving isn't just about numbers and accounts; it's fundamentally an act of self-care and personal responsibility. By taking steps now, you are building a foundation for your own security and well-being in the future. It's about giving yourself options and providing peace of mind knowing you are actively working towards your long-term goals. It's an empowering feeling to know you are taking control of your financial destiny. --- 

 SLIDE 9 ---  Yes, retirement might feel like it's lightyears away, but the actions you take *today* have a massive and positive impact on what your life will look like in the future. Your time is your most valuable asset. 

It is your SUPERPOWER!

Understanding *why* starting early is important is the crucial first step. In my upcoming lessons, we'll discuss specific tools and strategies to help you get started. 

 Side 10  I am asking you to take a few minutes to do this: Think about just *one thing* you envision yourself doing in retirement. Hold onto that picture. Use it as motivation as you begin to learn about and take steps towards building that future.