There are various reasons. Some see the elderly getting by on Social Security. Others simply lack the discipline to save. In a Fidelity survey, only about a quarter of respondents said they would make a lifestyle change now to save for later. A quarter! (These folks might want to go back and read Aesop's fable about the ant and the grasshopper.) Americans are living longer than ever thanks to healthier lifestyles and modern medicine. But if your investments are going to support your lifestyle into your late 80s or 90s, you want them to work as hard as you do. To supersize your portfolio, save as much as you can, as soon as you can, for as long as you can. Many people recognize this, of course. They just have trouble doing it. The key is to not just make saving a habit. Make it a priority. Pay yourself first. That means every month before you pay the mortgage, your student loans or even the utilities, set aside money for your future. Let me stop here to acknowledge that some people are too young or too poor to save anything at all. I get that. But those people do not generally spend their time reading investment columns like this one. Moreover, not saving anything at all is a bad habit to get into. And certainly not defensible for those earning close to the national median household income of $78,500. The best place to start is with an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k), where your contributions are both pretax and tax-deferred. (You may not think taxes are a big deal now, but as your wealth grows - trust me - they will be.) If you don't have access to an employer plan, use an individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA. And if you can save beyond those limits, better still. As we go through life, of course, we quickly learn that expenses rise to meet the income available. There is never a shortage of fabulous products and services vying for our attention. However, it is possible to say no. Several years ago, I was invited to do a segment about saving and investing on Fox TV in Tampa, Florida. Near the end, the interviewer suddenly popped this question: "What do you say to those viewers out there who say they just can't save anything?" "It might be that they're spending money they don't have on things they don't need to impress people they don't like," I said. Judging by the look on his face, that wasn't the answer he expected. Look, I realize that when you're young and starting out in life, saving may not be a priority. When you get older and have kids (and perhaps elderly parents) to support, saving can be tough, too. But most of us could get by - by hook or by crook - on 10% less than we're living on today. If we pay ourselves that 10% first, it will make a world of difference 10, 20 and 30 years down the road. Look at your own spending and determine where you can downsize or cut back. Do you have too much house, an enormous cable bill, frequent meals out or undisciplined credit card use? Don't rationalize by telling yourself that you will start saving eventually. Start saving something immediately. And then make it a habit. Albert Einstein called compounding the most powerful force in the universe. But it requires time. (Something that Einstein also knew a thing or two about.) When it comes to saving and investing, starting early confers an enormous advantage. And no matter your age, it's never too late to begin. Good investing, Alex | 
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