{"id":40645,"date":"2026-08-12T10:47:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T05:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40645"},"modified":"2026-08-12T10:47:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T05:47:30","slug":"how-to-start-retirement-maxxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40645","title":{"rendered":"How To Start Retirement-Maxxing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"SelectRegularArticle-ArticleBody-6\" data-module=\"ArticleBody\" data-test=\"articleBody-1\" data-analytics=\"SelectRegularArticle-articleBody-6-1\"><span class=\"HighlightShare-styles-select-hidden--mu_W5\" style=\"top:0;left:0\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Move over, &#8220;looks-maxxing&#8221; and &#8220;vibes-maxxing.&#8221; Gen Z has a new obsession that&#8217;s been trending on social media: &#8220;retirement-maxxing.&#8221; And the numbers suggest they&#8217;ve long been onto something.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.vanguard.com\/content\/corporatesite\/us\/en\/corp\/articles\/us-retirement-outlook-our-2025-report-recap.html\" target=\"_blank\">2025 Vanguard study<\/a>, 47% of workers ages 24 to 28 are projected to have enough money to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement \u2014 the highest percentage of any generation.<\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s not just that Gen Z has been on track, they&#8217;ve gotten earlier starts, too. The share of Gen Z households with retirement accounts is three times higher than it was for Gen Xers at the same age, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ici.org\/news-release\/24-news-american-views\" target=\"_blank\">2024 report from the Investment Company Institute (ICI)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in this cohort and feel behind, here are three simple ways to take your retirement savings to the next level.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-blockquote--olsIR\">\n<h2>How to start retirement-maxxing<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"start-now-even-if-its-small\" class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-subtitle--Ge5RH\" data-subtitle=\"true\"><a id=\"headline0\"\/>Start now, even if it&#8217;s small<\/h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Gen Z isn&#8217;t waiting around to start putting their money in the market. Members of this generation began investing at an average age of 19, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/content.schwab.com\/web\/retail\/public\/about-schwab\/schwab_modern_wealth_survey_2024_findings.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Charles Schwab 2024 Modern Wealth Survey<\/a>. Compare that to millennials, who started at 25; Gen X, at 32; and baby boomers, who waited until 35.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly, given Gen Z&#8217;s head start, you don&#8217;t need a big salary to begin. Most major online brokerages these days let you get started with little or no money upfront. The below offer zero account minimums and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/best-brokerage-free-stock-trading\/\">commission-free trading<\/a>. Once you open an account, you can invest as little as $25 or $50 per month to get your feet wet. The goal isn&#8217;t to save a huge amount right away; it&#8217;s to start early and give your money more time to grow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-blockquote--olsIR\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/best-brokerage-account-bonuses\/\"><strong>Best brokerage account bonuses: Get up to $10,000<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"selectRegularArticle-FidelityInvestments-1\" class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-container--ggPlN\" data-test=\"CreditCard-1\" data-analytics=\"selectRegularArticle-FidelityInvestments-1\">\n<h3 class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-headline--qo9f8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.money.com\/pr\/g202c3da1fa9\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">Fidelity Investments<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-top--Ny5N9\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-featuresContainer--MOfZH\">\n<ul class=\"Features-styles-select-creditCard--Eb4ur Features-styles-select-featureList--o2tBn\">\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Minimum deposit and balance<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open a Fidelity Go\u00ae account, but minimum $10 balance for robo-advisor to start investing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Fees<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades and some mutual funds; zero transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds; $0.65 per options contract. Fidelity Go\u00ae has no advisory fees for balances under $25,000 (0.35% per year for balances of $25,000 and over, which includes access to unlimited 30-minute coaching calls with a Fidelity advisor and tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Bonus<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>None currently. Check Fidelity&#8217;s promotions page for the latest offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fidelity.com\/go\/special-offer\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment vehicles<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p><strong>Robo-advisor:<\/strong> Fidelity Go\u00ae <strong>IRA:<\/strong> Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs <strong>Brokerage and trading: <\/strong>Fidelity Investments Trading <strong>Other:<\/strong>\u00a0Fidelity Investments 529 College Savings; Fidelity HSA<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment options<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, CDs, options and fractional shares<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Educational resources<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Extensive tools and industry-leading, in-depth research from 20-plus independent providers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContainer CollapsibleContainer-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContent\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-bottom--RMU6E SelectProduct-styles-select-collapsibleBottom--YDByJ\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-prosAndConsContainer--nF8Eu\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-creditCard--zWpNk\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-pros--llcAG\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Pros<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Fidelity Go\u00ae portfolios use Fidelity Flex\u00ae mutual funds with zero expense ratios<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Human advisors manage day-to-day Fidelity Go\u00ae portfolio decisions<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Unlimited 30-minute coaching calls with a Fidelity advisor for accounts of $25,000 and over (at no extra cost)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Tax-loss harvesting available on taxable Fidelity Go\u00ae accounts with $25,000 or more<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Abundant educational tools and resources with research from 20-plus independent providers<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">24\/7 customer service<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Over 100 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for face-to-face support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-cons--Ygwae\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Cons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Fidelity Go\u00ae has a 0.35% advisory fee per year for balances of $25,000 and over<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Fidelity Go\u00ae invests only in Fidelity Flex\u00ae mutual funds (no third-party ETFs or individual securities available)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No socially responsible or ESG portfolio option through Fidelity Go\u00ae<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Some of Fidelity&#8217;s mutual funds require reaching specific thresholds<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Reports of platform outages during heavy trading days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"selectRegularArticle-CharlesSchwab-2\" class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-container--ggPlN\" data-test=\"CreditCard-2\" data-analytics=\"selectRegularArticle-CharlesSchwab-2\">\n<h3 class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-headline--qo9f8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.schwab.com\/\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">Charles Schwab<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-top--Ny5N9\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-featuresContainer--MOfZH\">\n<ul class=\"Features-styles-select-creditCard--Eb4ur Features-styles-select-featureList--o2tBn\">\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Minimum deposit and balance<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for active investing through Schwab One<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0Brokerage Account. Automated investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> requires a $5,000 minimum deposit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Fees<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Schwab One<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0Brokerage Account has no account fees, $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades, $0 transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds and a $0.65 fee per options contract<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment vehicles<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p><strong>Robo-advisor:<\/strong> Schwab Intelligent Portfolios<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> <strong>IRA:<\/strong> Charles Schwab Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited and Custodial IRAs; plus, a Personal Choice Retirement Account\u00ae (PCRA) <strong>Brokerage and trading: <\/strong>Schwab One\u00ae Brokerage Account, Schwab Global Account\u2122, Schwab Organization Account and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade\u2122<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment options<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs and ETFs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Educational resources<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Schwab offers courses, educational articles, videos, and webinars for investors at every level, plus advanced screeners, research tools, and market insights through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schwab.com\/learn\/author\/schwab-center-financial-research\" target=\"_blank\">Schwab Center for Financial Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContainer CollapsibleContainer-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContent\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-bottom--RMU6E SelectProduct-styles-select-collapsibleBottom--YDByJ\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-prosAndConsContainer--nF8Eu\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-creditCard--zWpNk\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-pros--llcAG\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Pros<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$0 minimum deposit for active investing<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No commission fees for stock and ETF trades; no transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">thinkorswim\u00ae trading platform offers advanced charting, strategy testing and multi-device access<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios\u00ae available with no advisory fee or commissions<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Access to on-demand advice from Schwab investment professionals<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Nearly 400 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for in-person support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-cons--Ygwae\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Cons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$5,000 minimum required for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios\u00ae robo-advisor<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$0.65 fee per options contract<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Tax-loss harvesting only available on balances of $50,000 or more within Intelligent Portfolios\u00ae<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">High cash allocation requirement in Intelligent Portfolios\u00ae may limit returns compared to competitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"selectRegularArticle-Robinhood-3\" class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-container--ggPlN\" data-test=\"CreditCard-3\" data-analytics=\"selectRegularArticle-Robinhood-3\">\n<h3 class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-headline--qo9f8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.money.com\/pr\/he773594950e\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">Robinhood<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-top--Ny5N9\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-featuresContainer--MOfZH\">\n<ul class=\"Features-styles-select-creditCard--Eb4ur Features-styles-select-featureList--o2tBn\">\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Minimum deposit and balance<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Fees<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading; regulatory transaction fees and trading activity fees may apply<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Bonus<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Get a free stock added to your brokerage account when you link your bank account and fulfill the promotion conditions (keep it or sell after 2 trading days)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment vehicles<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment options<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPOs, and select cryptocurrencies<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/robinhood.com\/us\/en\/about\/crypto\/\" target=\"_blank\">Robinhood Crypto<\/a> (availability varies by location)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Educational resources<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\"\/>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Terms apply. <em>*(Review Robinhood disclosures\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/robinhood.com\/us\/en\/about\/legal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>here<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>.<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContainer CollapsibleContainer-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContent\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-bottom--RMU6E SelectProduct-styles-select-collapsibleBottom--YDByJ\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-prosAndConsContainer--nF8Eu\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-creditCard--zWpNk\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-pros--llcAG\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Pros<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$0 minimum deposit to open an account and start investing immediately<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Get a free stock just for linking your bank account<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Access to fractional shares (own a piece of stock for just $1)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Beginner-friendly app with built-in educational content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-cons--Ygwae\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Cons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No human advisor or managed portfolio option<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Fees outside of commissions may apply<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"selectRegularArticle-Vanguard-4\" class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-container--ggPlN\" data-test=\"CreditCard-4\" data-analytics=\"selectRegularArticle-Vanguard-4\">\n<h3 class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-headline--qo9f8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.money.com\/pr\/z7b39dd57e31\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">Vanguard<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-top--Ny5N9\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-featuresContainer--MOfZH\">\n<ul class=\"Features-styles-select-creditCard--Eb4ur Features-styles-select-featureList--o2tBn\">\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Minimum deposit and balance<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open a Vanguard account, but minimum $1,000 deposit to invest in many retirement funds; robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor\u00ae requires minimum $100 to enroll.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Fees<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock and ETF trades; zero transaction fees for over 3,000 mutual funds; $20 annual service fee for IRAs and brokerage accounts (waived with at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets or by opting into paperless statements); robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor\u00ae charges approximately 0.15% net advisory fee annually (after fund revenue credits; 90-day fee waiver for new clients).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Bonus<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment vehicles<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p><strong>Robo-advisor: <\/strong>Vanguard Digital Advisor\u00ae <strong>IRA:<\/strong> Vanguard Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Spousal and SEP IRAs <strong>Brokerage and trading: <\/strong>Vanguard Trading <strong>Other:<\/strong>\u00a0Vanguard 529 Plan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment options<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, ETFs and options<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Educational resources<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Retirement planning tools<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContainer CollapsibleContainer-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContent\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-bottom--RMU6E SelectProduct-styles-select-collapsibleBottom--YDByJ\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-prosAndConsContainer--nF8Eu\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-creditCard--zWpNk\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-pros--llcAG\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Pros<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No commission fees for stock and ETF trades<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No transaction fees for over 3,000 mutual funds<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">One of the largest ETF and mutual fund offerings available, with an average expense ratio of 0.07%<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor\u00ae available with 90-day fee-free trial and approximately 0.15% net annual advisory fee after that<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Three portfolio strategies available through Digital Advisor: all-index, active\/index, and ESG<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Vanguard Personal Advisor\u00ae offers access to a team of financial advisors starting at $50,000; dedicated CFP access available at $500,000 through Personal Advisor Select\u00ae<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Vanguard 529 Plan helps you save for college early on<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Excellent customer service with phone and email access Monday through Friday<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-cons--Ygwae\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Cons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$20 annual service fee for IRAs and brokerage accounts (waived at $50,000 in qualifying assets or with paperless statements)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Vanguard Digital Advisor\u00ae requires $100 minimum to enroll and charges approximately 0.15% net advisory fee after 90-day trial<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Digital Advisor portfolios invest only in Vanguard funds (no access to third-party ETFs)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Basic trading platform compared to competitors; limited research and data tools<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No cash management account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"selectRegularArticle-Webull-5\" class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-container--ggPlN\" data-test=\"CreditCard-5\" data-analytics=\"selectRegularArticle-Webull-5\">\n<h3 class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-headline--qo9f8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webull.com\/\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">Webull<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-top--Ny5N9\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-featuresContainer--MOfZH\">\n<ul class=\"Features-styles-select-creditCard--Eb4ur Features-styles-select-featureList--o2tBn\">\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Minimum deposit and balance<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Fees<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options; regulatory transaction fees, exchange fees and options contract fees may apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Bonus<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Rotating welcome promotions, including free stock awards and deposit match bonuses of up to 4% on qualifying deposits. Premium subscribers ($3.99\/month or $40\/year) also earn a 3.5% match on IRA contributions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment vehicles<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p><strong>Brokerage account:<\/strong> Webull commission-free investing <strong>IRA: <\/strong>Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRAs <strong>Robo-advisor:<\/strong> Webull Smart Advisor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Investment options<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPOs, ADRs, OTC stocks, futures, US Treasuries, bonds and select cryptocurrencies through Webull Crypto<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItem--XBWNy\">\n<h4 class=\"Features-styles-select-featureItemHeader--DHZll\">Educational resources<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Features-styles-select-value--ApaQp\">\n<p>Webull offers educational resources, including beginner guides, advanced trading strategies and a paper trading simulator to practice risk-free with virtual funds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContainer CollapsibleContainer-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"CollapsibleContainer-collapsibleContent\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-bottom--RMU6E SelectProduct-styles-select-collapsibleBottom--YDByJ\">\n<div class=\"SelectProduct-styles-select-prosAndConsContainer--nF8Eu\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-creditCard--zWpNk\">\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-pros--llcAG\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Pros<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">$0 minimum deposit to open an account and invest<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Commission-free trading stocks, ETFs, and options<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Advanced charting tools with 50+ technical indicators<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Extended trading hours available 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, on select securities<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Paper trading simulator lets you practice strategies risk-free before investing real money<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Wide range of investment options including futures, bonds and crypto<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Access to tax-advantaged IRAs with a 3.5% contribution match through Webull Premium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-column--zbHVP ProsAndCons-styles-select-cons--Ygwae\">\n<h4 class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-columnTitle--RXXck\"><span class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-decoration--P6_Vt\"\/>Cons<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Self-directed platform (users are responsible for their own investment decisions with limited guidance) <\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">No mutual funds available<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Limited account types (no joint, custodial, trust or HSA accounts)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ProsAndCons-styles-select-item--ZT8du\">Educational tools are limited compared to full-service brokerages\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"shift-your-mindset-retirement-isnt-as-far-away-as-it-feels\" class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-subtitle--Ge5RH\" data-subtitle=\"true\"><a id=\"headline1\"\/>Shift your mindset: Retirement isn&#8217;t as far away as it feels<\/h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>When you&#8217;re 24, retirement can feel like a lifetime away. You&#8217;re probably more focused on making rent than thinking about your 60s. But that distance is exactly what makes it easy to put off, and why starting early can be so powerful. The math rewards you for treating &#8220;future you&#8221; as a priority now, not later.<\/p>\n<p>Take those Schwab averages, for example. Assuming a $500 monthly contribution and an average 7% annual return, with the money left invested through age 65, the Gen Zer who starts at 19 contributes $96,000 more than the baby boomer who starts at 35, but ends up with about $1.5 million more.<\/p>\n<p>Try reframing retirement savings less as &#8220;sacrificing for someone you don&#8217;t know yet&#8221; and more as automating a decision you&#8217;ve already made. Setting up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/save-more-without-thinking-with-cfps-systems\/\">automatic transfers<\/a> to a retirement account removes the temptation to skip a month and turns saving into a habit rather than a choice you have to make over and over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"no-401k-open-a-roth-ira\" class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-subtitle--Ge5RH\" data-subtitle=\"true\"><a id=\"headline2\"\/>No 401(k)? Open a Roth IRA<\/h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Not every entry-level job comes with a retirement plan, especially if you&#8217;re freelancing, working part time or just starting out. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/best-roth-ira-accounts\/\">Roth IRA<\/a> lets you save for retirement on your own, with no employer required.<\/p>\n<p>With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars, meaning you don&#8217;t get a tax break today. In exchange, your money can grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, too. That can be especially valuable for young savers who may be in a lower tax bracket early in their careers than they expect to be later on.<\/p>\n<p>And if you land a job with a 401(k) down the line, you don&#8217;t have to choose between the two. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/why-you-should-have-both-401k-and-roth-ira\/\">contribute to both<\/a> at the same time, giving you greater tax diversification in retirement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"PartnerOffers-container\" id=\"article-partner-offer-108212392\">\n<div class=\"PartnerOffers-topSection\">\n<div class=\"PartnerOffers-headlineRow\">\n<p>You can diversify your portfolio with precious metals through these gold IRAs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"Disclosure-disclosures\" data-testid=\"disclosure\">\n<p class=\"Disclaimer-styles-select-disclaimerContent--RYK3d\">Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"PartnerOffers-bottomSection\">\n<div class=\"Carousel-styles-select-carousel--aEtWQ\" data-testid=\"carousel\">\n<div class=\"Carousel-styles-select-carouselSlide--WUqSd\" data-testid=\"carousel-slide\">\n<div class=\"PartnerOfferCard-partnerOfferCard Carousel-styles-select-carouselCard--OzvLG Carousel-styles-select-twoCards--kayn6\" data-testid=\"partner-offer-card\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"PartnerOfferCard-image PartnerOfferCard-outerImage\" src=\"https:\/\/fm.cnbc.com\/applications\/cnbc.com\/resources\/product_select\/2023\/10\/23\/goldco.png\" alt=\"\" data-testid=\"partner-offer-card__image--outer\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"PartnerOfferCard-learnMoreAndHeadingContainer\">\n<div class=\"PartnerOfferCard-headingAndGridContainer\">\n<div class=\"ProductDataGrid-styles-select-container--nV33Z PartnerOfferCard-partnerOfferGrid\" data-testid=\"product-data-grid\">\n<div class=\"ProductDataGridItem-styles-select-item--SJoD3 PartnerOfferCard-productDataGridItemContainer\">\n<div class=\"ProductDataGridItem-styles-select-headingContainer--eqm00\">\n<p>Initial Purchase Requirements<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Minimum initial purchase requirement of $10,000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProductDataGridItem-styles-select-item--SJoD3 PartnerOfferCard-productDataGridItemContainer\">\n<div>\n<p>Minimum account balance of $25,000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ProductDataGridItem-styles-select-item--SJoD3 PartnerOfferCard-productDataGridItemContainer\">\n<div>\n<p>Account set-up fee of $50. Storage fees of $100 or $15, depending on storage type. Annual account administration fee of $125. Terms apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group InfoPanel-styles-select-container--AF446\" id=\"SelectRegularArticle-InfoPanel-1\" data-test=\"InfoPanel\" data-analytics=\"SelectRegularArticle-InfoPanel\">\n<p><strong>Subscribe to the CNBC Select newsletter!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"InfoPanel-styles-select-content--P6o4_\">\n<p>The CNBC Select Recommends newsletter delivers practical money tips each week along with expert-picked financial product recommendations. Sign up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/newsletter\/cnbc-select-recommends\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"why-trust-cnbc-select\" class=\"ArticleBody-styles-select-subtitle--Ge5RH\" data-subtitle=\"true\"><a id=\"headline3\"\/>Why trust CNBC Select?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>At\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/\">CNBC Select<\/a>, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every retirement article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.\u00a0While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Catch up on CNBC Select&#8217;s in-depth coverage of\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/credit-cards\/\"><em><strong>credit cards<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/banking\/\"><em><strong>banking<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/money\/\"><em><strong>money<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>, and follow us on\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cnbcselect\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CNBCSelect\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cnbcselect\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CNBCSelect\" target=\"_blank\"><em>X<\/em><\/a><em><strong>\u00a0to stay up to date.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Editorial Note:<\/strong> Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff\u2019s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Move over, &#8220;looks-maxxing&#8221; and &#8220;vibes-maxxing.&#8221; Gen Z has a new obsession that&#8217;s been trending on social media: &#8220;retirement-maxxing.&#8221; And the numbers suggest they&#8217;ve long been onto something. According to a 2025 Vanguard study, 47% of workers ages 24 to 28 are projected to have enough money to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement \u2014 the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/image.cnbcfm.com\/api\/v1\/image\/108345542-1785955532070-gettyimages-2282449407-zm1057129.jpeg?v=1785955546&w=1920&h=1080","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}