Only 5% of retirees say they “live the dream” and that 19% live the nightmare “. Here are 3 lessons to protect your future

In this spirit, let us take a closer look at a few lessons that can be learned from those who have already retired.

1) You probably don’t save enough

According to our research, less than half of all retired Americans (40%) think they have saved enough for retirement, and 45% say that their expenses are higher than expected.

At any age, retirement savings can be difficult.

In the twenties and thirties, you are probably faced with a multitude of competing financial priorities which include student loan debt, car payments and savings for a house. It is also tempting to succumb to procrastination, knowing that you may be 30 or 40 before you can retire.

When you reach forty and fifty, competing financial obligations do not disappear, they evolve. Instead of repaying your student loans, you will find yourself paying tuition fees for your children. Instead of saving for a house, you make monthly mortgage payments or pay unexpected repair bills for a leaky roof or water heater.

Thanks to the power of the composition over time, the earlier you prioritize retirement savings, the more sufficiently saved you have saved your expenses after leaving the workforce. This is particularly important for millions of Americans who depend on the 401K plans as a main source of retirement income.

2) Expect the unexpected

In 1980, the inflation rate in the United States culminated at 14.7%. In 2022, it reached 9%, and today it is 2.3% more manageable.

Where the inflation rate will be when you are ready to retire is both unknown and uncontrollable. Likewise, actions can be in the middle of a historic bull market when you are ready to leave the labor market or your wallet may be negatively affected by a lower market.

Given the unexpected nature of these events, it is not surprising that our research has revealed that the three main concerns attracting the retired Americans in 2025 are inflation (92%of retirees are at least slightly concerned), the increase in health care costs (85%) and the potential of a major slowdown in the market (80%).

Although these concerns can be annoying and unpredictable, they should not derail a secure retirement if you remain focused on the variables under your control. Your monthly savings rate, participation in a tax savings plan taxed by tax such as a 401K, your diversification strategy and the age at which you plan to retire are all key factors in your retirement planning that are under your control.

The creation of good financial habits and judicious decisions concerning the factors of your control will help you set up a comfortable retirement despite short -term oscillations on the market or the inflation rate.

3) Ailer, it won’t take you there

For many decades, the traditional retirement schemes of the company provided workers with a safety net which, combined with social security services, has contributed to ensuring a comfortable retirement. But times have changed because pensions have become a relic of the past for most employees in the private sector.

The transition from traditional pensions (known as defined advantages plans) to defined retirement schemes has put responsibility for retirement savings and employee planning. Despite the challenges associated with determining retirement, how and when to claim social security, or how to generate a stable income after leaving the labor market, many people do not work with a financial advisor and have no plan to manage their retirement costs and their assets.

According to our latest study, 64% of retired Americans do not work with a financial advisor and 44% do not have a plan in place to estimate the expenses, the determination of the necessary income and the development of an investment strategy to achieve their objectives.

Given this lack of support and planning, it may not be surprising that most retirees (62%) say they have no idea of the duration of their savings.

Although everyone does not need to maintain a continuous relationship with a financial advisor, there is no doubt that anyone is preparing for retirement could benefit from the search for advice on how to improve their financial well-being and maximize their flow of income once he has stopped working.

Retirement security does not occur by chance – it requires planning and discipline. Although it is easy to postpone the backup or assume that social security alone will suffice, our research depicts a different image. With the increase in expenses, unpredictable markets and fewer sources of income guaranteed such as pensions, the burden on retirement planning now falls to individuals. Fortunately, taking control of the variables you can manage – your savings rate, your investment strategy and your financial planning – your retirement dreams can be at hand.

It is never too early – or too late – to start making financial decisions that will pay dividends in the years to come.

The opinions expressed in the Fortune.com comments are only the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.