Whether retirement is a long way off for you or it might be right around the corner, you have absolutely got to start preparing for it now. Saving for retirement is not as simple as it used to be with the increase in cost of living, high interest rates and petrol prices and the uncertainty of social security. Nowadays you have to invest for your retirement, as opposed to saving for it!

If you have such a thing, let s start by taking a look at your company retirement plan. Once upon a time, these plans used to be quite simple and mostly sound. However, after the Enron troubles and all that followed, people are not as secure in their company retirement plans anymore. Because of this quite a few people look elsewhere and if you choose not to invest in your company retirement plan, you do now have other options.

For example you can invest in: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. Or if you are a bit more adventurous other less conventional options include: art and rare book collections, livestock such as thoroughbred horses and breeding pairs of rare and valuable animals, tree plantations, etc. You do not have to state to anybody that the returns on these investments are to be used for retirement. Just simply let your money grow over time, and when certain investments reach their maturity, reinvest them.

You can also open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This is quite a popular option because the money is not taxed until you withdraw the funds. You may also be able to deduct your IRA contributions from the taxes that you owe. An IRA can be opened at most banks. A ROTH IRA is a newer type of retirement account. With a Roth, you pay taxes on the money that you are investing in your account, but when you cash out, no federal taxes are owed. A Roth IRA can also be opened at a financial institution.

Another popular type of retirement account is the 401(k), these are typically offered through employers, but you may be able to open a 401(k) on your own. You should speak with a financial planner or accountant to help you with this. The Keogh plan is another type of IRA that is suitable for self employed people. Self-employed small business owners may also be interested in Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP) which is another type of Keogh plan that people typically find easier to administer than a regular Keogh plan.

Whichever way to decide to go for your retirement investment, just make sure you do at least choose one! Do not depend on social security, company retirement plans, or even an inheritance that may or may not come through! Take care of your financial future by investing in it today.