We repeatedly are told to prepare for retirement during our working years.

Is your retirement forecast rainy or sunny? Do you see a green light on your road to retirement or are you stopped by a red light? Is your projected retirement age older than you’d like?

The purpose of a 401(k) is to provide retirement income, so the last thing you ever want to do is access that money while you're still working. But if times get tough and you grow desperate for cash, you might be tempted to tap that account early and access the money that's technically yours.

You have the potential to make retirement the next exciting chapter in your life. Are you ready?

Getting to where you want to go will depend on the choices you make today. While we know you are likely doing what you can now to save, you have many priorities competing for your money. Taking the appropriate steps now may help set you up for a better financial situation later.