Before you start your next big chapter of retirement, you’ll want to make sure you’re financially on track for the golden years you want. Like many important to do’s, breaking them down into individual items can make the exercise much easier to tackle. Plus, your sense of accomplishment from crossing each task off the list can encourage you to stick to your mission. Here’s a 6‑step checklist to help get the ball rolling on retirement planning and determining what kind of budget you will need in the future.

Do you know what affects your Social Security benefit amount?

Social Security was never intended to be a retiree's sole source of retirement income. Still, it will likely provide thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of dollars over the course of your retirement years. Even if you realize its importance, though, you may be planning for retirement without fully knowing what to expect from your Social Security benefit.

Social Security will provide thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in retirement income for most Americans.

There are several factors that will impact the amount you can expect to receive, but you will not know the exact amount until you actually file.

Many people like to file their taxes as early as possible for one big reason: to get their refund sooner. Whether you use it to pay down holiday bills, take a winter getaway or help bulk up your savings, it can be an annual boon for many Americans.

To help get your tax refund quickly, make sure to avoid four common filing errors that can prevent your return from being accepted by the IRS.