()As a young adult, it is possible to find yourself in your first job and enjoy your first apartment or your first car.

Although retirement planning might seem far away from your thoughts, it doesn’t have to be. You can reap the rewards later with more resources and money if you take smart steps.

“Saving and investing for your future is one of the most important things you can do,” says Charles Sachs, CFP®, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional .

These tips from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can help:

Don’t forget to pay it forward. An employer offering a 401(K plan is one way young adults can save money for retirement.

Sign up for automatic contributions and the money will be taken from your paycheck immediately. You won’t notice it right away, but you will enjoy it later as it grows.

There are two other reasons you should take advantage of a retirement plan. Additional funds earned by your employer if they match your contributions, though not all employers do. Funds saved because the money that you put into a 401 (k) is tax-deferred. This means that it reduces your income until you retire.

– Repay it. Another way to get a head start on a secure financial future is to set financial goals and prioritize early, according to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional Douglas Boneparth, CFP®.

“Know who you owe money to (government or private loans), how much you owe and the interest rates associated with each loan. Educate yourself and don’t be in denial,”He says.

“Take a look at your pay stub and start to understand all the different things that are withheld from your paycheck such as taxes, health insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions. What you end up with — your ‘net’ — is the money you actually have to build your budget,”Explains Mr. Boneparth.

Decide what to do with the money you have left. Many young adults will need to pay off student loans. But, they could also be saving for a house and further education.

A CFP® professional can provide guidance and advice as you consider these points in retirement planning: What do you want? What time do you want it? What will it cost?

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.orgGet more advice and tips on how to build wealth and smart money management for your retirement.