Here's a breakdown: $300/month × 12 months = $3,600 per year; Over 40 years, you contribute $144,000 With compounding, that becomes more than $1,000,000; Even if you start at age 35, you'd still ...

If you took the same $300 per month and invested it in assets that produced a 10% annualized return, you would end up with $1.8 million after 40 years. That's a seismic difference.

Why a $1 million nest egg may not cut it. Saving $300 a month over 40 years will get you to $144,000 on the basis of your contributions alone. If you invest that money, ...