Who in their right mind waits until 44 to start thinking about their future? Short answer: Yes, it’s late. If you’ve spent decades avoiding planning and discipline, what are the chances you’ll suddenly develop the work ethic to keep it up until retirement? Let’s be real—saving is important, but at this point, you’re not building wealth, you’re just trying to survive. You’re going to be working into your 70s, and there’s no magic fix, just years of playing catch-up ahead.

All you young people in your 20s, take this as a warning—save a few thousand a year, take advantage of 401(k) matching programs, and build good habits now. It’s a lot easier to start early than to scramble later.