You have probably heard about the old 70 percent rule that suggests retirees will need the equivalent of about 70 percent of your current income level to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. This assumes that your retirement living costs will be 30 percent less than during your working years. While it may have been applied appropriately for retirees two or three decades ago, it is fraught with significant risk and potential disaster for today’s retirees.

Many people have no idea. Some people have a vague idea. A few people, a very few, have it all worked out. When it comes to retirement planning, many people don't take action until forced to by a mid-life event (career change, death of loved one) or by hearing about seniors running out of money. It's strange that people find it so difficult to plan for their retirement. As all the basic financial books say, you start by recording your expenses, see where you can cut back, and then determine how much you need to save to achieve your retirement income goals. Yet, far too few Canadians take these presumably simple steps for their own financial success.

It is possible for just about everybody to achieve financial success. Getting there is usually not a matter of financial wizardry. By following some basic principles, you can make your financial dreams come true:

Goal setting is the foundation of achieving financial success. If you don't have a target to shoot for, how can you expect to hit it? By writing down your goals, you will clarify them and establish your personal and financial priorities. Be specific when setting goals. For example, instead of having a goal to reduce debt, set a goal to reduce debt by a certain amount by a certain date.