The SmartMoney Guide to Long-Term Investing: How to Build Real Wealth for Retirement and Future Goals

What do you imagine when you picture your retirement? Jet-setting around the world? Hopping between two homes—a condo on the beach and a wintry getaway in the mountains? Or simply living the life of Riley, playing golf or tennis with your buddies as the sun sets? Whatever your goal, we realize that it’s a lot easier to dream of a glorious retirement than it is to actually do something about it. It’s a daunting concept: Somehow you’re going to save enough money to retire on while also putting aside funds for college tuition or a bigger home or even a nice vacation for your long-suffering family every once in a while. Lump in your current monthly mortgage bills, your credit card payments, and those new sneakers your youngster just has to have, and the concept of wealth building almost seems laughable.