Retirement can feel like a distant, foggy idea — some vague number you are supposed to hit someday, with no clear map to get there. This beginner course replaces the fog with a simple, judgment-free plan that works whether you are 25 and just getting started or 55 and catching up. You will learn what retirement actually costs, how to think about your number, and why even small amounts saved early beat large amounts saved late thanks to compound growth. From there you will make sense of the accounts everyone mentions but few explain clearly — 401(k), IRA, Roth, and pensions — and learn exactly how to prioritize your contributions across them. You will build a simple, low-stress investing approach that shifts safely as you age, then learn how to turn decades of savings into steady income you cannot outlive: how much to withdraw, what order to draw from, and when to start Social Security. Finally you will build a real plan — a target date, a healthcare strategy, and a way to adjust as life changes. By the end you will have a clear, confident retirement plan of your own, no matter your age or income.