When you’re purchasing a car, you put a lot of time and energy into finding the best deal for the vehicle you want. You research online, haggle with the salesperson, and walk out of the dealership if they can’t meet your price. While it’s important to get the best deal on your initial car purchase, most people waste what they saved during negotiations on poor driving habits. What you do with the five to 10 years that you own your car will have a much greater impact on your wallet.

Deciding whether to lease or buy your next vehicle? Pete and Steve from our Auto Buying Concierge Team discuss things to consider before you choose.

The right answer for you will depend on your situation. First of all, don't underestimate the psychological impact of early retirement. The adjustment from full-time work to a more leisurely pace may be difficult for you. So ask yourself if you're ready to retire yet. Next, look at what you're being offered. Most early retirement offers share certain basic features that need to be evaluated. To decide if your employer's offer is worth taking, you'll want to break it down.

Once your finances are all tidy and your credit report looks good, it could be time to start your pre-approval.

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you'll need to fund your retirement. That's not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your goals and many other factors.