Ted Benna, inventor of the 401(k), suggests the following in the October 1, 1995, issue of Bottom Line Personal:

• Help yourself to save by thinking about retirement needs every time you pay your bills. Ask yourself if you would have enough if you retired today.

• In your 30s, try to save 10 percent of your annual income. If you are starting to save in your 40s, set aside 15 to 20 percent. If you are in your 50s and have not saved very much, put aside 30 percent.

• By the time you are in your 50s, you should have saved/invested at least two times your annual earnings. This amount includes employer/employee pension plans.