The rules for planning for retirement are largely still the same rules once you get to your 40s. If you have been diligently saving and investing in 401(k)s and IRAs thus far, don't stop now.

We have written before about how, thanks to advances in technology, individuals of virtually all income and savings levels can get professional money management at a reasonable cost, and manage their own retirement plans as well.

Today's technology is reshaping industries, and the financial advisor industry is no different. The old model where advisors charge hefty fees is starting to erode. Financial planners charge an average of $2,000 per plan and they usually leave you with a 100 page report and you never hear from them again. This model is ripe for destruction.

It used to be that you could sort of tell when it was time to get professional help in managing your investments. You knew, for example, that in your 30s and making a decent salary and socking away a fair amount of money, you probably did not have enough in assets for it to make sense to have professional help--the costs would just be too high. But at some point, with a mortgage and a kid and maybe another one on the way, you might start paying closer attention to those financial planner advertisements on TV or in the local paper, and even give one a call.

There are many variables that can have a large impact on a person’s retirement plan. Today I want to take a look at two competing ideas and problems for most of us when it comes to securing our own retirement. I’m going to look at how big of an impact the following two variables have on a retirement plan: how much is saved each year vs. total returns on investments.

From Advisors4Advisors: A nice review of our retirement planning application for advisors.