I have a question for you. Did you know it’s America Saves Week? Here’s another one, are you saving for your retirement? One more, if you will, when was the last time you looked at your savings account?

America Saves Week is an annual opportunity to reassess your answers to these questions and ask yourself if you are saving in the way your future demands. You’ve worked hard all your life and when you retire, you should reap the benefits of that labor. Establishing good savings behavior now will minimize future worries about your financial status.

By visiting America Saves Week online, you can complete a 12-question assessment to make sure your savings priorities are aligned with your future plans. You can also evaluate how prepared you are and where your savings habits need strengthening to reach your future goals.

The easiest and most effective way to save is automatically.

Social Security is an important part of a sound financial plan. But, it can’t be the only part. To enjoy a comfortable retirement, people need to save and invest throughout their working lives. The new myRA savings account is an excellent place to start. What better time than America Saves Week to get serious about planning for the future. Start saving today for a secure future; open a myRA account. For more information visit www.myRA.gov.

I always encourage workers to view their personalized Social Security Statement frequently for estimates of their future Social Security benefits. It’s easy to do by creating a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov. This service is free, fast, and secure.

It pay offs.

Hold yourself accountable this week. Commit to the Take the America Saves Pledge. Join more than 450,000 American Savers who have already committed to save. Then you can make your savings social and share your goals with others via Facebook or Twitter. It may encourage your friends and loved ones to save this week and secure their futures.