Retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

By Susan Ricker

When you’re searching for a job, the primary focus is usually on finding employment, not preparing for retirement. But should your career goals include what comes after you’re done working? Depending on where you are in your career, the answer may vary. Several financial planners offer advice for including retirement in your career goals, no matter what your stage in life.

Early in your career

For those just starting out, retirement may seem unfathomable, let alone a priority. But should it be? Adam D. Koos, founder and president of wealth planning firm Libertas Wealth Management Group Inc., says, “First, when you’re young, it’s not as crucial to find a career with a good retirement plan — if one exists at all. I think most college grads would be in good shape to find a job that aligns somewhat closely to their chosen professional area of study, but these days, even that’s hard to come by. Of course, if one can find a career with a retirement plan in place, I also think the earlier you start saving, the more ‘trained’ you’ll be in the future to put more money away as your income increases versus spending it. And it goes without saying that the earlier you start, the more savings you’ll have come retirement age.”

Want to know what your peers are doing? “I see two distinct tracks as I work with people in their late 20s and early 30s: Either they see their employment as a means to another end, like starting their own business eventually, going back to school or becoming a professor; or they see themselves as always being a career employee and have chosen that path,” says Mindy Crary, financial planning coach and founder of Creative Money.

Read More MSN Careers – Should you factor retirement into your career goals? – Career Advice Article.