Be it a plan for maintaining one’s physical health or improving one’s financial health, discipline is the key. The old adage of ‘slow and steady wins the race’ is particularly true when it comes to retirement planning. Regular, systematic saving ensures that setting aside some money on a regular basis, typically monthly, becomes second nature to us. In the context of market-linked investments, the principle of rupee cost averaging comes into play. This ensures that one doesn’t have to wait for the ‘right time to invest’, and it also makes decision making that much easier. So, while starting early gives us a definite head-start, it is sustained, systematic investing that can convert the head-start into a decisive, tangible advantage.