Common retirement strategies like 401(K) or IRA accounts are designed to help individuals build their funds while enjoying possible advantages, such as tax savings and employer matching.

But they aren’t the only tools you can use to prepare for your future years of freedom and relaxation. Whether you are a young professional looking ahead or have your retirement date in sight, check out these alternative strategies for planning your nest egg.

Life insurance

While life insurance’s primary purpose may be to help cover unpredictable expenses in the event of your passing, certain policies offer wealth accumulation and distribution benefits as well. For example, properly structured permanent cash-value life insurance can increase in value over time, and you can withdraw or borrow against this value after retirement. This makes such a policy valuable to a diversified portfolio. Additional benefits of these plans may include tax-free growth, a lack of repayment terms, and free access to your capital. Consider speaking with an insurance professional about your available options and how you could potentially take advantage of these pluses to boost your retirement funds.

Real estate investments

Investing in “hard assets” (ones that can’t easily be converted into cash) such as real estate can be another excellent way to generate money for retirement. However, you must be able to put in significant funds up front and have the patience to wait for the property to appreciate. This strategy also requires expertise to navigate the market wisely, build a lucrative portfolio, and overcome potential challenges like property upkeep and capital gains taxes. If you’re interested in pursuing this path, it may be best to go the route of a real estate investment trust or fund; a financial professional can help you manage these assets effectively.

Annuities

This financial contract involves making lump-sum or periodic investments with an insurance company in exchange for future payments. With the guidance of a financial and/or insurance professional, you can structure a plan that helps you keep up with demanding medical costs, resists inflation, and more. There are various ways to structure an annuity, each of which may have certain limitations, so you should discuss these plans with a professional before entering into a contract. Doing so can help ensure that you’re making an informed decision and may help you reap more benefits in the future.

A diversified portfolio

Among the most prudent retirement approaches is establishing a portfolio that balances potentially lucrative ventures with potentially lower risk options such as high-yield savings accounts. If you work with a financial professional, you can devise personalized strategies that reduce risk but still provide growth opportunities. This individualized approach may help you arrive at the most appropriate strategy for your needs.

There’s nothing wrong with simple, straightforward options like 401(k)s. After all, these common employee-sponsored offerings are typically the foundations of many Americans’ retirement strategies. However, a willingness to explore different investment options, particularly ones you may be unfamiliar with, may be more likely to yield a healthy nest egg, one you can confidently depend on.