If you're in your mid-40s like us, you're likely juggling a lot right now: career responsibilities, kids' activities, aging parents, and trying to maintain your own health and relationships. With everything competing for your attention, retirement planning often gets pushed to the back burner. Yet right now, at 45, you're standing at a critical crossroads in your financial journey. These are your peak earning years, but they're also your most crucial decision-making years that will determine whether you can truly enjoy the retirement you envision.