. >> reporter: joyce and g.h. are baby boomers. joyce left her job in ad sales about five years ago. g.h. is an artist. they live comfortably and feel they've got a good financial plan. getting off on the right foot with finances usually starts early. >> my parents were both depression-era people so, yes, they talked about saving. they talked about not spending more than you can pay. all my life, they would say, "have you been participating in your savings plans?" >> reporter: a new survey from t.d. ameritrade found 74% of people who felt they were prepared for retirement had automatic deposits into their 401(k) plans. the traditional advice of starting early and maxing out contributions remains true today. >> yes, you need to learn about investing; yes, you need to know about what's prudent investing for you. but ultimately, it's about putting aside money from your income, figuring out a way to budget that is within your means. >> reporter: having the discipline to save money can be challenge, but joyce and g.h. found a system tha