Here's a surprising reality:

The more money you earn during your working years, the harder it will likely be to replace that income in retirement. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) evaluated income data of 3,358 people approaching retirement and found that those in lower income brackets were able to supplement more of their preretirement income than those who earned more.

One reason: Social Security retirement payments — capped at a maximum annual benefit of $31,704 in 2014 — replace a much larger share of income for lower-income Americans. Moreover, EBRI notes, it’s far more challenging to save up enough to replace a $150,000 salary in retirement than, say, a $40,000 salary.