Our son, Jack, who has a rare genetic disorder called Pitt Hopkins, is non-verbal. One day, he was in the bathtub and the water ran hotter than we expected - and no one noticed until Jack was writhing in pain. We didn't understand the severity of these burns at first, but the nurses who saw him did. They cared for him for two weeks as he recovered from third-degree burns.It was early on that I realized that as a nurse, you are on the front lines every day working selflessly to help your patients. Every nurse we have met as parents has been amazing, providing guidance and offering heartfelt support that got us through every broken bone and childhood sickness. Our children, as well as my wife and I, couldn't have made it without them.With all that they do for us, nurses too often are on their own when it comes to making retirement investment choices. In fact, as nursing education programs do not usually offer investment or finance classes, nurses are at a disadvantage when it comes to making these crucial long-term financial decisions.In confirming this finding, I reviewed a recent Fidelity study that surveyed 365 nurses of which 56 percent felt they lacked confidence when making financial decisions, and that includes investing for retirement.I work with many nurses and I see many parallels between being a good nurse and investing for a good retirement. When it comes to investing I think it's paramount to keep in mind the following:Two Hours To LearnMany people naturally assume that learning about investing is too time-consuming and so they don't get around to it. Ironically, being a successful investor is not about technique; mostly it's about understanding how to invest and avoid mistakes. Take the time to learn about where your money is going. There are easy-to-read investment handbooks like Burt Malkiel's The Elements of Investing that can help you learn the basics of finance and help you to be more informed so you can start to comfortably make decisions on your finances.Simple Is BetterThe best approach for the ordinary person trying to retire comfortably is to invest simply and conservatively. You can still invest in high quality assets while keeping costs low. Don't be too tricky with your choices and just let the markets do what they do.Evidence BasedThere are many investment schemes out there. I believe it best to dismiss the get-rich-quick schemes out there that over promise and under deliver; work only with investment professionals who provide evidence-based investing methods, and who keep your long term financial health in mind."Do No Harm" AdvisorsTrust is key and when it comes to choosing the right advisor to help you manage your money, you need an advisor held to a "fiduciary standard." Advisors who are fiduciaries follow a "do not harm" approach and always put their client's best interest first, as opposed to financial advisors that work primarily off a commission based structure whose best interest are not aligned with your own.If you are like many of the nurses I've met - helping everyone except yourself - remember that like all of us, your golden years will soon be upon you. You must be sure to make the most of the money you save. Spend a little time, get smart about investing, and set yourself up for a great retirement. You might want to sip margaritas in Hawaii, go to a yoga retreat or help your grandkids get through college. Whatever your plans, you deserve a happy and prosperous retirement! 1 Likes About Mitch Tuchman Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of a financial investment company 7 Posts Share this post