Someone who tries to hammer a nail with a pair of pliers learns a valuable lesson very quickly: The right tools make all the difference. And with some complicated projects, it's often good to get the help of a professional.

It's the same with retirement planning. A trusted financial adviser or other professional may be needed to show you what your retirement planning options are, and how much sacrifice each option may require.

But don't be afraid to take a do-it-yourself, or DIY, approach on some retirement planning projects. Bankrate's retirement planning calculator is a good place to start. The free online tool allows you to make projections on when you might retire, how much income you'll need and your required rate of retirement savings. You'll learn whether you need to save more or take other actions to improve your chances of reaching your retirement savings goals.