As investors emerge from a “lost decade” financially, the AARP says investors need to work with a financial advisor  as part of a program to get back on track to get individuals back on track.

“While markets will recover, they are unlikely to make up for a chronic failure to rigorously and regularly save for retirement,” says Richard Hisey, president of AARP Financial Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP Services, and the investment advisory and administrative arm for AARP Funds. Hisey adds that most investors don’t need to “dramatically overhaul” their portfolios. “Small changes now can make a big difference later,” he says.

The AARP suggests investors begin by reexamining and reenvisioning their retirement. This means taking a look at costs, including health care, and shifting their focus from “your dream retirement to an affordable retirement,” Hisey says. “People need to modify their expectations about retirement,” he says. “We have seen very large losses in terms of both home values and asset losses. In general, people have to take a look at their finances and see if they can recoup losses or modify their expectations about how they will live in retirement.”

To make up for the losses to their portfolio, which has put most investors back at 1999 levels, most will realize that they need to increase their saving habits. According to the AARP, this means resisting spending, paying down credit card debt, maximizing retirement plan contributions, and investing more regularly.

“If you look at the Dow now versus where it was in 1999, things are unchanged, but during that time, the American consumer went on a binge—borrowing on home values, not saving and spending even more,” Hisey says. “That has put the personal balance sheet at risk. It is going to be a long way back for home values and retirement assets.”

Individual investors will also need to reexamine their insurance coverage. According to a national survey by Boston Research Group that was conducted in October and November for the AARP, family finances suffer dramatically after a life crisis, including the death of a spouse, long-term job loss, serious illness, or divorce.

More than anything, investors have to get better at financial planning, Hisey says. This means sticking to a well-diversified asset allocation strategy and hiring a financial adviser. According to the AARP Financial’s research, 66% said that they had a “very positive experience” working with an adviser and 24% said they had a “somewhat positive experience.”

Despite having a better experience with advisers, many financial consultants have to work to hone their message to clients. According to AARP Financial’s research, 65% of 1,000 individuals surveyed lack confidence in financial markets and 55% said it is hard to find financial information and guidance that they can trust.

Hisey says the majority of people select a financial planner from a referral they receive from friends or family. The AARP offers investors a series of websites where they can track down advisers, including the National Association of Financial Planning and the Certified Financial Planning Board. “There are a lot of great web resources,” Hisey says. “The big thing is trust and that will come by asking the right questions when you interview an adviser. Finding the right adviser will give you a leg up as you start to rethink your financial plan.”