3 things to do now if you make under 6 figures and want to retire a millionaire, according to financial planners

• I asked financial planners how to retire a millionaire if you make less than six figures.
• They told me to make use of tax-efficient accounts and avoid lifestyle inflation when my income rises.
• They also recommended investing regularly — weekly, rather than monthly or quarterly.

For the past seven years, I've worked full-time for myself making money through a variety of projects, businesses, and passive income streams. Unlike someone who is an employee at a company, my annual income varies from year to year. 

But even though how much money I make fluctuates, I've tried to put practices in place to keep my financial plans steady. I set a budget every month and contribute a set amount to both my emergency and retirement funds. If I make more money in a given month, I'll allocate some of that cash toward different financial goals. 

I'm hyper-focused on my goal of retiring a millionaire, but I wondered if it was something that could happen as someone with an unpredictable salary. That's why I asked financial experts how anyone who makes under six figures a year could retire with a seven-figure net worth. 

1. Avoid lifestyle inflation 

Regardless of what your income is today, financial planner Lauren Anastasio believes that retiring as a millionaire is less about how much you earn and more about how much you are saving. Which is why it's important to pay attention to how your spending changes as you do begin to earn more money throughout your career.

"Avoid the lifestyle creep," says Anastasio. "That's when you allow your lifestyle to become more expensive as you earn more during your career."

While it can look different for everyone, Anastasio says that a good rule of thumb is to try and save at least 50% of each pay increase you receive during your career. 

2. Make smart use of tax-efficient accounts 

Your income is just one factor that can determine how much your net worth is when you retire. Anastasio says another way to make sure you retire as wealthy as possible is to leverage a 401(k), IRA, and health savings account, when available, as they can help grow your savings over time.

"It's important to know that money you earn on investments is typically taxable, but using tax-efficient accounts allows your money to continue to grow and compound without paying taxes each year," says Anastasio. 

While you're creating your retirement plans, Anastasio says it's important to look into pre-tax 401(k)s and traditional IRAs, which are tax-deferred, and Roth accounts, which grow tax-free. Money in a health savings account also grows tax-free and can be used throughout your life, including before retirement, for health-related expenses.

3. Invest regularly

As you're managing your finances, financial planner Nicole Peterkin Morong says that it is important to try to invest a meaningful amount on a regular basis, whether that's in a retirement account or taxable brokerage account.

For example, Peterkin Morong says if you're making $100,000 a year, investing $10,000 a year (which is 10% of your gross salary), by making weekly contributions, will help you become a millionaire in 30 years if you're averaging 8% a year. 

"Invest more, retire earlier or with more, invest less, it's going to take longer," says Peterkin Morong.

She says that investing weekly, instead of monthly or a few times a year, can really pay off since you're able to benefit from additional compounding.