Your 50s are a pivotal time on the road to retirement. Chances are, you'll be earning more money in your 50s than you did earlier on in your career, which means you'll have more financial flexibility than ever before. On the other hand, you may have more expenses to deal with, like your kids' college tuition bills. Still, if you want to retire comfortably, you'll need to spend your 50s focusing on goals that can help make that happen. Here are a few to target.

1. Build a fully loaded emergency fund

Without a solid level of savings, you risk racking up debt the next time an unplanned expense comes your way. And taking on debt in the years leading up to retirement increases your risk of carrying that financial burden into your golden years and struggling for it. A better bet? Amass a healthy emergency fund -- ideally, one with enough money to cover up to six months' worth of living expenses. This will help you avoid debt if you lose your job, encounter a whopping home repair, or get hit with unusually high medical bills.

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2. Boost your nest egg

Once you turn 50, you have a prime opportunity to catch up on retirement savings. That's because IRA and 401(k) contribution limits are higher for workers 50 and over. Currently, you can contribute up to $7,000 a year to the former, and $25,000 a year to the latter. Capitalizing on catch-up contributions can boost your savings in a meaningful way. If you're 57 today and want to retire at 67, setting aside $25,000 a year between now and then will leave you with an extra $345,000 in your nest egg, assuming your investments generate an average annual 7% return during that time. Even if you can't max out a 401(k), aim to ramp up your retirement plan contributions during your 50s so you're sitting on extra income once your golden years roll around.

3. Fund a health savings account

Healthcare is one of retirees' greatest ongoing expenses. That's why it's smart to contribute to a health savings account, or HSA, during your 50s. The money you contribute (on a tax-free basis at that) can be invested so that it grows into a larger sum, and as long as you use that money for qualified medical expenses, you can take withdrawals tax-free. To be eligible for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible insurance health plan (meaning, an annual deductible of $1,350 or more for single coverage and $2,700 or more for family coverage). You can contribute up to $3,500 to an HSA as an individual this year, or up to $7,000 for a family, and if you're 55 or older, you get a $1,000 catch-up contribution to boot.