Product Description

Customer Reviews (19)

Staring Down Retirement
I never thought I would consider a book about retirement finances a "page turner" but that is what this book was for me.With retirement decisons coming within the next 5 years I began searching for a book that could explain it all to an average Joe like me.This book is phenomenol as is the author.She takes apart all financial instruments that you may or may not have at your disposal upon retirement so you can ask the right questions and make the right decisions.She discusses social security, pensions, IRAs including the Roth IRA, annuities, CDs, bonds and T-bills.She talks about the pros and cons of cashing out your home.She emphasizes the importance of portfolio diversification and the problems with putting all your retirement eggs in company stock (think Enron).The goal is, as she so expertly and clearly explains, how not to outlive your retirement income.She also discusses the stock market.The book is full of examples of retirees who made wise and not so wise decisions.She talks about how the right financial advisor can help you, and how the wrong financial advisor can ruin you.And she tells you what to look for in a financial advisor including the advisors who work fee only v. those who work for commissions.She discusses how to play catch-up as retirement nears.I was amazed how easy this book was to understand.It gives you hope and gives you the tools to make smart decisions.I was so impressed with this book I purchased an extra copy for a relative in a similar situation, and I have passed the title and author of this book onto many friends and coworkers.If retiring is coming your way, this book is a must read.

LIFE CHANGING
Julie's books, columns and presentations are to smart and safe retirement and investing decisions as Suze Orman is to safely managing your money.The AARP Retirement Survival Guide is essential reading for success and know how in the process of meeting the goals for well being in retirement.I especially liked Julies comments on the baby boom generation and the specific issues they face, the chapter on cash flow, and the bullet points throughout the book summarizing concerns important to remember.The chapter on Tax-Deferred Account Decisions was one I highlighted frequently and will go back to in the future because it deals with how to successfully use and manage these investments pre and post retirement.This book is insightful, practical and easy to apply because it is written clearly, concisely and in lay language.I have bought this book as gifts for family members in their forties and friends in their 50's and 60's. Bottom line, reading The AARP Retirement Survival Guide has changed my lifeas this is a book rich in useful, comprehensive and necessary information for successful planning for an enjoyable life during retirement.

AARP RETIREMENT SURVIVAL GUIDE
Simple balanced presentaton, must read for prospective retirees ... read before beginning Retirement Planning,has best all in information to do good.

Wish I would have read this 5 years earlier......
I wish I would have read this earlier before I was ready to retire.Very easy to understand the different concepts

Just what I needed
This book provided just what I needed...... some honest , unbiased advise on how to begin to plan for retirement.I am so tired of seeking retirement advise only to discover that my advisor is more interested in making money for his/her retirement rather than helping me plan for mine.The book is focused,informative and answers questions all of us baby boomers have re: retirement planning. How much do I need to have saved, what type of retirement advisors are out there, how do I begin to set up my retirement budget, how do I convert growth assets into income producing assets, how to plan for taxes and inflation during the retirement years, what web sites and other resources are available to provide further information. I am now determined to become my own best finacial advisor... now if I can only convince my wife!!!!Thank you Julie Janson for one very helpful book, much aoppreciated. ... Read more

Product Description
The Bogleheads are back-with retirement planning advice for those who need it!

Whatever your current financial situation, you must continue to strive for a viable retirement plan by finding the most effective ways to save, the best accounts to save in, and the right amount to save, as well as understanding how to insure against setbacks and handle the uncertainties of a shaky economy.

Fortunately, the Bogleheads, a group of like-minded individual investors who follow the general investment and business beliefs of John C. Bogle, are here to help. Filled with valuable advice on a wide range of retirement planning issues, including some pearls of wisdom from Bogle himself, The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning has everything you need to succeed at this endeavor.

• Explains the different types of savings accounts and retirement plans
• Offers insights on managing and funding your retirement accounts
• Details efficient withdrawal strategies that could help you maintain a comfortable retirement lifestyle
• Addresses essential estate planning and gifting issues

With The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning, you'll discover exactly what it takes to secure your financial future, today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Truly comprehensive and full of golden nuggets
One chapter of The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning quotes Donald Rumsfeld: "There are known unknowns.That is to say, there are things that we now know we do not know.But there are also unknown unknowns.There are things we do not know we do not know."That's how I felt while reading this book.Due to its truly comprehensive nature, I learned all about the stuff I knew I needed to learn, but also about all kinds of stuff I hadn't even considered learning about.

From investment strategies to withdrawal strategies to estate planning (and more), this book really covers everything in exactly enough detail to give you the information you need to know, without providing so much detail that it becomes cumbersome.And there are so many golden nuggets, that I would encourage everybody to read it cover to cover and not just as a reference.There were many times that I thought a subject didn't apply to me and almost skipped the section, then decided to read it anyway and was very glad I did.Goes back to those unknown unknowns.

In addition, for a book written by many different people who I presume are not authors by trade, this book is exceptionally readable and feels like it was written with a single voice.

I think this book will be best received by those who are already bought into the Boglehead investment philosophy, but even skeptics could learn a lot as most of the book is not about how to build the ideal portfolio, but rather the myriad other items one must consider in planning for and then executing retirement.

Superficial and biased
Prospective buyers of this book should know that the authors have a marketing agenda.Their goal is to promote index-based mutual funds and consulting services. Stay away.

The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning
This book is probably the best I have read on retirement financial advise.I recommend it to anyone who's already retired or considering retirement.

The BEST Retirement Planning Guide
Excellent review of a very complex subject, made enjoyable by the contributions of several highly respected contributors.Well worth the purchase price. a MUST READ for anyone who is within 10 years of retirement.A good read for anyone who is about 20 years from retirement as well

Excellent guide
This a really good book for those near retirement and those not so near. I wish it had been written 15-20 years ago so that I could have taken full advantage of the practical knowledge and wisdon contained in these pages. ... Read more

Product Description
Plan Now for the Life You Want

Today’s economic realities have reset our expectations of what retirement is, yet there’s still the promise for what it can be: a life stage filled with more freedom and potential than ever before. Given the new normal, how do you plan for a future filled with prosperity, health, and happiness? As a companion to What Color Is Your Parachute?, the world’s best-selling career book, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement offers both a holistic, big-picture look at these years as well as practical tools and exercises to help you build a life full of security, vitality, and community.

This second edition contains updates throughout, including a section on Social Security, an in-depth exercise on values and how they inform your retirement map, and the one-of-a-kind resource for organizing the sea of information on finances and mental and physical health: the Retirement Well-Being Profile. More than a guide on where to live, how to stay active, or which investments to choose, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement helps you develop a detailed picture of your ideal retirement, so that—whether you’re planning retirement or are there already—you can take a comprehensive approach to make the most of these vital years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Your Parachute for Retirement
In the late sixties a common expression when disgruntled was to want to bail out of one's job.Bolles' answer would be to reply, "What color is your parachute?"In 1970 that phrase became the title of the popular and practical manual for job hunters and career changers, a book still revised and updated each year since then.
Now this book offers the parachute for retirement, the ultimate major change in a worker's life, in the same practical manual setup.

The reader explores the retirement well-being model of happiness, prosperity and health, and is encouraged to determine individual core values for a personal ideal retirement.Questionnaires help determine what is valued least, as well as what is valued most.

Exploring what retirement means, retirement economics, retirement security, geography, health and medicine, and the path to happiness help the reader make personal decisions. Worksheets throughout the book help the reader to arrive at a personalized ideal retirement page, with answers determining what to fill in for building social relationships, developing psychological strengths, inhabiting a geographical place, choosing values, deepening practices, managing financial pillars, and accessing this medicine. A topic specific section of resources for additional information completes this retirement roadmap.

Reviewed by Angie Mangino

Now in a completely revised and updated second edition
Now in a completely revised and updated second edition, What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Future lives up to its title with rock-solid advice on planning not only one's retirement finances, but also other aspects of retirement - social relationships, personal health, big life decisions, and more. Chapters address everything from making sure the neighborhood or community one retires into is suitable for one's tastes, to solid practices for building "biological vitality" and maintaining one's health, to the value of building social relationships in advance, given that social relationships grounded in work are likely to fade when one retires and there is no "automatic relationship generator" in the third phase of one's life. Highly recommended; it is never too soon to start learning from a user-friendly and practical guide such as What Color Is Your Parachute?

Get it on a page
I was very inspired by this book. Prior to reading it, I felt like many of my occasional thoughts about eventual retirement were floating around in a loose way. Certainly I had given it a little consideration but reading this book helped me look at all those thoughts and put them together. It was an engaging read, and gave me new perspectives to consider, and the confidence to move forward with what works for me. I will now be able to work on a detailed plan. Something to think about: no one else can really do this for you.

Extremely Valuable Reference
I hesitated buying this book based on a couple of the negative reviews but am very glad that I decided to go ahead with it.I have read many retirement books but this one is different - it contains little of the common investment, insurance, etc. advice and focuses primarily on the pyschological adjustments and finding happiness and fulfillment.The exercises help to assess areas of interst and strengths and are probably similar to what you would get during a university-based retirement seminar.I highly recommend this book - especially for those like me that are approaching retirement.

Very thorough
Okay, so granted I am not all that close to retirement, although somedays I wish I were :) however, since I spent alot of my younger days NOT thinking enough about retirement and especially about preparing myself for it, I have alot of "time" to catch up on.

This book is, without a doubt, a very thorough look at all things retirement - some obvious things and some very less!Of course, being Canadian, some of the items don't really apply to me- however, I found that overall, this book was loaded with important information that will, no doubt, come in very handy.

I always feel inspired when I read these types of books - as though all things are possible and thankfully, as is the case with this series, there is a wealth of information that will go a long way in ensuring that i know what the heck I am doing now and when the time for retirement draws closer.

Very clearly written - for a layperson as well as those who are more knowledgeable.The information is ooncise without being complicated or impossible to follow.No boring graphs or technical jargon that mean absolutely nothing.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not a great book
This is a required textbook for a "Retirement Planning" course I'm taking in a Financial Planning program.In my opinion, the instructor made a poor choice.The book is poorly-written and quite cumbersome to get through.This could be such a good book considering the topics covered.But it is so poorly-written that I just can't seem to concentrate on the information contained therein.The only good thing I see about this book is that the chapters are short, thus one can get an idea about various topics, such as Social Security or IRAs, for example.But the book is fairly general, and when it should contain more detailed information, it fails in its presentation.Personally, I would not recommend this book.I'm sure there are much better books on Retirement Planning out there.Don't let the cool chick in her Yoga pose fool you.

Okay as reference manual; dry as a teaching tool
This book was assigned reading for a CFP cirriculum.Presentation is somewhat uninspired, but the text does seem to contain a lot of detailed reference information.

I was somewhat offended by the presentation of "reasons for retirement plans" -- the text seemed to advocate structuring plans to benefit the business owners and key employees, while leaving the rest of the employees with as little benefit as possible.As a teaching text, I agree that it is important to understand the factors that impact these distributions, but the authors' attitude seemed to endorse this practice.

Required for CFP course; not sure why
This book is difficult to use for studying for the CFP exam, because it is essentially unindexed. The topics are not very thorough, and so I found it hard to answer questions in my homework even after carefully perusing the relevant chapters. I think what is missing is enough analysis to help you APPLY the rules.

I am not sure that it would be much more useful for an employee benefits manager.

Text Book For Retirement Planning
I needed this book for a Retirement Planning class in preparation for a CFP certificate.The book was a better value than from other sources, and I received it in time for my first class.This is my third class in Financial Planning and the text seems to be aimed at the practitioner in the field; so, it is somewhat difficult.However, it is very complete.

Useful textbook
I am enrolled in the Certified Financial Planner designation program.Tools and Techniques of Employee Benefit and Retirement Planning is the textbook for the Retirement Planning module.I found this to be the most useful and practical textbook in the course.It is a book that will remain on my shelf for future reference long after I finish the designation program. The information in the textbook in written in a practical manner.It is easy to understand, well-organized and to the point. ... Read more

Product Description
A necessary plan for a secure and comfortable retirement.

Everyone wants to retire with personal and financial peace of mind. But the question is always: will there be enough money to fund a comfortable lifestyle? That’s where this book comes to the rescue, addressing every conceivable concern—from health care to Social Security—about setting up a sound plan for retirement. And it’s never too late to start.
—The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reports that 43% of Americans fall short of their pre-retirement income
—Robert Powell of MarketWatch agrees that “Americans have little set aside for retirement”
—Written by a nationally recognized financial expert
—Perfect for the nearly eight million baby boomers approaching retirement
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

my opinion
from my perspective as a long-time financial services professional, the author appears to have a bias in certain areas.but, overall the book does a good job of walking a novice through some important financial planning issues, and provides some very useful information.

Wished I had read Jeff Wuorio's book before I retired.
As a retiree, I found "Retirement Planning" especially valuable.The author reminds you of the necessity of making periodic adjustments to your individual plan so that you can update your financial and lifestyle goals as needed. The book also provides valuable resources for additional research, explanation of various health and long-term care insurance programs, guidelines for necessary estate planning...and valuable worksheets that enable you to continue to reassess your ongoing needs. Easy to read, and easy to use, it is a basic informational tool for anyone planning for life in retirement. ... Read more

Product Description
How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy life to its fullest. The key to achieving an active and satisfying retirement involves a great deal more than having adequate financial resources; it also encompasses all other aspects of life -- interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical well-being, mental well-being, and solid social support.

World-class author and innovator Ernie J. Zelinski guides you to:

• Gain courage to take early retirement; in fact, the earlier the better.
• Put money in proper perspective so that you don't need a million dollars to retire.
• Generate purpose in your retirement life with meaningful creative pursuits.
• Follow your dreams instead of someone else's.
• Take charge of your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
• Better envision you retirement goals -- including where you want to live.
• Above all, make you retirement years the best time of your life.

What sets this retirement book apart from all the others is its holistic approach to the fears, hopes, and dreams that people have about retirement. This international bestseller (over 110,000 copies sold in its first edition) goes way beyond the numbers that is often the main focus of retirement planning in most retirement books.

There are many ingredients of a happy retirement and several retirement planning tools that help retirees plan for their retirement in new and more meaningful ways. One of the most powerful tools is The Get-a-Life Tree that you won't find in any other retirement books.

In short, the retirement wisdom in this book will prove to be much more important than how much money you have saved. How to Retire Happy Wild, and Free helps readers create an active, satisfying, and happy retirement in a way such that they don't need a million dollars to retire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Just what I was looking for...
Very helpful advice in this book. Though the author cites some "wild retiree" examples most of what he writes is right on---even for us conservative souls.

Required reading
The first time I read "How to Retire H, W, and Free" I tossed it aside as not applicable to me. Then for some reason I picked it up again and realized it was specifically for me, "young side of Boomer, worked entire adult life non-stop, collected every toy I could possibly want and astonishingly bored and unfulfilled. I sent an email to the author on my plight and he replied almost instantly with words of encouragement.

I have since started the process of changing my life. Retiring my executive position at a fortune 500 company and for the first time since college planning the rest of of my life with excitement and a little anxiety. Give it a read, I predict you will toss it away or something will click and your perspective will change.

Best Book on Non-Financial Aspects of Retirement
I just finished reading How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free.
This is likely the best overall book on the non-financial aspects of retirement. It is an in-depth look at the many facets that make for a happy retirement; including physical, intellectual, and emotional considerations.
Of particular note: I found Zelinski's "Get-a-Life Tree" to be an important retirement planning tool that I didn't find in any other retirement book. It is an ingenious way to create ideas for your retirement that you might not otherwise discover.
There is a warning: Although "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" does give some advice on how to handle money and seven reasons why people need far less money in retirement than during their career lives, thisis not a book on how to create a big portfolio and live financially comfortable for the rest of your life.
The subtitle ("Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Receive from Your Financial Advisor") should already explain this -- but some people still pick up this book looking for financial advice and then give it a bad review.
If you have your financial affairs handled pretty well, but still haven't figured out what you want to do in retirement, this is the best book to help to sort things out.
Of course, there is a lot of valuable advice that you won't find in other retirement books including a complete chapter on the importance of friendship in retirement and how to create new friends away from the workplace.
"How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" has now sold well over 125,000 copies and has been published in 9 languages. I think the results speak for themselves.
As author and motivational speaker Jack Canfield says, "Results don't lie."
Given how many retirement books have been published and how saturated the retirement book market is, this book's success shows that people find it to be a valuable retirement planning tool.
The traditional retirement planning industry falls short on providing retirement planning tools that help individuals gain insight into what truly matters most about their lives and their retirement. The new retirement planning model requires new styles of planning and preparedness that are covered in "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free."
In short, Zelinski paints a picture of retirement so enticing that you will want to retire even if you're in your thirties or forties. As the back cover of the book says, "Retirement is not the end of life -- it is the beginning."

The best book about what to do in retirement
How To Retire Happy, Wild and Free is by far the best book that I have read about what to do after you retire.I am a financial advisor and I've read hundreds of books about how to plan for retirement and how to save for retirement, but no one focuses on what to do in retirement.Ernie Zelinski has done just that.The chapter on the "Get-A-Life Tree" is worth the price of the book in itself.I did the tree myself and I recommend it to my clients who are about to retire.

Litreally the worst book I have read in a long time.
I REALLY hate to be negative but this book is not a Guide to Retirement and not a good use of your money. It is a positive, carefree book and full of ideas that you should know already if you have half a sense of adventure. Things like - "if you are workaholic you are a jerk and shouldn't retire" or "if you retire make sure and have plenty of money!"or"Find a hobby before you retire!" just aren't helpful. I'm 42 and active-retired. ... Read more

Product Description
No matter what your dream for retirement-traveling the world, relocating to an exciting new city, or just spending more time with family-you can make that dream come true. The Everything Retirement Planning Book helps you determine how much money you'll need to save for your dream and the best ways to do it. This down-to-earth handbook is full of checklists to help you make the decisions you need to make before retiring.

The Everything Retirement Planning Book includes practical advice on:

• Social Security benefits
• Withdrawing funds from IRAs
• Investments before and after retirement
• Life insurance and long-term care policies
• Working after you retire

Customer Reviews (1)

Retirement planning book review
If you purchase this book just know that it is a very basic book.It covers all the investment possibilities you should have been doing for the past 40 years.It would probably be better to read at age 20 than age 58 like I did. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

One of the best
As a financial advisor in the senior market, I found this book to be an indepth source of advise to those seeking the proper way to protect their wealth.

IRA facts
Ed Slott is the guru of IRA plans. This is an excellent book that you should read to avoid mistakes with your IRA plan.

Great even for novices
i'm only part way through this,but it's going to be helpful for my business in assisting people plan for retirement. And it would be good for a lay person, easy to understand.

Great Book - Misleading Title
Wish I had read the reviews before purchasing...from the title I expected a complete roadmap to retirement. Instead I got a complete roadmap to leveraging my 401Ks, IRAs, and 457s. There was excellent, easy to read information about these that I have put into practice. This info was new to me and I appreciated the author's practical, down-to-earth way of explaining it to me. I also wish there was a website with templates to download. It's hard to write in the little space provided on the forms in the hardbound book. So, bottom line, excellent information but not a complete roadmap to retirement.

A Financial Guide, not a Complete Guide
To me the title of this otherwise excellent book is somewhat misleading. It should say something like 'Your Complete FINANCIAL Planning Road Map.' That is, it doesn't go into things like should you move to the sunbelt, or how much money will you need, or medical aspects or any of these other subjects. Instead it is a very complete discussion on the tax issues of investing for retirement.

This book talks about IRA's, and Roth IRA's, and 401(k)'s, and all the other alphabet soup of the tax system in the United States. It is complete and up to date as recent as the 2006 changes to the tax laws.

A major part of the book consists of check lists that you should go over as part of your retirement/estate planning. These also are very well thought out and force you to think about things you would otherwise ignore.

A minor complaint, these checklists are printed in the book. I'd much rather see them on the web or in a CD bound into the book. He says you should fill them in using pencil in case you later want to make changes. I'd like it better to fill them in on a computer and then print them out. Once again, the information is there and more complete than you'd imagine, so you can consider this a minor complaint. ... Read more

Product Description
This book will change the way you retire-no matter what the state of the economy. B>

Follow the advice in The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read and you will:

• Find simple strategies to maximize your retirement nest egg.
• Steer clear of scams that rob you of your hard-earned savings.
• Ensure that your money lasts longer than you do.
• Avoid the common mistakes that can leave your spouse impoverished.
• Discover financial lifelines no matter how desperate the economy.

"If you want a handy guide that provides information in small chunks, Solin's book is it." -Newark Star-Ledger ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Book review
Thjis book arrived promptly and in great shape. It was an easy, but interesting read with several facts and suggestions that I will use.

Better late than never
Book arrived in perfect condition. I love Dan Solin. Only wish I had known sooner...might still have some money to retire on.

Almost there
Full of good info. that makes you think and how to act going foward toward retirerment

Not Impressed

I found the information presented, while nicely organized, was rather basic information and not what I was expecting.

ok for most retirees
A friend of mine said I should read this book.I have read the book.As a retired CPA I found the book was way too basic.I didn't learn much from it.That said, I think it's a good book for retirees who need to add to their basic level of money education. ... Read more

Product Description
Life after retirement is much more exciting if you look beyond what you need for financial security as you prepare for it. Mary Lloyd lays out a whole new paradigm for doing this andshows you how to assess what you really want and need--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--to make retired life the most rewarding time of all. Supercharged Retirement will help you conquer the emotional and personal challenges ofstepping out of the workforce with solutions that work specifically for you.

This book is a valuable wake-up call, particularly if you've been focused on financial planning alone. It will challenge your assumptions about this stage of life, refocus your sense of what s possible, rekindle your passions, and reawaken your drive to spend your time, energy, and resources on what's important to you. You'll discover how to

• Decide if you really want to retire now or ever.
• Design a lifestyle for your post-career years that s right for you.
• Find compelling ways to act on what's important to you and maintain your sense of purpose.
• Keep your world expanding.
• Define strategies for dealing with likely challenges and potential fears.

A passionate guide for making these years sparkle, Supercharged Retirement turnsconventional wisdom about how to prepare for retirement on its ear. It delivers practical, easy-to-read advice about a better way to do it, using humor, anecdotes, and exercises along with a wide range of factual information. If you use this book, get ready to launch. With Lloyd s recommendations, not even the sky is the limit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

SUPERCHARGED RETIREMENT
Mary Lloyd's book, SUPERCHARGED RETIREMENT, prepares for retirement by providing common sense information, tools to put the information to work, and an assessment of yourself to know what you want to do for the rest of your life.

Mary's knowledge, enthusiasm, experience, energy, and humor all combine to make this book a "must read" for anyone retired or thinking about retiring.

Great Resource for Those Looking to Retire!
Super-Charged Retirement is a must read for those thinking about retiring or who have already entered into this next stage of their lives. The helpful exercises and practical advice help readers to think carefully about the years ahead which for many of us, due to extended longetvity, can be decades. My husband who is newly retired found this book invaluable as he moved from his job as a store manager for 30 years into retirement. He has discovered his true passion and found ways to invest his many talents and energy into something that is very meaningful for him. No sitting on the couch for him and wondering what to do for the rest of his life. He has a plan, and Mary Lloyd's wonderful book helped him figure out what that might be.

Super-chargedguide for retirees
As a retiree, I was really moved by the rational manner Mary Lloyd lays out her retirement road map. Most retirement books address mostly the financial planning aspects and rarely the other (more personal) realities of retirement. She is "right on" when talking about how perpetual idleness is not what retirement is about, but instead recharging your life and learning new things daily. Are you happy with how you're using your time? Are satisfied with the "stuff" you have accumulated? Are you compatible with your partner in every way (now that you're going to be together 24/7)? How's your health? What do you want to next? These are all questions I needed to explore and Mary guided me through this in a simple, humorous and rational manner. I loved it!

Dr. Lou Gonzales (Sixty going on forty, really!) ... Read more

Product Description
Use the New Tax Law to Retire on Your Terms

Are you planning your retirement with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 in mind?If not, you could be missing out on important changes that could help you build a larger nest egg or even retire early.Drawing on the experience of the nation’s premier tax and financial planners, Ernst & Young’s Retirement Planning Guide, Special Tax Edition shows you how to use the new tax law to plan for a secure future–whether you’re just getting started or on the verge of retirement.

This practical guide highlights key financial and personal issues you need to consider during your pre-retirement and retirement years, including essential information on how the new tax law will affect your retirement.

From guidance on portfolio diversification and Social Security to the new tax rules that will impact IRAs and 401(k) plans, Ernst & Young’s Retirement Planning Guide, Special Tax Edition provides the insight and assistance you need to take advantage of the new tax law and plan for a financially secure future.

• The effect the new tax law will have on your retirement plan–from pension withdrawals to IRA limits and new tax-deferred plans
• The latest financial instruments for retirement savings
• Worksheets, tips, and action items, as well as additional resources, including Web sites
• Strategies to overcome adverse financial events
• Wealth-building techniques to help you retire early
• Practical ideas and easy-to-understand charts and tables

Customer Reviews (2)

Good overview
Retirement planning is more important now than ever before because people are living longer and the retirement years represent the third stage of one's life. Whether you are in your 20s, 40s, or 60s, you should learn about retirement. This book is one of many on this topic. If you are not planning for retirement, you are still planning, but maybe you are planning to work the rest of your life.

This book discusses spending, investing, social security, insurance, health care costs, taxation, and much more. If it was up to me, I would make this topic a requirement for high school students.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market

I bought this for both sets of parents!
There are a lot of retirement books out there, so I went with the one with a recognizable name and I'm glad I did. My parents haven't thought enough about retirement and I wanted to spur them to action. They were pleased to find out that there were many things they could do now, even at this late date, to help them, and they even starting giving me tips on ways I could start planning. So then I gave this book to my husband's parents who are already retired, and they ended up buying it for friends too. There are tons of tips, easy things you can do, worksheets, charts, action lists, tips--even a section on how to overcome adverse events like losing your job and divorce. It is worth the read. You'll learn a lot and be happy you did. ... Read more

Product Description
A timely guide to overcoming the retirement challenges we all face

The Great Recession has placed a wake-up call to America's baby boomers. Many have not saved enough for retirement and have not taken a hard look at how many post-work years they may need to finance.

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security tackles the tough questions about retirement in the new post-crash economy. Page by page, it puts retirement in perspective by touching on important issues such as insuring against the risk of outliving your assets, recalibrating damaged retirement portfolios, managing the risk of health-care expenses in retirement, and career strategies for workers who are 50 years old and up.

• Reveals how to boost lifetime income through better planning, and working just a few additional years
• Offers advice on how to hire a financial advisor whose first loyalty is to you, not Wall Street
• Discusses why you should rethink housing in the wake of the real estate crash
• Offers detailed advice on career reinvention, the 50+ job market and midlife entrepreneurship

Engaging and informative, this practical guide provides the strategies needed for a truly fulfilling and secure retirement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great perspective and great resources
I am nearing retirement age and have found the decisions I must make very overwhelming.I wish I had read this book at least 10 years ago.In retrospect, the advice I was given 10 years ago was poor.This book provides many suggestions about retirement strategies that will work in good times and bad.The book also gave me confidence all is not lost in terms of my having a reasonable retirement strategy in spite of the fact I am near retirement age.

The author gives a brief comment/analysis on many subjects and usually includes at least one possible solution.He also provides a list of resources for further investigation.While a more in-depth analysis would be most desirable, I have found the author's approach of benefit.I was able to cover a lot of ground quickly and then, using the resources listed, further investigate the topics of greatest concern to me.The organization of the material and the author's style made it an easy read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is investigating retirement.The references alone are worth the price of the book.

Your One-Stop Guide to Rescuing Your Retirement
If you read just one book on retirement planning - let it be Mark Miller's THE HARD TIMES GUIDE TO RETIREMENT SECURITY. Whether you have questions about health care, taxes, real estate, 401ks, annuities, or finding a financial advisor... you'll get smart, no-nonsense responses here. That alone would make the book a gem, but those tactical and practical answers are sandwiched between thought-provoking chapters on how we ended up in this retirement roundabout & how out-of-the-box concepts like Encore Careers can get you back on the wide open road. Highly, highly recommend this book (and as a personal finance junkie - I don't say that lightly!)

Not as good as Chris Farrell says, but ok.
This book does provide some basic information but it does not give much discussion as to how to manage retirement money when one does not have a defined benefit plan.It gives some basic information but it misses as it does not cover a lot of issues with a defined contribution plan.It does address issues such as working longer than one thinks one might to avoid running out of money. Overall a good read for those a few years from retirement but it is not a comprehensive guide in this area such as books by Quinn and Orman are for money management overall.

Great guide to encore careers
Looking for advice on how to sell your 50-something self in the current challenging
job market? This is the book for you. "The Hard Times Guide" is chock full of information on how to prepare yourself financially for retirement, delivered
in a conversational yet no-nonsense tone that makes you think, "I can do this!" But even more useful to me was the
savvy advice on encore careers. If you're in the same boat, start with p. 135: "Rule No. 1: Package Yourself as the Solution."

Well worth buying
Whilst a lot of Mark's advice is specific to the US there is a lot that is applicable to the UK. As Europe enters its "Austerity Era" there has never been a more important time to make a comprehensive plan for life following your last job. I guess we once called this period `retirement' but for many of us it is the beginning of a whole new phase of life that might or might not include work.
Not only has Mark amassed a lot of facts that cover all aspects of retirement he presents them in an extremely readable way. If you don't want to read all of the detail you can use the book as a comprehensive checklist of all of the topics that you should be considering.
... Read more

Product Description
Praise for THE NEW RULES OF RETIREMENT

"As a Wharton graduate, money manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Certified Financial Analyst, I didn't think I needed help in making investment choices and planning for my retirement. I was wrong. I have been a subscriber to Retirement Watch since 1997. I trust Bob Carlson completely and follow his investment, tax, and planning advice personally."
--Sandy Kagan, CFA
CFO Partner, Tatum Partners

"A clear, practical, and wisely unconventional guide to the new world of retirement."
--Humberto Cruz
Nationally syndicated financial columnist, Tribune Media Services

"Bob Carlson does a magnificent job preparing readers for the many challenging issues they will face over the next several decades. Retirees can no longer count on generous asset returns and employer-provided defined benefit plans. Bob provides readers with creative approaches for contending with these challenges to help ensure financially and emotionally secure 'freedom years'."
--Lawrence E. Kochard, PhD, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Georgetown University

"Bob Carlson shows that three trends--demographics (baby boomers), increasing longevity, and fewer offspring--have changed forever the landscape facing America's retirees. Stereotype retirement based on Social Security and employer pensions is out; making ends meet on your own is in. Better get yourself ready--and you can do so by reading this book."
--James C. Miller III
Former U.S. Budget Director, Chairman of The CapAnalysis Group, LLC ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

a disappointment...
as a subscriber to author's newsletter, i was disappointed in the content. i would have preferred that he provide portfolio models in greater detail!

Times are changing
Retirement and retirement planning are changing. Life expectancy is longer, healthcare costs are going up, and Social Security and Medicare may not be enough. All these changes require a different approach to retirement planning. This is what this book is all about.

The author argues that to meet new challenges people will need to save more than past retirees did, take investing more seriously, and plan for health care expenses. The investment strategies also need to be different. In the past, retirees were told to shift their investment dollars away from the stock market and into safer investments because of the stock market's volatility. Because today's retirement can be 20 or 30 years long, this advice is not as applicable anymore. I thought the author did a great job explaining new challenges facing retirees and how to prepare for them. I highly recommend this book to anyone planning for retirement.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market

The New Rules of Retirment
This book had more detail on taxes and its effect on planning consequences then I have seen in other books. It have useful information on retirement calculators, and health coverage. Overall this book wasmore usable to me than some others I have read. It's easy to read and understand. It enlightened me on some points that I had not thought of such as doing your homework on moving to a different location, living and renting in a location where you want to go. You might end up not wanting to move there.

Agree with 90% of the recommendations
Over-all, this is a very thorough review of the rules of retirement.

I am a believer in the passive index fund approach to investing as opposed to the actively managed approach.

Carlson advocates 3 levels of investments for the accumulation phase, and all 3 are based on an active versus passive management approach. The first level is his Core level and he recommends actively managed value stock funds.....or actively managed balanced funds (stocks and bonds) like Vanguard's Wellington.I think most investors would be better
served using a combination of Vanguard's Total Stock Market and Total Bond Market funds for this core portfolio.The ratio of stocks to bonds depends on the investor's risk tolerance, as well as their need to take risk. Using Vanguard's passively managed index funds versus Carlson's actively managed approach should result in higher returns to the investor because of the lower annual expenses of the index funds.

Carlson recommends large cap value funds because his theory is that in retirement....retirees can give up some returns in exchange for lower chances in the portfolio declining with value stocks.The Fama-French 3 factor study would suggest that large cap value stocks will outperform all large cap stocks....if history repeats itself in the future.If you believe that history will repeat itself, you could choose a Vanguard large cap value index fund instead of the Total Stock Market fund.

Carlson's other 2 levels of portfolios focus on trying to pick in advance, which asset classes are currently not over-valued.....or be really aggressive and take on high risks with private equity funds.These two strategies are high risk and I know of no long term data which supports this approach performing better than a simple index fund approach. I don't believe either of these 2 strategies is appropriate for most investors.

Bengen's and Bierwirth's studies back in 1994 were seminal events in financial planning in that they found 4% was the maximum SWR (Safe Withdrawal Rate). If the stock market experiences a prolonged drop early in a retirement period, SWR's higher than 4% will cause the retiree to exhaust his portfolio before this death.

In 1998, the Trinity Study also found the same basic results as Bengen and Bierwirth.....and recommended a maximum SWR of 4%.

I have read about some mechanical rules which suggest that you can withdraw more than 4% if you spend less money in years the stock market is down, and more money when it is up. Carlson suggests the Yale distribution rule....in which 30% of the annual distribution is based upon portfolio value.I had not heard of this specific rule before, and I will have to do some Monte Carlo analysis to determine its effectiveness.


I found the book easy to read.....and I agree with his recommendations except for the construction of his investment portfolios.

The Richest Man in Babylon
Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor
The Millionaire Next Door
The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio
A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
The Coffeehouse Investor: How to Build Wealth, Ignore Wall Street, and Get On With Your Life
The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing

Warnings with hope and answers
As the author of a similar book entitled, "When Can I Tell My Boss, I Quit!," I offer Mr. Carlson the highest compliment: I used his book in the research for my book.He alerts the reader to impending problems facing the new retirees but also offers many solid and creative solutions.Mr. Carlson's book is well researched and thorough but easy to read.I've re-read it several times to answer questions I have. ... Read more

Product Description
As you think about retirement, you’ve got facts to face, planning to do, decisions to make and numbers to crunch. With the experts at The Wall Street Journal to guide you, you’ll learn how to tailor a financial plan for the lifestyle you want.

•Answers your biggest question—How big does my nest egg need to be?—by linking it to your particular hopes for how you want to spend your days in retirement
• Shows how to translate your dreams and interests into daily activities, whether traveling, opening a business, volunteering or going backto school
•Provides a timeline for decisions to make and steps to take ten years, five years and one year before you retire
• Offers tips on investing wisely and working with the right financial adviser
• Tells you how to maximize your benefits from Social Security and Medicare
•Guides you through the intricacies of 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities and other financial tools and resources

Today, the average person can expect to spend two decades in retirement—why leave it to chance? For all of its changes and challenges, a well-planned retirement could very well be the best part of your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

This is a great 5-star book
I have just finished reading this book and found it full of great advice and great examples. There are many real world examples from real people who are happy or unhappy with choices they made. I bought this book for the non-financial advice it contains and I am very happy. Every few pages it got my attention with something to think about. The financial advice is fine too; nothing objectionable there. This is an execllent first book about retirement. I would have paid twice the cover price for it.

Didn't read it, but saw that all neg reviews done on same two days!
I have not read this book, but I am giving it five stars because I realized that all but one of the "one star" reviews were one on 27 and 28 November 2007, mostly by "licensed professionals."This is odd, as if a newsletter went to this community telling them to pan this publication (or maybe the same guy did them all under different names?).It just struck me as odd that these all happened on two consecutive days while the positive reviews were spread out over time.

A Better Alternative
I'd suggest a different book that includes two excellent chapters on the financial aspects of retirement, and eight chapters on the non-financial aspects (including working after leaving your primary career).I received The New Retirement as a gift, and recommend it to everyone: The New Retirement: Revised and Updated:The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life

Surprisingly Mediocre. Better than Halcion for shut-eye.
I figured these two knew what they were talking about given their credentials. In fact, I was very excited to purchase the book and frankly, start planning my retirement. But it just read like painfully dull and sloppy journalism. Maybe these two should become reacquainted with the library and how to do research. A course on how to write without putting your audience to sleep might help, too. Maybe the next edition will be much improved. I certainly hope so. I can't imagine the authors aren't capable of more. But until then, don't inflict this tome on your friends and family. It's no gift.

A top pick for any public library collection.
There are plenty of books on retirement on the market, but what makes The Wall Street Journal Complete Retirement Book stand out from the competition is its focus on how to plan financially and how to translate dreams into after-retirement reality. It comes from a Wall Street Journal editor whose bi-monthly guide to retirement planning pairs well with a Journal staff reporter expert on the same topic: together they show how to maximize profit and dreams alike, making this a top pick for any public library collection.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description
This book teaches affluent types how to turn retirement into a wonderful new life. Includes: travel, mentoring and volunteering, hobbies and collecting, et al. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good if you have money!
This book is definitely written for those who have amassed some type of retirement nest egg and who have been engaged in working hard most of their adult lives. If you don't feel that you fit into that category, the book is still interesting, but probably not worth purchasing.
Having said that, the book has some interesting exercises and thoughts that parallel the 'New Retirement' ideas of Dr. Richard Johnson (creator of the Retirement Success Profile that I use when coaching about-to-be or already retirees). It discusses finances from the distribution side, rather than the acquiring side. Silton also talks about ways to replace the 'work habit' and continue to grow through retirement, qualities you need to have to undertake a successful retirement. He also warns about pitfalls in everything from travel to wills. The exercises he presents can be fun to do and provide a different way of looking at retirement. The underlying theme is that you need to craft the best retirement life for you. This is an excellent idea!

How to plan for, stay active through, and enjoy retirement
In Active Retirement For Affluent Workaholics: Planning For The Life You've Always Wanted, Peter Silton shows readers in their 50s through their 70s all about how to plan for, stay active through, and enjoy their retirement and the senior life they's always aspired to. Readers will learn how to do a rebirth (Kaneka), use money wisely (Wenjen); and begin a new life path (Ken-Tao); as well as keeping physically and emotionally fit; expand their hobbies and artistic pursuits; develop and maintain interests and relationships; control their finances and manage their estates. Here is practical, life enhancing advice on staying as active in retirement as when working with an earlier career, including travel, mentoring, volunteering, and enjoying what their affluence can accomplish in their behalf. Active Retirement For Affluent Workaholics is especially recommended for those seeking early retirement, or have had retirement thrust upon them because of workplace rules, health issues, or life-long ambitions which were deferred until their retirement years.

Well written and funny!
The book is a wonderful blueprint for a stage of life most of us ignore. It provides genuine hope that the active and restless among us do not need to fear retirement.

It demystifies the process of planning an active and enriched retirement life as a pragmatic and witty guide to living life and spending money (without guilt) and harnessing the computer as an extension of your life.

Offers sound, practical advice for baby-boomers. ... Read more

Product Description

Award-winning personal finance columnist read by millions of people each week

The Incredibly Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Investing Money for Your Future!

“A cover-to-cover must-read for everyone 16 to 60 who wants to live the American Dream. The earlier we choosetosave^®, the sooner we can stop saving, and the later we start saving the more we need to know in order to catch up. What you need to know; where you can find the answers; how you can take action. It is all here.” 

–Dallas Salisbury, CEO, Employee Benefit Research Institute and American Savings Education Council (www.choosetosave.org)

“Bookstores are full of tomes advising people how to save for retirement, yet millions of people are still hopelessly confused about what they should do. Gail MarksJarvis breaks it down into simple steps that anyone can do to ensure a more comfortable retirement. Read this book and prosper!”

–Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money Personal finance columnist and best-selling author of Your Credit Score

“This book offers a sensible, sophisticated approach for tackling the daunting challenge of saving for retirement. The good news? You can retire–without living on canned food or buying lottery tickets–if you follow Gail’s realistic strategies for saving, investing, and ultimately spending money in retirement.”

–Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press

“You can wallpaper a warehouse with all of the awful investment advice offered up every year in newspapers, magazines, and books. One of the most difficult tasks is to separate the get-rich-quick hype from the truly worthwhile knowledge that will make you wealthy over time. I’m thrilled to say that Gail MarksJarvis has cut through the claptrap of investment cacophony and provided not only a solid plan for retirement saving, but a realistic, common-sense approach to personal finance in general. This is a triumph.”

–John F. Wasik, Bloomberg News personal finance columnist and author, The Merchant of Power

Drawn from responses to questions from over 20,000 readers of the author’s personal finance columns.

Over the years, Chicago Tribune financial columnist Gail MarksJarvis has taken the time to listen and respond to thousands of her readers about the issues, questions, and concerns that are most important to them. Saving and investing for retirement has never been more important...and with this book, it’s never been clearer what you need to do and how to do it. 

Don’t wait another day! Discover…

• How much you’ll need and how to get there…even if you’ve fallen behind
• Exactly how to set up IRAs, 401(k)s, or 403(b)s in minutes and pocket your tax money
• How to harness the money-making power of the stock market
• How to pick the right mutual funds confidently with simple strategies and specific recommendations
• Incredibly easy, safe investing strategies based on professional money-management techniques
• "Gimmick-free" investing shortcuts that won’t backfire on you
• How to keep debt from making you poor
• How to get reliable help if you need it…and avoid incompetents or scam artists
• How the new 2006 pension laws affect you

Customer Reviews (20)

Must Read
Saving for Retirement without Living like a Pauper by Gail Marks Jarvis is a must read for anyone just starting their first job or getting ready to retire in 10 years. The book makes understanding investing easy to understand without knowing anything about stocks, bonds, money market funds, 401k and IRA's. You will feel confident when talking to your financial planner and will have the tools to put you on the correct path for your retirement needs.Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery

Best book ever for everyday people
I was incredibly intimidated by the retirement investment world. This book changed all that. Excellent. Easy to read.Makes the scary understandable.Specific.Gave me lots of confidence and optimism. Wish there were more like this.

- Marie

Easy to digest
I first met financial columnist, Gail MarksJarvis, about five years ago in Chicago at a Morningstar conference.I remember being impressed by her curiosity, thoughtfulness, energy and drive - all of which is reflected in the award winning personal finance column that she writes for the Tribune.

When her book was released, we met over a cup of coffee at the Barclay InterContinental at 48th and Lex to discuss her foray into books.She was in New York speaking before the National Association of State Treasurers forum on public funds management and touring for the release of her new book, "Saving for Retirement (without living like a pauper or winning the lottery)," published by FT Press.

I asked Gail what motivated her to publish.

"When I talk to readers, there is a common theme," said Gail."They are confused about financing retirement and they are desperate for help."

"They think they should know the answers -- that somehow through osmosis, they will figure out what they need to do," she continued. "Of course, that's not the case - that's why I wrote the book - to give them the background to make good decisions."

In her book, Gail tackles 401(k)s and IRAs, the stock market, mutual funds, and asset allocation, as well as when to start investing and how to figure out how much you need in retirement- all topics "people are supposed to know," said Gail, "but don't."

If you are a novice, you'll find the book easy to digest - with plenty of references to cooking, I might add.

Excellent book for the beginner and even those who are not beginners!
This book is great.I found it to be written so that anyone could understand retirement planning and immediately use the information to change the way you see retirement planning.
I've read dozens of books and this is one of my top pic's!

Terrific guide for retirement that anyone can use!
This is a GREAT book on retirement investing that readers can actually use.It takes the "mystery" out of retirement plans and investing.I walked away with a better understanding of my retirement plan options and a good strategy for investing the money.I was able to take what I learned and change my 401k investments with confidence.

The book includes discussions of the types of retirement accounts (401k, IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, etc) and how they work.The author includes information for all income levels ("do you earn too much for an IRA"; "advice for low-income people").

The best part of the book explains how to create a diversified portfolio of retirement investments.The book explains different types of mutual funds (large-cap, mid-cap, etc) and how to pick a good balance.Then the author shows how this can be applied to pretty much any 401k plan.There are discussions on "dollar-cost-averaging" (which she recommends) and "timing the market" (which she doesn't recommend).

Besides being full of great information, the book is also very readable (not too dry and boring).This is a book that even the novice investor can use to get started and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description

Real Solutions for Saving Your Retirement…

No Matter Where You Stand Right Now!

Step-by-step plans you can use if you’re planning to retire in…

5 years10 years15 yearsover 20 yearsor tomorrow!

“The market meltdown has all of us worrying about whether we will ever be able to retire. Worrying doesn’t help you. Planning does. Save Your Retirement by Frank Armstrong, III and Paul B. Brown can–and should–serve as your battle plan.”

–John A. Byrne, Executive Editor, BusinessWeek

“Convinced the sinking economy has dragged your retirement plans down with it? Save Your Retirement shows there’s still treasure inside that wreckage– and provides a map to help you find it.”

–Josh Hyatt, Money Magazine

“Whether you’re just beginning a career or you’re five years from retiring, the authors show you how to take a realistic look at your current financial status and your retirement goals. With a refreshingly positive approach, they give all of us, no matter our life stage, a blueprint for successful retirement.”

–Professor Larry Meiller, Talk Show Host, Wisconsin Public Radio

“Frank Armstrong, III and Paul B. Brown heal your retirement anxiety and show you exactly how to achieve financial security for the golden years. You’ll actually be excited to save!”

–Farnoosh Torabi, Author of You’re So Money: Live Rich Even When You’re Not

Terrified about retirement? Stop losing sleep, and take action! This book gives you specific, step-by-step plans you can use to save your retirement. Forget “one-size-fits-all” solutions that don’t fit your life. Here are personal plans focused on your unique situation–whether you’re 5, 10, 15, or 20-plus years away from retirement or are scheduled to retire now. (There’s even a detailed plan for people who’ve already retired and want to make sure their money lasts!) No matter what the market meltdown did to your portfolio or how little you’ve saved, you can save your retirement–if you start now. Get this book, and get started!

All the help you need to save your retirement:

• Where to move your savings
• How to recalculate what you’ll really need to retire
• How to assess when you can now afford to retire
• How to change your approach to investing
• How to use the federal tax system to save more
• What to expect from Social Security now

Part I: Let’s Take a Deep Breath and Get Our Bearings     1

Chapter 1: There’s Hope     3

Chapter 2: You Are Not Alone: Just About Everyone Is Unprepared to Retire the Way They Want     11

Chapter 3: Maybe You Don’t Want to Retire     23

Chapter 4: Before You Begin Your Rescue Efforts: Things to Do to Make Sure You Don’t Make the Situation Worse     29

Part II: Working with the Scenario That Is Right for You     63

Chapter 5: R(etirement) Minus 20 (or More)     71    

Chapter 6: R—15     79

Chapter 7: R—10     95

Chapter 8: R—5     107

Chapter 9: R=0     117

Chapter 10: R+     123

Part III:  (Dramatically) New Thinking     127

Chapter 11: Maybe You Want to Retire Later     129

Chapter 12: Don’t Touch Up the X-Rays     133

Chapter 13: Dealing with Risk     141

Chapter 14: Where Does Social Security Fit In?     151

Chapter 15: What to Do the Moment You Stop Reading     161

Chapter 16: Final Thoughts     167

Part IV:  Appendices     173

Appendix A: Where Does the Money Go?     175

Appendix B: Getting to What’s Next     183

Appendix C: Useful Links and Resources for Retirees     191

Appendix D: Suggested Asset Allocation Models     195

Index     199

Customer Reviews (3)

Finally some advice about what to do now that I've seen my 401(k) practically vanish
The cover of this book caught my eye at the bookstore and when I saw on the back that everyone from MONEY to BUSINESSWEEK was raving about it, I knew it was a financial must-read! The authors are so clear and concise and really helped me understand concepts that before seemed "greek to me." I'm always weary of personal finance books for giving people unrealistic ideas about how to get rich. This one is so great because it's no bs. If you can't afford to retire, the authors aren't going to tell you that you can. They know people saw their 401(k)s evaporate in the financial crisis and they're here to tell you what to do now. I highly recommend this book if you care a dime about your financial future.

Save Retirement
The book is a good primer on how to review
retirement needs dispassionately. Some key elements
are as follows:
o be wary of too much credit and credit cards
o strive for an investment mix of 60% stocks
25% bonds and 15% cash or more
o utilize a retirement needs calculator to be more precise
o consider a second career to supplement income
o some retirees are adept at developing small businesses
o be wary of annuities because they may not pass down
to family and relatives when you die
o try to stay within a limit of withdrawing 4% savings
per year in retirement
o some retirees seek to live in cheaper geographic areas
so that the dollar stretches further
i.e. You can still pay $100/month for an apartment in
parts of Bulgaria and health care is free after
a short residency period passes.

Overall, the acquisition would be helpful for your
retirement planning. The author anticipates some of
the worst pitfalls which befall retirees and their
families.

Great book no matter what stage of life you're in.
The cover caught my eye and the content kept my attention. Save your Retirement provides the most comprehensive, infinitely practical advice I have ever read. The author doesn't confuse the reader with complicated terms (nor does he treat you like an idiot, like other books). I have recommended this book to friends. It is packed full of great information regardless what stage of life you are in, it helps you form an action plan. The book also mentions an accompanying website, [...] I've browsed through the information there and their sister site [...] which has a lot of great financial articles about more than just retirement. ... Read more

Product Description
F. Bill Billimoria makes known the many pitfalls that lie in wait for the unwary when planning for retirement. With examples and charts, he also shows how to plan, implement and monitor progress toward your own Golden Pond. Regardless of your financial expertise--or lack thereof--the book outlines the process in full, leaving no room for confusion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Very Informative and Insightful
This book gives you insightful and authoritative on all major topics in financial planning.It gives you ideas and solutions but also the reasoning and analysis behind them.I recommend this book to anyone who really cares about their finances, young and old.

Great Read
I found this book to be extremely informative. He has some interesting perspectives, and it greatly aided me in my future planning. A great book to share.

Great book, Very Fast Read
This book is a wonderful asset for people who are either starting to understand personal financial planning or those who have years of practical experience but want the latest information available. I enjoyed reading the book and found it filled with exactly the information I was seeking to improve my own personal financial planning. The format was very understandable and will allow me to continue using the book as a reference.

A "textbook" for those of us who need one
Bill's book is the most practical, clearly written guide to planning for the future that I have encountered. Though the financial investment world has changed since it was written in 2007 I still recommend it for its practicality and readability. He provides all the forms and checklists I need as a Baby Boomer contemplating future financial decisions. His humor shines through as well as really savvy examples.

On Golden Pond... Or Up the Creek
Great title but worthless book. Do not be sucked in by the title and excellent cover. There is little in the book except sophomoric drivel. Any other basic book on the subject of the financial ramifications of retirement subsume any thoughts put forward in this book and go way beyond them. Don't waste your money, unless you like pretty covers. ... Read more