I read this book so many times. I loved it. I thimk you should read it too.

I read this book over ten years ago, when I was about nine, but the emotions I felt while reading it are still fresh in my mind. This is an excellent read, at any age. It's fun, sad, silly, and adventurous. I will never forget it.

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.

This guide provides excellent pre-retirement planning suggestions. Has traps, obstacles and helpers outlined for quick review and advice. Has a number of "tools" in the form of worksheets to assist in planning for both before and after retirement events. Presents a number of post-retirement ideas with several suggestions of how to manage and/or increase your income in retirement. Authors are somewhat short on information for the mid 50's retiree concerning how to access 401k and IRA funds without penalty between 55 and 59 1/2. No info on what forms are needed and where they are available, or what needs to be filed and where. Has one slight reference in the appendix on how to accomplish withdrawals without penalty. Having read a number of retirement planning books available on the bookshelf, I found this volume excels in providing useful information not found in similar guide books.

Although this book deals with many aspects of retirement and retirement planning, what distinguishes it from the dozens of similar books I have read is a truly outstanding calculator for determining how much money will be available then and how much needs to be saved or invested to eliminate any shortfall. It includes pensions, social security, and savings and investments. It factors in life expectancy, income sources that will automatically increase with inflation and those that won't, savings and investment growth rates, withdrawl rates that must increase with inflation(which--unbelievably--some calculators don't consider). It allows for early retirement (that is, it doesn't factor in social security until it's available). Similarly, it allows for staggered commencement of retirement income sources (for example, a pension that starts at age 65 while you may start social security at age 62). I've not found another calculator that does ALL of these things! I couldn't recommend it more highly.

This guide really lays out, step by step, how to think and act to plan your retirement. I found this a surprisingly quick read, comprehensive, easy to understand and specific -- from spending, lifestyle, insurance, investing issues. The book makes a great gift for friends or parents because too many of us are not paying attention to the easy "Action Items" that each chapter ends with. Highly recommended!