Reviews (1)

Lively, straightforward, easily accessible
Sass writes engagingly about the history of pensions, which goes back only about 100 years in the United States. He discusses the family handicraft economy of the mid-1800s, how it was displaced by large industrial firms, why pensions began, how they evolved, the impact of ERISA and the creation of defined contribution plans in the late 20th century. If you want to understand the policy issues of public (Social Security) and private pension reform and how they will affect you personally in the future, I suggest you turn back to the past for starters. ... Read more

Book Description

With estate taxes as high as 55%, no one can afford to ignore the techniques available to all of us to reduce or eliminate death taxes. The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate gives practical, straightforward and, yes, even humorous advice crucial to anyone who has acquired even modest wealth. This is not a "do-it-yourself" book. Estate planning is tricky, and anyone preparing his own estate plan is likely to end up with a "pig's breakfast." Nor is this book an attempt to provide a comprehensive treatment of all the tax laws along with their exceptions and qualifications. Rather, it is short and written in clear, plain English. Along with the Artful Dodger and his family, you will learn the nuts and bolts of our U.S. gift and estate tax system and then move on to discover how not to waste your lifetime exemption, how to hold title to real property, save your children and grandchildren taxes, avoid probate, make charitable gifts work for you, preserve your wealth and plan for your retirement. The book is complete, with illustrated charts and sample forms, along with a checklist of important matters to discuss with your attorney. This national edition covers all states. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Extremely Favorable
Excellent tool for learning about estate planning. A must read before meeting with a lawyer. Fun to read and very understandable.

Candy coated estate planning
Sitting down to read a book on estate planning ranks right up there with a root canal on my list of favorite pastimes. But this book is refreshingly different. It really is possible to get solid information on a serious legal topic and have fun at the same time! As an attorney specializing in the field, Hawley knows his stuff. He also knows how to write in an entertaining, humorous way. Maybe the IRS could enlist him for the next revision of the 1040 instructions. Highly recommended!

A Must Have
This is a delightful book on an otherwise complex and daunting subject. The author leads you step by step down the aisles of estate planning with humor and insight. The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate is a must have for anyone interested in learning how to run the rapids of the estate tax system.

An essential read
An essential read to maximize the time you spend with your estate planner. Well worth the money in what I saved in legal fees. The Artful Dodger and his family are not only entertaining, but take you step-by-step through otherwise complicated tax laws. Compared to other books on the market regarding estate planning, this book tells you exactly what you need to know to aid your attorney in making the best decision for you and your family.

Estate planning made lucid!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book on estate planning. Finally a guide that is not only laden with complicated material made easy, but also humorous and easy to navigate. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an overview of the intricacies of estate planning while still maintaining their sanity (and sense of humor). ... Read more

Book Description

401(k) plan sponsors face an increasingly complex regulatory envrionment. The 401(k) Plan Management Handbook addresses these issues and more without the legal and regulatory jargon. This guide is ideal for all parties involved in complying with the numerous federal regulations and ensuring that the retirement needs of employees are considered. The 401(k) Plan Management Handbook includes: Designing & establishing a 401 (k) plan; Communicating with and educating participants; Asset management in 401(k) plans. ... Read more

Book Description

Gain the "Native" edge.Retiring in Arizona is an indispensable resource that will tell you who, what, where, why and how Arizona operates.Within its pages you'll find: profiles of more than 40 Arizona communities; housing advice; community resources; facts and figures; consumer assistance; and important addresses and phone numbers.A detailed introduction to Arizona for the veteran and newcomer alike, this book takes you from the daily details to weekend escapes, from the Grand Canyon in the north to the desert in the south.Whether you are just visiting, have recently moved to the state or are dreaming of the day when you can call Arizona home, Retiring in Arizona is an invaluable guide to the Grand Canyon state. The author, Dorothy Tegeler, has written two previous works about Arizona, Moving to Arizona and Retiring to Arizona.She has also written a children's activity book, Hello Arizona, and co-authored the cookbook Arizona's Favorites.Her own experience relocating to Phoenix heavily influenced how this book was written. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Filled with errors
I'm really upset with this book. It is filled with errors. Sometimes they say Defined Contribution when they mean Defined Benefit, Cash Balance when they Profit Sharing. I love having reference books by my side, and I had hoped this would be a good one...it is not. Moreover the prose is filled with backtalking and the outline is not clear. It's too complex to be a "general overview" and too many errors make it useless in the office.
Brian ... Read more

Book Description

The 457 Answer Book is one of the few in-depth resources to provide answers to the questions that tax-exempt organizations, state and local governments, their accountants, tax and legal advisors, 457 administrators, product providers, and investment counselors need to know.

Guiding readers through all aspects of 457 plan administration -- from installation through the audit process -- the 457 Answer Book describes: the duties and responsibilities of those performing the functions; the required legal, accounting, and administrative tasks; checklists that facilitate control of each administrative process; and suggested forms. Blending the theoretical and practical, the 457 Answer Book provides:

• The history and legal origins of the plan
• Design and drafting standards
• Suggested administrative procedures
• Data processing and payroll considerations
• Operations and fund flow mechanics
• Marketing and sales suggestions
• And much more. ... Read more

Book Description

By mid-career, every practice owner should read this document.Successful practice sales are far more unlikely if the sale strategy and planning is left for the year (or two) immediately preceding the desired sale date.Multiple approaches to practice sales are possible.A sale of "part of your practice" could be appropriate during mid-career, realizing payment for part of the value of your practice years before retirement, and then forming an ongoing "co-practice" arrangement with another practitioner.Some of the most effective approaches must be planned, and initiated, 3-5 years in advance of your retirement.There are approaches that are still available for use at your retirement age.This insightful document is not just about "selling your practice."It also addresses maximizing the value of your practice during mid-career, and in the years immediately preceding your retirement.It presents options that could make your practice more profitable, or increase your income, in addition to increasing your chances for a successful practice sale at some future date.In all, Dr. Stollings presents twelve (12) options for your consideration, each designed to either increase your income, increase the value of your practice, assist you in realizing payment for part of that value, or assist you in eventually selling your entire practice.Each optional approach is different.The available options are not equal in terms of their likelihood to meet your specific financial objectives.In regards to your specific practice, and its specific location, not all approaches will work, and some may be far more effective than others.Dr. Stollings explores the optional approaches, explains each, and guides you in selecting the approach that best matches your specific practice, location, circumstances, and your financial and career objectives. ... Read more

Book Description

The onset of globalization and the aging of populations have encouraged efforts to privatize the funding of retirement, putting at risk public pensions in many countries and giving pension and insurance funds great financial power. Private funds enjoy vital public subsidy, in the shape of major tax breaks, yet typically fail to give their policyholders a say, or subscribe to wider social objectives. Banking on Death traces the history of pension provision across the advanced capitalist world. It concludes that tax concessions should be confined to those funds which adhere to socially committed and sustainable investment programs, preferably on a not-for-profit basis. Blackburn offers a lucid survey of the debates on the future of social security in the United States and the struggles over pension provision in Britain , France and Germany. At once radical and realistic his analysis shows how gray capitalism could be transformed in pursuit of progressive goals. ... Read more

Book Description

From when you should retire to how to project taxes, easy-to-use worksheets throughout the book help you deal with your concerns about retirement. ... Read more

Book Description

This book focuses on pension policies in Europe and interestingly includes comparisons both within the EU and between EU countries and the US. The authors show how different countries are confronted with similar problems and that comparison of national experiences may be of great help for the ‘open method of coordination’ now adopted in the EU.

The papers deal mainly with the effects of the huge payroll tax differentials between countries on individual retirement choices and the labor market, with taxation of contributions and pensions, and with the portability of occupational pensions. The main impact on labor supply is shown to be early retirement due to actuarially unfair pension formulae. The authors also argue that the US experience shows that taxation of contributions and savings for old-age may not generate the hoped for incentive effects, while an example of inconsistent taxation of pensions is offered by Germany. Finally, it is shown that limited portability of defined benefit plans does not appear to be a strong impediment to labor mobility in Europe.

Pension Policy in an Integrating Europe will be valued by scholars of both public policy, public finance and European studies, and those practitioners and policymakers involved in insurance in the EU. ... Read more

Book Description

Written in a clear, step-by-step format, "The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need" provides advice on such topics as annuities, pensions, and IRAs, retirement communities, starting your own business, managing health care, and retiring abroad. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the early 1990s the countries of the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe have been involved in the process of reforming their retirement income systems. The principal objective of these reforms is to contain the cost of pay-as-you-go public pensions in the face of ageing populations. Many of the reforms involve greater reliance on personal saving and the development of capital markets to fund private pension arrangements.

The distinguished contributors from Europe and the United States demonstrate the complexity of pension provision and reform, and highlight the dangers of focusing on one particular model. They consider critical issues and debates about how to finance pensions, present evidence on the effects of pension reform on the incomes of the elderly, set out objectives to ensure intergenerational equity in public pensions, and examine different pathways to pension coverage. They also argue that recent reforms in Europe may have the effect of reducing the incomes of future pensioners while exposing them to uninsurable risks associated with private pensions.

This book addresses a pervasive and increasingly important issue by identifying differences in pension systems throughout the EU and Europe as a whole, and proposing various reforms and solutions to the emerging problem of pension provision. It will prove essential reading and a valuable source of reference for academics, economists, policymakers and government agencies concerned with the evolution and reform of pensions, and with social and economic development in general. ... Read more

Book Description

The storybook countryside of Ireland is remarkably accessible to Americans considering a move. Having moved to Ireland ten years ago, the author tells how to settle in and settle down in a new community. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Review of Review
While the book contains an egregious error, the most egregious of errors would be to use a single source to make life decisions. None of the retirement in Ireland books truly explicates the tax ramifications of retiring in Ireland. This book has useful information, but you had better do your homework fully first. Rule number 2, never use the exchange rate used in a book. Look it up.

live well in ireland
After 54 pages, Steenie gets up to the subject of the cost of this alleged improved standard of living. Suggested IR1,200/1,5000 per month being ample. A bit low in my view....However the currency conversion factor was misapplied causing her to state that US$850 to $1064 should work. Wroong! Using the conversion factor on page 56 the US$ is 1630 to 2040 per month. How any reputable publisher would allow this to continue to be shipped is appalling. No correction is offered. I was interested in Living Well In Mexico, a country I do not know ....so I bought Steenie's book on Ireland which I do know, just to test for accuracy before making any plans based on LWMEX. While LWI has worthwhile info, the magnitude of this mistake renders it useless for the uninformed, who will most likely misapply the currency factor as was done in this book. Eventually, only to find the US$ amount to be twice their estimate. Muir should withdraw the book. I'd like my money back and will trust no Muir publication.

We're ready to go!
My husband and I have been thinking about this for a while but we haven't had the time to do all the research. Thank God this author did it for me! What a great resource! We're baby boomers thinking about retiring in the next 5 years and this book will help us make our dream come true! ... Read more

Book Description

This is the only encyclopedia that focuses solely on the financial issues associated with aging. Written by experts in a variety of fields, entries include gerontology and finance terms and concepts, policies and programs, the needs and problems of the elderly, and more. This comprehensive, up-to-date, two-volume work includes over 175 entries on the most recent issues in elder financial planning and retirement programs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must reading for aging boomers
If you have ever dealt with parents who have waited too long to plan for aging, this book provides very thought provoking information that all baby-boomers need to heed. A realistic vision of aging can help one transition from what may seem like eternal youth to the inevitable stages of decreasing energy and increasing frailty. Proper planning- both financially and mentally - are covered by the authors. Taking the right mental attitude into the years after 55 may be the key to successfully aging. I have recommended this book to all my friends and consider it one of the most important I have read this year. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Who the hell is Lucia Solorzano? I wrote the book alone!
In any case, I'm revising the book right now. And I would welcome any comments. Warren Boroson ... Read more

Amazon.com

While once declaring it would never trust anyone over 30, the baby boom generation is now marching inexorably toward retirement. And, true to form, it is generally underprepared for the financial realities that lie ahead. In Retire Rich, Bambi Holzer comes to the rescue with a solid introduction to the basics for the uninitiated thirty- or fortysomething who recognizes that retirement planning should really be well underway by now. Through illustrations and a series of questions and worksheets, Holzer helps readers determine the amount they must put away to meet their individual future needs. She then introduces the various savings and investment strategies that can be used to realize those goals. "We know retirement will be completely different for us than it was for our parents. Corporate pensions have changed. Social Security, if we get any at all, won't be enough. And most of us haven't saved as much as we should have," Holzer writes. Her book gets the ball rolling by explaining, in simple language, the difference between various retirement plans, the mechanics of stock and bond markets, the mysteries of mutual funds, and the best ways to combine them all into a nest egg for the not-so-distant future. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This book rates 10 stars!
I have always been intimidated by the language, numbers, and ins-and-outs of investing and retirement planning. The literature I have read in the past was always too technical and assumed I knew things I didn't. Well, for me, Retire Rich... could have been titled: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Successfully Planning for Retirement But Were Afraid to Ask. This book provided me with in-depth, intelligent information that I have wanted and needed to help me make plans for my future in a very clear, non-threatening, easy-to-read style. I have gained so much knowledge and confidence from it! I plan to give copies of this book to my 30/40/50Something friends and family! Many thanks and cheers to the authors of this timely and informative book!

insightful
My husband shared "Retire Rich" with me. Even though he has been in the financail services business for 20 years, I have to admit I never really understood all the concepts necessary to feel comfortable with what we have been able to save. "Retire Rich" led me through the maze of complex financial terms/concepts and explained them in words and examples that I quickly grasped. I found myself saying "I never knew that" or "I see" scores of times as I read through the book. I especially liked the style in which the book is written, it doesn't talk down or up to me. In a nutshell, "Retire Rich" answers questions that every spouse asks. ... Read more