Book Description

This is not your parents’ retirement. With this book as your guide, you can embark upon an active and often exhilarating retirement in the most fascinating city on the globe.

If you’ve enjoyed visiting, imagine what it’s like to live there. Retire in New York tells how you can take an active part in the artistic, theatrical, intellectual, and political life of the city. Tourists go to shows, operas, and museums. But New Yorkers can get behind thescenes: talk with playwrights, watch dance troupes rehearse, and visit the studios where artists are perfecting their crafts.

You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Retire in New York.

The authors demonstrate that anyone with a reliable income on par with a retired college professor from Walla Walla, Washington, can afford to rent or buy an apartment in a safe and convenient neighborhood in New York City. Prize-winning investigative reporter Rita Henley Jensen leads you through the mysteries of apartment hunting, whether you are looking for a small one-bedroom in Queens or a large three-bedroom in the most exclusive neighborhoods of Manhattan.

And You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Revel in New York.

Visitors see crowds, noise, and expense. But living there feels different. Janet Haysreveals the inside story on finding art, music, theater, and sports a modest cost. She describes clubs, choirs, and classes; tells you where to hike and how to volunteer.

Retire in New York also profiles men and women over 50 who enjoy the pace and zest of New York. Their exciting and inspiringstories will help you shape your own retirement in the capital of the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Studs Terkel of the Retirement Crowd
Janet Hays is the Studs Terkel of the aging New Yorker. Her book is thoroughly enjoyable and her picture of the lively folks there makes New York City seem like the fountain of youth. I don't know whether moving to New York would be real for most of us, but the denizens of the city that appear in her book all sound worth knowing.
Retire in New York City lists so many good cheap places to go and things to do, I found myself wishing I lived close enough to try them out.

Eugenia Kaledin

Lexington, Massachusetts

Great Resource For Wherever You Retire
I live in Washington D.C. and within a week of reading this book I enrolled in a Drawing Class, arranged for a guided tour of a private museum I have wanted to visit for 10 years, talked to the woman in New York who co-founded "Womanshare", a group of over 50 women who trade skills and share resources with the idea of starting a group here, and am considering some interesting lifestyle adjustments.

Wherever you live do read this book if you are thinking about retiring, if you recently retired, or if you feel stuck in your retirement. Retire in New York City ---Even If You're Not Rich will motivate and guide you to finding what is available in your community to enrich your life. Fascinating interviews with retirees spark interest in exploring alternative approaches to retirement, finding ways to supplement income, meet interesting people and creatively share skills and cut expenses.

This book may be just the "kick in the pants" needed to get your creative juices flowing into action. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete summary of the benefits available to qualified American veterans of the armed forces, including health insurance, pensions, education, vocational rehabilitation, home loan guaranties, life insurance, burial benefits, and many others. This is a complete quality reprint of the original with bonus material including online application directions. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Thorough and to the point
If you need a pragmatic guide on how to resettle there, look no further. You need to have a strong knowledge of Mexico to really enjoy it though, or buy a country guide as well.

Living Well
Mr. Luboff has written all about how he was able to retire to a small artist community on the West coast of Mexico. He warns about the potential pitfalls that could get in the way of retirees from the North as well as providing insights to the wonders that Mexico holds in store. There is information to assist in relocation as well as how to prepare for the different lifestyle. However, it is lacking as Mr. Lubber really only speaks about living in the region where he does.

This is an excellent book if you are researching places to retire on an international level. However, don't plan on using it as a step-by-step guide for your move. Many of the websites and other contact information have fallen out-of-date as well as the information regarding technological advances in the country. However, way of life has changed little over time.

Thoroughly Researched. Excellent information.
Ken Luboff has done a 1st class job in laying out the realities of moving to Mexico. He is without bias, is realistic and clearly thoroughly understands Mexico and her people. Anyone contemplating moving to Mexico, or just trying it out, should read this book. It is expansive, sensible as well as fun. My advice is: don't go to Mexico without this book in your suitcase. From Mexico's tulmultuos history to dealing with the locals, shopping, health and eating out, Luboff has covered it all. I recommend this book even for people going to Mexico for a vacation. For those moving there, or thinking about it, this book is a must. A book that is invaluable in any reference list, and a book that is a great deal of fun to read.

VERY DISAPOINTED
Like most books on retiring in Mexico this book really is no different. I faxed over 30 listings included in his book and all weren't delivered as the fax numbers were wrong. I wanted info on Spanish speaking school, where they were, how to contact them, and the costs. Non of this information was available. They talked about inexpensive rentals but no info on who to contact. The title sounds great...but really gives little help to one who plans on retiring in Mexico. Very disapointed.

Informative, albeit basic
This is a one day read that will be most appreciated by folks who are completely new to the concept of living in Mexico. ... Read more

Book Description

The Retirement Revolution

Are you retiring, losing your job, changing jobs, or being offered an early retirement package?The information in this book focuses on the needs of individuals that may be receiving a lump-sum distribution from a qualified retirement plan.

In clear and easy to understand language, the author analyzes the lump-sum alternatives and investment strategies you must understand before you can become an informed investor:

• The rules and regulations of lump-sum distributions and IRA rollovers
• The penalties and pitfalls of early retirement and how to avoid them
• The differences between asset allocation and diversification
• How to build an investment portfolio blueprint and monitor your accounts
• Understanding the importance of product selection:the advantages and disadvantages of individual securities, money managers, and packaged products such as mutual funds, index funds, unit trusts, and exchange traded funds.
• Strategies for taking income out of your retirement plans

Additionally, if you are a retirement-planning professional—a benefits or human resource director—you will find this book to be a useful, easy-to-read resource to share with your employees.

Book Description

INVEST PRUDENTLY AT THE MOST CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN YOUR LIFE

"Strategic Investing After 50 takes the fear out of financial planning for those who need it the most. Julie knows her planning focus well."––A. Michael Lipper, CFA, President, Lipper Advisory Services, Inc.

"Too many people confuse speculation with investment. They get caught up in the noise of the market and miss the fundamental truth that investing is not a game but a means to an end–a means of providing for your future and the financial security of your family. If you’re ready to leave behind the hollow promise of instant riches and begin to chart a serious path toward your investment goals, then Julie Jason’s Strategic Investing After 50 is just the guide you need."––Don Phillips, Managing Director, Morningstar, Inc.

"If you have been putting off planning your financial future because you felt overwhelmed by the prospect, I recommend this book to you. Julie Jason has done an excellent job in providing a concise, lucid, jargon-free explanation of investment essentials ideally suited for the layman investor."––Jack Schwager, Author of Market Wizards and Stock Market Wizards

J.K. Lasser–Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs

Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent reading for the middle-aged investor
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to insure that they are "on track" with their retirement investments. Easy to understand. Addresses the key aspects of practical investing and encourages priority re-evaluation at the benchmark age of 50.

All You Need to Know About Retirement Funding
Strategic Investing After 50 really provides a complete guide to investing for retirement, considering goals, income needs, and personal inclinations. Notes and cautions are highlighted - if you understand these, you can skip to the sections where you need more intensive study or focus. The examples are great, especially for illustrating why it's important to be a knowledgeable investor, or to get a good advisor. Jason also really gives the straight scoop on investment advice - good, bad, expensive, cheap, etc. This is a great - and really helpful - read!

J. K. Lasser's Strategic Investing After 50
This book is easy to understand, concise and informative. The chapters are short with each topic throughly explained.

But this book is far more than strategies after 50. As soon as I finished reading this book I ordered the book for my sons - ages 37 and 40. In fact, in my judgment it is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn, in simple terms, the theories of investing.

Peace of Mind Investing
The opening sentence of the preface captured my mind and heart and whole being. I was hooked after the opening sentence. Preface third paragraph "Learning to invest..." is one of the best paragraphs I have ever read in a financial book. That was pure straight talk that I love. I liked the physical feel of the book, literally how much it weighs. It's light. I liked the choice of typeface. Easy to read. I found the NOTES very helpful both from a content tip standpoint and from a visual breaking up the page stand point. Julie Jason hit the mark with me. The biggest clue to me that the book was on the mark is that although I intended to read only the first three chapters in one late evening sitting, I continued reading on into Chapter 5 when I realized that I wanted to be a little more awake and pay more attention so that I set the book down for another day. I was reading it like a novel. I realized Strategic Investing After 50 is the financial "Peace of Mind" book I had always been looking for.

Excellent book for investors over 50
This book is great - easy to understand, offers sound strategies for investors over 50. I recommend that everyone over 50 read this book! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Millionaire by 26
This book does what it's supposed to do - and that is motivate a person to achieve their highest goal (becoming a "Millionaire by 26"). I enjoyed every aspect of this book; especially how it made me feel once I was finished reading it. If you, are like me, and feel like life has so much more to offer but you just can't find out how to achieve it, then read this book!!!

Dont wait!! Do it now!!.. And get ahead of the game before you realize that it has passed you by.

Wow
I must say that I don't read many books, but once I picked this one up and started to read I just couldn't put it down. It took me two days to finish. I'm 29 and have been to many seminars and how to get rich programs. Ken's thinking is simple yet extremely informative. This book was referred to and I will continue refer to many others. I will read this book again, and again. THE INFORMATION IS POWERFUL.

this book revealed the secret
This book tells the secret of rich in a simple, clear way. It's not complicate, but break of the myth of rich. The author is sincere and straightforward. He uses his own real experience as sample and it's convincing. I personally benefit from his metaphor of the secret of rich. Before reading this book, there is a glass between rich and me. Now the glass is broken. For young readers, this book is quite easy to read and very practical. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone wants to get the most out of their retirement benefits -- not to mention the best medical coverage and prescription drug benefits!

Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions clearly explains what the different benefits are, and shows you how to claim what you've earned, including:

*Social Security retirement and disability benefits
*Social Security dependents and survivor benefits
*Supplemental Security Income
*federal, state and local government pensions
*Medicare and Medicaid
*Medigap managed care plans
*veterans benefits
*prescription drug coverage

Completely updated to provide the latest information and changes in benefits, this plain-English book is a must-have for anyone who is retired or about to be. ... Read more

Book Description

So what do you do with the money you've saved? When it comes to retirement savings, the message you always hear is "save, save, save." Investment advice is "grow, grow, grow." But what happens when you reach that day when it is time to write your own retirement paycheck? Where do you start? How do you turn your savings into income? Do you know which resources to tap first? In light of the recent tax law changes, how can you be tax smart about your retirement income? And where can you turn for simple, clear advice about the complex IRS rules and regulations that you must follow when withdrawing from your savings?

Most of us don't know what to do when faced with all these questions. Cracking Your Retirement Nest Egg takes the entire spectrum of advice for the period leading up to and into retirement, distills it into the 25 most important things one needs to know to begin retirement on solid financial ground, and presents the investment guidance of some of the top planners in the country.

If you are one of the millions of baby boomers hitting 50, 55, and beyond, and have to make these important decisions, you need to consult this book before cracking your retirement nest egg. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

First thing I read was wrong
I just received this book and thumbing through it read Ohapter 14 on Social Security. On page 141 she that at age 62 you lose $1 in benefits for every $2 in earnings above $11,500 - which is correct. But then she goes on to saying "You can't get around these reductions in benefits by supplementing your Social Security income with withdrawals from your other savings or retirement plans. CAPITAL GAINS, dividends, interest income, and any other withdrawals from your retirement plans or accounts count as income and you fail the test if you push past $11,500 or $30,000 regardless of source."

This seemed wrong to me so I went to the Social Security web site. The SSA says (answer ID 277): "Nonwork sources of income, such as: inheritance payments, pensions, income from investments, IRA distributions, interest, or other sources do not count as wages for the earnings test."

What other errors are there in this book? I don't trust it after 30 minutes of reading, certaintly not to help with my retirement decisions. At least I only lost the cost of the book

Retirement advice you can actually understand
I stumbled across this book browsing in my local bookstore and I couldn't believe my eyes. It laid out everything you need to know to retire. It is extremely well-organized and well-written. I gave a copy to my financial advisor and told him I finally understood all the stuff he was trying to explain to me.

Enter the maze....
This has to be one of the most boring topics in the field of financial advice. The proliferation of retirement savings plans, the maze of regulations, exceptions, and judgement calls that have to be considered by the average retiree is almost numbing. It's boring in the abstract. But it gets your attention when it's your money and future in the balance. Bascially simple rules for accumulating retirement wealth and accessing it continue to evolve like a patchwork quilt. Malaspina is relentless in her efforts to cover the topic and we are the beneficiaries. Chapter 21 treats the issue of company stock held in a retirement plan and how it can receive tax advantaged treatment. Malaspina does an even-handed job of explaining the risks and discusses whether it makes sense to take advantage of this often overlooked opportunity. Information "For Women Only" and non-spousal partners (Chapters 22,23)is dealt with briefly, but it also very useful. One important retiree misconception that does not appear in this book: Many otherwise sophisticated investors facing annual required mandatory minimum withdrawals from their IRA's at 70 1/2 don't realize that assets do not always have to be sold to comply. Many investment assets can be moved 'as they are' into a non-IRA account at market value thus avoiding unnecessary sales charges and the loss of a worthy investment. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time in paperback, this highly praised guide is now updated with the latest information on federal programs and laws that affect every American's retirement security—from the author of The Retirement Catch-Up Guide. Whether you like it or not, Uncle Sam will have an impact on your retirement. To understand how and what to do about it, Hoffman has created an excellent guide to all the pertinent topics: Social Security, Medicare, Long Term Care, Pensions, Nursing Home Care, Job Security/Age Discrimination Laws, Your Retirement Home, Consumer Protection, and Tax Laws. In each area, she clearly covers: What You Need to Know; The Decisions You Need to Make; The Tax Factor; and Where to Find More Information. Written with clarity and care, with simple examples from everyday life and checklists of potential tax savings, this handy paperback won rave reviews when first published in hardcover (under the title Bankroll Your Future). ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Good information for initial retirement planning
For those facing premature layoffs or are just beginning to consider their retirement planning, this book is the perfect source for basic information we all need to know.

Hoffman's book addresses fundamental issues and stimulates questions for those who have not thought ahead.It is a roadmap for initial planning and a resource index to other information sources.

I recommend this book to everyone who is being forced to consider retirement alternatives and the financial challenges earlier than they might have expected.It is easy to read and understand.Begin your homework now!

Informative Reference Manual
As a group benefits manager in a mid-size company, I recommend anyone over age 55 read this book. The chapter on Medicare has important information that the average person does not understand. Paying out-of-pocket medical expenses can be costly and can take a big bite out of retirement funds.It can also be difficult to get information from Federal government agencies especially in layman's language.I enjoyed reading the book and found it concise and informative. I will recommend the book to my friends as a quick reference manual to have on hand.

Bankroll Your Future Retirement With Help from Uncle Sam
This book has been enormously helpful to me and my family. It is especially useful in helping to solve complicated financial problems facing an elderly parent. Bankroll explains things in a way that is easy to understand and provides in-depth information that I can use. This book points out key issues that I would have otherwise missed that relate to social security and Medicare. In addition, it provides information on state programs like QMBY that I had never heard of before reading this book.

Between taking care of an elderly parent, work and family, there isn't time to search the web seeking possible answers to difficult financial problems. This book gets my five stars. Pam P.

Stumbles Out of the Gate and Then Collapses
You can't write a vast book based on half-vast ideas.But that didn't stop this author from trying to pass off a book filled with useless platitudes.

My guess is that it took her all of two days to write this trivial book.Seek some professional financial help at work or through one of the government agencies instead.

Also isn't it interesting that the only two reviews that praised this book are written by anonymous reviewers. Could those be from the author or her friends?

Retirees Are Not Stupid So Why Treat Us That Way?
Here is another book trying to make a buck off of us "poor, helpless old folks who are closer to retirement than to college."Well I've got news for this author:Retirement may be near but: We've got money.We've got brains.But we have little patience for silly books like this one that promise to reveal the big secrets to retiring wealthy--and in this case by doing it on the back of honest taxpayers.If only this book delivered but it doesn't.

Most of the "secrets" in this book are old or too impractical and timeconsuming to pull off.Besides, if President Bush gets his way and revises Social Security the rest of this advice will also be worthless.Stick with the advice you already know because if retirement is near you cannot afford to be rolling the dice with your nest egg! ... Read more

Book Description

With proper planning you can continue to live in dignity, without going into a nursing home.This book describes the steps necessary to do that:

1. Long Term Care Insurance

2. Geriatric Care Management

3. Putting Your Plans In Writing (including a living will, written instructions on the care you want and how it will be paid for), and

4. Getting Allies (including your doctor, your lawyer, your CPA, your family and friends).

The book describes how people are inadvertently put in nursing homes, how Mrs. Shoff kept her 96 year old father at her home after he had a major stroke, and all of the details of planning for your future comfort and dignity. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Must Read Guide to the 'end game' of life
Karen Shoff produced a guide that did not exist before. This should be required reading as a part of everyman's life education: like how to swim, how to be a decent parent, how to do CPR and how to prepare for end of life infirmity. Let's face it: Modern medicine, safer cars, non-smoking and weight watchers are all conspiring to help us live longer. Great! So when we all succeed, then what? Read this book. It answers the question.

This Book will change your life
Where will you spend your old age? Will you live in a nursing home? Will they take you for walks when you want to go out? Will they help you reposition yourself in bed every couple of hours to help you avoid getting bedsores? Will they be able to get to you on time when you need assistance using the facilities? Will you miss you home?

What if you could stay in the comfort of your own home, with round the clock care if need be, with your choice of caregivers? What if this option was not only for the fabulously wealthy, but was in fact available to anyone and everyone at a fraction of the price of a nursing home? It is not as farfetched as it seems. It just takes some careful planning.

Our society has acknowledged that surviving old age takes preparation. Retirement funds, social security, and well-stocked shelves of volumes upon volumes of do-it-yourself guides are evidence of these sentiments. It is a wonder that amidst all the excitement, most people fail to prepare for illness and incapacitation.

But Karen Shoff of Santa Monica California has vowed to make this ignorance a thing of the past. In her compelling and essential new book, There's No Place Like A Nursing Home, she details in a surprisingly fascinating manner the problems inherent in institutional life, and offers a step-by-step solution. The fast paced text is only enhance by the stories she masterfully tells. As a former Social Worker and Gerontologist, she was witness to the horrors of institutional life. Her experiences in institutional life fueled her passionate commitment to protecting her family, friends and clients from those very facilities.

Her goal is to help ensure each and every American a life of dignity, security, and comfort. She details steps that if taken, will free one from worry, and doubt. She tells her reader how he can stay in the comfort and dignity of his own home, while at the same time receiving care far superior to that offered in any institution for significantly less. Her solution is a combination of Long Term Care Insurance, careful planning, and a slew of incisive, original suggestions. As one of the foremost experts in her field, her book is invaluable. Our society owes Karen Shoff a debt of gratitude for opening up her vast expertise and experience for our benefit.

Don't wait any longer. There's No Place Like A Nursing Home will change your life.

There's No Place Like (a Nursing) Home
Mrs. Shoff has written a clear, convincing, heart-felt, elegantly organized treatise on how to age responsibly. It has rearranged and brightened up a very confused and bleak picture of what it means to age, derived from countless visits to nursing homes over the years. Instead of a sense of victimhood, I have caught a (liberating) glimpse of what it might mean - for me and my dear friends - to have a hand in determining our own destinies!

Practical advice about planning for our futures
This is a great book for anyone who is practical enough to realize that we need to plan in advance for our later years, when the chances of being incapacitated or somehow needing in-home assistance are greater than ever before.
Author Karen Shoff has parlayed her many years of experience as both a geriatric social worker and expert in long-term care insurance to help us understand the implications (financial, emotional, and other) of getting a good long-term health insurance plans. She includes many compelling examples about what has happened to people who didn't have this long-term care insurance, versus the much happier outcomes of those who did: longer, happier lives, spent in their own homes, and far more of their own money left at the end of their lives to pass on to their families. Her own father, in his 90s, had to spend nearly all his assets to pay for care in his (and later, Karen's home) to avoid the indignities and lesser quality care of most nursing homes.

A great book to get for your middle-aged parents or even for yourself!

Finally! The book we've all been waiting for!
If you don't want to end up in a nursing home yourself, or if you want your parents to make some plans so that you don't have to end up as their full-time caregiver, then this is the definitive expert guide to the issues.

This book has absolutely everything you need to know about long-term health care issues: from the problems with nursing homes, to the challenges of (sanely) caring for aging parents, to advice on how to discuss this all with your family. I don't think there's another book quite like this one, anywhere.

If you've cared for a parent, the validation this book offers is priceless. It acknowledges how totally draining caregiving is, while also affirming the critical benefits of home care over institutionalization.

We are not alone! Peace of mind, here we come! ... Read more

Book Description

All About Retirement Funds is a commonsense, practical guide that covers every financial aspect of planning for retirement. Up-todate, in-depth coverage is provided for maximizing the long-term benefits of a 401(k), IRA, pension plan, annuity, Social Security, or other retirement financial vehicle. From determining how much money will be needed, to when and how to begin drawing on retirement reserves, this comprehensive, easy-to-read addition to McGraw-Hill's bestselling All About series tells workers everything they need to know to save, invest, and plan for a long and financially comfortable retirement.

Book Description

Every year, millions of Americans retire--and many of them wonder what went wrong. This book deals with the issues of purpose and structure, self-esteem, emotional and social roles, resources, and the special issues of women who retire. Based on the results of a survey of successful retirees, it helps readers to learn from their experiences and benefit from their own hard-won wisdom. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Book on Retirement -- An Nothing to Do With Money...
I had the pleasure of reading Betsy's manuscript before the book was published. It's a wonderful explanation of the changing nature of retirement and how each one of us can make it a special, unique and meaningful experience no matter what we choose to do. Some may "retire" from retirement and become active again in the workforce, perhaps as a volunteer, perhaps for financial support. Whatever you choose, this book helps you think through your personal changes, both physical and psychological, that the transition from more work to less (or no work) may bring.

The book covers topics such as planning ahead for the social, emotional, psychological and spiritual issues; developing good "retirement skills"; relocation; emotional fulfillment; structuring your day; family and social relationships; avoiding boredom, loneliness and depression; "flunking retirement"; and more.

Most retirement books talk to you about the money side of things. This book does not. It's well written, easy to read, and would make a great gift to your favorite "pre-retiree." I know it will be well used in my lending library at Planning For Life. ... Read more

Book Description

An all-you-need-to-know introduction to the employer-sponsored retirement plan that has revolutionized the way we save

• Smart Ways to save with automatic payroll deductions and pretax contributions that let you earn more money and pay less taxes NOW and when you retire
• Smart Advice on how much to contribute and what you need to know about your investment options, including advice on stocks, mutual funds, and bonds
• Smart Insights into retirement alternatives with the traditional IRA and the new Roth IRA
• Smart Tips on borrowing and withdrawing money from your 401(k) and IRA to buy a home or pay for college
• Quick reading and easy referencing with a comprehensive index and loads of sidebars and tables

Smart Guides take readers seriously. They satisfy even the most curious person's desire to know the essentials about any of a wide range of topics—from vitamins to mutual funds to stress relief. It's all about good reading and expert information. The choice is yours. ... Read more

Book Description

Expert Advice on Ensuring a Comfortable Retirement!

Millions of Americans reach retirement each year. Many of them realize too late that their savings is inadequate to meet their long-term needs. Even with careful preparation, the path to reaching retirement goals is not always a straight line. Streetwise® Retirement Planning provides you with savvy, yet practical, information on retirement fundamentals.

Streetwise® Retirement Planning covers how to anticipate and plan for the inevitable surprises and contingencies that can deplete a savings nest-egg, such as layoffs, medical crises, divorce, and market downturns. All the necessary tools for assessing your retirement needs are provided. Streetwise® Retirement Planning helps you pull all the pieces together for a successful and rewarding retirement.

Evaluate Your Retirement Needs

·Lifestyle

·Post-retirement expenses

·Knowing your assets and liabilities

Work Around Your Retirement Gap

·Investing and budgeting fundamentals

·Strategies for making up retirement shortfalls

·Options for post-retirement income

·Managing multiple retirement investments

Choose Your Best Retirement Plan

·Annuities

·Pensions

·IRAs

·401(k)s

Know Your Options

·Preparing for the unexpected

·Plans for the self-employed

·Protecting your benefits

·New trends in Medicare and social security ... Read more

Book Description

Three trends are on a collision course: an aging population, the use of stocks to create paper wealth, and baby boomers’ plans to use that wealth to retire. A wake-up call about retirement savings and the overall health of the stock market, this book explains the hazards of relying on the stock market and offers balanced advice on how boomers can meet their retirement needs. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Important piece of work
Great summary of where we are today, with the current ponzi scheme of retirement that relies on the stock market infinite price growth.
As people below said, the author is quite weak on the solution side, but that's mostly because there isn't any simple one, and they clearly missed the point, which is the main purpose of the book to awaken folks and make them understand what is really going on.
The book is very easy to read and more intelligently written than few others discussing this topic.

The author provides a lot of relevant references and allow you to dive into these issues if you'd like.

A vital, timely, level-headed financial preparedness book
In What If Boomers Can't Retire?: How To Build Real Security, Not Phantom Wealth, Thorton Parker draws upon his more than forty-five years of diverse experience and expertise in government and business management, strategic planing, finance and accounting, as well as policy development, to present the reader with a solidly written, informative and "user friendly" guide to protecting personal financial interests, including preparing for stock market downturns, scandals, and ultimately end up being able to enjoy a retirement that is not dependent upon social security. A vital, timely, and level-headed financial preparedness book, What If Boomers Can't Retire? is a "must read", not only for people of the Baby Boom generation, but for Gen-Xers and anyone else who must plan for their retirement despite the vagaries and volatilities of the stock and bond markets.

One Great Thought, So Many Pages
Amazing concept and credible, but apparently wanted to lead us, as a Pied Piper to his world. I guess he's pretty smart, because he confused the heck out of me. An academic andeavour to fill a vitae. As a financial planner, I had to take seriously what he wrote concerning the largest demographic having to sell their stock. Left way too much out on solution, Way. Way, WAY too much on the political.

Couldn't get a grip on who he was trying to reach.

good anaysis, poor or missing advice.
As noted, the author's analysis of the problem is a very good one. Unfortunately, he uses it as a springboard for grinding his prefered political axes, rather than offering realisic advice for the boomers who find themselves in this quandry.

His advice takes three primary forms:

1. get out of debt before you leave your job -- a no-brainer.

2. "pursue active aging" -- ie, don't plan on being able to retire.

3. pursue "productive investments" -- although he doesn't tell you that these investments are at least as risky as established stocks, because they're by definition coming from companies gambling that the new production capabilities they're building will pay off.

Indeed, often such opportunities arise from new endeavors, which may take off spectacularly with enourmous returns.... or may crumble to dust inside a year. You have to be much more financially saavy to properly evaluate these opportunities -- a fact that Mr. Parker doesn't address -- further, you may be prevented by law from making some such investments due to the SEC's "qualified investor" laws.

Finally, Mr. Parker makes a few policy statements that are dubious at best... as mentioned above, largely taking a "State Planning" approach that have proved disasterous across the globe. They are not the largest part of the book by far, but some of his policy suggestions work against his credibility -- a fact he is aware of, and mentions in at least one point in his book.

In short... although its analysis is good, this book does NOT deliver what it promises, namely "How to Build Real Security, Not Phantom Wealth."

Great point about the future of stocks, but where's the beef
This book is very good in one way, but not so good in others. The author puts forth an important economic point that came to my mind several years ago - myself being a 52 year-old boomer who is concerned about what may happen to stock valuations. That is, what is going to happen to the stock market when baby boomers start to retire in large numbers and sell off their stocks to generate retirement income? When this huge block of buyers all of a sudden becomes a huge block of sellers the obvious result one would expect from a basic supply & demand scenerio would be a drop in the price of these stocks. Now, I don't know for a fact that this will happen, but Mr. Parker makes it sound like there is no doubt that equity prices will be devastated, putting many Boomers into the "surprised" category and driving them into economic despair. There is no doubt that this is a distinct possibility, but I don't think this is a certainty yet. There are just too many variables that we can't be certain of at this point in time.

While the author is very good at making this point - and it's a valid one - his mindset for possible remedies comes from a distinctive collectivist viewpoint. A strong free market proponent Mr. Parker is not. He talks of dismantling stock as we know it today which is bought & sold on a very liquid basis and replacing it with more of a "collaborative" (to use his word) system of ownership in which everyone in the company has an ownership stake and is designed in such a way as to make the sale of ownership positions somewhat difficult. It smacks closely of a socialistic/communistic system that has been proven a failure throughout human history.

It's obvious that the author has very little confidence in the ability of the free market to adjust and adapt over time to meet the needs of consumers (in this case, retirees). I'm not saying that the free market is always perfect, but it's a lot more perfect than anykind of socialist/controlled-economy scheme that has ever been devised. The author makes numerous statements of assumed fact in the book, but most of them would really be up for strong debate with a person who has a strong belief in the power of the free market. I really believe that a knowledgeable free market economist would be able to punch major holes in many of the author's assumptions of "fact".

So, over-all Thorton Parker starts out the book with a very valid concern about the future valuation of stocks, but then things kind of fall apart from there with a lot of assumptions and ideas that would likely be hotly debated by many. As far as "How to Build Real Security, Not Phantom Wealth", there is virtually no guidance at all on how to do this in the real world today. He gives you a few theoretical points to chew on, but they really are not all that practical. His best advice for boomers is to diminish their expectations for luxurious retirement years, and in fact, many of us should expect to work until we drop, literally. Surely, many boomers will end up doing this, either out of necessity or desire to be active. But I have more confidence than Mr. Parker that the free market will at least partially alleviate the problem of a possible, if not likely, declining stock market. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tops in My Book!
I read "The Working Woman's Guide to Retirement Planning" several years ago and was surprised to learn of the many reasons why women need to save for retirement differently from men. I put together my own retirement plan after reading it and now I'm retiring and taking my RV on the road for the next few years. I've read the updated version, "The New Woman's Guide to Retirement Planning," and hope many other women get as much out of it as I did the first one.

Lots of meat!
As a financial advisor who specializes in working with women, I am so happy to see something for the general consumer that has a lot of meat to it. Usually most of the retirement information gets briefly mentioned and then brushed aside with a note that it's important stuff and you need to understand it--but there's usually no help given on how to understand it! This book provides the help in an easy to read and understand format. Love it!

Planning now to make the most of the years after the 9-to-5
The tone of this book is both frank and positive in discussing the reasons working women may have a harder time saving adequately for retirement than men do and showing how women can make the choices now to take this matter into their own hands and solve it. I wanted to skim the book and summarize its high points, but the details were too good and I can only say, if you are a working woman, you will want to read this book now.

Lyn Camire Senior Editor, Pensions and Benefits Thompson Publishing Group ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Great Overview on Retirement
Retirement on a Shoestring has sections that really add to what I have read on retirement. I especially like the chapters on College Towns in retirement, RVs and Retirement, and Mobile Homes and Retirement. The book is easy to read, and it is full of great statistics, tips and insights. This is a fine book for someone contemplating retirement. It makes one feel that success in retirement is just around the corner.

An excellent retiree's bible filled with practical info.
Unlike most retirement guides which offer zero useful information, "Shoestring" offers practical information for the majority of Americans who are not filthy rich, and are coming up on depleted Social Security, rising housing and rental costs and non-existent medical care.Howells offers real strategies to live on reduced incomes. I recommend it. A+, John. ... Read more