personal finance

Finally........the retirement book that I have been looking for....and I have been doing a lot of looking this summer.

I hope to retire in about 7 years and I have yet to find a retirement book (until this one!) that is truly A-Z in its scope. This book hit the spot specifically because it delved into the psychological and readiness aspects of retirement as well as doing a great job on explaining the typical financial and locational aspects of retirement. The psychological opportunities and pitfalls of retirement are discussed and supported with recent and credible psychological studies. This book really makes you think clearly and test yourself before jumping into that standard question: "Do I have enough enough in my 401-K to retire?"

Yes, this book puts retirement planning all together in an easy-to-read "one stop shop" approach. Its delivered in a fun manner with straightforward and understandable language. I strongly advise anyone planning retirement to get this book!

Does it seem like you've spent a life time searching for the perfect retirement planning guide? If so, now you can "retire" from your search. Nestled among the mountains of how-to books, I found something new ... and best of all ... something truly different. Authors Jan Cullinane and Cathy Fitzgerald offer readers a yellow brick road to the perfect retirement destination. Perfect because the destination you choose is based on your unique needs.

You will not find a lock-step, "one size fits all" plan here. More than just informative, this book is inspirational. Turning these pages awakens your motivation to plan. Remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. So motivation to plan is the real key to retirement success. "New Retirement" opens the reader's mind to all the possibilities, and all the resources necessary to arrive in style when you get to retirement's door. Readers aren't just invited to drink the water, the authors get you to jump in and swim among a sea of options.

Some say, "You can't judge a book by it's cover." Wrong. The book's cover design, created by Joanna Williams, is the best I've seen in my 25-plus years in the field of gerontology. Let's not forget, the first obstacle publishers must overcome is to "get people to pick up the book ... then read ... then plan ... then retire successfully. The cover design is bold, compelling, and a wonderful metaphor to those who believe our retirement outlook is sunny and bright ... with nothing but blue skies ahead. I predict a Best Seller.

One other thing. When I began reading the book, I was pleased to notice the attention to detail. For example, right there in the book's acknowledgments, the authors note their financial experts are Certified Financial Planners, not just financial consultants. If you don't know the difference between these two professional groups, you really need this book. In fact, I'd advise, "Don't retire without it."

Topics address issues related to time management, personal goal-setting, meaningful use of time (travel, education, voluntary service), extra income (second careers, consulting), retirement locations, legal and financial concerns, health and wellness, and checklists to facilitate comprehensive and sound retirement planning.

I've read through many retirement books and this one really has the most comprehensive approach. My husband and I are boomers looking to retire within the next 5 years. This book not only provides a great review of recommended locations (along with key website information!), it addresses a host of other considerations. I especially loved the checklists in the back. It is well written, informative and funny!