
Title : Retire Sooner, Retire Richer
Author : Frank Netti
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Essential Advice for an American Who Wants to Retire Early
If you make a mistake with your retirement planning, chances are you will have to live with that mistake for the remainder of your life . . . and wish you had been more careful. Retire Sooner, Retire Richer will help you avoid the bulk of the mistakes that trip up the majority of people. The book is written in a common sense way that can be understood by almost anyone.
A portion of the author's income from the book will go towards low-income workers and their families affected by September 11, 2001, and to charities serving the hungry and homeless, such as Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition, Second Harvest (USA), Catholic Relief Services (outside the U.S.), and Habitat for Humanity International.
When I first learned about Retire Sooner, Retire Richer, I was skeptical that it could add anything to my knowledge of investments, tax law, estate planning and how to get practical advice. As a result of reading the book, I was pleasantly surprised to learn a great deal of valuable information that I did not know before. After having assessed that information, it made me realize that anyone who works for a company, wants to retire early and desires to leave an estate behind needs a great deal of help. I strongly encourage anyone who is within 10 years of retirement to read this book!
The book opens with one of the best explanations I have ever seen about why volatility in financial instruments means that you have to be very conservative in planning your retirement investments and even more conservative in withdrawing from your retirement savings. Otherwise, you don't save enough and a down market can cause you to wipe out your savings at a time when stock prices are low. This really hit home after seeing the stock market drop for three straight years until 2003. The suggested guidelines in both areas made a lot of sense to me.
Next, Mr. Netti described many ways that you can choose to reduce the current and future taxes to be paid on your income and savings. Most of these choices are only available to you well before you retire. So if you wait until the day before retirement, you will lose many valuable tax reductions. In addition, if you die before your planned retirement date, failure to use these choices will cost your heirs quite a lot!
From reading the text, I began to appreciate that the tax laws governing pension payouts and IRAs have gotten to be very complex. Only someone who follows these details on a daily basis and works with them all of the time can hope to appreciate and take advantage of all the nuances if you want to retire early. From this, I began to see (for the first time) why the advice from a well-schooled financial advisor can pay a vast multiple of the cost of such an advisor. Mr. Netti certainly seems to be such an advisor.
He goes on to give you a process to locate the right financial advisor for you. The process seems like a good one, although I have never personally looked for a financial advisor. Reading Retire Sooner, Retire Richer will also prepare you to get more benefit from working with an advisor.
If you are totally averse to ever working with a financial advisor, this book may change your mind. Reading the book struck me as being a lot like what you might discuss with a financial advisor. I was grateful for the chance to have this dry run on the experience.
Here's the outline of the book:
Part One: Understanding Your Retirement Investments
Chapter 1: The Numbers Game and Retirement Timing
Chapter 2: Factors to Consider When Transitioning to Retirement
Chapter 3: Why Some Retirement Plans Fail and Others Succeed
Chapter 4: How to Improve Your Money-Management Decisions
Part Two: Building the Wealth You Need
Chapter 5: Portfolio Lessons for a Lifetime
Chapter 6: Why You Need to Act Now to Live Happily in Retirement
Chapter 7: How to Make the Best Use of Your Retirement Distribution Options
Chapter 8: How You Can Provide Added Income for You and Your Heirs
Chapter 9: How to Use a Rollover IRA to Leave More to Your Heirs
Part Three: Managing Your Nest Egg
Chapter 10: The Advisor Advantage
Chapter 11: Creating a Financial Planning Review
Chapter 12: The Importance of a Personal Investment Policy
Chapter 13: How to Pay for Financial Management Advice
As I finished the book, I found myself thinking about where else in my life I might benefit from skilled advice . . . and have not been seeking it.

Title : The New Golden Door to Retirement Living in Costa Rica
Author : Christopher Howard
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : "This Books is my Right Hand"
This book is my Right Hand, as manager of the Residents Association of Costa Rica (ARCR), I have found that newcomers sometimes seem to know more about Costa Rica than people living here just because they read this excellent book.

Title : A Peaceful Retirement
Author : Read
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Another gentle and charming book from my favourite author
A change in direction with not only retirement but marriage proposals as well for my most loved fictional character. With all of the Fairacre books, a book I have read over and over - only with particular sadness as it appears that this may be the final book. I found the illustrations a bit off putting - part of my love of Miss Read's books are due to J Goodall's beautiful illustrations - not that these are bad, just not what previous readers may be used to. My only complaint is that it is too short!

Title : The Old Fool's Retirement Guide
Author : Rob Davies
Rating : 2 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Disappointing book from an excellent stable
The 'Motley Fool' series is a really excellent one. For the first time reader of their works this book will provide something, indeed much, of interest. However, compared to their other books (and I have read them all) this is a disappointment. There is little which is new in this book and the retirement sections of, for example, the Motley Fool UK Investment guide, are actually more informative. The authors of Motley Fool really must decide on a standard version of thier investment philosophy and develop this, rather than simply repeat it in several differnet ways.
The book really cant make up its mind whether it is for those saving for old age, or already in it and trying to decide how best to take their income. It tries to do both and falls short on both counts, but particularly the latter. There is little or no discussion of many things -such as bonds or zeros - if only to dismiss them. These are (albeit briefly) explored in the Motley Fool UK Investment Guide - where the section on 'Hermiones old age' was very informative. If ths present book could have used this as a starting point we could have learned much more.
Likewise, there is little consideration of those already in their forties but with little or no investment. The book all to often assumes you are in the early stages of a career or at the end of it.
Buy this book if you are a first timer to the Motley Fool - otherwise stick with the UK Investment Guide and wait for the second edition of Old Age.......

Title : Senior Savvy: How to Make the Most of Your Life Savings Before and After Retire
Author : Kenneth A. Stern
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : extremely helpful
The book discussed so many subjects that I have been looking for answers in. From estate planning to investment tips. I am glad I bought this book

Title : Senior Living Communities: Operations Management and Marketing for Assisted Living, Congregate, and Continuing-care Retirement Communities
Author : Benjamin W. Pearce
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Should be required reading for all in elder care!!
I used Mr. Pearce's book as a guide in preparing my presentation at our dept. mgr. retreat last week (giving him credit of course!). As a result, a board member and a fellow dept mgr. ordered their own copies of this book. All-inclusive, professional approaches. I'm surprised--and grateful--that Mr. Pearce shares his expertise so openly. It's refreshing to observe an author whose goal is to raise the bar for quality of care for the elderly, and help his competition achieve same through his generosity in sharing his own experience/knowledge. I'd give away every book in my library before I'd give up this one!!

Title : Social Security Benefits Handbook (Social Security Benefits Handbook)
Author : Stanley A. Tomkiel
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Updated review of this book
Mr. Tomkiel was kind enough to respond to my concerns regarding his text comments on SSI prorating. He indicated in his note that he had again researched the issue of SSI prorating. Although it appears he had the same difficulty obtaining an immediate, correct answer directly from SSA, he was able to confirm that his research on prorating is correct. I commend his efforts to not only understand my confusion after my own conversations with the SSI, but to research the issue himself, once again, with their representatives. Mr. Tomkiel is obviously well versed on this topic, and is an impressive example of an author committed to his topic and his readers. Thank you Mr. Tomkiel for your time, effort, and kind response. My initial review stands corrected.