
Title : You've Earned It, Don't Lose It: Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire
Author : Suze Orman
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Very specific, useful info for BIG retirement decisions.
Orman provides very specific information and advice that you will not find unless you shell out big bucks to a financial advisor. For example, Orman tells you how to take money from your IRA before age 59 1/2 with NO PENALTY (substantially equal periodic payments), but adds VERY IMPORTANT advice on how to structure the portfolio to protect the nest egg. Another example of very specific, useful info includes the chapter on long-term care which gives instuctions on how to determine if you need LTC insurance, how much to buy, when to buy, what kind of company to buy from, etc.
The entire book is filled with this kind of specific info - a "must read" for the "do-it-your-self" personal financial manager.

Title : Rich Dad's Prophecy
Author : Sharon L. Lechter
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Beware 2016! -- Good Financial Education for New Investors
Before commenting on the book's message and argument, let me discuss its communications style. There is a great on-going debate about whether the details that Mr. Kiyosaki presents about himself and his "Rich" and his "Poor" (and biological) Dad are literally true. I don't know, and I don't intend to try to find out. For my purposes, I treat the communications style of this book as a fable to help teach a lesson. I do evaluate the accuracy of the lesson itself in these comments.
If you've read some of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books before, the main new information in this book is an explanation of why stock market investing with pension money is a dangerous way to grow your "wealth." In addition to being at risk from con men, thieves, incompetents, brokerage houses and market volatility, you face the ticking time bomb of a growing number of U. S. investors being legally required to liquidate their holdings beginning at age 70 1/2. As the Baby Boom generation turns 70 1/2 beginning in 2016, the selling moves from being a trickle into being a torrent that overwhelms new funds into the market at some point . . . followed by an inevitable collapse in stock values. If you want a more detailed, confirming discussion of this issue, the book, What If Boomers Can't Retire?, is a good choice. Harry S. Dent, Jr.'s demographic books also look at this issue.
If you already believe in the messages of the earlier books, you could skip this one . . . especially if you have already decided to avoid or minimize stock-market investments.
If you have read none of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, I suggest that you start with Rich Dad, Poor Dad before tackling this one. You'll understand this book better if you do.
The other problem with traditional defined contribution pension investing (usually by 401-k plans), of course, is that a pension fund contribution takes lots of cash out of your pocket (unless the employer matching is very generous -- way more than 2:1) to put some money into the retirement account. So you face the possibility of being much poorer in cash flow while you save for retirement investing and poorer when you cash out of the investment after you pay the taxes on what you take back in what could be smaller values. Imagine if you had had to start withdrawing from your pension fund in 1929. That's one nice illustration that I enjoyed in the book. Possibly, the same could occur after 2016. Who knows?
The second half of the book advises you on how to build a financial ark against hard times by relying on building cash-generating businesses and investments (such as rental properties) after you achieve your financial education (which you didn't learn in school, even if you got a business degree from most schools). You are encouraged to start small and develop various kinds of control over your emotions, advisors and actions. It's all sound advice. My only complaint is that people who are going to start making real estate investments and building cash-generating businesses need a lot more information than is here. I graded the book down one star, accordingly.
The first half of the book could have been shortened up quite a bit, but for those who are unaware of the demographic time bomb's potential effect on their investments, it may help to get the story in small doses.
The surprise for a lot of people in this book is going to be that what they hear every day from best-selling "authorities" about the "right rules" of retirement investing could easily turn out to be wrong for them.
After you absorb and begin to apply these lessons, I suggest that you think about where in your life the conventional wisdom led you down the wrong path. Where else could that be happening to you now?

Title : You Can Retire: While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It
Author : Les Abromovitz
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Retirement--realistic, reachable, and I'm ready!!
This is the first personal finance book that I actually enjoyed reading. The advice was practical, realistic and funny. The author is willing to admit mistakes that he made on the road to early retirement. This book has made me realize that retirement does not have to be a taboo word in my household. I CAN retire early without giving up the home I love, and may even be able to convince my husband that retirement isn't as illusive a dream as we thought.

Title : A Peaceful Retirement
Author : Miss" "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 : Gateways (Repairman Jack Novels (Hardcover))
Author : F. Paul Wilson
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : A real treat for Repairman jack fans
yes, this is the book for connoiseurs of Jack, drawing as it does form other stories by F Paul Wilson, in particular The Barrens and even Nightworld itself. It starts with news that Jack's father has been the victim of a hit and run accident in Florida, and our anti-hero must leave New York and travel down to visit him. Wilson provides his usual tense atention-grabbing scene at the start of the novel, as Jack's false identity and smuggling abilities are put to the test as he is forced to take a plane in the high-security aftermath of 9/11. Now when even Repairman Jack is afraid of being highjacked in mid-air, something has clearly gone wrong in America...
Anyway, on arrival in Florida it becomes clear that this was no random accident, and that Jack's father has quite a few secrets of his own. Without giving too much away, there are some surprise appearances along the way, with some of the cast of Nightworld sneaking out for a look at our world...I'm talking about you and your kin, Lobster-Wasp, as well as the one whose name we dare not speak (or borrow). These events are clearly going to require a slight re-writing of Nightworld by Wilson, as the current text was written before these recent Jack novels and does not contain any reference to Jack having experienced the events of Gateways...however, I'm sure FPW will tie up the loose ends perfectly in what is the greatest saga in modern fiction.

Title : Social Security, Medicare, and Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement and Medical Benefits
Author : Joseph L. Matthews
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Great summary of the Social Security system!
This happens to be the best all-around book concerning the difficult subject of Social Security that I have read. Understandable and very well written. The sections regarding disability are filled with just the info I needed to know.

Title : Non-Resident Offshore Tax Planning
Author : Lee Hadnum
Rating : 1 Stars out of 5.
Summary : I wouldn't trust it
At only 122 pages it's only about as thick as a magazine, this would be fair enough if it was accurate... however the area I was interested in regarding the sale of property in the uk while a resident in Spain as covered page 37-38 states I would escape capital gains tax altogether IS INCORRECT. The author does not understand the the concept of dual tax treaties which stop someone from paying tax twice but does not help in avoiding tax, so even though article 13(1) states that capital gains from immovable property MAY be taxed in the country it is situated (ie the UK) it does not prevent the Spanish from also taxing it if you are resident there (WHICH THEY WILL AT 15%), the author needs to understand MAY does not mean MAY ONLY.