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How to Retire Happy
Book

How to Retire Happy

Everything You Need to Know About the 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire

Stan Hinden
McGraw-Hill, 2001
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Stan Hinden provides answers (or shows you where to get the answers) to the major questions you face upon retirement in the United States: Are you ready to retire? Can you afford to? What will Social Security and pensions provide? How do you deal with company savings plans and IRAs? How should you invest? What do you do about health insurance or preparing for serious illness? How do you decide where to live? Hinden warms his factual text with slightly saccharine stories about how he and his wife prepared for retirement, so you might have to be in the mood. His generally simple, clearly written book is directed toward a general audience, so some of the advice about financial planning, Social Security and pensions may be targeted more to mid-level managers or employees. getabstract.com cautions that those with lofty incomes may need loftier advice, but otherwise this is a solid introduction to retirement. (And we didn’t really mind the syrupy stories.)

Summary

Long Lives, Long Retirements

Retirement in America has changed greatly in the last few decades, because people are living longer. Many people are looking into starting a second career. Retirement is facilitated by tax-deferred savings plans and government-sponsored income and health programs. To make the best of your retirement, start planning. Ask yourself questions about your future goals to decide on the best retirement approach for you.

First, ask if you are ready to retire. Consider all the pros and cons, depending on your age, health, family, the nature of your job, your financial situation and your outlook on life. Whatever your situation, for a successful retirement, first become fully informed about the various financial factors that will affect your retirement and decide what you want to do once you retire.

Should You Retire?

There are at least three good reasons to retire:

  • The time is right - You have worked hard all your life, you’ve met the challenges successfully and you feel that it’s time to stop working and live life your own way.
  • You’ve got more compelling things to do - You want to spend more time with your family...

About the Author

Stan Hinden writes a syndicated column, "Retirement Journal," in which he discusses the decisions, dilemmas and challenges of retirement. His column has won honors from the American University School of Communications and the Investment Company Institute for excellence in personal finance reporting. Before retiring, Hinden spent 23 years at the Washington Post, including a dozen years as a financial reporter and columnist.

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