40 years to retirement
"Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties," by Beth Kobliner, Simon & Schuster, 2000, $14. An excellent graduation gift.
This mutual-fund site explains retirement terms, helps you calculate if your savings plan will suffice
www.retirementplans.vanguard.com
30 years to retirement
"The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers are Going Broke," Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi, Basic Books, 2003, $26. Bankruptcy expert offers creative suggestions for maximizing the power of two incomes; targets those who overextend on mortgages and fail to save.
"Kitchen Table Investor: Low-Risk, Low-Maintenance Wealth-Building Strategies for Working Families," John Wasik, Henry Holt, 2000, $14. Usable ideas for incorporating savings into any budget while minimizing risk.
The nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute has lots of links and tips
www.choosetosave.org
"Financially Fearless by 40: Simple Strategies for Upgrading Your Thirtysomething Lifestyle," Jason Anthony, Plume, 2003, $14. Weddings, babies, houses: How to navigate them while maintaining a savings plan.
20 years to retirement
"We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Strategies for Retiring Rich in a Totally Changed World," Walter Updegrave, Crown, available March 2004, $24. Achieving retirement security in today's low-interest-rate economy.
AARP money-management site isn't just for retirees.
www.aarp.org/money
10 years to retirement
A must-visit for every U.S. citizen. Estimates your future benefits, eligibility dates. While you're here, verify the accuracy of your name, Social Security number, work history.
www.ssa.gov/retire2/near.htm
"The Retirement Savings Time Bomb and How to Defuse It," Ed Slott, Viking Adult, 2003, $25. IRA expert on minimizing Uncle Sam's bite.
"The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living Your Dreams ... at Any Age You Want," by Mitch Anthony, Dearborn Trade Publishing, $16.95. The financial and life planner's cleverly named concept should be of interest to anyone uneasy with the traditional requirement that Americans totally drop one portion of their lives — the working part — simply because they've reached a certain age.
Women and Minorities
Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement: Nonprofit institute devoted to promoting economic long-term security for women; funded by Teresa Heinz Kerry. Extensive resources, links and fact sheets.
www.wiser.heinz.org
Women's Financial Network. Web site of Muriel Seibert, Wall Street female pioneer and financial expert.
www.wfn.com
"Rightfully Yours: How to Get Past-Due Child Support, Alimony and Your Ex's Pension," Gary A. Shulman, Self-Counsel Press, $15. Focuses on two issues of importance to a number of ex-spouses: How to secure your share of your ex-spouse's pension benefits earned during the marriage, and how to obtain past-due alimony and child support payments from your ex's pension, profit-sharing or 401(k) savings plan.
"How to Succeed in Business Without Being White," Earl G. Graves, HarperBusiness, $15. From the authoritative publisher of Black Enterprise, successful monthly magazine for African Americans in business.
American Savings Education Council's site is filled with interactive worksheets and calculators, in Spanish as well as English.
www.asec.org/ballpark/blpkcomp.htm
"Making the Most of Your Money," Jane Bryant Quinn, Simon & Schuster, 1997, $30. One-thousand authoritative pages about every conceivable legal investment strategy, including the pros and cons of different retirement products.
"Women and Retirement Savings," and "QDROs: The Division of Pensions through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders" (for example, divorce orders). Request these two, free booklets from the Employee Benefits Security Administration at 800-998-7542.
"Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know." Call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 for this free booklet or
www.ssa.gov/pubs/10127.html
The Seattle Times series on obtaining health insurance:
• What to ask to select best insurance plan
• How to buy your own health insurance
• Where to go for low-cost — or free — medical help
Seattle Times columnist Liz Taylor's six-part series on long-term-care insurance:
1) Longer lives, so long-term insurance is becoming a must
2) Reality check: Government doesn't pay for care
3) Focus on essential elements when shopping for long-term care insurance
4) 3 more essentials of care insurance to think about
5) Long-term insurance costs: Here are five factors driving them
6) Long-term care Q&A: Get ready for the storm
"Get a Life: You Don't Need a Million to Retire Well," Ralph E. Warner, Nolo, 2002, $24.99. Don't panic, this author advises. Instead, align your values and goals with your finances and resolve to thrive, not just survive, in your later years.
"The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living Your Dreams ... at Any Age You Want," by Mitch Anthony, Dearborn Trade Publishing, $16.95. The financial and life planner's cleverly named concept should be of interest to anyone uneasy with the traditional requirement that Americans totally drop one portion of their lives — the working part — simply because they've reached a certain age.
You can order these free booklets from Employee Benefits Security Administration at 800-998-7542 or
www.dol.gov/ebsa/:
• "Protect Your Pension" Includes 10 warning signs a company isn't complying with federal pension law.
• "A Look at 401(k) Plan Fees" Plan fees and expenses reduce the amount of retirement benefits you receive from these plans. It's in your interest to learn as much as you can about your plan's administrative fees, investment fees and service fees.
• "Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future" Starts you on the way to setting goals and putting your retirement high on the list of personal priorities.
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