Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably!

by Ben Stein, Phil DeMuth

The specter of retirement is haunting the baby-boom generation. The generation that’s used to having it all is suddenly finding that it doesn’t have enough. Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth show you how to get back on track. They outline the steps you can take today to assure your future tomorrow. Backed up with facts and figures, they lay out exactly how much you need to save in order to maintain your standard of living, and how to invest your dollars to get the maximum return from your savings. For those already retired, they explain how to tap your nest egg to get the most income while keeping your money safe. This is a survival manual for the difficult but exciting road to retirement security. Don’t leave middle age without it!

Genres: Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Benjamin Stein is a multifaceted American figure known for his work as a writer, lawyer, actor, comedian, and commentator on politics and economics. He began his public life as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, later gaining widespread recognition in the entertainment world for his deadpan comedic style. Stein became a pop culture icon through his role as the monotone economics teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and as the host of Win Ben Stein’s Money, a game show that earned multiple Emmy Awards. He also played Dr. Arthur Neuman in The Mask and its sequel. A Yale Law School valedictorian, Stein worked as a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission and taught law and economics at Pepperdine University.
A prolific columnist, Stein has contributed to The American Spectator, Newsmax, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His books, often co-authored with Phil DeMuth, address financial planning and economic commentary. In 2008, he wrote and starred in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a controversial documentary criticized for promoting intelligent design.
Politically conservative, Stein has defended Nixon's legacy, expressed strong views on U.S. foreign policy, and advocated higher taxes on the wealthy to support military initiatives and reduce national debt. During the 2008 financial crisis, he came under scrutiny for downplaying early warning signs and misjudging the scale of the economic collapse.
Stein has also had an extensive voice acting and television career, appearing in series such as The Wonder Years, Seinfeld, and Family Guy, and voicing characters in The Fairly OddParents, Rugrats, and Animaniacs. His personal life includes a long-standing marriage to entertainment lawyer Alexandra Denman and homes in California, Idaho, and Washington, D.C. Though often polarizing in his opinions, Stein remains a recognizable figure across political, academic, and entertainment domains.

Reviews

[Suzanne]

I have recently read and loved Phil DeMuth's latest book about investing, The Overtaxed Investor, so I thought I would read another of his books relating to retirement planning.

Published in 2006, there have been many developments that have adversely affected the stock market/economy, but historically these things are nothing new. They are merely new when looking at the past 30 years.

Still, Stein and DeMuth offer sound advice for investors looking to retirement. Invest in a balanced portfolio of index funds and bonds, watch your expenses, and live frugally now so that you won't be in dire straights later.

The book even offers a plan for each stage of your life (I truly wish, like many people, that I had saved more in my younger years). But never mind, because Stein and DeMuth offer practical advice (sprinkled with humor) of how to achieve a comfortable retirement even if you are a bit of a late starter with retirement investing.

[Jeff Richey]

Well, I had to read Yes, You can Retire Comfortably! after enjoying Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth's first installment: Yes, You can get a Financial Life. However, this book is a very different experience. The first novel was a book for everyone and every stage of life, but this book is definitely more specific to where you are at in life: close to retirement age. I enjoyed the 21 Basic Rules of Retirement and the section on Retirement Planning Decade by Decade and Chapters one and two, which make up Part 1 of the book. Chapter one is a very candid, realistic look at the coming Baby-boom retirement crisis and chapter two introduces the idea of how to save yourself from such a crisis by making good choices. I really enjoyed the book up to this point. Parts 2 and 3 of the book were very informative, but geared more towards those who already find themselves in crisis, close to retirement age, and need a specific guide on how to get out of crisis by investing a certain way. The investment advise is ideal in that Stein and DeMuth typically point to the long-term investor being the smart investor. However, I felt the point was belabored with too many examples, charts, and graphs. Anyone who really finds themselves financially lost and needing to pick up this book, I believe would be confused at the latter half of the book. Overall, a good read, and worth picking up if only for Part 1. I still highly recommend their first installment, much more so than this one.

[Kent]

Lots and lots of data - not funny, but definitely applicable if you are 30+

[Hispanicpundit]

I bought this book when my dad was asking for advice on his retirement options. The book is too conservative for my taste but does offer sensible plans.

[Sandra]

Yes, you can still retire comfortably

[Julie]

Another in the economy genre--my current curiosity.

[Jerry]

Good advice on managing money based on pre-2008 understanding of investing. I'm not sure it is still the best advice.

[Kathleen]

That all working people should read this book, even if they don't plan on following all of the authors' advice. This was a thoughtful gift from my brother, Paul.

[Lady Katie]

This book might have been okay in the year it was published, but it's mostly irrelevant, now.

It contains responsible advice for investing... if you're investing before 2008 and know what Lehman Brothers is.

It's not so helpful in today's economy, although, the basic principals are still useful.

I don't care for the sexist and ableist language in this book. That's really what sealed this one star for me, honestly.

[Maxmilion Sperlich]

Its a good book. Reminded me that i need to start saving more. And gave me an easy investment plan i have seen time and time again from tony robins and mr money mustache. It doesnt go deep into depth on things but enough to get started researching and getting your ass in gear.