Retirement 101: From 401(k) Plans and Social Security Benefits to Asset Management and Medical Insurance, Your Complete Guide to Preparing for the Future You Want

Adams 101

by Michele Cagan

A comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to the ins and outs of retirement planning—the key resource for creating a retirement you can live on!

How much do I need to retire? Can I retire early? What’s the retirement age, anyway? No matter whether you are 25, 65, or any age in between, you probably have questions about retirement and knowing the answers is the key to planning your future. Whether you want to retire as soon as possible or are looking forward to continuing to work in some form for as long as you can, Retirement 101 guides you through each step as you approach this important milestone.

From how to save for the day when you stop—or scale back—working to smart investment strategies to the best states to retire in to how to calculate your benefits, Retirement 101 helps you create a retirement plan to accomplish your goals, whatever they are.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, How To, Personal Finance, Audiobook, Self Help, Reference

272 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2019

Reviews

[Mskychick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably an ok book for someone who has no knowledge of retirement issues and planning.
It has 2 tiny snippets of new information for me, and that's it

www.gobankingrates.com compiled a comprehensive list of the best places (in the US) to retire where you can rent an apt for no more than $1000/mo.
Their top 5 choices are:
1. El Paso, TX
2. Mesa, AZ
3. Rochester, NY
4. Pensacola, FL
5. Toledo, OH
My note: https://www.gobankingrates.com/retire...
balancing act between the amenities you want and the low rent you need
which ones are the most accommodating to retirees. That included looking at the percentage of the population that’s 65 and older, how safe the city is and how walkable the area is for seniors who will increasingly need to rely on public transit.

online resources that rank states and cities by affordability, incl
Kiplinger
https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/r...
GOBankingRates
https://www.gobankingrates.com/retire...
AARP
https://www.aarp.org/retirement/plann...

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand. Wish I could’ve read it sooner!

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the many things you need to know for a successful retirement.

[Karen Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been doing more planning during the pandemic and realized I haven't really thought about retirement much...just seems vaguely in my future. On a financial podcast, I heard that thinking about "relaxing" during retirement is NOT A PLAN...so true. So I want to step up my planning game in this area too...rather than figure it will happen somehow someday.

This audiobook is a good start and surprisingly interesting, despite the narrator's robotic voice. Some things I know...some things I haven't considered in detail...good food for thought.

Near the end, she describes some options post-retirement and I gasped a bit when she mentioned "opening a bakery." I was self-employed for years...self-employment is a dream for many people...but it can also be a nightmare (I saw MANY people lose their savings; food-related businesses are, unfortunately, risky). I like that the author mentioned to be careful, but I would really underscore this, especially if you don't have experience in food services. Be VERY VERY VERY careful, particularly at this time in your life.

[Charlotte Guan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like well structured bundle of information that you can find online by yourself. It covers every aspect of the subject yet nothing in depth. This book could be informative for those who have limited knowledge on retirement savings, but may be a waste of time for those who have already studied this subject.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read if you are wanting to learn about retirement and all the inner workings. This feels like an easy to read and understand manual for how and learn. All those questions about finances to health and your future, are answered in this condense little book. A must read and own.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty comprehensive little book, and I would have learned more from it if I had picked it up 10 years ago. But at this stage, I feel like I've already learned a lot of the basics. But there were a couple of no-brainer kind of things that I did learn.

First, it never occurred to me that I can have more than one savings acct at the same institution! I like to have 3 different savings for 3 different purposes, so I've always had my main checking and savings at an online bank, and a second savings somewhere else and then a third savings elsewhere. But after seeing my mother-in-law pass this past Spring and her daughter trying to round up all the finances to get things squared away, I realized I need to do a better job of this. Then this book suggested I simply open more savings accts with my existing institution, so when I log in to see what my checking acct is doing, I see ALL of my accts on the one dashboard! After all, it's not like all 4 accts are likely to add up to more than $250,000 and exceed the FDIC protections! GENIUS!!! So much easier!

Otherwise, the book had a lot of basic, relevant information for someone wanting to gain a good overview of the topic. It was a good, quick read!

[Julia. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retirement 101 by Michele Cagan is an excellent primer for anyone looking to demystify the complexities of retirement planning. The book provides a well-rounded overview of key topics, including 401(k) plans, Social Security benefits, asset management, and medical insurance. Written in a clear, accessible style, it simplifies financial jargon, making it ideal for beginners who want actionable advice without feeling overwhelmed.
One of its greatest strengths is its practical approach, step by step guidance ensures readers can build a solid foundation for their retirement planning. However, seasoned investors may find the information somewhat basic, as the book is geared more toward those at the start of their journey.
Overall, Retirement 101 is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to secure their financial future and achieve the retirement lifestyle they envision. It’s both informative and empowering, providing the essential knowledge needed to take control of retirement planning

[Susan Bewley · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book feels the same, it is filled with a great deal of information! Almost every question you could have about retirement is answered in this book, including how to prepare before retirement is even a serious consideration (when you are young). Much of the advice are things I hadn’t considered, as well as terms that I had honestly never heard of or known was a thing, giving my husband and me a great deal to think about when it comes to our own retirement decades from now. Overall, if you want to build your retirement and prepare for the future, I highly recommend looking into Retirement 101: From 401(k) Plans and Social Security Benefits to Asset Management and Medical Insurance, Your Complete Guide to Preparing for the Future You Want.

[Lauren Schnoebelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I know I need to get better at saving for retirement but it stresses me out a lot because I don’t really understand much about the different ways to go about it. For someone with not much knowledge on the subject, I think this book did a great job of going through the basics and the different accounts and timelines you need to keep in mind for when saving for retirement. I did read this straight through which honestly I don’t think is the point of the book. There were some very repetitive parts which lead me to believe the author thought readers would go to the sections they need information on rather than reading it cover to cover. That being said, I feel a lot more comfortable with terminology and basic concepts now that I’ve read this.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this quick flyover of retirement planning. Like they say in the book it's never to early to start planning. While I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on finances and economics I learned things about taxes and Medicaid. I also really liked that the author gave alternatives and spoke about some of the new trends in retirement such as granny pods. It fostered several conversations between my husband and I about what we want for retirement and ways we can boost our retirement so that we don't have to work if we don't want to work.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retirement 101 is simply written, and easy to understand. I read through this book in a few hours, skipping parts that did not apply to me. It is a source I will refer back to as the time gets closer. I strongly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about planning for their financial future in retirement.

[Shannyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for someone with no knowledge on the subject. It talks about many topics such as IRAs, HSAs, Medicare, social security, annuities, budgeting, etc. Unfortunately, I’ve already read a few books regarding investing so this turned out not to be as in depth as I needed. So ⭐️⭐️ for me personally but a 3 for those who need the info I think.

[Lydiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was helpful (coming from someone who has no idea how to adult in these matters). I took plenty of notes to further my resesrch and hopefully build towards a good retirement.
All of stuff about Social Security I didnt know, like even after you get divorced you can benefit off of their SS! It also discussed SS scams that may happen and to be on the look out for.

[Frieda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent - easy to read, easy to understand. It is for individuals not familiar with retirement planning and what occurs once an individual retires to those who are familiar but want more in-depth knowledge.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

245:2025
This one would be most useful to read in chunks and put suggestions into practice. As a library book it's mostly a great reminder that I should save absolutely as much as I can as soon as possible if I don't want to work forever.

[Lee Tsao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction for those who want to retire with a 401K/IRA and have a low expense life style. This book won’t make you rich but will help you save for an average retirement life. Not for me...

[Catie Monks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, it’s not a fascinating topic, but it is useful and a great reference. I do not recommend the audio version as it seems robotic and ever-repetitive.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy-t0-read and understand book on preparing for retirement at any age. I still have about twenty years of working ahead of me!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book with a ton of great information. It is pretty dry and hard to get through but if you want to research a specific topic, this would be a great resource.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much information in this book, I’m sure it’s all valuable and important.

[Lucy Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Excellent primer on retirement. Clearly written, complete information useful for everyone and especially useful for those just about to retire.

[Cagefighter18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed handbook on retirement finances. This is mostly geared towards retirees who have saved for retirement and now need to figure out how to make the money last.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent primer on assessing and dealing with the many decisions that will need to be made by all of us in retirement years.

[Jeff Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good general information. Something to get you started.

[Geekfork · Rating 4 out of 5]

I deducted a star because no book on Retirement can strike as "amazing" no matter how helpful (and this one was insanely helpful and comprehensive!) ;D

[Matt Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by CPA Michele Cagan. Not too long, easy-to-read, and a lot of helpful information. Don’t wait until you’re facing retirement to read this one!

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are new to words like annuity and all the variants of 401k this is the place to start demystifying how to plan for financial freedom - very 101, as advertised

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, clearly communicated and fear-assuaging. Knowledge is power, right?

[Karla Huebner]

Useful, easy to understand, fairly up-to-date. A lot of the information was familiar to me, but it will be very helpful for many readers (and it's easy just to look at whatever one wants to review).