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How to Make Your Money Last - Completely Updated for Planning: The Indispensable Retirement Guide
NOW COMPLETELY UPDATED to reflect the changes in tax legislation, health insurance, and the new investment realities. In this “highly valuable resource” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) Quinn “provides simple, straightforward” (The New York Times) solutions to the universal retirement dilemma—how to make your limited savings last for life—covering mortgages, social security, income investing, annuities, and more!
Will you run out of money in your older age? That’s the biggest worry for people newly retired or planning to retire. Fortunately, you don’t have to plan in the dark. Jane Bryant Quinn tells you how to squeeze a higher income from all your assets—including your social security account (get every dollar you’re entitled to), a pension (discover whether a lump sum or a lifetime monthly income will pay you more), your home equity (sell, rent, or take a reverse mortgage?), savings (how to use them safely to raise your monthly income), retirement accounts (invest the money for growth in ways that let you sleep at night), and—critically—how much of your savings you can afford to spend every year without running out. There are easy ways to figure all this out. Who knew?
Quinn also shows you how to evaluate your real risks. If you stick with super-safe investment choices, your money might not last and your lifestyle might erode. The same might be true if you rely on traditional income investments. Quinn rethinks the meaning of “income investing,” by combining reliable cash flow during the early years of your retirement with low-risk growth investments, to provide extra money for your later years. Odds are, you’ll live longer than you might imagine, meaning that your savings will stretch for many more years than you might have planned for. With the help of this book, you can turn those retirement funds into a “homemade” paycheck that will last for life.
Will you run out of money in your older age? That’s the biggest worry for people newly retired or planning to retire. Fortunately, you don’t have to plan in the dark. Jane Bryant Quinn tells you how to squeeze a higher income from all your assets—including your social security account (get every dollar you’re entitled to), a pension (discover whether a lump sum or a lifetime monthly income will pay you more), your home equity (sell, rent, or take a reverse mortgage?), savings (how to use them safely to raise your monthly income), retirement accounts (invest the money for growth in ways that let you sleep at night), and—critically—how much of your savings you can afford to spend every year without running out. There are easy ways to figure all this out. Who knew?
Quinn also shows you how to evaluate your real risks. If you stick with super-safe investment choices, your money might not last and your lifestyle might erode. The same might be true if you rely on traditional income investments. Quinn rethinks the meaning of “income investing,” by combining reliable cash flow during the early years of your retirement with low-risk growth investments, to provide extra money for your later years. Odds are, you’ll live longer than you might imagine, meaning that your savings will stretch for many more years than you might have planned for. With the help of this book, you can turn those retirement funds into a “homemade” paycheck that will last for life.
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
529 people are currently reading
2327 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
May 3, 2021
True to its title, this truly is an indispensable retirement guide. The author makes a subject I find complicated accessible. I read the second edition, which was published 4-years after the first, as so much had changed in that time period!
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April 2, 2016Highly recommended especially for those with retirement on the horizon
Jane Bryant Quinn is one the most respected financial advisors. This new book covering retirement seems a must for anyone having questions about making the money last throughout your non-working years. It covers all the basics and more and will be most effective for those who are contemplating taking this big step.
I am already retired. I have read many books and articles regarding some of the questions addressed in How to Make Your Money Last but there is always something new to learn, points to drive home again or review strategies in the original plan. I found the chapters regarding health insurance, investing for income and minimum distributions of IRA's useful for my present stage in life.
Jane Bryant Quinn is one the most respected financial advisors. This new book covering retirement seems a must for anyone having questions about making the money last throughout your non-working years. It covers all the basics and more and will be most effective for those who are contemplating taking this big step.
I am already retired. I have read many books and articles regarding some of the questions addressed in How to Make Your Money Last but there is always something new to learn, points to drive home again or review strategies in the original plan. I found the chapters regarding health insurance, investing for income and minimum distributions of IRA's useful for my present stage in life.
September 4, 2016
This book was recommended to me by Carol Kubala and I take her recommendations seriously. I was a little smug, thinking I'd probably already know everything in this book because I am a financial professional. Now I'm a little more humble. I learned loads and no, I haven't been doing everything right. Here are a few of the things I learned.
1) It's not a good idea to have IRA's/401k's all over the place. Consolidate your accounts because when you reach the age where you have to take mandatory distributions, it will make the calculations and rebalancing a whole lot easier.
2) You (and I) can probably do just as well or better by investing in a couple of index funds rather than having a bunch of diversified mutual fund investments. Again this helps with rebalancing.
3) Annuities are not necessarily lousy investments...you just have to know what you're getting into. Pick a simple immediate or deferred annuity....the other products are too complicated and carry high sales charges.
4) It's not always a good idea to pay off your mortgage.
5) You (and I) need a durable power of attorney.
6) You can avoid probate on your retirement accounts by naming beneficiaries.
I listened to this book on audio and immediately upon finishing I bought the book in hardcover so that I'll have a ready reference. Thanks Carol!
1) It's not a good idea to have IRA's/401k's all over the place. Consolidate your accounts because when you reach the age where you have to take mandatory distributions, it will make the calculations and rebalancing a whole lot easier.
2) You (and I) can probably do just as well or better by investing in a couple of index funds rather than having a bunch of diversified mutual fund investments. Again this helps with rebalancing.
3) Annuities are not necessarily lousy investments...you just have to know what you're getting into. Pick a simple immediate or deferred annuity....the other products are too complicated and carry high sales charges.
4) It's not always a good idea to pay off your mortgage.
5) You (and I) need a durable power of attorney.
6) You can avoid probate on your retirement accounts by naming beneficiaries.
I listened to this book on audio and immediately upon finishing I bought the book in hardcover so that I'll have a ready reference. Thanks Carol!
April 23, 2021
ReedIII Quick Review: Detailed information on key retirement and money management topics presented in a clear way. Can be read or used as a reference book.
April 21, 2016
I have read everything that I can on personal finance and have the usual favorites... The Millionaire Next Door, The Richest Man In Babalon, The Wealthy Barber, The Automatic Millionaire, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, along with several of Mike Piper and Dave Ramsey books. This is my favorite "financial retirement" book. There were no wasted words or chapters. It was packed full of ideas and suggestions. I have tweaked my retirement plan after reading this gem. I would recommend it to anyone that has retired or is looking to soon.
July 5, 2017
This is an excellent book to get one started in thinking through the myriad of products and strategies surrounding retirement planning. Ms Quinn deals with a bewildering number of subjects ranging from Social Security, Health Care, management of 401k/IRA/... plans, life insurance, annuity products, and more, but she manages to put these all in context in a format that will have readers coming back to read for more self-education in later years. Excellent!
March 8, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and it was a wonderful gift. This is one of the best retirement guides available. Jane Bryant Quinn offers good advice on investments for every financial situation. There are also chapters on Medicare and life insurance. The book is easy to read and comprehend. Even if you are not ready to retire, she outlines different ways to prepare for a comfortable financial future. This book is certainly an indispensable retirement guide.
June 10, 2019
A good basic guide by a trusted name in personal finance, Jane Bryant Quinn. She dispels a lot of the uncertainty, fluff, and down right fraud we all encounter in tackling this demanding task.
Those that follow the basic simplicity laid out her by Quinn should be ahead of most who don't have a clue, and are easily plucked by the brokerages and their army of sales mercenaries.
Those that follow the basic simplicity laid out her by Quinn should be ahead of most who don't have a clue, and are easily plucked by the brokerages and their army of sales mercenaries.
July 24, 2016
Of all the books I've read on the topic of retirement, this one has been the absolute most informative by far. I've been an admirer of Ms. Quinn since the 1980's when I religiously read her columns in the Washington Post and watched her many appearances on CBS News. She writes in a straight forward, easy-to-understand style and is always conscious of explaining (and re-explaining!) difficult concepts. Pointers to excellent sources such as web sites, non-profit financial organizations, and even a few private finance companies (such as Vanguard) are scattered throughout the book in an effort to help the reader.
The chapters on Social Security, Medicare, and health insurance alone are worth the price of this book. I am also very grateful for her thoughts and suggestions about pension strategies.
She has reinforced my long belief that index funds are the smartest, most cost-effective way to invest in an IRA, and she's influenced me to at least consider the total market funds instead of the more narrow S&P 500 ones. That was a bit of an eye-opener.
The chapter on annuities was a pleasant surprise to read (as we learn it was to her too as she researched the book). I am now considering getting a deferred annuity for my wife someday, something I never thought I'd ever do.
I struggled through the chapters on determining how much of your savings to withdrawal each year (i.e. the 4% or 4.5% rule), and the extensive information given on bonds and bond funds. But this was a result of my own struggles with those concepts, not how it was presented. I read those chapters twice to make sure I understood, and will no doubt refer to them many times again in the future.
This book is required reading ff you are retired or planning your retirement. Buy it and place it in a conspicuous place in your home office!
The chapters on Social Security, Medicare, and health insurance alone are worth the price of this book. I am also very grateful for her thoughts and suggestions about pension strategies.
She has reinforced my long belief that index funds are the smartest, most cost-effective way to invest in an IRA, and she's influenced me to at least consider the total market funds instead of the more narrow S&P 500 ones. That was a bit of an eye-opener.
The chapter on annuities was a pleasant surprise to read (as we learn it was to her too as she researched the book). I am now considering getting a deferred annuity for my wife someday, something I never thought I'd ever do.
I struggled through the chapters on determining how much of your savings to withdrawal each year (i.e. the 4% or 4.5% rule), and the extensive information given on bonds and bond funds. But this was a result of my own struggles with those concepts, not how it was presented. I read those chapters twice to make sure I understood, and will no doubt refer to them many times again in the future.
This book is required reading ff you are retired or planning your retirement. Buy it and place it in a conspicuous place in your home office!
April 29, 2019
This is an excellent book for those who are in retirement, about to be retired, contemplating retirement, or one day expect or hope to be retired. In fact, those who read this book long before retirement will probably benefit from it the most, considering the excellent advice given throughout the book for planning ahead. I have long been a fan of JBQ, and she does not disappoint here.
The first chapter doesn't even talk about money; it simply deals with the question "what will my life look like after I'm no longer working full time?" This chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Subsequent chapters deal with developing a budget for your retirement years, managing your Social Security benefits, getting the most from Medicare and supplemental plans, pensions, retirement savings plans and practices, spending in retirement, investing, and life insurance.
Throughout the book, Quinn gives suggestions on where else to turn for information, poses a number of diagnostic questions, and covers various options or pathways, depending on the individual's situation (single or married? in good health or bad? big or small retirement savings accounts?). And she does this with good humor, simple explanations, and thoroughness.
This is a book to read, highlight, and refer to often. Highly recommended!
The first chapter doesn't even talk about money; it simply deals with the question "what will my life look like after I'm no longer working full time?" This chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Subsequent chapters deal with developing a budget for your retirement years, managing your Social Security benefits, getting the most from Medicare and supplemental plans, pensions, retirement savings plans and practices, spending in retirement, investing, and life insurance.
Throughout the book, Quinn gives suggestions on where else to turn for information, poses a number of diagnostic questions, and covers various options or pathways, depending on the individual's situation (single or married? in good health or bad? big or small retirement savings accounts?). And she does this with good humor, simple explanations, and thoroughness.
This is a book to read, highlight, and refer to often. Highly recommended!
March 23, 2020
Quinn has updated the 2016 edition of her book to reflect the changes in tax law and possible changes to the ACA (American Care Act). She tackles Social Security, pensions, health insurance, annuities, life insurance, and your home with strategies for maximizing your income with the goal of making your money last until both your and your spouse's deaths. The last chapter is a retirement checklist with 19 steps to help ensure a stress-free retirement. She is particularly fond of consolidating assets like IRAs and bank accounts while utilizing low-cost index stock and bond mutual funds to ensure asset growth. Although technical at times, this book holds valuable advice for those considering retirement soon.
August 24, 2020
Two quick notes:
1. The SECURE Act has changed a lot of details of this (for example, no more stretch IRAs).
2. I feel like this is meant for people nearing retirement who intend on spending down a good portion of their retirement nest eggs *eventually*.
1. The SECURE Act has changed a lot of details of this (for example, no more stretch IRAs).
2. I feel like this is meant for people nearing retirement who intend on spending down a good portion of their retirement nest eggs *eventually*.
April 3, 2021
The author explains finances so well. Easy to understand and put to use.
October 3, 2023
Excellent overview of what you should know--and should be thinking about--with regard to retirement.
gave-up-on
November 8, 2024DNF because it wasn't the right time for me to be reading - will try to circle back in 10ish years. Recommend to anybody 45+ or very close to retiring.
“Our jobs and family responsibilities give us status and meaning. When we quit or the children grow up, there’s an instant loss of status that few of us are truly prepared for. We're in a new role. That of citizen retiree period it's an empty vessel until we fill it up. What are you going to do for the rest of your life?”
“A vibrant retirement life means keeping each other excited about what’s happening every day.”
4 steps to creating a dependable retirement plan:
Find how much you’re spending now. All expenses from last 12 mo. subtract work expenses (commute, office clothing). Add cost of healthcare, credit card debt (accelerated repayment plan)
List annual income in retirement: pensions, social security, rental income
Add current value of all financial assets (except real estate market value/ equity) *.04 (4%)
Add step 2 and 3 - income taxes estimate. Don’t worry about inflation. It’s in the 4%.
(compare 1 and 2)
Run this for couple and both partners in case of death (survivor and life insurance).
“Our jobs and family responsibilities give us status and meaning. When we quit or the children grow up, there’s an instant loss of status that few of us are truly prepared for. We're in a new role. That of citizen retiree period it's an empty vessel until we fill it up. What are you going to do for the rest of your life?”
“A vibrant retirement life means keeping each other excited about what’s happening every day.”
4 steps to creating a dependable retirement plan:
Find how much you’re spending now. All expenses from last 12 mo. subtract work expenses (commute, office clothing). Add cost of healthcare, credit card debt (accelerated repayment plan)
List annual income in retirement: pensions, social security, rental income
Add current value of all financial assets (except real estate market value/ equity) *.04 (4%)
Add step 2 and 3 - income taxes estimate. Don’t worry about inflation. It’s in the 4%.
(compare 1 and 2)
Run this for couple and both partners in case of death (survivor and life insurance).
November 18, 2024
Pretty comprehensive outline on all the important aspects of retirement. She explains all the various financial instruments in easy to understand simplicity. She explains a very straight forward method to maintain financial stability for 30 years of retirement. It is all very sound advice and I learned stuff!
September 29, 2019
This book answered almost all of the financial questions I had as I look forward to retirement in the near future.
January 11, 2024
Surprising relevant advice considering the book is a few years old.
January 29, 2021
I bought this for my dad for Christmas and decided to give it a quick read while visiting. A lot of good, practical advice that's detailed but still accessible. This book would be super helpful for just about anyone who is approaching retirement or already retired.
March 4, 2021
Even though I’m only 23 years old and a millennia away from retirement, I found a lot of things in this book helpful. I learned so much from this book that I can implement into my life now that can make my life at retirement so much easier such as opening an IRA or 401k right now and let my money compound. The information on healthcare insurance was also very helpful and gave me some insight into what into my own insurance and ways that I can lower cost. I will definitely read this book in a few years to refresh my knowledge. I’m also going to try to get my mom to read this book as she is planning to retire in less than a decade. Lastly, please please be responsible with you’re retirement plan and don’t end up outliving your retirement savings 🙏
March 5, 2018
Practical actionable advice.
I am a 51 year old hoping to retire in about 10 years and have been learning all I can about retirement planning so that I understand enough on the topic to not be at the mercy of a financial advisor at retirement. I want enough knowledge to evaluate their suggestions and understand the alternatives they are presenting to me. With little knowledge, I hope to have more control of my decisions rather than just have the guy at Fidelity (or wherever) hand me a black box solution. This book was exactly what I was looking for.
This book contains not only general information about important components of income planning (annuities, investments, life insurance, social security etc), but strategies and advice for using each that will help you put together a plan. I'm sure some will disagree with specific advice in some cases (there is not consensus on any topic in this field) and there are entire books written on some topics that are covered in a chapter, but as a 51 year old hoping to retire in a decade or so, this book gave me the information I need to start assembling a plan.
I'm sure the book is not for everyone. I'm sure if you are running your own business, enjoy investing in real estate, view vesting as a hobby, your go-forward plan would be different than what's laid out in this book. Also, the book does not deal much with estate planning. The assumption is that your primary goal is to live on what you have saved, not that you're planning to leave as much as possible behind. However, you're the run-of-the mill professional who has been saving in your 401k for 30-40 years and want a simple, safe plan, this book is a great starting point. I intend to leave a copy of this book in my safe deposit box with my will for my wife to use in case this responsibility ever falls to her.
I feel like with this book, I can put together the framework of how I want to manage things in retirement. I can take this in to a financial planner and have them work with me on the specifics of Social Security, Medicare, annuities etc to have them turn my plan into action. I feel much more comfortable with this approach than walking in in 10 years with a blank sheet of paper and asking my planner what I should do.
I am a 51 year old hoping to retire in about 10 years and have been learning all I can about retirement planning so that I understand enough on the topic to not be at the mercy of a financial advisor at retirement. I want enough knowledge to evaluate their suggestions and understand the alternatives they are presenting to me. With little knowledge, I hope to have more control of my decisions rather than just have the guy at Fidelity (or wherever) hand me a black box solution. This book was exactly what I was looking for.
This book contains not only general information about important components of income planning (annuities, investments, life insurance, social security etc), but strategies and advice for using each that will help you put together a plan. I'm sure some will disagree with specific advice in some cases (there is not consensus on any topic in this field) and there are entire books written on some topics that are covered in a chapter, but as a 51 year old hoping to retire in a decade or so, this book gave me the information I need to start assembling a plan.
I'm sure the book is not for everyone. I'm sure if you are running your own business, enjoy investing in real estate, view vesting as a hobby, your go-forward plan would be different than what's laid out in this book. Also, the book does not deal much with estate planning. The assumption is that your primary goal is to live on what you have saved, not that you're planning to leave as much as possible behind. However, you're the run-of-the mill professional who has been saving in your 401k for 30-40 years and want a simple, safe plan, this book is a great starting point. I intend to leave a copy of this book in my safe deposit box with my will for my wife to use in case this responsibility ever falls to her.
I feel like with this book, I can put together the framework of how I want to manage things in retirement. I can take this in to a financial planner and have them work with me on the specifics of Social Security, Medicare, annuities etc to have them turn my plan into action. I feel much more comfortable with this approach than walking in in 10 years with a blank sheet of paper and asking my planner what I should do.
March 24, 2018
I found this to be a very useful book for me in planning the financial strategy for the withdrawal phase of my investments. It has the clearest explanation I have found to the question of how much can you safely withdraw. For instance, she explains where the 4% withdrawal “rule” comes from.
The 4% rule was developed by Bill Bengen in 1993. Looking at 30-year periods that overlapped, he found you can safely withdraw 4% the first year then increase each year by inflation. This assumed 50% invested in S&P 500 and 50% in intermediate-term U.S. Treasury bonds (maturing in 4 to 10 years). You could just barely succeed with 30% in stocks. Bengen chose 4% because it carried investors through the 3 worst 30-year periods beginning in 1929, 1937, and 1973. The longest down cycle was 8 years from December 1972 until July 1980.
In 1998 Bengen updated his analysis using a stock portfolio of 23% S&P 500 and 27% small stock index and found the safe first year withdrawal was 4.5% for a diversified portfolio of between 45% and 65% stocks. International diversification could be included also instead of only small stock.
Jonathan Guyton of Cornerstone Wealth Advisors suggests a strategy of taking 5.5% offers a 99% chance of success but you have to be flexible by lowering your annual draw by 10% if stocks fall for several years.
Wade Pfau of American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, PA, expects low returns for the next few years so suggests an initial withdrawal rate of 3%.
Michael Kites of Pinnacle Advisory Group in Columbia, MD, suggests if the Shiller PE Ratio is above 20, the stock market is overvalued and your withdrawal rate should not exceed the classic 4 or 4.5%, but if PE 10 is between 12 and 20 (fairly valued) withdrawal could be 5%, or if PE10 is below 12 withdrawal could start at 5.5%.
Today, many advisers no longer include cash as part of an investment portfolio, but Quinn suggests otherwise. She says “Life runs more smoothly if you maintain a two-year cash reserve.” Some suggest 3 years of cash. Many planners advise that between your cash reserve and your short-term bond fund you hold enough money to protect yourself for four straight years. Remember that 8 year bad run in the 1970’s?
The 4% rule was developed by Bill Bengen in 1993. Looking at 30-year periods that overlapped, he found you can safely withdraw 4% the first year then increase each year by inflation. This assumed 50% invested in S&P 500 and 50% in intermediate-term U.S. Treasury bonds (maturing in 4 to 10 years). You could just barely succeed with 30% in stocks. Bengen chose 4% because it carried investors through the 3 worst 30-year periods beginning in 1929, 1937, and 1973. The longest down cycle was 8 years from December 1972 until July 1980.
In 1998 Bengen updated his analysis using a stock portfolio of 23% S&P 500 and 27% small stock index and found the safe first year withdrawal was 4.5% for a diversified portfolio of between 45% and 65% stocks. International diversification could be included also instead of only small stock.
Jonathan Guyton of Cornerstone Wealth Advisors suggests a strategy of taking 5.5% offers a 99% chance of success but you have to be flexible by lowering your annual draw by 10% if stocks fall for several years.
Wade Pfau of American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, PA, expects low returns for the next few years so suggests an initial withdrawal rate of 3%.
Michael Kites of Pinnacle Advisory Group in Columbia, MD, suggests if the Shiller PE Ratio is above 20, the stock market is overvalued and your withdrawal rate should not exceed the classic 4 or 4.5%, but if PE 10 is between 12 and 20 (fairly valued) withdrawal could be 5%, or if PE10 is below 12 withdrawal could start at 5.5%.
Today, many advisers no longer include cash as part of an investment portfolio, but Quinn suggests otherwise. She says “Life runs more smoothly if you maintain a two-year cash reserve.” Some suggest 3 years of cash. Many planners advise that between your cash reserve and your short-term bond fund you hold enough money to protect yourself for four straight years. Remember that 8 year bad run in the 1970’s?
July 1, 2018
While I agree this is a decent resource for the general education of a pre-retiree, I have two major problems with the content of this book: 1. Not all commissioned financial professionals work solely in their own interest, and not all fee-based planners work solely in the interest of the retirees paying them the fees. 2. Nowhere in this book did the author encourage and emphasize the importance of working consistently with a trusted advisor, much like a doctor. The do-it-yourself pre-retiree should never rely on the advice of a supposed "expert" they've never met who cares more about book sales & advertiser income. It is so important for a pre-retiree to find a local, trustworthy professional in their community who will sit down with them at the kitchen table to learn about their unique financial circumstances in order to best help them achieve their long-term financial success.
March 21, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.
‘How to Make Your Money Last’ is a book written for the average person. It isn’t filled with hard to understand financial jargon, but instead is written in layman’s terms that are understandable to every reader. The saying ‘With knowledge comes wealth’ certainly applies to this book. It should be a “must read” for everyone approaching retirement age. The book covers everything from what to spend, how much to spent, dealing with Social Security, Health Insurance, and investment strategies for retirement.
I will keep this book for reference for years to come.
‘How to Make Your Money Last’ is a book written for the average person. It isn’t filled with hard to understand financial jargon, but instead is written in layman’s terms that are understandable to every reader. The saying ‘With knowledge comes wealth’ certainly applies to this book. It should be a “must read” for everyone approaching retirement age. The book covers everything from what to spend, how much to spent, dealing with Social Security, Health Insurance, and investment strategies for retirement.
I will keep this book for reference for years to come.
February 20, 2018
Recommended for beginners by someone on the bogleheads.org forum, and well worth the read. Much solid information on asset allocation and withdrawal strategies, plus stuff I knew very little about: reverse mortgages, annuities and life insurance. Bryant Quinn is terrific at detailing the options, identifying the (few) specific situations where a product might make sense, and providing clear warnings about pitfalls; she also highlights common deceptive sales pitches. She won me over when she described annuities sales pitches as "a snake pit" :)
The book also included some non-financial thoughts on the decision to retire, and adjusting to being retired which I thought were interesting.
The book also included some non-financial thoughts on the decision to retire, and adjusting to being retired which I thought were interesting.
September 12, 2018
Ok, well this is really not the best book for just listening to, since the author is constantly giving the names of websites, financial companies, and initials - TIAA-CREF, NAPFA, CFP, IRA, 401K, etc. I had to keep stopping to write some of this down. Ultimately, I'm just going to have to get the book, because there's just too much information. But good information. I wish I'd discovered Jane Bryant Quinn sooner. Even just by listening, I feel like I know way more about financial matters than I did. Now I have to get my husband to read it, then we can search for a fee-only fiduciary to help us figure out what no-load, indexed mutual funds to invest in. Or something like that.
August 23, 2019
I skimmed much of this book since I am not of traditional retirement age and much was therefore not relevant to me. However, I got the sense that this is a really great book for people who are currently or soon reaching their 60s and 70s and looking at doing a traditional retirement. She covers a wide range of topics in a very practical, down-to-earth manner, including standard investment strategies, annuities, how social security works (and considerations of when to take it), health insurance considerations, including detailed medicare advice, how to make use of the equity in your house (including downsizing, reverse mortgages, etc.), long-term care considerations, etc.
May 14, 2016
This is an excellent, brief but comprehensive exploration of pretty much everything a retiree needs to consider to make sure they don't run out of money before they run out of life. I don't agree with everything she says (such as keeping20-30% of your funds in bank deposits and short-term bonds that basically produce no money at all just so you don't have to worry about stock market declines) but it is hard to imagine where you could get more good advice in such a condensed form. The fact that it is written in a clear, breezy and entertaining style doesn't hurt either.
October 18, 2017
If you are seeing your retirement coming up, this is a book for you. Well written , you don't need to be a Wall Street wiz to understand it. It's one of the few books I've read that has significant information for those of us who are single. Retirement is a different animal for us, and the considerations are also different. Quinn does a good job explaining for singles; married, of course; and various permutations. Read it. You WILL learn something.
April 17, 2018
I only read the relevant chapters for someone in her 20s, namely the chapters covering: health insurance, pensions, retirement savings, and investing for income. This book is an absolute hidden gem with sound, practical investment advice backed by intelligent reasoning. I recommend that everyone read and reread this book every 5 years.
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