How to Retire in Style ( 10/30 Sat.)

[Mandychang]

How to Retire in Style

Human beings, it is said, are distinguished from other species by our ability to think ahead and to plan ahead. That may be true. It is also true, though, that most of us have great trouble thinking about the long term and preparing for it. We're too caught up in the daily "thick of thin things." In this way we carry with us the immediacy of our animal cousins (no slur against the in-laws intended). Heck, it's difficult enough to plan something just six months ahead, like a summer vacation. How on earth are we supposed to be able to think about something in the distant future -- like retirement?

Thinking in advance, though, and acting on those thoughts, are keys to being ready for the future when it turns inexorably into the present. The younger you are, the more distant is retirement -- and the more power you have at your fingertips in the form of compound returns over time. It's a paradox that you can work to your advantage.

Question:
(1)How much will I need for my retirement in order to live comfortably? What are my goals? When should I start? What should I do? What costs might I run into once I've actually retired?
(2)What would you like to do when you retire? Will you create your second career or have any ideas upon your retirement?

These are the questions that we all need to ask; questions that we often wait too long to ask; questions that surface dimly on occasion, in a remote and dusty corner of the mind, a mind that is otherwise occupied with this minute's conversation, today's project, tonight's movie, and tomorrow's meeting.
We place humbly at your feet these 13 Steps, along with a bevy of tools for running the numbers, so that you may see in stark and pixilated black-and-white the realities that will make your golden years truly golden.
Make them golden, Foolishly.


http://www.fool.com/Retirement/Retireme ... ning01.htm
http://www.seniorindian.com/retirement.htm
http://www.2young2retire.com/
http://money.cnn.com/2002/08/29/retirement/retirelate/
http://www.ssa.gov/retirement/
http://www.retirement-4-u.com/
http://www.retirementhavens.com/index.html