The Retirement Catch-Up Guide: 54 Real-Life Lessons to Boost Your Retirement Resources Now

by Ellen Hoffman

Easy-to-read, real-life strategies that baby boomers and seniors have used to get their retirement saving up to speed. For the millions of Americans who have put off planning and saving for retirement, these real-life success stories provide readers with some ideas about what they can do to catch up right now, without a calculator, no matter what their financial resources. Strategies include how to find a "lost" pension, create a retirement vision, set up a reverse mortgage or a small business, and dozens of other ways that late starters can build their retirement assets. Resources, index.

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2002

Reviews

[Attica · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who is nowhere near retirement age (20s), I think the book has lots of great ideas to help people start planning and motivation to do more to help their future selves. On the downside, some of this book's ideas and recommendations are based on interest rates at the time is was written (2000, 2002). For example, it mentions that money would grow better in a savings account and have a great return, but the interest rates then were 6-7%. The average Joes savings account now barely breaks 1%. It is still food for thought (and saving no matter what will help your future more than spending). Even if you're not near the point in life where retirement is looming, I recommend this book. It may solve your problems, but it will help.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I speed read this book. Many of the sections were not applicable in my life. There were several sections where I was pleasantly surprised that the advice is something that I can apply.

Chapter 7: Learn how to be a successful investor.

Chapter 8: Move to a less expensive location

#45 ... Choose a state with low property and income taxes

#47 In her own business she deducted all her medical expenses

Chapter 9: Monitor your investments & compare them with other similar financial instruments.

#52 Compile a quarterly report on your retirement savings.

All in all, there are 54 suggestions. There is bulleted summary at the end of each chapter.

A common mistake is for people to not begin thinking about retirement until they are well along in life. There is probably one or more useful suggestions in here for everyone who is planning or willing to plan their financial future.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Retirement Catch-Up Guide contains a lot of the same principals of other books, but what sets this book apart from other "catch-up" books are the interviews. Each technique, idea, fear, etc. is told personally by an individual who has been there, done that.

It covers every type of income group from wealthy doctor or lawyer to struggling single moms. It even represents the "already retired" group and how they have prepared for their future starting IRA's in their 60s.

The book is very encouraging to someone who is playing catch-up and definitely reinforces any previous learning and will spur you to push savings up a notch in your mind.