Retirement Planning for Dummies

Advice and guidance on planning for retirement

Retirement Planning For Dummies is a one-stop resource to get up to speed on the critical steps needed to ensure you spend your golden years living in the lap of luxury—or at least in the comfort of your own home. 

When attempting to plan for retirement, web searching alone can cause you more headaches than answers, leaving many to feel overwhelmed and defeated. This book takes the guesswork out of the subject and guides readers while they plan the largest financial obligation of their life.

• Take stock of your finances  
• Proactively plan for your financial future
• Seek the help of professionals or go it alone
• Use online tools to make retirement planning easier

Whether you're just starting out with a 401(k) or you’re a seasoned vet with retirement in your near future, this book helps younger and older generations alike how to plan their retirement.

Matt Krantz is a nationally known financial journalist who specializes in investing topics. He's personal finance and management editor at Investor's Business Daily. He's also worked in the financial industry and covered markets and investing for USA TODAY. His writing on financial topics has appeared also in Money, Kiplinger's, and Men's Health. Krantz is the author of Online Investing For Dummies, and Fundamental Analysis For Dummies and co-author of Investment Banking For Dummies.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started 5

Chapter 1: Retirement Planning Is Up to You 7

Chapter 2: Determining How Much You Spend 21

Chapter 3: Calculating How Much You Need to Retire 41

Chapter 4: Choosing the Right Account 61

Chapter 5: Gauging Your Appetite for Risk 79

Chapter 6: Opening Your Accounts 93

Part 2: Using Online Resources 115

Chapter 7: Managing and Optimizing Your 401(k) 117

Chapter 8: Taking Your IRA to the Next Level 139

Chapter 9: Optimizing Your Retirement with Third-Party Offerings 157

Chapter 10: Digging into Social Security 177

Part 3: Maximizing Your Retirement Knowledge 195

Chapter 11: Balancing Retirement Savings with Other Needs 197

Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Your Asset Allocation 221

Chapter 13: Keeping Your Retirement on Track 241

Chapter 14: Gearing Up for Retirement 259

Chapter 15: Understanding Pensions 277

Chapter 16: Getting Insurance 293

Part 4: The Part of Tens 311

Chapter 17: Top Ten Retirement Mistakes 313

Chapter 18: Top Ten Retirement Questions 317

Index 323

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.