Considering how hard people work for the majority of their lives with an eye towards retiring, it's surprising to find that many give little thought to actually funding their retirement. In You've Earned It, Don't Lose It: Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire, financial advisor Suze Orman addresses this sad fact and "goes beyond the usual financial primer to describe how to safeguard your financial future." A specialist in retirement issues and a Certified Financial Planner, Orman knows her stuff, and she shares it in a straightforward manner that's especially helpful for those new to navigating the often-confusing course of retirement planning. Beginning with an overview of investment advice and what to look for in an investment counselor, Orman moves on to eight chapters filled with financial planning wisdom--offering focused discussions of trusts vs. wills, long-term care insurance, early retirement, durable power of attorney, estate taxes and probate costs, minimizing your expenses/maximizing your income, joint and survivor benefits, and a successful retirement. Also included are resource lists, handy quick tips, informative graphs, and personal accounts, making this an invaluable tool in planning for one of the most important turning points in your life.


From Publishers Weekly
This hard-nosed, pull-no-punches money guide lays out what to do on the way to retirement in seven crucial financial transitions of a lifetime. The author explains, in understandable language, vital aspects, wrinkles and angles that many people will have never heard of. Citing harrowing situations that many have unexpectedly encountered upon early retirement?loss of a spouse, long-term illness, investment collapse or a poorly prepared estate plan?California-based certified financial planner Orman analyzes dismayingly complicated IRS tax rulings, decisions about trusts vs. wills, long-term health-care insurance policies, powers-of-attorney and the effects of unexpected death involving former spouses and their children. Particularly informative is a section on withholding costly life-support procedures in cases of hopeless injury or terminal illness. In closing, Orman tenders cheerful advice on making money?by saving it. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Many popular guides to retirement (e.g., Kiplinger's 12 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, 1993) focus on building and investing retirement income, as if that is a retiree's only concern. Orman, a certified financial planner, emphasizes the legal, medical, and estate planning aspects of retirement. Her manual promotes preserving rather than increasing wealth. Each of the eight chapters begins with a story of a retiree's mistake. Orman then discusses the mistake and provides guidelines for avoiding it. The topics she covers include long-term care insurance, trusts and wills, durable power of attorney for healthcare, and unscrupulous "guardian angel" investment advisers. Some of Orman's assertions may surprise (e.g., most people, not only the wealthy, benefit from having a trust), and readers should consult with their attorneys and families before acting on her advice. In a brief space Orman presents planning considerations many retirement guides overlook. Recommended for public libraries.Robert Kruthoffer, Lane P.L., Hamilton, OhioCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Orman is an oft-quoted certified financial planner specializing in retirement planning. She offers this unusual but effective approach to providing advice for safeguarding one's financial future. Warning of eight common mistakes, she describes the dire consequences suffered by those who failed to plan or prepare properly and suggests how to avoid a similar fate. Orman tells how to select and evaluate financial advisers after describing the example of 74-year-old widow Anita who lost her entire savings because of an unscrupulous broker. Similar misfortunes befall a daughter who must sell her family home because of excessive probate costs and estate taxes and a couple whose primary income earner was targeted for early retirement and who were inadequately prepared to handle the consequences. Other scenarios cover gifts, joint tenancy, joint and survivor benefits, durable power of attorney, and long-term care. David Rouse


Midwest Book Review
Plenty of consumer guides tell how to plan for retirement; but too few discuss what happens to financial planning after retirement is reached. Here's a financial guide for retirees covering everything from survivors' benefits and long-term care insurance to maximizing income after retirement.

ANNOTATION

Trusted financial expert, seminar leader, and senior consumer advocate Orman goes beyond the usual retirement primer to let real people tell their stories of how naivete, failure to act, misinformation, and avoidance devastated their lifestyle, and offers clear and simple guidelines to help retirees make the right choices. Includes charts, graphs and worksheets.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The only Suze Orman book on retirement! Don't miss the opportunity to read, buy, or give the most popular retirement book on the market today. Over 500,000 copies sold, from the author of the #1 hardcover bestsellers The Courage to Be Rich and The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom. What's so special? Suze is! She lets everyday people tell their own stories of how naivet￯﾿ﾽ, failure to act, misinformation, and avoidance devastated their retirement plans. Each story is followed by guidelines, so others can avoid similar costly mistakes. Revised to reflect the newest tax and insurance laws, the eight areas covered are: Investment Advice; Trusts vs. Wills; Joint Tenancy and Gifting; Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care; Long-Term-Care Insurance; Early Retirement; Joint and Survivor Benefits; and Minimizing Expenses and Maximizing Income.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This hard-nosed, pull-no-punches money guide lays out what to do on the way to retirement in seven crucial financial transitions of a lifetime. The author explains, in understandable language, vital aspects, wrinkles and angles that many people will have never heard of. Citing harrowing situations that many have unexpectedly encountered upon early retirement - loss of a spouse, long-term illness, investment collapse or a poorly prepared estate plan - California-based certified financial planner Orman analyzes dismayingly complicated IRS tax rulings, decisions about trusts vs. wills, long-term health-care insurance policies, powers-of-attorney and the effects of unexpected death involving former spouses and their children. Particularly informative is a section on withholding costly life-support procedures in cases of hopeless injury or terminal illness. In closing, Orman tenders cheerful advice on making money-by saving it.

Library Journal

Many popular guides to retirement (e.g., Kiplinger's 12 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, 1993) focus on building and investing retirement income, as if that is a retiree's only concern. Orman, a certified financial planner, emphasizes the legal, medical, and estate planning aspects of retirement. Her manual promotes preserving rather than increasing wealth. Each of the eight chapters begins with a story of a retiree's mistake. Orman then discusses the mistake and provides guidelines for avoiding it. The topics she covers include long-term care insurance, trusts and wills, durable power of attorney for healthcare, and unscrupulous "guardian angel" investment advisers. Some of Orman's assertions may surprise (e.g., most people, not only the wealthy, benefit from having a trust), and readers should consult with their attorneys and families before acting on her advice. In a brief space Orman presents planning considerations many retirement guides overlook. Recommended for public libraries.- Robert Kruthoffer, Lane P.L., Hamilton, Ohio

BookList - David Rouse