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.

Advice and guidance on planning for retirementRetirement 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 easierWhether 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.

Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started 5Chapter 1: Retirement Planning Is Up to You 7Chapter 2: Determining How Much You Spend 21Chapter 3: Calculating How Much You Need to Retire 41Chapter 4: Choosing the Right Account 61Chapter 5: Gauging Your Appetite for Risk 79Chapter 6: Opening Your Accounts 93Part 2: Using Online Resources 115Chapter 7: Managing and Optimizing Your 401(k) 117Chapter 8: Taking Your IRA to the Next Level 139Chapter 9: Optimizing Your Retirement with Third-Party Offerings 157Chapter 10: Digging into Social Security 177Part 3: Maximizing Your Retirement Knowledge 195Chapter 11: Balancing Retirement Savings with Other Needs 197Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Your Asset Allocation 221Chapter 13: Keeping Your Retirement on Track 241Chapter 14: Gearing Up for Retirement 259Chapter 15: Understanding Pensions 277Chapter 16: Getting Insurance 293Part 4: The Part of Tens 311Chapter 17: Top Ten Retirement Mistakes 313Chapter 18: Top Ten Retirement Questions 317Index 323