Packing For Retirement: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT AT ANY AGE

I was skeptical when I started reading this book. As a Millennial, I never really think about my retirement despite the importance. The lion’s share of my retirement planning is avoidance and hoping it all works out in the end. So why read a book about retirement at all? Well, even if I took nothing from this text, I could look intelligent and responsible! Or, if I hated it, I could use it as fuel at my hedonistic summer bonfire. Luckily, I enjoyed it, and I felt like I learned quite a lot.Dr. Flanagan’s book was simple, straightforward, and delightful. He writes as a mentor who has seen it all. I was impressed by some of the case studies he included because they were *real* people (with real issues!) who improved their retirement with better information and support.Retirement expectations have changed drastically in the past 50 years—and quite honestly, it’s all very confusing. This book breaks down the questions you need to ask yourself (e.g., “What will you do in retirement,” “What should you do with your mortgage?”). Some of the questions seemed too simple at first, but then I realized those questions were the scariest (e.g., “How long do you plan to live?). The more you think through the basic questions, the more the other technical topics (e.g., social security, 401k, Roth IRA, etc.) make more sense.To sum up the book: Everyone should bet on themselves, yet the topic of retirement is overwhelming—don’t save it to the last minute. Instead, use every year to make wise choices about the type of encore life you’d like to live. “Packing for Retirement” is an accessible/no-risk way to get a head start, and I strongly recommend it.

I found this book to be really helpful when my husband and I started to plan for retirement. It is so easy to understand for a couple that is just beginning to look for retirement help. It really gave us a road map to plan for our future. We still have 10-15 years before we retire, but I feel so much more prepared after reading this book. I highly recommend this for any age!!

Even though I retired several years ago, I was amazed that there were topics in Packing for Retirement which were new to me, especially due to new life events. For example, we have our first grandchild coming. Sure, we can get cute clothes and things for the nursery, but what about his future? We know, coming up short on our retirement, that you cannot start saving too soon. And many times, parents cannot afford to do more than think about it! So, bring in the grandparents! And even though we cannot contribute a lot, left in a good investment for many years, it will grow enough to make a difference in his life. Which investment? Read Chapter 9 for descriptions and then call Jim to discuss it and set it up!

This well-written book breaks down the various facets associated with planning for retirement. What I especially appreciate is how Jim Flanagan uses real life stories to help the reader relate to the often confusing questions that surround retirement. The check-lists and templates are also very helpful in assessing and understanding how I view my finances and preparing for my future. Something I have tended not to prepare for and have often avoided! Planning for retirement doesn't have to be so confusing or intimidating--Thank you for this valuable and helpful resource that is helping me start now!

When I started to read this book I thought i would never finish. Who can tell me what my needs or desires would be without knowing me. Well although it's not all about me the book has a mindset that will fit most people looking for some direction towards retirement. I would read a few pages then think how it would fit into my retirement. I recommend the book for many reasons

As a mother, a widow, a newly retired teacher, and someone who has launched a second career, I have been a lucky beneficiary of Jim's advice over many years. I was nodding as I read this book, recognizing many things that we've talked about during financial planning sessions. His guidance has helped me make it through some tough storms and land in a secure place. I am so happy that others can benefit from his wisdom through this book.

To re-enforce the information originally received at Jim’s seminars at Triton College. Great reference book for our future retirement.

My family teases me about how much of a stickler I am about packing for vacations. Everyone gets a checklist, and everyone is responsible for making sure that everything on the list gets a check mark before we head out. It puts some stress on the front end, and there is usually some grumbling. But by having discipline with this simple approach, we all enjoy peace of mind once we’re on our way.That’s the same feeling that kept coming up as I read “Packing For Retirement.” At first, I picked up the book a little reluctantly. I had an attitude of “this is going to be dry, and boring, and tell me all the things that I haven’t done right or that I don’t want to do.”From the start, though, it really was a page-turner. Jim Flanagan writes in such a straightforward, clear, and personable way. Not only does he know what he’s talking about, but he has a great ability to communicate it.Every phase of life comes with a learning curve, whether it’s education, marriage, parenthood, career, you name it. This book shows how our retirement plans are impacted by all those areas of our lives, and much more.As I head into my 50s, I was encouraged to know where I am on the right track, and it was empowering to learn steps that I can take to course-correct in those areas where I may be behind or have not been as diligent.The definition of “golden years” has changed in my lifetime, and what used to be conventional wisdom is now out the window. The pace of change is so fast that it’s enough to cause someone to throw up their hands in surrender. Fortunately, the author pulls together so many pieces of this overwhelming puzzle and breaks it down into a practical, manageable “whole.”For anyone looking for a one-stop, comprehensive guide to navigating murky retirement waters, I highly recommend this as a wonderful “how to” resource that can be consulted time and again.