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Calculating your Post-retirement Income, Post-haste By Robert Valentine  "Time waits for no man" Ancient Proverb
That ancient quote is a great reminder how important it is to start planning for your retirement. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, retirement is creeping up on us. Even for those who have just started their career, retirement planning is essential to providing a secure future for themselves and their loved ones. But that doesn't mean we're defenseless against time. In fact, with the proper planning, life after work can be the most rewarding years of your life.
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10 Things Every Taxpayer Needs to Know About the Pension Law By Maggie Beetz
 The Pension Protection Act, signed into law on August 17, 2006, is designed to address the nation-wide problem of under-funded pension plans. The law penalizes noncompliant companies and encourages employee contributions, but many of the changes directly impact taxpayers of all ages, regardless of retirement status.
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Retirees at Greater Risk From Inflation
By Tim Robbins
 Social Security benefits continue to fall short year after year putting retirees at greater risk from inflation, while a disproportionate percentage of their income is spent on soaring medical costs. A record number of retirees are now turning to a reverse mortgage to supplement their income and stop pinching pennies.
In 2008, 48 million Americans age 65 and over who depend on Social Security received a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.3 percent or, on average, an extra $24 per month. According to the Congressional Budget Office, Social Security benefits are forecast to increase just 2.8 percent in 2009.
Retail prices are up 4 percent last year with a 5.7 percent rise in food, 5.5 percent increase in home energy, and a 35 percent jump in gasoline.
Securing a Retirement Income for Life By Bill Griffith Jr. CFP
- Book Review
 How much you need to finance your retirement depends on how well you want to live and the expected length of your retirement life. Do you want to maintain or increase your standard of living? Do you want to start a new business, provide financial help to family members or engage in a hobby or activity? How much you need to
save depends on the lifestyle you envision.
Securing a Retirement Income for Life will show you how much you need to
save to provide a retirement income for life and how to implement the best strategies for managing, and preserving your wealth. The interactive nature of this new book will show you how to go about planning to meet your retirement needs and objectives and how best to prepare for uncertainties when the future is unknown.
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How to find a lost pension By Max Tavss
 It is up to the individual worker to find his or her former pension plan.
To receive a benefit, the worker needs to contact the former employer to apply for the benefit, but this task may involve tracing back through a complicated series of corporate mergers and bankruptcies.
Employees can start by contacting the Social Security Administration to get a copy of their social security earnings record. This record will provide their former employer’s federal ID number, which may help in tracking down the plan.
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Protecting Your Pension For Dummies helps you do just that. This easy-to-follow guide explains all the latest pension laws, what your rights are, and the best ways to keep your money safe. It demystifies the various types of pension plans and outlines just what it takes to qualify for a pension. Once your plan is set up, you’ll see how to navigate company bankruptcies, mergers, and pension cutbacks, as well as divorces, loans, and personal bankruptcy—and take action if you’ve been shortchanged to recoup what is rightfully yours. You get all the expert guidance you need.
