Monday, September 18, 2006


Retirement Paradise



CNNMoney.com reports its 2006 picks for "best places to retire." Geographic lovelies such as Walla Walla, Washington and St. Simons Island, Georgia top the list. If your tastes run counter to editorial wisdom, you can find the best locale by clicking on favored attributes such as climate, job growth, commuting time and cultural activities and then pressing the Search button.

While I'm the first to say "have at it" and "enjoy", it strikes me that dreams of a halcyon retirement, especially one at a relatively young age, are simply not a reality for most folks.

Consider some recent headlines and ask yourself - "How ready am I?"

"Ford Offering 75,000 Employees Buyout Packages"
(New York Times, September 14, 2006)

"DuPont to cut pension contributions by two-thirds"
(CNNMoney.com, August 28, 2006)

"Tenneco Freezes Pension Plan"
(CFO.com, August 23, 2006)

If hammocks, hobbies and fun trips with friends await you, congratulations on a job well done with respect to planning.

Everyone else?

Working during the golden years may be unavoidable. Is there hope of catching up? Well, that depends on many things, not the least of which is how much time remains until the paycheck stops coming on a regular basis.

If you aren't saving yet, start giving it some thought right away.
posted by Susan Mangiero at 9/18/2006 12:02:00 AM