Are you on the lookout for retirement planning books? Learning through experience is valuable, but retirement should not be one of the things left to chance.
Instead of postponing financial and lifestyle considerations until retirement, it is advisable to plan proactively well in advance. Consider consulting the best retirement planning books for guidance. Read on to see the best retirement books.
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The 14 Best Retirement Books to Read
1. “The Smartest Retirement Book You’ll Ever Read” by Daniel R. Solin
This extensive retirement planning manual provides readers with a clear and pragmatic strategy to attain financial stability during retirement. The author also imparts practical guidance on customizing a retirement plan based on individual objectives and situations.
Solin promotes a retirement planning method centered around low-cost index funds and other economic investment alternatives. He aims to assist readers in optimizing returns and reducing fees, ultimately leading to a more substantial retirement fund.
2. “The Five Years Before You Retire” by Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken’s “The Five Years Before You Retire” is a pragmatic and informative handbook that guides individuals through the crucial five-year period before retirement. It provides a step-by-step plan crafted by the financial expert and retirement coach to help readers attain financial security and approach retirement with assurance.
Birken recognizes that retirement is not only a financial decision but also an emotional one. She gives practical advice about preparing emotionally for retirement, like finding a new purpose and staying engaged in the community.
3. “How to Make Your Money Last” by Jane Bryant Quinn
“How to Make Your Money Last” offers practical advice on managing expenses, minimizing taxes, and creating a diversified portfolio to generate income throughout retirement. Quinn acknowledges that retirement involves both financial and emotional considerations. She provides practical guidance on preparing emotionally for retirement, including insights on discovering a new sense of purpose and staying actively engaged in the community. She also covers essential topics such as collecting Social Security benefits, annuities, and long-term care.
4. “The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+” by Suze Orman
Released in 2020, Suze Orman’s “The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+” is her most recent publication. It is tailored for individuals aged 50 and above seeking assistance in assembling and integrating the various components of their retirement plan. In the book, she also provides practical advice on creating a retirement plan tailored to individual goals and circumstances.
5. “The New Rules of Retirement: Strategies for a Secure Future” by Robert C. Carlson
This is among the best retirement planning books because of the proven strategies it provides. Carlson shares the latest and proven techniques that help people create a brighter outlook for their retirement years. It stresses that retirement is considered a new phase of life, not the sunset.
6. “How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free” by Ernie J. Zelinski
Are you in need of a more lighthearted read from this list of retirement planning books? “How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free” has an easy-to-read format, lively cartoons, and captivating quotations, making it a friendly read for anyone.
Like most of the authors in this list, Zelinski suggests retirement can represent a fresh start, offering the opportunity to explore previously unexplored facets of life due to time constraints. The author emphasizes that deriving fulfillment from an active and satisfying retirement goes beyond just having sufficient financial resources.
7. “The Complete Cardinal Guide to Planning for and Living in Retirement” by Hans Scheil
Navigating the financial challenges of retirement can be daunting. That’s why many retirement books focus on guiding you on handling finances post-retirement. This guide provides the necessary tools to comprehend how to make informed decisions for individuals after retirement, offering insight into effective retirement options. Furthermore, it details easy and efficient strategies that, with professional assistance, can contribute to a financially successful retirement.
8. “The Truth about Retirement Plans and IRAs” by Ric Edelman
This is one of some retirement books that cater to readers across various age brackets. It emphasizes the importance of saving for newcomers to the workforce, provides guidance on ideal investment amounts for mid-career individuals, and takes advantage of relevant investment choices and tax regulations. For readers in or nearing retirement, this book provides insights into structuring their retirement savings to generate income throughout their present and future years.
9. “How To Retire With Enough Money: And How to Know What Enough Is” by Teresa Ghilarducci
Employees often grapple to determine their ideal retirement savings, and “How To Retire With Enough Money” succinctly addresses this concern. Ghilarducci, offering an economist’s perspective, outlines the necessary amount for Americans to live comfortably during retirement, covering aspects such as savings, investment strategies, and debt management.
This short and easy-to-understand book offers quick tips on saving. It includes a memorable quote emphasizing the importance of having eight times your annual salary in retirement accounts to maintain a similar lifestyle after retirement.
10. “Keys to a Successful Retirement: Staying Happy, Active, and Productive in Your Retired Years” by Fritz Gilbert
By comparing retirement planning to baking a cake, Gilbert underscores the significance of formulating a “recipe” for retirement. Beyond financial aspects, he delves into post-retirement considerations, including maintaining physical fitness, managing free time, and addressing mental health concerns.
At the heart of his guidance is the emphasis on discovering purpose after concluding one’s career. Gilbert’s guide provides a roadmap for finding meaning and joy in life beyond one’s professional endeavors.
11. “Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating the Important Decisions for Retirement Success (The Retirement Researcher Guide Series)” by Wade D. Pfau
This is one of the most detailed and best retirement books because it informs its audience on almost every aspect of retirement, from investments to insurance. Pfau recognizes that different retirees will have varying retirement income sources. He provides suggestions to help readers find their style and develop a retirement plan that fits their requirements. Pfau defines many essential terms and breaks down complicated topics into digestible pieces.
12. “What Will I Do All Day?: Wisdom to Get You Over Retirement and On With Living!” by Patrice Jenkins
In her role as a counselor, Jenkins identified a trend where individuals continue working well beyond their retirement eligibility. Upon interviewing these workers, she found out that their main concern was wanting to feel a sense of purpose.
Those delaying retirement were anxious about losing meaning and direction in life. Jenkins’s guide acknowledges these concerns associated with retiring and provides insights on how to navigate and overcome them.
13. “Early Retirement Extreme: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Financial Independence” by Jacob Lund Fisker
Blending his journey towards early retirement with philosophical reflections on contemporary workers, Fisker embarked on his route to financial freedom at 30 and achieved his objective by age 33. His concepts center on challenging consumerism and cutting unnecessary expenditures as he formulates a distinctive financial philosophy that challenges conventional financial norms. This book proves invaluable for those seeking an accelerated path to retirement.
14. “Every Day Is Saturday: Sleeping Late, Playing With the Grandchildren, Surviving the Quarantine, and Other Joys of Retirement” by Jerry Zezima
“Every Day Is Saturday” chronicles the initial phase of humor columnist Jerry Zezima’s retirement, offering a humorous account of his everyday experiences. The book provides entertaining narratives about Zezima’s grandchildren, marital life, and home improvement endeavors. Despite addressing weighty subjects, Zezima employs a lighthearted tone and self-deprecating humor, making it a must-read for those seeking a hilariously relatable slice-of-life perspective.
The Bottomline on Retirement Books
Did you find what you need on this list of retirement planning books? Embarking on retirement marks a thrilling yet challenging journey. While retirees enjoy newfound free time, finding fulfilling pursuits becomes of great importance.
Amidst the wealth of available information, reading the best retirement planning books proves instrumental in guiding individuals to make informed and thoughtful decisions, facilitating the planning of a secure and fulfilling future.
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Tammy Danan
Tammy is a journalist and creative content writer with over 10 years of experience. Driven by curiosity, her work explores how digital marketing, SaaS, and varied creative pursuits intersect with everyday life.She focuses on creative storytelling and tackles how the search for a more meaningful life is changing the way we work.Tammy will meow at all stray cats, and won't start the day without an iced Spanish latte.