Recently added articles from Kiplinger's Retirement Planning Guide:

From the editor.(Editorial)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... AMERICA IS ON THE CUSP OF AN AGING REVOLUTION. AS 78 MILLION BABY-BOOMERS march toward retirement over the next two decades, they will redefine what it means to grow older in America. Everyone will be affected, from the workers who pay Social Security taxes to retirees faced with frozen ...

Retirement savings made easy: three simple steps to amass a fortune and put you on the road to sweet success.(THE BIG PICTURE)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SAVING FOR RETIREMENT JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT simpler so--simple, in fact, that in the near future about the only thing you'll have to do to keep your retirement saving on track is show up for work. But there's one big difference from the old days, when many ...

Make your money last forever: a step-by-step guide to how much you need to save and how to make it last a lifetime.(THE BIG PICTURE)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IF, LIKE MICHELE SABATIER, YOU COUNT yourself among the more than 40 million baby-boomers who are 50 or older, the next five to 15 years will be critical to your financial future. That's when you'll need to top off your retirement savings, refine your ...

A late bloomer's guide to saving: there's plenty of time to catch up with these surefire strategies.(THE BIG PICTURE)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... BABY-BOOMERS CLOSING IN ON RETIREMENT WITH nest eggs that are a few zeroes shy of their goal know what John Lennon meant when he wrote, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." As the vanguard of the 78-million-strong generation turns 61 this year--one year away from ...

Build your perfect retirement portfolio: use these guidelines to diversify your investments, reduce your risk and meet your savings goals.(THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS)

Sep 22, 2007; Marquardt, Katy ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD HOBBY, YOU probably think of typical pastimes, such as photography, gardening and tennis. Not Jeff Blades. The St. Louis resident would rather spend his free time training for the ultimate challenge: Iron Distance triathlons. These ...

The easy way to keep your savings on target: you can put your portfolio on autopilot with a single fund--and then relax.(THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS)

Sep 22, 2007; Smith, Anne Kates ... LISA McISAAC SPENDS HER DAYS WORKING HER way up in the finance department of a private investment company in Boston, her nights getting together with friends, and her spare time running, playing sports and thinking about pursuing an MBA. So although McIsaac, 27, knows the benefits of ...

Increase your cash flow: today's best interest and dividend investments aren't bonds.(THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS)

Sep 22, 2007; Kosnett, Jeffrey R. ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN SEARCHING FOR EXTRA INVESTMENT income, it's reassuring to know that something always works well. When, as now, interest rates are up and there's talk of increased inflation, the timing is wrong for traditional income investments, such as Treasury ...

In search of good advice: regardless of your income level or financial goals, there's an adviser out there for you.(THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS)

Sep 22, 2007; Kosnett, Jeffrey R. ... THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD: do-it-yourselfers and those who rely on experts for help. Most people swing back and forth between the two camps, depending on the subject matter, time constraints and discretionary income. If, for example, you enjoy fine-tuning your car's engine ...

Create a pension backup plan: the benefits you've earned so far are safe, but future benefits could disappear. Are you prepared?(RETIREMENT INCOME)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AFTER 22 YEARS WITH FORD MOTOR CO., HANK Neumayer is thankful that he is covered by his company's pension plan and hopes his job--and his benefits--will last for another eight years, when he'll qualify for early retirement. But he's not counting on it ....

Write your own paycheck for life: immediate annuities can turn your years of retirement savings into a stream of income that you can't outlive.(RETIREMENT INCOME)

Sep 22, 2007; Lankford, Kimberly ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE OF THE BIGGEST RISKS IN RETIREMENT IS living too long. Even if you carefully calculate how much money you can withdraw from your nest egg every year, you could end up running short. Buying an immediate annuity is one of the few ways you can guarantee ...

Act II: retire to a new career: a mid-career switch can recharge your batteries and bring balance to your life.(RETIREMENT INCOME)

Sep 22, 2007; Elmer, Vickie ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALTHOUGH NEARLY 8,000 AMERICANS ARE turning 60 every day, the specter of a soon-to-be-decimated workforce is receding. That's because many people are choosing to accelerate their retirement from their primary careers, only to return to work in the role of ...

Your best tax-free move: the Roth 401(k) is the latest strategy in the campaign against financial insecurity.(RETIREMENT INCOME)

Sep 22, 2007; McCormally, Kevin ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WORKERS HAVE SO MANY DECISIONS TO MAKE when it comes to saving for retirement, some investment pros worry that analysis paralysis could condemn us to doing nothing. If you're susceptible to such foolishness, skip this story. It's about yet another ...

Four costly retirement mistakes that you can't afford to make.(WHEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN)

Sep 22, 2007; Franklin, Mary Beth ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CRUCIAL decisions about retirement payouts, you don't get a second chance. Instead of checking off boxes and signing forms on the way to your retirement party, take time to weigh your options. Making mistakes can be very expensive ....

Insurance for the long haul: elder-care responsibilities spur boomers' interest in long-term-care insurance.(A HEALTHY RETIREMENT)

Sep 22, 2007; Lankford, Kimberly ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST--AND OFTEN HARSHEST--teacher. As more and more baby-boomers find themselves caring for elderly parents, many are developing a new appreciation for long-term-care insurance. Nancy and Ken Holm count themselves among the converted. ...

Unlock the secrets of the Medicare code: learn the rules and timetables to get the most out of your government-subsidized health insurance.(A HEALTHY RETIREMENT)

Sep 22, 2007; Lankford, Kimberly ... IF YOU'RE CELEBRATING YOUR 65TH BIRTHDAY within the next few years, you're entitled to a valuable gift from Uncle Sam: Medicare coverage. While the Medicare & You handbook that serves as your initiation into the 43-million-strong community may not be as thrilling as the Da Vinci Code, the ...

Tune-ups for bionic boomers: you're working hard to stay fit--and that hurts. But new treatments can revitalize aging joints.(A HEALTHY RETIREMENT)

Sep 22, 2007; Clark, Jane Bennett ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TO WATCH CATHE FRIEDRICH CONDUCT A WORKOUT program, you'd think her knees run on high-voltage batteries. "Kick and back, kick and back! Now do it again!" says Friedrich to the equally energetic class. Friedrich, a fitness instructor who also makes exercise ...

Healthy savings for now, and later: tax-free health savings accounts can ease the burden of medical costs in retirement.(A HEALTHY RETIREMENT)

Sep 22, 2007; Anderson, Thomas M. ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHETHER YOU'RE CONTEMPLATING AN EARLY retirement or have a more traditional timetable in mind, you need to think about how you will pay for health care once you leave your job. Health-care costs are one of the biggest expenses you will face in retirement, ...

Attractions of a college town: there's something about living near a campus that stimulates the mind and spirit.(LIVING WELL)

Sep 22, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NOTHING MATCHES THE VIBE OF A COLLEGE TOWN. Universities throw off an energy that infuses their communities with culture, creativity and a love of learning. No wonder such places draw so many retirees, Living in a college town can be a smart financial ...

The lure of living south of the border: tropical weather, bargain prices and a slower pace of life attract retirees to Latin America.(LIVING WELL)

Sep 22, 2007; Povich, Elaine S. ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] THE FIRST TIME DWIGHT FORD VISITED PANAMA City two years ago, he was in for a big surprise. "I thought I would see guys pulling banana carts" he recalls. Instead, he found a thriving capital city and international banking center. "The value was staring me ...

Find your dream home: take your time--and do some research--as you search for your future retirement home.(LIVING WELL)

Sep 22, 2007; Goldberg, Steven T. ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IF RAPIDLY RISING REAL ESTATE PRICES HAD discouraged you from entering the second-home market, take heart. The recent cooling of once-hot markets, particularly in resort areas, could be your ticket to a vacation home or a future retirement home. ...