★★★★★
A different approach to retirement planning.
Most retirement planning books have the same theme. Regardless of your station in life, you are not saving enough, so you must sacrifice more today to be able to retire later. But, these do not take into account that life is occurring all along the path to retirement, and that, unfortunately, some of us don't make it to retirement. Roger challenges everyone to look at life in a different way, a see-saw between future and current needs, and to balance those 2 sides of the equation. Evaluation along the path to retirement causes one to change course on a regular basis, but one must also take into account current needs and wants, not simply saving every dollar one can for a future that may never materialize. Furthermore, Roger also addresses the fact that many retirement planners overlook, and that is that spending in retirement is not a linear path, but rather higher in the early years (the go-go years, as he refers to them) while health is typically better, then spending behind to slow as the retiree ages. Overall, this book really helps to look at the entire path of life, and causes one to really examine priorities along the way, not just how to have as large a pile of money as possible when you retire. Really struck a chord with me, as my mother had a stroke at 48 and passed at age 59, and my father was never able to enjoy a retirement with her by his side, although all I can remember from those days is how they saved for a retirement that really never materialized.
George