How to Make Your Money Last

Starred review from November 2, 2015
Veteran financial writer Quinn (Making the Most of Your Money Now) delivers another winner with this guide. Quinn begins with a practical suggestion: “Retirement challenges us like nothing else... You need an action plan.” And this book certainly provides the plan. Quinn includes a quick overview of the five stages of retirement, then tailors information for five distinct types of readers: married, remarried, single, widowed, and divorced. Throughout, Quinn’s tone is as reassuring as her words, which remind readers to “talk, talk, talk,” take a deep breath, and, occasionally, say an emphatic no. She guides readers through decisions about Social Security benefits, pensions, annuities, and nest egg withdrawal rates. The book also covers housing, health, and insurance considerations. Whether readers are determined to make investments on their own or want to delegate, Quinn includes specific and clear guidelines. The book’s reassuring summary chapter, “Just Tell Me What to Do,” is an invaluable reference for its brevity and helpful directions to relevant chapters and pages. Concluding on an upbeat note, Quinn describes retirement as a time when “we let go of who we were and discover who we’ve become.” This book is certain to be a hugely valuable resource for readers, wherever they are on their personal financial timeline.