By Bill Jamieson

When many of us think about our retirement years, the problems facing us are unique. We have become used to a lifestyle that is wildly extravagant compared to that of only a generation ago. Houses are bigger, cars are faster, entertainment includes a vast variety of dining out , shopping, exotic holidays and designer clothing.

Amidst this, there has been a sea change in family structures. Parents are older and still paying for their children's education when in their late 40s and 50s; this situation is exacerbated by the highly competitive nature of modern eduction with many parents feeling they need to send their child to the best schools and universities.

The most terrifying aspect of all this spending is that much of it has been funded by debt. Credit card borrowing, house mortgages and personal loans have never been higher. Little heed is paid to the obvious corollary that debt incurred today is postponing, or precluding, expenditure in the future. Retirement then becomes an area fraught with danger - even penury - for those who have ignored the economic signs and have neglected to take a longer term view of their lives and ambitions.

In this book, the author traverses the whole gamut of retirement, from life expectancy, to investment strategy, health matters, home computers, and even the normally taboo subjects of sex and impending death.

About the author
Bill Jamieson is the author of several best-selling financial books/ He is a retired accountant who worked in the steel industry and for a major trading bank. His articles have appeared in the National business Review, the NZ Listener and Personal Investor. Having discovered the secrets of successful retirement himself, he now wants to share his experience and knowledge with others.

Published: May 08