Further Resources

"Running a portfolio isn't any more complicated than running a household," says financial planner Deborah Thomas. But let's face it, we all need help sometimes to keep our homes running smoothly.

A variety of resources is available to help you plan your retirement and manage your money.

Books:

Personal Finance for Dummies
by Eric Tyson (IDG Books, $19.99)

Making the Most of Your Money
by Jane Bryant Quinn (Simon & Schuster, $30)

Magazines:

Kiplinger's Personal Finance
$19.95 for a 1-year subscription of 12 issues.
(800) 544-0155

Money
$39.89 for a 1-year subscription of 13 issues.
(Subscription cards inside the magazine often offer
the same package for $19.99).
(800) 633-9970

Worth
$18 for a 1-year subscription of 10 issues.
(800) 727-9098

Seminars:

Call your local community college or American Association of Retired Persons chapter.

Computer Programs:

Quicken Financial Planner
(Intuit, $39.95).
(800) 446-8848

Retirement Planner Software
(The Vanguard Group, $18, includes shipping).
(800) 999-1529

Professionals:

Consumer guides overwhelmingly recommend that you hire a planner who is "fee-only," which means that you pay him or her by the hour.

You can get a list of credentialed fee-only planners in your area by contacting the non-profit National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), an organization of fee-only planners, online or toll-free at (888) 333-6659.

Personal Information:

You can get the details on your pension from your benefits office. An estimate of your Social Security benefits is available from the Social Security Administration by calling (800) 772-1213 and asking for a request form for your "Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement."