UP THE FINANCIAL LADDER IN A DOWNWARDLY MOBILE SOCIETY

An unfocused aggregation of financial-planning information by the personal finance columnist of TWA's Ambassador magazine. If the book's for anyone, moreover, it's for persons at least halfway up the financial ladder (and only vaguely ""in a downwardly mobile society""). The first hundred pages or so are occupied with preparing worksheets for one-, two-, ten-year, and retirement goals--""based on your ambitions and your current net-worth statement. "" (Interspersed are various inspirational/admonitory sub-topics: the general benefits of budgeting, the value of continuous career planning, the need for basic legal documents, etc.) The remaining 200 pages have mainly to do with finding and using a capable insurance agent, lawyer, tax adviser/accountant, banker, stockbroker, and financial planner, in that irregular order. This is highly discursive material, and sometimes highly generalized too--but it also embodies a personalized approach that's probably its chief attraction. I.e., be honest with prospective advisers about your needs; ask them about their other clients (can you check references?); determine if their operating procedures mesh with your ideas of ethics, etc. Browsable reading matter for the near-affluent (that worksheet regimen apart)--but no substitute for specialized guides on the fringe specialities like lawyering and insurance.