RETIRE RICH!

Planning a Secure Financial FutureA narrowly focused guide from an attorney who's far more knowledgeable about the legislative wrinkles than the investment exigencies of retirement planning. Following an obligatory swipe at the Social Security System (""a giant chain letter"") and an overview of benefits available under employer pension programs, Morse zeroes in on plans encouraged by Federal law. In the context of tax reform, he offers first-rate rundowns on corporate as welt as self-directed possibilities, e.g., IRAs, Keoghs, and 401(k)s. Covered as well are the ins and outs of eligibility requirements, administration, rollovers, IRS reporting, penalties for early withdrawal, and related matters. When he turns his attention to investment, insurance, and home ownership, however, Morse makes some errors of omission and commission. As a practical matter, his reviews of life policies and fixed vs. adjustable-rate mortgages are too sketchy to be useful in today's fast-moving marketplace. More serious are the author's lapses on the merchandise available on Wall Street. By way of example, he seems to believe only two agencies--neither of which is Ginnie Mae--are the main sources of mortgage-backed securities and that preferred constitutes debt rather than equity. Informative on the nuts and bolts of retirement vehicles, but less than reliable on how to make the best use of them.