FINANCIAL STRAIGHT TALK

A solid overview of financial strategies for retirement.

The U.S. Census tells us that the first of some 80 million baby boomers will reach age 65 in 2011. While this has traditionally been the retirement age, economic conditions have forced many to delay the end of their working years. Nonetheless, a steady stream of books about financial planning for retirement continues to be published in an effort to prepare these boomers for their “golden years.” Mosier’s offering could be viewed as just another standard how-to book, but this short work does an admirable job of handling the topic, due in large part to the way it is written. The author, who has over 30 years of experience in financial services, knows how to distill a lot of investment talk down to the basics. She spends time discussing such key issues as the amount of risk an investor can tolerate and the need to diversify. Ordinarily, this would be financial advice available anywhere, but Mosier serves it up authoritatively, combining a serious explanation with a light touch of informality to achieve the right balance. She also includes just enough statistics to support the text. Similarly, Mosier covers the three major investment vehicles—equities, fixed-income and cash—in clear, simple language. Mosier includes chapters on mutual funds, asset allocation and global investing—an area of particular importance these days. She addresses other financial life needs that one must consider, such as funding a child’s college education. Finally, Mosier advises readers to make use of the investment research firm Morningstar, and to seriously think about consulting with a financial planner. She closes the book with a Resources section that helpfully includes both online and offline sources of information (for those not comfortable navigating the Internet) and a handy glossary.

As an abbreviated guide, Mosier’s work won’t replace a more comprehensive discussion of the necessary financial preparations for retirement, but it’s an excellent starting point.