Right now, the last thing most investors are worried about is inflation. The price of almost everything, from real estate to stocks to mutual funds, is going down. If you want to get more for your money, all you have to do is sit back and wait until even better bargains come along. In other words, we are experiencing deflation. There are, however, indications that this situation may be short-lived, and that inflation may soon once again rear its ugly head.
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We all need life insurance to protect our families should the unthinkable happen. The most economical way to do this is to purchase an inexpensive term policy. While such a policy provides the necessary death benefit, it doesn’t help with your retirement planning.

There is, however, a type of policy that can. It’s called “universal life.”
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Especially in these uncertain times, future retirees are seeking maximum safety for their retirement nest eggs. Bank certificates of deposit (CDs), government bonds, and top-quality corporate bonds are traditional safe investments. Assuming you want to invest in them, how can you maximize return on investment without incurring risk, or being forced to “bet” on whether interest rates are going to rise or fall?

An ideal way to accomplish this is by using an investment strategy known as laddering. Basically, laddering is the process of spreading out different time frames (maturities) and interest rates to ensure that your overall portfolio has the desired average maturity and interest rate.
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Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably:
The Baby-Boom Retirement Crisis and How To Beat It
by Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth
Copyright 2005
New Beginnings Press
ISBN 1-4019-0318-5
Available from any bookstore, Amazon, or the websites mentioned in this article.

Why Buy This Book

Most books written for a consumer audience about investing and saving for retirement read like manuals written by MBA candidates. They simply aren’t accessible for the average reader who doesn’t want a lot of esoteric financial info that shows how smart the author is. Too often, the content is boring so the book ends up on the bedside table each night because you fell asleep reading.

Readers interested in retirement, and that’s most card-carrying members of the Baby Boom Generation, just want to know one thing: how can I afford to retire?

This book shows you the way.
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If you’re moving to a new employer, you may be wondering how you can secure the retirement savings you’ve accumulated.

While specifics differ among companies, the most commonly offered retirement plan is the 401(k). In case you’re not aware of how it works, the 401(k) allows you to invest directly from your gross income without any tax deductions. Your money grows and compounds tax-deferred until you’re ready to retire. When you change jobs, it is important for you to understand your options.
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