The Procrastinator's Guide to Financial Security

For the burgeoning number of baby boomers, retirement is barreling full-steam ahead. And for many of them, having spent their lives focused more on consumption than on saving and investing, the future is looking pretty meager.

According to a recent study by the AARP, the average boomer's net worth is less than $50,000--far less than a person needs to retire comfortably. The good news, though, is that it's not too late to rectify the situation.

The Procrastinator's Guide to Financial Security supplies a crash course in the fundamentals of money management. In a clear, straightforward way--but with a tone that stresses the urgency of the situation--the book helps readers develop the knowledge, skills, and discipline they need to secure a comfortable retirement. They'll find sound advice and step-by-step strategies on how to:

* Curb their impulse spending and get out of debt
* Set up a financial plan and stick to their budget
* Estimate the annual income they need to retire and use IRAs and salary deferral programs to reach that goal
* Make savvy financial decisions concerning life insurance, refinancing a home, and saving for college tuition
* Develop a personal investment philosophy
* Practice smart investment strategies designed to increase wealth--plus much more.

David F. Teitelbaum (Washington, D.C.) is a financial planner and an economist with the federal government. He writes frequent articles on personal finance for various Washington-area publications and has appeared on local radio shows to discuss the topic.