Developing an understanding of your retirement plan options can be simple and painless. and it shouldn't take hours of reading. In IRA and 401(k) Investing, you will find legal, financial, and common sense information organized into clear, simple explanations that help you make sense of the crucial details. This book addresses all of the current rules and discusses the latest changes affecting them. smart tips help you avoid pitfalls and select the retirement plan that's right for you. Increased interest in do-it-yourself money management is a defining trend of our modern world, and the DK Essential Finance series provides the perfect personal finance library to help take advantage of this phenomenon. These outstanding guides provide a practical and impartial resource to guide you through important financial decisions. Useful questionnaires pinpoint one's financial status while easy-to-use charts and graphs help track cash flow, cut through the complexities of financial lingo, and gain the confidence needed to build real financial security. Readers can learn to invest online, live debt free, plan for retirement, or pay for a child's education.

About the Author
Dallas Salisbury has been a student and teacher of finance and retirement planning for over thirty years. Since 1978 he has headed the Employee Benefit Research Institute (ebri.org), and is also chairman of the American Savings Education council. A frequent author and speaker, Salisbury has authored or edited over 250 books and articles and has made over 2,500 keynote presentations around the world.

Marc Robinson is co-founder of moneytours.com, has written many personal finance books, including The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money and Markets, and has provided marketing consulting to top Wall Street firms for over 15 years.

How do retirement plans work?

Reviewer: The Rebecca Review.com (see more about me) from Washington State

Saving money for retirement is not always easy, knowing where to put your money is perhaps complex with so many options. Depending on your situation, you can choose a plan with various tax consequences. Understanding the options is the first step towards a financially secure retirement.

This step-by-step guide will bring more understanding to the question of how to build a nest egg. The important principles of retirement plan investing are set out in a uncomplicated way. There are practical explanations to help you make sense of the legal and financial restrictions and opportunities. Charts show a visual representation of where you stand now and explain how you can reach your goals.

Will Social Security be enough to live on? According to the American Association of Retired Persons, Social Security benefits will replace 43% of the income you earn during the year before you retire. This income will also not protect you against inflation, so it is wise to plan for your own future.

Did you know there is a way to withdraw money from an IRA without penalty before you officially retire? See page 18. You might also want to consider an education IRA which is not a retirement account, but a vehicle to help pay for a grandchild's education. This handy book shows if you are eligible and what the contribution limits are.

While the information on taxes is comprehensive, you will still want to consult with a professional before making any final decisions. Some of the tax laws might have changed slightly from this edition but overall, the information will make you more aware of the choices you should consider to make the most of your money.