Step 1: How to Retire In Style Human beings, it is said, are distinguished from other species by our ability to think ahead and to plan ahead. That may be true. It is also true, though, that most of us have great trouble thinking about the long term and preparing for it. We are too caught up in the daily activities of life. So, how on earth are we supposed to be able to think about something in the distant future like retirement?

Thinking in advance, though, and acting on those thoughts, are keys to being ready for the future when it turns into the present. The younger you are, the more distant is retirement, and the more power you have at your fingertips in the form of compound returns over time. It is a paradox that you can work to your advantage.

This section will help to answer the important questions that come up when you start to think about retirement. How much will I need for my retirement in order to live comfortably? What are my goals? When should I start? What should I do? How much can I count on from Social Security? What costs might I run into once I have actually retired?

These are the questions that we all need to ask; questions that we often wait too long to ask; questions that surface dimly on occasion, in a remote and dusty corner of the mind, a mind that is otherwise occupied with this minute's conversation, today's project, tonight's movie, and tomorrow's meeting.

What follows are steps that will walk you through the these questions and get you thinking about your retirement.