cover image Social Insecurity: The Crisis in America's Social Security System and How to Plan Now for Your Own Financial Survival

Social Insecurity: The Crisis in America's Social Security System and How to Plan Now for Your Own Financial Survival

Dorcas Hardy. Villard Books, $16 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-679-40290-9

Former Social Security commissioner Hardy and her father, financial adviser Colburn, here allege that unless a national retirement policy that retains Social Security as a base is adopted soon, the resources of a weakened and wounded Social Security will be exhausted by 2010. Having sounded the alarm, the authors offer suggestions on how to calculate and provide for post-retirement income needs, advising on tax strategies, IRAs, pensions, annuities and other profitable, safe investments. They also strongly urge that the private sector--and individuals at their own initiative--assume more responsibility, including promotion of a later retirement age and greater private savings, to provide for an increasingly longer lifespan and lower worker-retiree ratio. Addressed to both present and future retirees, this guide is succinct yet comprehensive. Author tour. (Jan.)