The Retirement Myth

This is a wonderful book to read if you want to think through all the issues regarding the "credit and leverage bubble" of 2007 and how they will affect your life now and your entire future. No one else has laid out the issues better than Mr. Karpel. Mr. Karpel expected the retirement crisis would be brought on by demographics and the aging of the baby boomers. Instead this demographic crisis has been combined with the toxic "credit crisis of 2007". We have the regulators and the Federal Reserve to thank for ruining the entire world's future due to their greed! Yes, our future has been destroyed. Obama's only idea now is to reflate with taxpayer monies! That is not a plan for anyone's future except the futures of those who caused the problem in the first place. It is a plan to make asset prices higher so the Wall Street crew and our creditors can sell into the bear market rallies. It will do nothing for workers, their IRA's or 401(k's) as many corporations no longer contribute to their retirement plans and most have had their wages reduced. Stocks, bonds and real estate have all collapsed as of Dec. 31, 2008 worldwide. Cash was the safest place to be in 2008. Now what's next? Read this book and you will discover many issues you need to consider for what's left of your life and your future.

This was a great book for me. Most Americans will never consider demographics because they have no reason too. I believe the changing demographics of the United States will make us more tribal and will mean the end of the United States as we know it by 2030-2035. This statement would make a lot of Americans mad, but it's not my intent to make people mad, It is only what I think. I love my country and don't want to see it break apart but because of global aging and demographics there will be a melt down in Medicare, Social Security, Pensions will melt away and declining natural resources will make us crazy with insecurity. I think there is a term, "A Bad Steady State" which means bad things can happen to good countries. I don't agree with the Author's warm and fuzzy ideas of how to fix things. I don't think it will turn out good. Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.

The Retirement Myth is a good book. The silver bullet theory is a real eye opener. By the way, this book can be used by all generations of people. Mr Karpel does a good job in incorporating much data into his book. He does a great job dissecting the three legged stool and says we need to incorporate a fourth leg. A j-o-b. Some points in his book are debatable such as employers providing resources to "old" people so they do not become "outdated". Clearly it is the responsibility of each individual to continually add to their skills. Alas, Mr. Karpel then proceeds to indicate the stock market as the future for investment income. This is ironic because he states how the "market" will be affected by the baby-boomers. He should have asked for a co-author for ideas on how to sure up income for the future. A great book for that is Richest Man in Babylon. Mr. Karpel does get his point across about retirement being a myth. Now one must continue to read to learn more on how to prepare for the future.

I have read this book three times and taken detailed notes. After 11 years it is still the best book about the impending Boomer retirement crisis and how to prepare. Very well written and funny. This book is an absolute must read regardless of your age.

For sure when baby-boomers really find out they do not have enough money in their retirement funds, they can always blow their brains out !!I think S. Kerpel`s book is a must read for all those operating in the "E" quadrant