A 6-Step Guide to Figuring Out When You Can Afford to Retire

How do you know when you can afford to retire? The best answer: when you've done the math and the numbers work out. The trouble is, most people just guess at how much money they need to retire -- and they usually guess way too low. Here's a six-step plan to do it right.

This is the final step in my series, 12 Weeks to Plan Your Retirement.  

Please continue reading for this month's selections of helpful blog posts and articles on retirement.

The Secret Formula That Will Make, or Break, Your Retirement 

When it comes to making their retirement work, managing their living expenses is the most common financial technique people use, according to a recent survey from the Society of Actuaries. Read here for planning tips to reduce your living expenses so you can afford to retire.

Learning how to manage your retirement living expenses is the eighth step in my series, 12 Weeks to Plan Your Retirement. 

If you're planning early retirement before age 65, the eligibility age for Medicare, you'll need to be persistent and creative to obtain medical insurance, which is critical in your later years. Here are four conventional ways, plus five more that are more offbeat and creative.

Learning how to find health insurance before age 65 is the first half of the tenth step in my series, 12 Weeks to Plan Your Retirement.  

There are a lot of details you need to know regarding Medicare and medical insurance after age 65. It will take a lot of time in order to do your homework right, but it's well worth the effort -- you'll save a lot of money and heartache when you eventually need medical services. Read here for a step-by-step approach.

Learning how to find health insurance before age 65 is the second half of the tenth step in my series, 12 Weeks to Plan Your Retirement.   

Just a quick note: This is a multi-page blog post - please be sure to click through to read all the pages.

Jason Zweig recently wrote a Wall Street Journal column on the trickery of using the S&P 500 index as a benchmark that's easy to beat. This was great journalism! Here's the rest of the story from fellow CBS MoneyWatch blogger Allan Roth.

Advisor fee-only investment models usually charge clients a percentage of their assets, which is far from conflict-free. The very rare hourly model for financial advice isn't perfect either, but it does offer some advantages. Read this excellent summary of the pros and cons of different approaches to receiving financial advice from fellow CBS MoneyWatch blogger Allan Roth.

Is it a good idea to start your Social Security benefits as early as possible (age 62), even if you don't need the money to meet your living expenses, and then invest this income? It depends on a number of factors, but it boils down to this: Do ya feel lucky? Read here for details.

Many boomers are approaching their retirement years with little or no savings, and they're wondering how they'll make it in retirement. More widowed and divorced women than men are finding themselves in this tight spot. Would you be surprised to learn that a 25-year-old TV show might show us one example of how to make it in the 21st Century? Read here for ideas and inspiration.