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The Road Ahead , by Pat Regnier, page 68

This year the oldest of the baby boomers will turn 61, just inches away from being eligible to collect their first Social Security check. Roughly 60 million more are in their late forties or fifties, the season of life when 401(k) statements suddenly become really, really interesting.  As you plan for the years ahead, you'll need to make some assumptions, and the first thing you should assume is that your investments will grow more slowly than recent performance might suggest.  That's no reason to become discouraged-there's a lot you can do to ensure that you'll thrive even when the markets disappoint.  In MONEY 's 35-page special report dedicated to boomers, you'll find plenty of practical strategies to make the second act of your life as rewarding as the first.  But first we'll answer the tough questions about where the money you'll need is going to come from.

Retirement: Not So Far Out Anymore , by Penelope Wang, page 76

Catching up on retirement savings is the biggest challenge facing baby boomers today. A study by Boston College 's Center for Retirement Research found that some 35% of early boomers (those born between 1946 and 1954) may not be able to maintain their standard of living in retirement. For those born between 1955 and 1964, that figure climbs to 44%. Says Alicia Munnell, head of the center: "For many baby boomers, time is running out."  Retirement looms closer than ever, but if you get serious now, you can still catch the magic bus.  Here's the road to start down now.

They Got Older Too , by Max Alexander and Josh Hyatt, page 84

MONEY asked boomer-era pop icons from Ron Howard, William Shatner and Cheryl Tiegs to Micky Dolenz, Barry Williams and Chaka Kahn what they learned about money in all these years.  You just might be surprised.

                Forever Young , by Patricia B. Gray, page 90

With, oh, maybe a little touch-up around the edges, you can be the 30-year-old you still think you are.  (Well, almost.) Here's what it'll cost to feel and look younger. 

Daydream Believers , by Donna Rosato and Asa Fitch, page 98

Every boomer has one of these "gotta do it before it's too late" ambitions (sometimes, unkindly, referred to as pipe dreams). Such dreams don't always come cheap. But if all that stands between you and your Act II is figuring out how to pay for it, you've come to the right place.  To prove the point, we put out a call asking readers to finish the sentence above. From the hundreds of responses we received, we selected seven boomers and set them up with a financial planner and an expert in the field of their particular dream. Read on to find out what it will take to sail the world or start a foundation or write a book. And then ask yourself two questions: What do you really want to do? And what's holding you back?

SPECIAL REPORT: Think You're Insured?  Maybe Not , by Walter Updegrave and Kate Ashford, page 110

Are insurers more hard-nosed with claims than they used to be?  Since the industry is regulated by the states, there are no national data to draw on. But the scattered state-level evidence suggests that insurers may be taking a harder line. For starters, there's the ongoing Hurricane Katrina saga, in which companies like Nationwide, State Farm and USAA debate thousands of plaintiffs on such existential issues as whether the damage to the Gulf Coast was due to flooding, which typically isn't covered, or wind, which is. In California, meanwhile, Blue Cross recently settled more than 60 cases in which policyholders claimed their coverage had been unfairly voided, and regulators slapped both Blue Cross and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan with six-figure fines for wrongful rescissions. (The carriers say they're working with state regulators to improve their practices.)  Against this contentious backdrop, it's ironic that insurers are thriving. Big public health carriers have been posting 20%-plus gains in earnings, and property/casualty companies (which cover, for example, autos and homes) are more profitable than ever.  Why do insurance companies play rough with legitimate claims?  And, more important, what can you do if it happens to you?

ALSO: The Long View, by Walter Updegrave, page 42

Insurers are pushing for a new kind of variable annuity as a source of income for life.  Hang on to your wallet.

Tip of the Month: Little Tax Breaks Everywhere , by Jeanne Sahadi, page 19

MONEY shows you how to grab the tax breaks you deserve.

PLUS : Tips to Win the March Madness Pool and Don't Miss the IRA Deadline

File a Squeaky-Clean 1040 , by Donna Rosato, page 21

Uncle Sam will be taking a closer look this year.  So no red flags, okay? 

Some 12% of people admit that they think it's acceptable to cheat on their taxes.  No wonder IRS Commissioner Mark Everson has made it his top priority to go after those who shortchange the government.  These few bad seeds can spell trouble for you, even if you play (mostly) on the right side of the rules.  An iffy deduction here or a large write-off there could get your filing flagged for a time-consuming and potentially costly audit.  Remembering these three points can help you escape IRS notice.

Confessions of an E-Mail Addict , by Jean Chatzky, page 28

One-quarter of more than 7,800 managers at big companies recently surveyed by consultancy McKinsey & Co. reported being overwhelmed by their daily communications.  And a survey last year by the Center for Work-Life Policy in New York City of people who work 60 or more hours a week in high-stress jobs found that 59% said technology lengthens-rather than shortens-their workday; 64% said it encroaches on family time.  If you're always e-mailing on the go or constantly checking your inbox at work or at home then read on.  MONEY has a five-step plan for recovering addicts. 1. Admit the Problem; 2. Repeat this mantra; 3. Tally up the cost; 4. Fight tech with tech; 5. Hide the gadgets.

The Urge to Lose Money , by Amanda Gengler, page 33

Compulsive money behavior, from gambling to shopping, hits millions-and not who you think.

Psychiatrists call compulsive gambling-like other money addictions from day-trading to compulsive shopping-a hidden addiction.  Its victims don't announce their state with telltale track marks or slurred speech, but their addiction is no less powerful than that of alcoholics or junkies.  The National Council on Problem Gambling has seen phone calls to its help lines rise by an annual rate of 10% a year for a decade, and as the Internet and legalized casinos spread access to games of chance, the addiction has spread rapidly among population groups you might least expect: college students, the elderly and women.  In short, the likelihood that someone you know has a gambling problem is on the rise.  Here are MONEY 's tips on how to help.

Reversal of Fortune: When She Makes More , by Dan Kadlec, page 36

In a quarter of households where the wife brings home a paycheck, it's the big one.  That's up from 16% of households 25 years ago.  And this trend is especially likely to build among us baby boomers: More and more women in midlife-kids grown-are dusting off their diplomas and making up for lost career time, while increasing numbers of forty- and fifty-something guys are getting hit with the effects of steady downsizing throughout the economy.  Money is a cold arbiter of power, and when a wife starts making more, both spouses may feel that the husband has somehow been demoted.  If you're dealing with a financial role reversal, MONEY has strategies that my help you.

The Cure for Shoddy Work , by Sarah Max , page 45

The dark side of the housing boom: too much subpar construction and renovation.  But you don't have to take it. 

At the peak of the recent housing boom, home buyers scooped up a million newly built homes every year while homeowners poured more than $200 billion into renovations.  But now stories of shifting soil, leaky roofs, damaged stucco and other construction defects abound.  If you've been gnashing your teeth over defects in your new or recently renovated home (and complaining to the builder hasn't solved them), it's probably cold comfort that you're not alone.  What do you do?  MONEY shows you how to evaluate the likelihood that you'll be able to get your home repaired at minimal cost, and your plan of action.

Time for an Upgrade, Dad , by Wilson Rothman, page 123

Feel like a tech dinosaur?  How to join the 21 st century (and show off to your kids) without going broke.  MONEY tells you "What You Need To Know" and "The Cool-Boomer Solution" for Wi-Fi, DVR, Digital Photos, MP3s, and Cell Phones.

PLUS

START: Scam Alert: The Concierge Con PLAN: Wave and You've Paid New contactless credit cards add speed and convenience, but what about security?  INVEST: Time to Get Your Portfolio in Balance When's the last time you adjusted your stock and bond mix?  Well, get going: It's the best way to control investment risk, and it's not as hard as it looks.  When You Wish Upon a Star A new study says Morningstar's ratings do indeed predict fund performance.  Sivy on Stocks: Most Tech Blue Chips Still Look Like Buys Despite the recent run-up, tech remains undervalued, and three stocks in the Sivy 70 are real bargains now  SPEND: Get Your Irish Up .or on the rocks.  Ireland 's whiskey is the best thing to hit ice cubes since single-malt Scotch.

MONEY is available in digital format.  To access this version go to http://digital. money .com

 

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