Financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn addressed the growing retirement crisis in "The Retirement Race," a Newsweek, March 15, 2004 article. In it, she called the early stages of retirement planning, "Denial, Greed, Fear," and offered encouragement for getting past those barriers. You can read her comments at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4468001.

In the same issue of "Newsweek," Linda Stern identified several online calculators that you can use to project your financial future. Dinkytown, from KJE Computer Solutions (www.dinkeytown.com/)features 120 calculators that are accessible for FREE. Stern also discussed "The Ballpark Estimate," a calculator from the American Savings Education Council (www.asec.org/ballpark) that she promises will "scare-the-pants-off-of-you." The bottom line: DEVELOP A PLAN, IMPLEMENT IT, AND STICK TO IT!

If you need a dream to motivate retirement savings, Ameriprise Financial has developed "The Dream Book." While requesting a copy will result in you being contacted by a sales person, part of the material is available online, without obligation.

"Unjust Desserts: Financial Realities of Older Women" is available on-line in PDF format at www.ilcusa.org.

You can learn more about Social Security and Women, and request a copy of your account information at www.ssa.gov/women.

If you don't work for an employer who offers a retirement plan, you can begin your own investment account through "ShareBuilder" for a minimum twenty-five dollars ($25) per month plus a four dollar ($4) broker fee.

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