"Government lawyers have wrapped your retirement money in red tape. This concise, readable guide will help you unravel it." -John Rothchild, former columnist, Time and Fortune magazines

Considering what's at stake, it's surprising how little we know about the key decisions we'll face concerning the retirement money we've accumulated.

Taking charge of retirement savings presents a whole new and complex set of decisions: Do you accept your employer's offer of a lifetime pension? Or take all your money in one lump sum? Should you leave 401(k) money where it is? Roll it over to an IRA? Are you eligible for special tax treatment that can put more money in your pocket and less in Uncle Sam's? And what about the new Roth IRA? How can you provide for your spouse? And what can you do to transfer wealth to your heirs?

Personal finance writer and financial education expert Margaret Malaspina takes you through all the options and decisions that you'll face when you are ready to retire. This guide can help you get the most out of what you've earned, lower your tax bills, and create a stream of income that will last for the rest of your life.

There are dozens of resources for saving and investing in retirement. This one is different. It's about the one-shot decisions you can, should, and must make when the time comes to take charge of the money you've worked so hard to save. It explains each option, sorts out its pros and cons, and offers sound guidance customized to your own situation. This is the guide that marries vital advice with practical, user-friendly information in an area of retirement planning that few Americans understand.