Rule 1: Pay yourself first.

Many investment professionals start their preretirement pep talk with the same three words: “Pay yourself first.” This includes contributing the maximum amount possible to your 401(k) plan and investing additional amounts in IRAs and mutual funds through automatic payroll deductions.

Automatic investment plans are an easy way to stick with a retirement investing program because the money is invested before it can get spent on anything else. While automatic investing does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets, it does make retirement investing a priority. With any automatic investing program, you should, of course, consider your financial ability to continue to invest through periods of low prices.

Rule 2: Don’t let today’s bills sink Tomorrow’s needs.

Supporting yourself and your family isn’t easy. Chances are, especially if you have children, your household expenses will grow over time. That’s why it’s important, particularly through times of difficulty and new expenses, to keep contributing toward your retirement.

When you consider reducing or ceasing investing for your future in order to cover current expenses, stop, think, and try to find another way to cover your expenses.

Rule 3: Put time on your side.

When you give your money more time to accumulate, the earnings on your investments—and the annual compounding of those earnings—can make a big difference in your final return. Consider a hypothetical investor who saved $2,000 per year for 10 years, then didn’t add to her nest egg for the next 10 years. She has $48,341 after 20 years, assuming she earned 6 percent annually in a tax-deferred account. Another hypothetical investor waited 10 years, then tried to make up for lost time by investing $3,000 annually for the next 10 years. Even though he invested more—$30,000 versus the early bird’s $20,000—he still ends up with a smaller nest egg. Assuming he also earns 6 percent per year, his final account value is only $45,313. Most of the procrastinator’s nest egg—66 percent—is the principal he invested. The majority of the early bird’s account—59 percent—is earnings.

Rule 4: Don’t count on Social Security.

Although politicians consistently tell us that Social Security isn’t going anywhere, it’s still very likely, especially if you are under age 50, that the program will be very different from its current form when you retire.

According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security benefits represent 38 percent of income for Americans over age 65. The remaining income comes predominantly from pensions and investments. The administration also states that by 2030 there will be twice as many elderly Americans as today, growing to 70 million from 35 million. The dollars and cents result of this growth is hard to determine, but it is clear that investing for retirement is a prudent course of action.

Rule 5: Resist borrowing from your 401(k).

Loans are a popular feature of 401(k) plans. People like being able to get access to their money. But many investment professionals recommend that clients consider borrowing from other sources, such as the equity in one’s home, before taking a 401(k) loan. Here are some reasons why.

Fixed return. When you pay yourself interest when you pay back a 401(k) loan, your interest rate is the amount you earn on that money. This may be a modest return compared to what your money could earn if you left it invested in the financial markets.

Payback challenge. Repaying a 401(k) loan when trying to maintain contributions may be difficult. There is a real chance that your retirement plans may suffer when you try to repay and continue to invest simultaneously.

Tax penalties. Switching jobs before a 401(k) loan is repaid can bring unwanted tax consequences. You may be able to pay off or transfer your loan to your new employer’s plan, but if neither option is available, your loan balance will be considered a distribution from your plan. As a result, you may owe ordinary income taxes and a premature distribution penalty tax of 10 percent unless you meet one of the age or systematic payout method exemptions provided in the Internal Revenue Code.

Double taxation. The money you use to pay interest on your loan will be taxed twice. It will be taxed first when you are repaying the loan because, even though you can contribute to a 401(k) with pretax dollars, you can’t do the same with loan payments. It will be taxed a second time, as other 401(k) earnings are, when you make withdrawals from your account in retirement.

Rule 6: Don’t cash out retirement plans when switching jobs.

When you leave a job, the vested benefits in your retirement plans are an enticing source of money. It may be difficult to resist the urge to take that money as cash, particularly if retirement is many years away. But generally you will have to pay federal income taxes, state income taxes, and a 10 percent penalty if you’re under age 55. This can cut into your investments significantly. In Maryland, for example, with its 7.5 percent state income tax, someone in the 25 percent federal tax bracket would lose 42.5 percent of the amount they took.

25.0 percent (federal tax) + 7.5 percent (state tax) + 10.0 percent (penalty) = 42.5 percent

When changing jobs, generally you have three options for leaving your retirement money invested. You can keep the money in your old employer’s plan, roll it over into an IRA, or transfer it to your new employer’s plan if that plan accepts rollovers. Learn more about these three options before deciding which will work best for you.

Rule 7: Take advantage of your IRA options.

The Roth IRA has become a popular way to expand retirement investing for many investors. But with many IRA options available today, it’s important to know why you are investing before you determine where to start. Once you decide on a direction, it’s important to make your annual contribution. Annual contribution limits recently have increased, making IRAs a more valuable method  to invest for retirement. Your investment professional can help you determine which IRA will work best for you.

Rule 8: Compare the merits of the Roth IRA and a 401(k) plan.

The variety of retirement savings options available today is a boon for investors, but the range of choices can also be confusing. Many investors are trying to compare the potential advantages of the Roth IRA with their 401(k) or other type of defined contribution plan at work. The choice is especially difficult for those with limited budgets who can afford to invest in only one option. Work with your investment professional to determine whether the Roth IRA or your 401(k) offers more advantages for you. The answer will depend on many factors, including how many years you have left until retirement, your tax bracket, and whether your employer matches contributions to your 401(k).

Rule 9: Don’t try to time the stock market.

Some investors, even those for whom retirement is still years away, frequently shift their money in and out of the stock market. They’ll get out when they fear a crash and get back in when they expect a boom.

The problem with trying to time the market is that no one can consistently predict the short-term events that push the market up or down. It’s better to have an investing plan adjusted for your goals, time frame, and risk tolerance that diversifies your investments, allocates them among different asset classes, and rebalances your portfolio.

Rule 10: Allocate, diversify, and rebalance.

You have certain long-term financial goals in mind. You also have a certain tolerance for risk when it comes to investing your money. Asset allocation can help you find and maintain your balancing point, so you can pursue your goals at a risk level you find comfortable. As part of a disciplined diversification investment strategy, asset allocation enables you to seamlessly follow this proven three-step process.

Allocate your assets across the major asset classes—stocks, bonds, and cash—to help you pursue the optimal returns for the risk level you’re willing to undertake.

Diversify within each class to take advantage of different investment styles—such as growth and value stocks—and various market sectors—such as government and corporate bonds.

Rebalance your portfolio regularly. Market activity can shift the percentages of your portfolio that you have dedicated to each asset class. Rebalancing will help you maintain your desired allocation. DW

Information for this story was provided by MFS Investment Management. Gail Perry-Mason is a financial coach and co-author of Girl, Make Your Money Grow! For more information, visit www.gailperrymason.net.

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1. Debunking Investment Myths

Myth: You need to get a Pap smear and mammogram every year.

Fact: While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you see your gynecologist every year, it doesn’t recommend that you have a Pap smear during every visit.

Starting at age 21 and until you’re 30, you should be tested every two years unless you’re at high risk. If you’re 30 or older and have had three consecutive normal Pap tests, you can stretch out your screening to every three years. If you’re over 65, you can stop having them altogether.

Women who are at high risk, including those who have HIV or weakened immune systems, or who have been treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, should get screenings more often.

The question of whether women should get mammograms every year is slippery and is being hotly debated. Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its previous recommendation of annual mammograms and suggested that women get the screening every two years instead. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 12.2 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. Such startling statistics have led many doctors to follow the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendation of annual screenings. Please consult your personal physician to help you make a decision.

Myth: You don’t need to worry about cholesterol unless you’re overweight.

Fact: Being overweight certainly puts you at greater risk of having high cholesterol, but it’s not the only factor that can cause your artery-clogging cholesterol to rise. Diet, gender, age, physical activity, and genes affect your cholesterol levels, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. You can’t do anything about your gender, age, or family history, so help yourself by staying away from the potato chips and fried foods and getting some exercise.

You should start having your cholesterol checked at age 20 and, depending on your levels, every one to five years thereafter. Ideally, your total cholesterol should be below 200, and your LDL cholesterol less than 130—even lower if you have risk factors for heart disease.

“If your cholesterol is low at age 40 and you’re a runner who has a healthy diet, then you can afford to wait five years before getting your next test,” says Dr. Kimberly McMillin, a family medicine doctor in Garland, Texas. “But if not, you need to get it checked more frequently.”

Myth: You’ll catch a cold if you go outside in the cold weather.

Fact: Let’s face it: when your mom told you that going out in the cold will make you sick, she was probably just trying to keep you indoors. Viruses, not inclement weather, cause colds, says Dr. Dana Simpler, an internal medicine doctor in Baltimore, Maryland. Viruses tend to flourish in late fall to early spring, so many associate their coughing and sneezing with cooler temperatures, she says. Also, colder temperatures tend to keep people indoors, presenting more opportunity to share those lovely germs.

The best way to avoid a cold? Wash your hands frequently and keep away from people who are coughing and sneezing, if possible. Get plenty of rest, eat well, and exercise regularly.

Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Fact: Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. Among the most preventable types, it is directly related to obesity, lack of exercise, and our typical high-fat and high-sugar diet.

Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. Dr. Simpler says that she has seen many of her diabetic patients easily control or eliminate the disease by banning sugary drinks, eating healthy, losing weight, and exercising 30 to 60 minutes five days a week.

“Diabetes is a terrible disease that ravages just about every organ in the body—and by the time the person starts getting the heart attacks, strokes, nerve damage, kidney failure, and blindness, it is way too late,” says Dr. Simpler. “While treatment can help, it requires lots of medicines and procedures—and suffering. This is one disease where ‘an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure’!”

Myth: You don’t need immunizations unless youíre traveling outside the country.

Fact: Shots aren’t only for travelers and kids. Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and save lives. In addition to any immunizations you may need when visiting a foreign country, you should consider the following that guard against diseases found close to home: tetanus-diphtheria (every 10 years); pneumonia (if you’re 65 or older); hepatitis A and B; measles-mumps-rubella (MMR:) and shingles (if you’re 60 or older). Once thought only to affect young children, pertussis (whooping cough) has come back with a vengeance. In response to the high levels of disease and death from pertussis in California in 2010, the state’s Department of Public Health recommends that all Californians make sure that they are immunized against pertussis, especially if they are in contact with infants.

Whether flu shots are necessary or not is a topic of hot debate. Dr. McMillin recommends that everyone get the shot, “unless you want to take off work for a week with the flu.” You canít lose weight that you gained during menopause.

You can’t beat the effects of time. Your metabolism tends to slow with age. Menopause brings changes in women’s hormones, which can add further difficulty to weight control. When you enter perimenopause and estrogen from the ovaries declines, your body starts to store more fat. Fat cells provide another source of estrogen, particularly after menopause.

But this isn’t a losing battle of the bulge. As with any weight management plan, incorporating a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise into your lifestyle will go a long way. Start by eating lots of vegetables, some fruit, protein foods (lean meat, fish, poultry, nuts, eggs), whole unprocessed grains, and healthy natural oils, says Dr. Heather Tick, clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona. Eating five small meals a day will help curb your hunger pangs and ensure that your blood sugar does not drop. Exercise not only burns extra calories, but also raises your metabolic rate for hours afterward.

Interval training is the best form of exercise to do this.

Myth: Your body requires less sleep as you age.

Facts: According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night, no matter what age. Studies have shown that people who do not get enough sleep have an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents; a greater likelihood of obesity; a higher risk of diabetes and heart problems; an increased risk for psychiatric conditions, including depression and substance abuse; and a decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals, or remember new information.

If you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, you might consider the following tips from the National Sleep Foundation.

• Establish consistent sleep and wake schedules, even on weekends.

• Follow a regular, relaxing bedtime routine, such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to soothing music—begin an hour or more before the time you expect to fall asleep.

• Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool.

• Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.

• Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex (avoid watching TV, using a computer, or reading in bed).

• Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.

• Exercise regularly during the day or at least a few hours before bedtime.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol products close to bedtime, and give up smoking.

Myth: Only women with a family history get breast cancer.

Fact: Having an immediate family member with a history of breast cancer does increase your risk of breast cancer, according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation are five times more likely to develop breast cancer than those who do not have such a mutation, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects inherited from a parent, according to the American Cancer Society.

Even if you don’t have a history of breast cancer in your family, you’re not safe from the disease. As you age, your chances of getting breast cancer increase. Rates of breast cancer are low in women under age 40, but begin to increase after age 40 and are highest in women over age 70. In the United States, 95 percent of the women diagnosed with breast cancer are age 40 or older.

Myth: You should stretch before you work out.

Fact: In a recent study of 3,000 runners, U.S. Track and Field found that there is no difference in the risk of injury for those who stretched before running and those who did not. In another study by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, researchers discovered that distance runners who stretched before running were not able to run as far.

Static stretching, where you hold a stretch for a period of time, can actually make your muscles tighter, researchers suggested, as your body reacts to your manual attempts to lengthen them. San Francisco–based running coach Samuel Harvell prefers dynamic stretching, where you increase your joints’ range of motion via constant movement. He recommends that you do a short warm-up and then some dynamic stretches before moving on to your main workout.

“This allows you to work on range of motion while continuing to warm up the body,” says Harvell.

Myth: The longer the workout, the better.

Fact: Doing shorter, higher intensity workouts—often called interval training—is an effective way to build endurance and increase fitness. Performing bursts of hard exercise not only improves cardiovascular fitness, but also increases the body’s ability to burn fat, according to a 2007 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. Improved fat burning means that endurance athletes can go farther before tapping into carbohydrate stores. Interval training also helps prevent the injuries often associated with repetitive endurance exercise and allows you to increase your training intensity without overtraining or burnout. DW

Sherri Eng is a freelance writer based in San Francisco.

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I sometimes check personal e-mail, update my Facebook page, and browse online at work. My sense is that a lot of people do. But how OK is this, really?

Signed,

Secret User

Dear Secret User,

Find out exactly what your employer’s policies are for e-mail and Web usage, and know that if you’re in violation of those rules, you could be fired. A quick foray into Internet articles on the topic (please, not on company time) will reveal that people have been ousted for blogging, playing computer games, looking at pornography, and writing personal e-mails.

U.S. News and World Report warns that 43 percent of companies monitor company e-mail. Although the laws are evolving, courts are ruling that companies have the right to do so, and the legality of monitoring e-mail messages sent using personal, Web-based e-mail accounts (like Yahoo and Gmail) on work computers is still a gray area. More than a quarter of employers in the United States have let workers go for e-mail-related offenses, according to a 2007  American Management Association/ePolicy Institute survey.

Also keep in mind that your e-communication could be subject to discovery in a federal lawsuit much later. Nancy Flynn, executive director of the ePolicy Institute, says that because companies are concerned about their legal liability, a growing number are archiving electronically stored information.

Above all, with whatever you write to whom, make sure it’s squeaky clean. Most e-mail-related firings have to do with content considered offensive.

The bottom line: If your employer’s policy states that computer usage should be confined to company business only, anything you do outside that is grounds for dismissal. Know that if you break the rules and keep typing away, you could be taking the loss of your job into your own hands.

One more tip: Whether from your home or work computer, never “friend” your boss!  DW

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For a true taste of the region’s roots, the Heard Museum of Native Culture and Arts offers exhibits that feature the artifacts of Native American tribes, particularly those of the Southwest, as well as contemporary artwork inspired by this heritage.

Marvel at the surreal desert at the Desert Botanical Garden while strolling the cactus-lined and sun-soaked trails and viewing the indigenous plants and spectacular scenery.

The desert eventually dries the palate, warranting fine food and drink. The renowned FnB restaurant puts an elegant twist on local southwestern comfort food and features  local wines. For a more authentic southwestern feel, The Roaring Fork features wood-fired, hearty fare straight out of the Wild West.

The options for postdining drinks are endless. Jade Bar Sanctuary has a more sophisticated list of cocktails than many local watering holes. The menu is so creative that the bar gives classes in mixology. For cool drinks and smooth jams, try Bobby Cís Lounge & Grill, widely considered the best jazz bar in town.

For competitive pastimes, there are major sports facilities where popcorn and beer abound. The Arizona Diamondbacks, the MLB team, swing at Chase Field, while the Phoenix Suns of the NBA dribble at the U.S. Airways Center. The Coyotes and the Cardinals play at the University of Phoenix Stadium, making this a popular sports destination for NHL and NFL fans.

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is a one-of-a-kind venue with interactive exhibits and history for aficionados of various music genres. Artists perform at the MIM Music Theater, showcasing a diverse line-up. You can watch mainstream artists perform in the  open-air Mesa Amphitheater, where some of music’s hottest names make for a night of dancing under the desert moon. To get the view from above, Hot Air Expeditions takes guests aloft in hot air balloons for an unparalleled sight of the booming city and the surrounding desert.

Witness how renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright mastered the art of integrating his signature architectural style with the Sonoran Desert at Taliesin West.

If you long for a shopping spree, head to Old Town Scottsdale for a mix of high-end boutiques and southwestern art and gear. Or you can visit Scottsdale Fashion Square or Biltmore Fashion Park for the region’s best mall experiences. DW

EATS

The Roaring Fork
4800 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 1700
Scottsdale, AZ
(480) 947-0795
www.eddiev.com

Bobby C’s Lounge & Grill
1140 East Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 252-2273
www.bobbycee.com

Jade Bar Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
5700 East McDonald Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ
(480) 948-2100

www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/content/jadebar.html

FnB
7133 E. Stetson Drive
Scottsdale, AZ
(480) 425-9463
www.fnbrestaurant.com

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Insomnia, the inability to either fall or stay asleep, strikes one-and-a-half to two times more women than men, says Amy R. Wolfson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, a member of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF’s) Board of Directors, and author of The Woman’s Book of Sleep: A Complete Resource Guide. As women, our sleep is constantly disrupted—whether from snoring spouses, crying children, restless minds or restless legs, she says.

Sanjay Patel, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, believes that in the chaos of our 21st century lives, sleep is often the first thing to go. “It’s really hard for women to find time to sleep,” he says. “They have their historical roles of taking care of the children and the home, and then on top of that going out and working one or more jobs.” One-half of women polled in the latest NSF “Sleep in America” poll claimed that when pressed for time, sleep was the first thing they sacrificed. Merely 20 percent said they’d put work aside when they were overly tired or busy.

Work—and trying to balance it with the rest of life—plays a huge part in women’s struggle to sleep, particularly higher-income women. “You can’t make money without putting your nose to the grindstone, and work can’t help but create stress,” says Joyce Walsleben, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at New York University, and co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Sleep: Guaranteed Solutions for a Good Night’s Rest. “High-earners may be accomplished and organized, but the question is: Do they sleep enough? Can they relax at night, or do they have too much going through their minds?”

It’s not just work that’s on women’s minds when they struggle to slumber. Many feel obliged to take care of everything and everyone—and quite often, it’s expected of them. Women who are wives, moms and full-time-workers are (understandably) more likely to experience insomnia than other women, with over half waking frequently in the night. Most plow straight through the day, however, despite their exhaustion, with over 50 percent buoyed by an average of close to three cups or cans of soda, tea or coffee. Yet nearly 40 percent say they spend too much time worrying.

Part-time working wives and mothers claim to sleep well, and when daytime tiredness strikes, use caffeine or naps to keep themselves moving. (Their more flexible schedules allow 60 percent to nap at least once per week, as do those of women in their 50s, who due to hormonal disruptions report the most sleep problems of all.) Still, nearly three-quarters of both working and stay-at-home moms report signs of insomnia, the NSF survey finds.

Frequent travel (for some women, part of business as usual), can wreak havoc on your body and mood, Walsleben says. Mood troubles can cause sleep troubles, too, and since women are twice as prone to depression as men, this could definitely influence their higher risk of insomnia. “Then there’s the natural female tendency to want to make everything better—to fix things and talk it out. Unfortunately, we’re also prone to bringing those same issues to bed; while men are more likely to settle things and move on,” she says.

Being a woman means existing in a constant flux of hormonal activity. “If you’re pregnant in your 30s and 40s, the release of progesterone can be quite sedating,” Wolfson says. “During the first trimester, some women are exhausted all day; then kept awake by insomnia all night.” In the perimenopausal years, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and irregular menstruation make a night’s worth of sleep the exception instead of the norm. And for one-third of women in the NSF survey, even menstruation can make sleep difficult.

“Really, it’s amazing any of us sleep at all!” says respirologist Judith Leech, M.D., medical director at Renfrew Victoria Hospital Sleep Disorders Laboratory in Ottawa, Canada.

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Magellan Triton 2000

Find your way in the great outdoors with this handheld GPS unit. Designed for hikers or boaters, the Triton 2000 is waterproof and includes a 3-axis compass for navigating the old-fashioned way, plus a barometer to help you gauge the weather. It includes a 2-megapixel camera so you can capture snapshots along the way, and a voice recorder so you can record audio notes along your journey.

Price: $399.99

www.magellangps.com

TomTom

GO 930

Speak and you shall be heard—at least by this GPS unit, anyway. The GO 930 includes speech recognition, so you can speak the address you’d like to find, rather than having to type it in—a real benefit when driving. It also includes TomTom’s IQ Routes technology, which calculates your travel-time based on the average road speeds, not posted speed limits.

Price: $349.95

www.tomtom.com

Garmin Forerunner 405

This GPS-enabled wristwatch doubles as a personal trainer for runners. It monitors your workout time, distance, pace, and calories burned and even provides you with a virtual workout partner. For an extra $50 you can get a version with a heart-rate monitor, too. The Forerunner wirelessly syncs that information with your computer so you can analyze your workouts.

Price: $299.99

www.garmin.com

AAA Mobile

You may not have to purchase a separate device to get the features of a GPS unit. AAA Mobile, now available in version 4.0, can turn your cell phone into your personal navigator. This software delivers turn-by-turn directions, traffic alerts, local gas prices, and movie reviews and show times, to compatible cell phones. It will even transmit your location to AAA if you find yourself in need of roadside
assistance.

Price: $9.99 per month

(billed by your carrier)

www.aaa.com/aaamobile

Navigon 2000S

A GPS unit doesn’t have to be a budget-buster. Take the Navigon 2000S: This $200 in-car unit delivers turn-by-turn directions on its adequate (though not exceptionally roomy) 3.5-inch touch screen. You also get a few extras, such as Navigon’s Reality View Pro feature, which shows the road—and road signs–as they actually look, in 3D.

Price: $99

navigonusa.com

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That’s right, work+life “fit” not balance. If you do only one thing, eliminate balance from your vocabulary. Why? Because it doesn’t exist.

There is no such thing as balance, which for many people means a magical 50-50 split between work and the rest of their lives. The truth is that there are countless work+life fit combinations. Your unique circumstances determine which fit is right for you.

There are endless options between the extremes of all work and no work. Small changes in how, when, and/or where you work can make a big difference. Personal and professional transitions will change your circumstances. For example, six months ago you happily devoted a majority of time to work, but now that you care for your aging mother, you’ve decided not to take on additional responsibilities and work from home two days a week.

Taking advantage of all of the options requires being able to see that they exist. Fruitlessly searching for that elusive balance will show you only what you don’t have (“I’m unbalanced”), not what you could have. Work+life fit is about possibilities; work/life balance is not.

What do you want? If you are like most, you can spend hours talking about what isn’t working in your life; but if someone asks, “What do you want?” you’re speechless. Creating a work+life fit vision requires introspection, self-reflection, and tuning out all of the external “shoulda-coulda-woulda” messages that keep you disconnected from yourself. You need to know where you want to go before you begin.

Create a plan to make that vision a reality. Start by figuring out if your work and/or personal circumstances support your initial vision. If they do, great! Go for it! If they don’t, you either have to change the circumstance or adapt your vision. In the end, you will have a plan that works personally and professionally.

Then say something! When you’ve finalized your mutually beneficial plan, present it to your employer.
“But, what if they say no?” Don’t let these fears keep you stuck. The worst thing that can happen is that they say “no.” You’re no worse off than when you began. Besides, chances are the answer to a well-thought-out plan will be “yes.”

Finally, redefine success. Just as your work+life fit will change countless times over the course of your life, so must your definition of success. Give yourself a break when you need to, and go for it whenever you can! DW

Cali Williams Yost is the president of Work+Life Fit, Inc., which develops innovative and flexibile strategies for individuals and corporations.

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Despite the trend toward longevity, you and your siblings should talk with your parents about their financial future, even if they are only in their sixties. These discussions should cover, at minimum, long-range housing options, long-term care insurance, and wills and living wills. “Frequently, the first conversation happens when there’s a crisis,” says Elinor Ginzler, author of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete Family Guide. “By then, people are tired, physically and emotionally—and possibly financially,” she emphasizes.

Talking to mom and dad now allows them to be in control. It also gives the whole family time to research options and costs under calm circumstances. For example, when it comes to determining whether or not to go ahead with life-support, knowing their preferences—and having them in writing—will diminish some of the stress and conflicts about key decisions.

Here are some things to consider with

Types of Living Situations

Planned Communities
Also known as active adult communities, these are often amenity-rich residential developments for independent people with common interests. Avid golfers, for instance, get to enjoy life within walking distance of a course and in the company of equally passionate neighbors. Planned communities may impose age and visitor restrictions, for example, limiting a guest under 18 to a one-week stay, so be sure to ask about the regulations. Because Medicare considers planned communities a residential choice and not a medical necessity, it will not cover the cost.

Continuing Care Retirement Facilities
These facilities offer a continuum of care: generally independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care, often on one campus. Their size can range widely, from those that house several residents to those that care for hundreds. Before choosing a facility for a loved one, make sure to arrange tours of several different
facilities, as they can vary widely in quality, cost, and services offered.

Generally, continuing care facilities offer the following:

Independent Living
Independent living is for those who are able to live on their own but do not want to maintain a home, condo, or apartment. These facilities often offer a range of activities and trips, and sometimes group meals.

Assisted Living
An assisted living facility is for people who need help with activities of daily living, such as cooking, bathing, and dressing themselves. Although services include skilled nurses and sometimes hospice care, Medicare won’t foot the bill, which averages nearly $36,000 a year ($51,000 if the patient has Alzheimer’s or dementia). However, some states might cover the fees through Medicaid if income guidelines are met.

Nursing Homes
Of all the options you’ll come across in your search, nursing homes are the most widespread. State funds usually pay for a portion of the $69,000 annual cost of housing a patient in a semiprivate room. These are places where physically impaired or mentally disabled adults get medical attention and comprehensive services. One thing to keep in mind is that Medicare covers only short-term stays (say, several weeks to heal from a fractured hip), but Medicaid pays for extended nursing home care in some states if your parent is eligible.

Long-term Care Insurance
Getting long-term care insurance for a person already in his or her 70s or 80s can be difficult. Today, the average
premium for adults over 65 is an astronomical $2,862 a month. On the other hand, the premium for someone under 65 is about $1,337 a month (depending on your age, now might be a good time to get a policy for yourself). Regardless of who the plan covers, ask for inflation protection, which is a built-in safeguard for the rise in care costs. Most important, be sure you are clear on what is and what is not covered—and whether certain conditions need to be met. For instance, some policies cover planned communities and assisted living facilities, not just nursing homes. Some policies can be used only if a doctor hired by the insurance company determines that you actually need the service. Experts recommend asking a lawyer to review the policy.

Wills and Living Wills
Your parents will need a will or a trust so that their assets are distributed according to their wishes, not the state’s. Although you can help them compose a will or trust, you should hire a lawyer to make sure the will adheres to the laws of your parents’ state of residence. Make sure you know where the will or trust is kept and that it is updated as necessary to accommodate changes in assets or family members and to remove deceased relatives.

A living will is a document that tells doctors how to proceed if a patient falls into a vegetative or terminally ill state. These are tough issues to think about—and even more difficult to go through—but knowing whether your parents want surgery or blood transfusions or to be fed intravenously or to use a ventilator or heart-lung machine eliminates some of the conflict when making these heart-wrenching decisions.

As difficult as these matters are, if you deal with them now, when your parents are healthy, it is much easier than having to play catch-up after one falls ill. Putting a plan in place will not only ensure that your parents’ needs are provided for, it will also provide peace of mind. DW

Jennifer Alaya is a freelance business and finance writer based in New York.

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Would you buy a criminal an HDTV or a house? My guess is no. Unfortunately, last year 8.4 million people like you and me became victims of identity theft, unknowingly funding a con’s appetite for gadgetry, exotic trips, and even a high-priced home. In some cases, the delinquency stretched beyond what victims might find on a credit report: some are shocked to discover that, in addition to the financial fraud, criminal charges are posted under their names. What’s more, undoing all this takes a huge amount of time. So what can you do?

Protect your social security number. It may not be the secret formula for Coca-Cola, but your social security number should be well guarded. Avoid carrying it in your wallet or writing it on checks. And ask any company, such as your health insurer, that uses your social security number as an identifier on printed material to replace it with another number. When someone wants to know your number, ask why it is needed and how it will be protected.

Shred trash and keep mail private. Luckily, shredding anything that might help a thief open accounts—such as financial and health documents, and including expired credit cards—will keep identity stalkers away. Drop outgoing mail at a post office rather than put it in an unsecured mailbox. If you go on vacation or away on business, ask the post office to hold your correspondence.

Verify the source before sharing information. Some victims thought their bank’s service rep was on the phone and disclosed vital information. Little did they know they were speaking to a criminal. As a rule of thumb, never give out personal information over the phone, on the Internet, or in the mail unless you originated the contact.

Select intricate passwords. Place passwords on all accounts that allow you to do so—and get as creative as you can. That means your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number, and even any word that appears in the dictionary are off-limits. The best passwords use combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters.

Store information in secure locations. What it boils down to, sadly, is that you’re likely to know the person who steals your identity. So keep your personal information in a secure place at home. At work, make sure your purse and wallet are stored safely.

Mind your credit report. When it comes to yearly checkups, you can add your credit report to the list. You are entitled to a free copy every year at www.annualcreditreport.com. This line of defense will turn up information on all accounts, from the newly opened to the long established. Mysterious inquiries from sources you don’t know should raise a red flag.

Identity thieves are getting smarter every day—but if you follow these steps, you’ll go a long way toward keeping your financial identity your own. DW

Jenny Mero is a reporter at Fortune and a contributing writer for several publications, including Essence and elecciones.

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TiVo HD DVR

If you’ve got a high-definition television, then you’ll want to record Grey’s Anatomy, 30 Rock, and your other favorite shows in HD as well. TiVo’s latest digital video recorder lets you stock up to 20 hours of high-def (or 180 hours of standard) content, as well as pause, rewind, and fast-forward through grating commercials. You can even record two shows at once, something you couldn’t do on older TiVos.

Price: $299.99 ($12.95 per month for TiVo subscription)

www.tivo.com

Yamaha YSP-900 Digital Sound Projector

Get amazing surround sound without having to look at unsightly wires snaking around baseboards and under the rug. Yamaha’s YSP-900 Digital Sound Projector is a single component that houses a multitude of tiny speakers, each one focused in such a way to create the illusion of surround sound in your room. Sit it under your flat-panel TV, and you’ll have killer sound without a killer mess.

Price: $899.95

www.yamaha.com/yec

Polk Audio I-Sonic ES2 Music System

Love the radio but hate the same tired station playlists? Polk’s I-Sonic ES2 receives HD radio—digital broadcasts of regular AM and FM stations. Digital radio produces better quality sound and more channels of programming than you get with standard radio. The ES2 also includes an iPod dock for more personalized listening, along with a cool iTunes tagging feature, which lets you mark songs you hear on the radio, then buy them once you hook your player to your computer.

Price: $499

www.polkaudio.com

Apple TV

Forget trips to the video store. Apple TV connects to your television set and lets you rent flicks or buy TV shows directly over your home Internet connection. Videos come from Apple’s iTunes Store and cost $3.99 for new releases or $2.99 for older titles (HD movies go for an extra dollar). Rentals are available for 30 days, though once you start watching, you’ve only got 24 hours before the film or show is automatically deleted. Still, it’s a small price to pay for never having to leave the couch.

Price: $229 (40GB), $329 (160GB)

www.apple.com

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