Start Where You Are: Retirement Planning in a Changing World By Ruth L. Hayden I have known Ruth for years. I have taken one of her classes and profited from her wise counsel. Ruth writes her own books, but I was thrilled when she asked me to help edit Start Where You Are: Retirement Planning in a Changing World. I was thrilled because Ruth is a nationally recognized educator and author based in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1982 she founded Ruth L. Hayden and Associates, her own successful consulting business. She is a member of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education. Ruth’s "Women and Money" course inspired the book How To Turn Your Money Life Around: The Money Book for Women, which was nominated for the 1993 Minnesota Book Award. In April, 2002, Ruth received the prestigious Ann Bancroft Award for Support and Encouragement of Girls and Women by an Individual. Ruth also teaches a series of classes called "Couples and Money" which is the basis for her book, For Richer, Not Poorer: The Money Book for Couples. She has been quoted in numerous national periodicals, including Washington Post, Washington Times, Money, Reader's Digest, Mademoiselle, Working Woman, Marriage Magazine, New York Newsday, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents Magazine, Utne, Woman's World, Time, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. She has been a frequent commentator on Public Radio International's “Sound Money” and has appeared on the Public Television series, “Right on the Money.” So it was an honor and a joy to edit Start Where You Are. This is a pragmatic guide to planning the retirement you want. Ruth writes that the notion of a perpetual vacation after age 65 will not be the retirement model for most people in the 21st century. Each of us must take responsibility to plan and take care of all aspects of our life. Ruth helps us take responsibility, create a vision, and carry out a realistic plan for achieving the life we want. Start Where You Are is Ruth at her best. She doesn’t beat around the bush as she inspires us to bring balance into life, transform retirement dreams into reality, and take control of our finances.   Gary Legwold glegwold@lutefisk.com (612) 926-1877 "Ideas Need Words" Back Home Page © Copyright 2004 Gary Legwold and Conrad Henry Press. All rights reserved.