1 – Safely Spend Your Savings:  Most experts recommend you can safely spend 4% to 5% of your portfolio in your first years of retirement.

2 – Build A Bond Ladder for Steady Income: This time-tested strategy helps smooth your income regardless of what happens to interest rates.

3 – Dividend-Paying Stocks Can Pay Off….In Dividends: Rising dividends can help you keep up with inflation an help cushion market downturns.

4 – Find A Good Parking Place for Your Cash: Earn higher yields on money-markets, CD’s and savings accounts.

5 – Get Unbiased Help From a Financial Planner: Pick a financial planner who doesn’t accept commissions from products he/she sells.

6 – Get A Better Deal When you Buy Municipal Bonds

7 – Review Your Designated Beneficiaries: Have you got the right designated beneficiaries on your IRA’s, 401k’s, and other retirement savings plans?  You may find the names are out of date.

8 – Determine Whether to Postpone your first IRA Distribution: You can hold off taking the first required distribution from your IRA but you will have to take two withdrawals the following year.

9 – Make the Most of Your IRA and 401k:  Contribute the maximum amount your employer matches.  Its free money.

10 – Protect your Savings With Long Term Care Insurance – With healthcare and nursing home costs continuing to increase, consider buying long term care insurance to protect you from some of those expenses.