Book Summary Preview : The Number

The Big Idea

Do you have enough money to shelter you for the rest of your and your family’s life? Does this question nag at you in the middle of the night, as you continue to approach retirement, or as your kids near college, or as you worry about being able to make it through a sudden illness or family crisis?

“The Number” by Lee Eisenberg helps you find out what your number is, or the amount you need for your nest egg, and how to go about making it. Through practical tips and insights, Eisenberg helps you define what you really want and how to achieve it as you approach later life.

The Eisenberg Uncertainty Principles

Most people today can hope to live longer than they ever figured. What are the chances that you’ll live out your days in comfort? Retirement may be just around the corner, or it may be a long day off. As you approach middle age, however, you can’t help thinking about money for your future.

The truth is, however, that most Americans put aside barely a penny out of every dollar they earn. Instead, these people are spending money like crazy. And most also do not think about the future, and saving up for it. Others may feel anxieties, but don’t know how to go about doing something about it, much less talk about it.

Why? Because of the Eisenberg Uncertainty Principles:

1. The uncertainty that results from living in a society and culture so steeped in the moment, and awash in debt, that there’s little social or peer pressure to get one’s financial house in order.
2. The uncertainty and lack of motivation because you do not know how money works.
3. The uncertainty caused by knowing that the old retirement support systems are withering away.
4. The uncertainty caused by the immense cloud that hangs over future retirement benefits: bankrupt corporate pension plans, what an angry stock market god might do to smite private retirement savings plans.
5. The uncertainty that comes from failure to see the larger picture in all of the above
6. The profound uncertainty over what truly matters at the end of the day

It’s Time To Start Thinking About The Number
Whatever your age is, but especially if you’re nearing middle age, it’s time to start thinking about what your Number is. The Number is about net worth, the Number offers the assurance that you won’t starve when you retire and no longer get a paycheck. The Number signifies that loved ones will be taken care of, after you pass on. The Number is also a validation of career success, the ultimate performance bonus.

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