Life can be complicated. For many, employment consumes an increasing amount of time and energy. Whatever time is left is jealously guarded for family and relaxation. It is no wonder that making time to plan and keep track of personal finances is often not high on the list of priorities.

But it needs to be. Careers are getting shorter and life is getting longer. There is now less time to accumulate wealth and what is accumulated needs to last longer. In the past a typical employee had over 40 years of work to make time to save for on average, 10 years of retirement. But some people in their mid 50's with only 30 years of work behind them, who are retiring now, can expect to live for another 30 years or more. How will their finances cope?