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Retire Inspired: It's Not an Age, It's a Financial Number Hardcover – January 12, 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,607 ratings

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This is your retirement wake-up call. In Retire Inspired Chris Hogan will transform the way you think about your future. Learn how to make smart decisions now to help you live your retirement dreams.

You don’t have to retire broke, stressed, and working long after you want to. Whether you’re twenty-five or fifty-five, Retire Inspired will equip you with a plan to:

  • Evaluate and change your current money situation
  • Make wise investing decisions
  • Set reasonable retirement expectations
  • Build a dream team of experts to help you succeed
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Hogan is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of The Chris Hogan Show. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance and the Rachael Ray Show. Since 2005, Chris has served at Ramsey Solutions, where he gives practical money advice on retirement, investing and building wealth.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ramsey Press; First Edition (January 12, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1937077810
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1937077815
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,607 ratings

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Chris Hogan
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Chris Hogan is a #1 national best-selling author, dynamic speaker and financial expert. For more than a decade, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, spreading a message of hope to audiences across the country as a financial coach and Ramsey Personality. Hogan challenges and equips people to take control of their money and reach their financial goals, using The Chris Hogan Show, his national TV appearances, and live events across the nation.

His second book, Everyday Millionaire: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth—And How You Can Too releases January 2019 and is based on the largest study of net-worth millionaires ever conducted. You can follow Chris Hogan on Twitter and Instagram at@ChrisHogan360 and online at chrishogan360.com or facebook.com/chrishogan360.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
2,607 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and helpful for retirement planning. They describe it as a great read with simple writing that is easy to understand. The stories and illustrations make the information personal and relatable. Readers say it's a good read for all ages, especially younger people. The book helps prepare them for a less worrisome retirement.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

270 customers mention "Insight"258 positive12 negative

Customers find the book insightful and helpful. They say it provides worthwhile approaches to consider, wisdom, and direction on how to go about retirement planning. The author writes in a way that encourages and teaches them. The principles are timeless, but it's great to be reminded of them. The book makes many topics relatable by tying them into many entertaining and relevant stories. Overall, readers describe the book as inspiring and life-changing.

"...Throughout the book, Chris makes many topics more relatable by tying them into many interesting stores from his life, and the lives of others he met..." Read more

"...He uses great analogies throughout the book. Here's to looking forward to my "want to" years, rather than my "have to" years...." Read more

"I am enjoying reading. This book is very informative. It has a lot of wisdom and direction and how to go about doing retirement and finances in a..." Read more

"...Hogan gives a lot of good inspiration, life lessons, and some sound financial advice...." Read more

242 customers mention "Readability"242 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They describe it as a great companion to Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover. The advice is simple yet solid, providing proven strategies to set yourself up for financial success.

"...It's simple, yet solid and proven advice to set yourself up for unbelievable prosperity...." Read more

"...explained it in a way that was not only easy to understand, but enjoyable to read. He uses great analogies throughout the book...." Read more

"I am enjoying reading. This book is very informative...." Read more

"...For me, that always helps. If anything, this book is a good ass-kicking to anyone needed to get the ball rolling on retirement planning...starting..." Read more

131 customers mention "Ease of reading"117 positive14 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the clear writing style and examples that help simplify the retirement process. The book provides in-depth explanations and step-by-step guidance for retirement and estate planning. It's a straightforward guide without being overly complicated.

"...It's not fancy or complicated, but it works, and is the reason my wife and I were able to pay off our house and do our debt-free scream live on Dave..." Read more

"...and bonds, but Chris explained it in a way that was not only easy to understand, but enjoyable to read. He uses great analogies throughout the book...." Read more

"I can't recommend this book enough. This book is very readable for the average person. It has wise principles and timeless wisdom...." Read more

"...when it comes to financial planning, and this book is an excellent guide in the process. I wish I'd had it when I was in my twenties...." Read more

34 customers mention "Story telling"27 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the stories and illustrations in the book. They find it personal and relatable, with a clear game plan that makes planning much easier. The book dispels myths and provides an actionable guide for anyone to follow.

"...He tells his own stories and obviously has sections that are his to own...." Read more

"...Money Makeover and is set up the same way...with lots of interesting stories to remind you that your behavior is what keeps you from achieving your..." Read more

"This book was truly spellbinding. Mr. Hogan is an excellent story teller and a passionate teacher...." Read more

"A lot of story telling and not a lot of substance. It was not until Chapter 9 and beyond that there was anything of substance for me...." Read more

15 customers mention "Age range"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for people of all ages. They say it's appropriate for Gen X and Millennials, as well as anyone who will be retiring. The book provides good information for young people to develop good habits and shows how they can retire in their 40s or 50s.

"...Apparently this is not just for older people; but for anyone who will be retiring one day (which is hopefully all of us)...." Read more

"...This book shows a younger person how they can retire in their 40's or 50's, and lets those who do not save know that they may have to work much..." Read more

"...Chris Hogan, states repeatedly throughout the book, "it is never too early and it is never too late for you to begin investing for..." Read more

"...Great ideas for various ages of persons contemplating retirement. Chock full of ways to get to where you want to go. Highly recommend." Read more

12 customers mention "Retirement age"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for preparing for retirement. They say it helps them retire with less worry and dignity intact.

"...The guy had a plan and really saved well for retirement, and is now able to live the rest of his life doing what he "wants to" rather than..." Read more

"...this book and a few others to help speed dial us toward a less worrisome retirement, one we can enjoy...." Read more

"...Hogan insists that it's never too late to retire with dignity. This is just another wonderful financial product released by the Dave Ramsey team...." Read more

"...approach our last four or five years of working, we'll be better poised for retirement. We bought a copy for each of our kids, too...." Read more

10 customers mention "Personality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the author's personality genuine and likeable. They appreciate his honest advice and real-life examples from individuals and families. The book provides a great message and plan for them to follow.

"...Chris Hogan seems like a very intelligent, likeable caring man...." Read more

"...money management and investment strategies and is a gifted teacher with real life experience...." Read more

"...They are the most honest people that can lead you out of debt and help you begin the journey of dreaming and planning for a true retirement...." Read more

"...This book is FULL of stories and examples of individuals and families, whose behaviors we hope to never repeat. It's practical and simplistic also." Read more

27 customers mention "Value for money"17 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money. Some find it valuable, instructive, and motivational, with a message of retiring in a good financial position. However, others feel it's not worth it, bland, and generic. The book is also noted as redundant in the beginning.

"...As you would expect, he covers budgeting, types and methods of investing, tax-advantaged accounts, insurance products to get and avoid, and how to..." Read more

"...But this book is a dud." Read more

"Chris touches on some very important financial issues but also relational and emotional issues which play such a big part when handling money." Read more

"...The R:IQ assessment tool is worth the price of the book as far as I am concerned...." Read more

Text does not do this man's voice justice
5 out of 5 stars
Text does not do this man's voice justice
Yes, I will admit it. I would have never heard of or read this book if it wasn't for the constant endorsement and promotion by Dave Ramsey. But as a follower and recent debt-free screamer live from his studio (hour 2 of the Dec 14 show), I am a firm believer in his plan and everything he teaches. It has worked very well for me and my family. So I am reviewing this from the perspective of a huge Dave Ramsey fan who is very interested in seeing what his new "Ramsey Personality" (Chris Hogan) has to offer.* Context *If the name Dave Ramsey doesn't sound familiar, it definitely will by time you get a few pages into this book. Chris Hogan is, afterall, a full-fledged "Ramsey Personality" that operates under the Dave Ramsey brand. As such, nearly everything in Retire Inspired is consistent with Dave's advice and brand. In the context of Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps (made famous in his Total Money Makeover book), Retire Inspired is really about steps 4-7. If you want to get anything out of this book, you should already be through steps 1-3 before worrying about your retirement, unless you plan on re-reading this later on when you get there. Both Chris and Dave strongly recommend doing these steps in the proper order. In a nutshell, steps 1-3 are being free of all non-mortgage debt and having an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. The foreword of this book (by Dave Ramsey) briefly recaps these seven baby steps and it is important to understand them before delving into Retire Inspired as they are constantly referenced throughout.* Chris Hogan *Like many, I first heard of Chris Hogan by his many guest appearances on the Dave Ramsey show. There is a reason he is marketed as the "Voice of Retirement". Retirement is the topic he specializes in and THAT VOICE. Seriously, I would recommend anyone interested in reading Retire Inspired first listen to just ten minutes of him speaking, so that you'll be able to read the entire book in his voice rather than in the voice of a faceless financial guru. It's deep, powerful, and attention-grabbing. In fact, I would love to go through it again in the audiobook format. He speaks with confidence and finesse, and getting to know a little bit more about who he is really does enhance the reading experience.Throughout the book, Chris makes many topics more relatable by tying them into many interesting stores from his life, and the lives of others he met through his experiences as a financial counselor. Some of these stories are kind of predictable, but some of them do very well at hammering home the message that regardless of your age, you can't ignore the importance of starting your retirement planning *now*. I've heard Dave Ramsey mention in jest the fictional book "100 Ways to Prepare Alpo" multiple times, as a deterrent to ignoring retirement planning, but Chris actually recounts a story of someone in his life that had nothing but dog food in their pantry post-retirement. Yet she did not own a dog.* Topics Covered *Each topic is usually introduced with one of Chris' personal stories where he finds a way to wrap it into a retirement lesson. As you would expect, he covers budgeting, types and methods of investing, tax-advantaged accounts, insurance products to get and avoid, and how to avoid many pitfalls that have ruined the retirements of countless others. The core message is to dream big, but put that dream on paper so you can make it happen.While a couple of the topics (history of a 401(k)) might not excite someone with a decent knowledge of finance, there is plenty of advice in there that almost anyone should be able to learn something. I went into the book with a pretty good background in finance, so the topics I found most interesting were more centered around behavior and relationships. Afterall, it's hard to retire inspired when your uninspired thirty-year-old son is still living in your basement.* Consistency *This is through-and-through a Dave Ramsey book. It is almost 100% consistent with anything I've ever heard Dave advise on his show or in his publications. Had they changed the text and picture on the cover of the book, you could have told me Dave wrote it and I would believe you. Here are some of the familiar concepts you'll read in Retire Inspired:- Save at least 15% for retirement, but only after all non-mortgage debt is paid off- Invest in mutual funds, not single stocks or bonds, evenly across these four categories: Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, and International- Get term life & long-term disability insurance, avoid whole life insurance- Make a plan to have your home paid off before retirement- Have a will and estate plan- Retire a millionaire on only a couple hundred bucks a month (if you start early enough)The only thing I noticed different from Dave's advice is all investment projections throughout Retire Inspired use a 10% return assumption instead of Dave's usual 12%. But the 12% debate gets old and is so distracting to worthwhile discussion that I am actually happy about this. His detractors constantly beat him up over the optimistic 12% figure, but they are missing the point. Whether you get 6, 10, or 12 percent, what matters is that you are constantly investing. Because even if you only end up with a 6% return, you'll end up with a significantly better retirement than people too busy whining about rates of return to bother actually investing.* Call to Action *Early on, you'll be prompted to find your Retirement IQ (R:IQ) from his website, ChrisHogan360 dot com. This will ask you some questions and spit out a dollar amount that can help you get started with a gameplan and a good idea of where you need to be now, to end up where you want to be at retirement. As he frequently says, retirement is a number, not an age.Near the end of the book, Chris gives a great gameplan summary tailored to each age group (20s, 30s, 40s, etc). An inspired retirement is within your reach no matter when you start, but since you can't escape the reality of math, the later you wait, the more pressure you'll have to keep up. As you are still young, there is more importance of starting regular retirement contributions, regardless of how little or much you can contribute to it. Time and compounding are your friend. As you get closer to retirement, it becomes more important to make sure you safeguard it with the proper insurance and planning, as well as avoiding relationships, habits, and poor decisions that can quickly destroy decades worth of progress. If this book can even motivate you to save and invest a few bucks extra each month, you'll end up better off during retirement to the tune of thousands of dollars.* Summary *Retire Inspired for me, was reinforcement of many great ideas I have already subscribed to as a big Dave Ramsey fan. But even if you aren't a fan, now is a great time to become one. If you never even get past Dave's foreword in the book, you'll benefit immensely as I have from simply implementing the seven Baby Steps in your financial plan. It's simple, yet solid and proven advice to set yourself up for unbelievable prosperity.I have followed all of Dave's and Chris' advice in my own life and can personally attest to its effectiveness. It's not fancy or complicated, but it works, and is the reason my wife and I were able to pay off our house and do our debt-free scream live on Dave's show a few weeks ago. In fact, its simplicity is far more a pro than a con. It won't leave you confused and wondering what the heck you're doing like many other financial advisers I've listened to. It is the reason I have confidence in my own retirement outlook and I can easily recommend it to anyone else who wants to experience true financial peace. I would have loved for Chris to go even more deep into detail about some topics, such as mutual fund selection, or setting up a will. But I have a feeling we will be seeing and hearing much more from Chris Hogan, and I look forward to getting even more inspiration to help me retire with dignity and leave a legacy for future generations.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2016
    Yes, I will admit it. I would have never heard of or read this book if it wasn't for the constant endorsement and promotion by Dave Ramsey. But as a follower and recent debt-free screamer live from his studio (hour 2 of the Dec 14 show), I am a firm believer in his plan and everything he teaches. It has worked very well for me and my family. So I am reviewing this from the perspective of a huge Dave Ramsey fan who is very interested in seeing what his new "Ramsey Personality" (Chris Hogan) has to offer.

    * Context *
    If the name Dave Ramsey doesn't sound familiar, it definitely will by time you get a few pages into this book. Chris Hogan is, afterall, a full-fledged "Ramsey Personality" that operates under the Dave Ramsey brand. As such, nearly everything in Retire Inspired is consistent with Dave's advice and brand. In the context of Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps (made famous in his Total Money Makeover book), Retire Inspired is really about steps 4-7. If you want to get anything out of this book, you should already be through steps 1-3 before worrying about your retirement, unless you plan on re-reading this later on when you get there. Both Chris and Dave strongly recommend doing these steps in the proper order. In a nutshell, steps 1-3 are being free of all non-mortgage debt and having an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. The foreword of this book (by Dave Ramsey) briefly recaps these seven baby steps and it is important to understand them before delving into Retire Inspired as they are constantly referenced throughout.

    * Chris Hogan *
    Like many, I first heard of Chris Hogan by his many guest appearances on the Dave Ramsey show. There is a reason he is marketed as the "Voice of Retirement". Retirement is the topic he specializes in and THAT VOICE. Seriously, I would recommend anyone interested in reading Retire Inspired first listen to just ten minutes of him speaking, so that you'll be able to read the entire book in his voice rather than in the voice of a faceless financial guru. It's deep, powerful, and attention-grabbing. In fact, I would love to go through it again in the audiobook format. He speaks with confidence and finesse, and getting to know a little bit more about who he is really does enhance the reading experience.

    Throughout the book, Chris makes many topics more relatable by tying them into many interesting stores from his life, and the lives of others he met through his experiences as a financial counselor. Some of these stories are kind of predictable, but some of them do very well at hammering home the message that regardless of your age, you can't ignore the importance of starting your retirement planning *now*. I've heard Dave Ramsey mention in jest the fictional book "100 Ways to Prepare Alpo" multiple times, as a deterrent to ignoring retirement planning, but Chris actually recounts a story of someone in his life that had nothing but dog food in their pantry post-retirement. Yet she did not own a dog.

    * Topics Covered *
    Each topic is usually introduced with one of Chris' personal stories where he finds a way to wrap it into a retirement lesson. As you would expect, he covers budgeting, types and methods of investing, tax-advantaged accounts, insurance products to get and avoid, and how to avoid many pitfalls that have ruined the retirements of countless others. The core message is to dream big, but put that dream on paper so you can make it happen.

    While a couple of the topics (history of a 401(k)) might not excite someone with a decent knowledge of finance, there is plenty of advice in there that almost anyone should be able to learn something. I went into the book with a pretty good background in finance, so the topics I found most interesting were more centered around behavior and relationships. Afterall, it's hard to retire inspired when your uninspired thirty-year-old son is still living in your basement.

    * Consistency *
    This is through-and-through a Dave Ramsey book. It is almost 100% consistent with anything I've ever heard Dave advise on his show or in his publications. Had they changed the text and picture on the cover of the book, you could have told me Dave wrote it and I would believe you. Here are some of the familiar concepts you'll read in Retire Inspired:
    - Save at least 15% for retirement, but only after all non-mortgage debt is paid off
    - Invest in mutual funds, not single stocks or bonds, evenly across these four categories: Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, and International
    - Get term life & long-term disability insurance, avoid whole life insurance
    - Make a plan to have your home paid off before retirement
    - Have a will and estate plan
    - Retire a millionaire on only a couple hundred bucks a month (if you start early enough)

    The only thing I noticed different from Dave's advice is all investment projections throughout Retire Inspired use a 10% return assumption instead of Dave's usual 12%. But the 12% debate gets old and is so distracting to worthwhile discussion that I am actually happy about this. His detractors constantly beat him up over the optimistic 12% figure, but they are missing the point. Whether you get 6, 10, or 12 percent, what matters is that you are constantly investing. Because even if you only end up with a 6% return, you'll end up with a significantly better retirement than people too busy whining about rates of return to bother actually investing.

    * Call to Action *
    Early on, you'll be prompted to find your Retirement IQ (R:IQ) from his website, ChrisHogan360 dot com. This will ask you some questions and spit out a dollar amount that can help you get started with a gameplan and a good idea of where you need to be now, to end up where you want to be at retirement. As he frequently says, retirement is a number, not an age.

    Near the end of the book, Chris gives a great gameplan summary tailored to each age group (20s, 30s, 40s, etc). An inspired retirement is within your reach no matter when you start, but since you can't escape the reality of math, the later you wait, the more pressure you'll have to keep up. As you are still young, there is more importance of starting regular retirement contributions, regardless of how little or much you can contribute to it. Time and compounding are your friend. As you get closer to retirement, it becomes more important to make sure you safeguard it with the proper insurance and planning, as well as avoiding relationships, habits, and poor decisions that can quickly destroy decades worth of progress. If this book can even motivate you to save and invest a few bucks extra each month, you'll end up better off during retirement to the tune of thousands of dollars.

    * Summary *
    Retire Inspired for me, was reinforcement of many great ideas I have already subscribed to as a big Dave Ramsey fan. But even if you aren't a fan, now is a great time to become one. If you never even get past Dave's foreword in the book, you'll benefit immensely as I have from simply implementing the seven Baby Steps in your financial plan. It's simple, yet solid and proven advice to set yourself up for unbelievable prosperity.

    I have followed all of Dave's and Chris' advice in my own life and can personally attest to its effectiveness. It's not fancy or complicated, but it works, and is the reason my wife and I were able to pay off our house and do our debt-free scream live on Dave's show a few weeks ago. In fact, its simplicity is far more a pro than a con. It won't leave you confused and wondering what the heck you're doing like many other financial advisers I've listened to. It is the reason I have confidence in my own retirement outlook and I can easily recommend it to anyone else who wants to experience true financial peace. I would have loved for Chris to go even more deep into detail about some topics, such as mutual fund selection, or setting up a will. But I have a feeling we will be seeing and hearing much more from Chris Hogan, and I look forward to getting even more inspiration to help me retire with dignity and leave a legacy for future generations.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Text does not do this man's voice justice

    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2016
    Yes, I will admit it. I would have never heard of or read this book if it wasn't for the constant endorsement and promotion by Dave Ramsey. But as a follower and recent debt-free screamer live from his studio (hour 2 of the Dec 14 show), I am a firm believer in his plan and everything he teaches. It has worked very well for me and my family. So I am reviewing this from the perspective of a huge Dave Ramsey fan who is very interested in seeing what his new "Ramsey Personality" (Chris Hogan) has to offer.

    * Context *
    If the name Dave Ramsey doesn't sound familiar, it definitely will by time you get a few pages into this book. Chris Hogan is, afterall, a full-fledged "Ramsey Personality" that operates under the Dave Ramsey brand. As such, nearly everything in Retire Inspired is consistent with Dave's advice and brand. In the context of Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps (made famous in his Total Money Makeover book), Retire Inspired is really about steps 4-7. If you want to get anything out of this book, you should already be through steps 1-3 before worrying about your retirement, unless you plan on re-reading this later on when you get there. Both Chris and Dave strongly recommend doing these steps in the proper order. In a nutshell, steps 1-3 are being free of all non-mortgage debt and having an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. The foreword of this book (by Dave Ramsey) briefly recaps these seven baby steps and it is important to understand them before delving into Retire Inspired as they are constantly referenced throughout.

    * Chris Hogan *
    Like many, I first heard of Chris Hogan by his many guest appearances on the Dave Ramsey show. There is a reason he is marketed as the "Voice of Retirement". Retirement is the topic he specializes in and THAT VOICE. Seriously, I would recommend anyone interested in reading Retire Inspired first listen to just ten minutes of him speaking, so that you'll be able to read the entire book in his voice rather than in the voice of a faceless financial guru. It's deep, powerful, and attention-grabbing. In fact, I would love to go through it again in the audiobook format. He speaks with confidence and finesse, and getting to know a little bit more about who he is really does enhance the reading experience.

    Throughout the book, Chris makes many topics more relatable by tying them into many interesting stores from his life, and the lives of others he met through his experiences as a financial counselor. Some of these stories are kind of predictable, but some of them do very well at hammering home the message that regardless of your age, you can't ignore the importance of starting your retirement planning *now*. I've heard Dave Ramsey mention in jest the fictional book "100 Ways to Prepare Alpo" multiple times, as a deterrent to ignoring retirement planning, but Chris actually recounts a story of someone in his life that had nothing but dog food in their pantry post-retirement. Yet she did not own a dog.

    * Topics Covered *
    Each topic is usually introduced with one of Chris' personal stories where he finds a way to wrap it into a retirement lesson. As you would expect, he covers budgeting, types and methods of investing, tax-advantaged accounts, insurance products to get and avoid, and how to avoid many pitfalls that have ruined the retirements of countless others. The core message is to dream big, but put that dream on paper so you can make it happen.

    While a couple of the topics (history of a 401(k)) might not excite someone with a decent knowledge of finance, there is plenty of advice in there that almost anyone should be able to learn something. I went into the book with a pretty good background in finance, so the topics I found most interesting were more centered around behavior and relationships. Afterall, it's hard to retire inspired when your uninspired thirty-year-old son is still living in your basement.

    * Consistency *
    This is through-and-through a Dave Ramsey book. It is almost 100% consistent with anything I've ever heard Dave advise on his show or in his publications. Had they changed the text and picture on the cover of the book, you could have told me Dave wrote it and I would believe you. Here are some of the familiar concepts you'll read in Retire Inspired:
    - Save at least 15% for retirement, but only after all non-mortgage debt is paid off
    - Invest in mutual funds, not single stocks or bonds, evenly across these four categories: Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, and International
    - Get term life & long-term disability insurance, avoid whole life insurance
    - Make a plan to have your home paid off before retirement
    - Have a will and estate plan
    - Retire a millionaire on only a couple hundred bucks a month (if you start early enough)

    The only thing I noticed different from Dave's advice is all investment projections throughout Retire Inspired use a 10% return assumption instead of Dave's usual 12%. But the 12% debate gets old and is so distracting to worthwhile discussion that I am actually happy about this. His detractors constantly beat him up over the optimistic 12% figure, but they are missing the point. Whether you get 6, 10, or 12 percent, what matters is that you are constantly investing. Because even if you only end up with a 6% return, you'll end up with a significantly better retirement than people too busy whining about rates of return to bother actually investing.

    * Call to Action *
    Early on, you'll be prompted to find your Retirement IQ (R:IQ) from his website, ChrisHogan360 dot com. This will ask you some questions and spit out a dollar amount that can help you get started with a gameplan and a good idea of where you need to be now, to end up where you want to be at retirement. As he frequently says, retirement is a number, not an age.

    Near the end of the book, Chris gives a great gameplan summary tailored to each age group (20s, 30s, 40s, etc). An inspired retirement is within your reach no matter when you start, but since you can't escape the reality of math, the later you wait, the more pressure you'll have to keep up. As you are still young, there is more importance of starting regular retirement contributions, regardless of how little or much you can contribute to it. Time and compounding are your friend. As you get closer to retirement, it becomes more important to make sure you safeguard it with the proper insurance and planning, as well as avoiding relationships, habits, and poor decisions that can quickly destroy decades worth of progress. If this book can even motivate you to save and invest a few bucks extra each month, you'll end up better off during retirement to the tune of thousands of dollars.

    * Summary *
    Retire Inspired for me, was reinforcement of many great ideas I have already subscribed to as a big Dave Ramsey fan. But even if you aren't a fan, now is a great time to become one. If you never even get past Dave's foreword in the book, you'll benefit immensely as I have from simply implementing the seven Baby Steps in your financial plan. It's simple, yet solid and proven advice to set yourself up for unbelievable prosperity.

    I have followed all of Dave's and Chris' advice in my own life and can personally attest to its effectiveness. It's not fancy or complicated, but it works, and is the reason my wife and I were able to pay off our house and do our debt-free scream live on Dave's show a few weeks ago. In fact, its simplicity is far more a pro than a con. It won't leave you confused and wondering what the heck you're doing like many other financial advisers I've listened to. It is the reason I have confidence in my own retirement outlook and I can easily recommend it to anyone else who wants to experience true financial peace. I would have loved for Chris to go even more deep into detail about some topics, such as mutual fund selection, or setting up a will. But I have a feeling we will be seeing and hearing much more from Chris Hogan, and I look forward to getting even more inspiration to help me retire with dignity and leave a legacy for future generations.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2016
    Although many people in their twenties and thirties might not be interested in reading a book on retirement (I sure didn't, but now wish I had), I recommend that every one of them read this or listen to the audiobook. A story early in the book about a guy that was able to retire in his forties, really made me wish I had paid more attention to this stuff 20 years ago. The guy had a plan and really saved well for retirement, and is now able to live the rest of his life doing what he "wants to" rather than what he "has to".

    The R:IQ tool mentioned in the book is a free modeling tool that you can use to see how much you need to save monthly to be able to retire in the number of years you enter. You can play around with the numbers, such as changing the number of years until you retire, to see how it affects the amount you need to contribute monthly. It gave me comfort that I'm on track to get where I need to be, and after tweaking my numbers a bit, it even made me realize that I may very well be able to retire earlier than originally planned!!

    The most enlightening part for me was when Chris explained the various types of investments. Normally my eyes glaze over when I start hearing about stocks and bonds, but Chris explained it in a way that was not only easy to understand, but enjoyable to read. He uses great analogies throughout the book. Here's to looking forward to my "want to" years, rather than my "have to" years. There is hope!
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
    I am enjoying reading. This book is very informative. It has a lot of wisdom and direction and how to go about doing retirement and finances in a way that you will be able to maintain your freedom and not have to work while you’re retired. They are great strategies for planning for retirement at any age but again take your time reading it don’t rush through it. You may even want to take a few notes as you go.
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    5.0 out of 5 stars
    This book is a slow read!

    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
    I am enjoying reading. This book is very informative. It has a lot of wisdom and direction and how to go about doing retirement and finances in a way that you will be able to maintain your freedom and not have to work while you’re retired. They are great strategies for planning for retirement at any age but again take your time reading it don’t rush through it. You may even want to take a few notes as you go.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018
    Really good read. I'm 36 and already feel like I am probably behind in getting going in the retirement planning. Hogan gives a lot of good inspiration, life lessons, and some sound financial advice. As already a Dave Ramsey fan, this is easily a companion book in the Ramsey series of books. While I liked that, you can tell from the obvious exact same teachings as Ramsey are mimicked in this book. So basically, I feel like if you're not a fan of Ramsey's teachings, you probably won't fully appreciate this book..even though you should.
    In addition, if you've heard Hogan's deep Barry White-like voice on Ramsey's radio/youtube show, then you'll be able to really comprehend and speed through reading this book as it is written just like he speaks. For me, that always helps. If anything, this book is a good ass-kicking to anyone needed to get the ball rolling on retirement planning...starting at any age.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    Chris touches on some very important financial issues but also relational and emotional issues which play such a big part when handling money.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022
    I can't recommend this book enough. This book is very readable for the average person. It has wise principles and timeless wisdom. If you are young and you decide to follow it, it will probably add at least a million dollars to your retirement portfolio. As he says in the book, "Who ever retired and was angry they had too much money"? My wife and I have performed about 150 pre-marital counseling and it is on our recommended book reading list. For my wife and me, what's our goal? We're looking forward to having both the time and the money to help others in our retirement.
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  • Ashton
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any young person!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2020
    As a young mind trying to navigate a world of uncertainty, This book has done wonders for me and my financial future. A very well written and thought out book!
  • Patricia Groves
    5.0 out of 5 stars Common sense by the bucket load!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2016
    Five stars for this heart warming guide to preparing for retirement. Just about every scenario is covered, from how much to save, to how to handle needy relatives or college fees for your children. It's not just great financial advice, it's good old down to earth common sense too.

    While written for the American market, it's just as valid for Europeans. Ignore the references to 401(k)s, and research relevant or similar schemes in your own country. The core principles remain the same.

    This book has inspired me. Worth every cent. (I bought the e-book version.)
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Australia on January 31, 2019
    Very inspiring. Ideas for putting plans in place and motivating one to make change. Definitely recommend this book to anyone
  • AirMcJosh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
    Reviewed in Japan on October 26, 2018
    This book changed the way I think of my own future.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on financial planning!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020
    So glad I read this book. I’ve already changed my habits thanks to Mr Ramsey. This book has provided invaluable information to help me plan for my retirement while explaining in layman’s terms the fascinating world of stocks, shares and mutual funds. For the first time ever I can say mutual funds make sense to me now, thank you so much.