Comments on: I Am Apparently Not on the Path to a Comfortable Retirement (Win $50,000) http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mariette http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-118248 Mariette Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:33:55 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-118248 While it's an interesting tool I found the talking head condesending and annoying, so it was good I could turn her off! I did like that it wasn't a spreadsheet though and it did have some useful suggestions for what I could do to save more. Another tool which has the suggestion feature more successfully employed (and the fact that I know the guy who started the website isn't influencing my opinion at all) is the one at Boulevard R. It's also user friendly, and is quite useful in the way it starts with what you want to be able to do when you retire and then works backwards from there. As someone just getting started I found this immensely helpful. While it’s an interesting tool I found the talking head condesending and annoying, so it was good I could turn her off! I did like that it wasn’t a spreadsheet though and it did have some useful suggestions for what I could do to save more. Another tool which has the suggestion feature more successfully employed (and the fact that I know the guy who started the website isn’t influencing my opinion at all) is the one at Boulevard R. It’s also user friendly, and is quite useful in the way it starts with what you want to be able to do when you retire and then works backwards from there. As someone just getting started I found this immensely helpful.

]]> By: canadian paid survey http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-81733 canadian paid survey Sat, 03 Feb 2007 08:04:36 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-81733 canadian paid survey... Responding to this survey is voluntary. You can receive the results by email each time the survey is a struggle for most researchers.... canadian paid survey…

Responding to this survey is voluntary. You can receive the results by email each time the survey is a struggle for most researchers….

]]> By: terrence http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-67004 terrence Wed, 25 Oct 2006 02:21:32 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-67004 I tried it twice, and got 163 and 161. Both times I looked at what it said were the numbers I entered. There was NO relationship to what I had entered, NONE! Print the report, then check the tabs. I recall that one says something like: "what you entered". I tried it twice, and got 163 and 161.
Both times I looked at what it said were the numbers I entered. There was NO relationship to what I had entered, NONE!

Print the report, then check the tabs. I recall that one says something like: “what you entered”.

]]> By: Ankit http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66996 Ankit Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:46:17 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66996 Got an 89 but I had to assume I was 35. I am actually 26. I think by 35, my score will be well over 100... Was not impressed by it, as it is too simplistic. Got an 89 but I had to assume I was 35. I am actually 26. I think by 35, my score will be well over 100… Was not impressed by it, as it is too simplistic.

]]> By: Michelle Hope http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66992 Michelle Hope Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:33:59 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66992 I really think you need to own a home to get a good score. I feel very confident in my financial position, but since I don't own a home, my score was crap!! I don't NEED to own a home - my long-term boyfriend/partner owns one, and I live with him. So, all that money goes to savings, but my score came out at 87! I really think you need to own a home to get a good score. I feel very confident in my financial position, but since I don’t own a home, my score was crap!! I don’t NEED to own a home – my long-term boyfriend/partner owns one, and I live with him. So, all that money goes to savings, but my score came out at 87!

]]> By: Lazy Man and Money http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66960 Lazy Man and Money Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:07:25 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66960 I found the tool of little value as well. I scored a 78 and then realized that perhaps the low score has something to do with a recent raise I got (just about a month ago). So I put my old salary in and my score jumped to 146. It assumed I had been used to the big salary and will need that in retirement. So while one may think a raise is good as it will allow you to save more for the future, it seems to reflect negatively in this quiz. I found the tool of little value as well. I scored a 78 and then realized that perhaps the low score has something to do with a recent raise I got (just about a month ago). So I put my old salary in and my score jumped to 146. It assumed I had been used to the big salary and will need that in retirement.

So while one may think a raise is good as it will allow you to save more for the future, it seems to reflect negatively in this quiz.

]]> By: savvysaver http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66946 savvysaver Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:28:21 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66946 This tool is of very limited value. I received a 149, but I have no idea how they came up with that because I was never asked how much money we contribute to IRAs and 401(k)s. Are they implying that we could quit saving now and still retire? If so, then their logic is flawed. This tool is of very limited value. I received a 149, but I have no idea how they came up with that because I was never asked how much money we contribute to IRAs and 401(k)s. Are they implying that we could quit saving now and still retire? If so, then their logic is flawed.

]]> By: folleyball http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66942 folleyball Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:26:42 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66942 RetirAbility Calculator... FiveCentNickel and Consumerism Commentary both have a new ad with a new retirement calculator. Supermomma4 & I score a 118 (which means based on information I supplied, in retirement, we would have 118% of our current living standard). Both fivecen... RetirAbility Calculator…

FiveCentNickel and Consumerism Commentary both have a new ad with a new retirement calculator.
Supermomma4 & I score a 118 (which means based on information I supplied, in retirement, we would have 118% of our current living standard).
Both fivecen…

]]> By: Ken http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66940 Ken Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:22:39 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66940 I think this is totally bogus. It didn't ask how much is being contributed to 401(k)s. Seeing as how this will be one of, if not the biggest contributing factor to retirement savings/investment for most people I'd say that's quite an oversight. There are too many factors that this doesn't account for. I think this is totally bogus. It didn’t ask how much is being contributed to 401(k)s. Seeing as how this will be one of, if not the biggest contributing factor to retirement savings/investment for most people I’d say that’s quite an oversight. There are too many factors that this doesn’t account for.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66923 Flexo Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:21:51 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66923 Dividend Guy: They did offer suggestions, like reducing credit card debt (not applicable, but the quiz did not differentiate between student loans and credit cards) and buying a house. Of course, they're pointing people towards working with a financial professional. Dividend Guy: They did offer suggestions, like reducing credit card debt (not applicable, but the quiz did not differentiate between student loans and credit cards) and buying a house. Of course, they’re pointing people towards working with a financial professional.

]]> By: Sun http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66919 Sun Tue, 24 Oct 2006 03:46:35 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66919 I also got 200+, but I am not sure the true meaning of the score. This is similar to the nest egg score from A. G. Edwards you posted before. I also got 200+, but I am not sure the true meaning of the score. This is similar to the nest egg score from A. G. Edwards you posted before.

]]> By: thc http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66914 thc Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:51:13 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66914 Wow! I wish I'd done this well in college--200+ was my score. I guess I've always been a saver, made some pretty smart investments along the way too. Wow! I wish I’d done this well in college–200+ was my score. I guess I’ve always been a saver, made some pretty smart investments along the way too.

]]> By: The Dividend Guy http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66912 The Dividend Guy Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:39:07 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/10/23/i-am-apparently-not-on-the-path-to-a-comfortable-retirement/#comment-66912 Interesting tool, although I never made it all the way through. I am from Canada and a lot of this is obviously US focused. That being said, I could have probably gone through it an linked up things like the 401k to out RSP. At the end of the tool, did they have suggestions for how they could help meet your goals? (sorry about the cynicism!) The Dividend Guy Interesting tool, although I never made it all the way through. I am from Canada and a lot of this is obviously US focused. That being said, I could have probably gone through it an linked up things like the 401k to out RSP.

At the end of the tool, did they have suggestions for how they could help meet your goals? (sorry about the cynicism!)

The Dividend Guy

]]>