If you’re starting to think about retirement, Retirement Made Simple by Noel Whittaker is an excellent primer. Packed with examples, it gives you a solid foundation to get your retirement planning started. Whittaker takes what can feel like a daunting task – figuring out how to fund your retirement – and breaks it down into bite-sized, manageable pieces. This book is perfect if the idea of retirement has been sitting in the back of your mind but you’ve been putting off planning because it feels overwhelming.

Right off the bat, Whittaker lays down a crucial point: Retirement is going to last longer than most of us think, and counting on the age pension alone is probably not going to cut it. You’ve got to have a plan, and the earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. He covers the basics –superannuation, the age pension and estate planning –but he doesn’t stop there. He also gets into more personal stuff, like how to stay happy and fulfilled when you’re not working anymore. It’s not overly complicated, but like Whittaker says, sticking with smart decisions over time is what will make the difference.

One of the best things about the book is how Whittaker explains these financial concepts in a way that’s easy to grasp without talking down to you. Whether he’s showing you how to reduce risk in your investments or explaining the pros and cons of downsizing your home, his advice is both practical and easy to apply. Plus, he throws in plenty of tips to avoid the common pitfalls people stumble into when planning for retirement.

In short, Retirement Made Simple is a roadmap to securing your financial future with confidence. Whether retirement is a few years away or just around the corner, this book will help you get started.