Review of Your Future is NOW

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 30 Jun 2025, 10:48

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Your Future is NOW" by Jeffrey Panik, MSFS, CFP.]

5 out of 5 stars

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Have you thought about planning for retirement? Does it seem too far off or too complicated for you? Your Future is NOW is the book for the 78% of people who lack confidence in retirement preparation but want to take control of their financial destiny. Readers will never feel worried about their finances again after implementing the teachings of this blueprint.

This book is written by a professional with twenty-five years of financial advising experience, and it shows. The advice focuses on the essentials of building a personalised retirement plan. Even with all the information at your fingertips, it is difficult for the average person to assess their unique financial situation and create a retirement plan tailored to it. What works for one person may not work for another. Some may save extra for a vacation around the world, some may experience health issues earlier than expected, and some may take on more debt than usual. The one-size-fits-all magic bullet does not exist. I like how this book helps you formulate the plan that best suits your unique circumstances.

My favourite part of Your Future is NOW is the book’s hypothetical scenarios about Social Security strategy. The author walks the reader through the process step by step, starting with Bill and Samantha's retirement situation, then moving on to their actions (clearly outlined in bulleted lists), the options they considered, the pros and cons of each, and finally, the key factors they weighed before making a decision. I learnt that deciding when to take your benefits really matters. The scenarios make planning for retirement seem less confusing. They also show how important it is to think ahead and pay attention to things that feel super far away right now.

Your Future is NOW is best suited for readers over forty years old. Prior knowledge of basic personal finance concepts is not necessary, but it will help you better understand the content of this book. As for negatives, there are a few grammatical mistakes, but they do not affect my rating. For the reasons mentioned above, Your Future is NOW deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

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Your Future is NOW
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Post by **Kibet Hillary** » 13 Jul 2025, 13:11

It is good to read that the book comprises pragmatic tips that will enable the reader to save towards their retirement and not get worried again about their financial security in their sunset years. This is even more important given that people are living longer lives. Thanks for the review, @Chi Chiu Michael Mak.

Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine · Post by **Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine** » 14 Jul 2025, 03:04

This book is interesting; indeed the way retirement is planned need to be reviewed. For starters, people live longer and on average they are healthier in their 60s than the previous generations used to be. If people live to their 90s, retiring in their 60s is way too early. The author of this book shows that there is no one-size-fits-all, and the book formulates a plan that best suits your circumstance. I find the author's perspective very interesting. Thank you for your review

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 14 Jul 2025, 07:16

Yasmine ZM wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 03:04 This book is interesting; indeed the way retirement is planned need to be reviewed. For starters, people live longer and on average they are healthier in their 60s than the previous generations used to be. If people live to their 90s, retiring in their 60s is way too early. The author of this book shows that there is no one-size-fits-all, and the book formulates a plan that best suits your circumstance. I find the author's perspective very interesting. Thank you for your review

You are right that people today live longer than before. The book is more than evergreen; it's a necessity outright!

Helen Waziri · Post by **Helen Waziri** » 15 Jul 2025, 09:07

The use of detailed, hypothetical case studies like Bill and Samantha’s not only simplifies Social Security decisions but also underscores how small, well-informed choices can dramatically affect long-term outcomes. It’s this clarity and practicality that make the book stand out in a crowded genre.

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 25 Jul 2025, 11:13

From your review, I can see that this book is a useful guide for anyone planning for retirement. Examples provided would help the readers understand the concepts more easily and make the reading more engaging. Thanks for an amazing review, Michael!

Post by **Anu Anand** » 25 Jul 2025, 11:56

I’ve always wondered how to prepare for unexpected expenses. I like that this book offers real examples and practical advice. Seems like a great read to plan ahead. Thanks for the review @Chi Chiu Michael Mak.

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 25 Jul 2025, 12:07

It is important to plan for one's retirement ahead of time. The years fly by fast—the title of this book reflects that. I am happily retired because I contributed to a pension plan for my whole career. If one doesn't have a pension plan to contribute to, there are other strategies. Read this book!

Post by **Seetha E** » 25 Jul 2025, 21:37

This is a crucial resource. Given how quickly things happen around us, it's easy not to think about planning or investing for later years. By the time we realize we should, we're in our 40s and feel it's too late for the savings to make a difference. Better late than never, and I'm glad there's something for everyone in this book. Thank you for your recommendation.

Post by **Magdalyne chebet** » 27 Jul 2025, 03:19

That question really got me thinking. Retirement often feels so far away, but now I’m curious about how prepared I actually am. I’d love to read this book and learn more. Thank you for the recommendation!