6 • MARTIN H. RUBY
company gave him a pension. During his later working years, he also saved in a 401(k), which his company matched handsomely. The current rules of saving were created for people like Irwin. They were created for a time when employers shouldered most of the financial commitment for an employee’s retirement fund, ei- ther through pensions or high 401(k) matches. My uncle didn’t contribute much to his retirement accounts: his pension was en- tirely funded by his company, and his 401(k) was heavily subsi- dized by his employer. Most of his annual salary went to daily use, not long-term savings. If you’re reading this book and you have a pension like Irwin, good for you! Keep on saving under the old rules. If you’re reading this book and your employer matches 10 per- cent or more of your 401(k) contributions like my uncle’s did, that’s great! Keep saving under the old rules, too. If you’re like most Americans and you’re saving for retirement without generous support from your employer, these rules aren’t going to work for you. That’s why I’ve created a new set of rules. Three Rules for a Better Future This book is about the New Rules of Retirement Saving. It’s about taking the same kind of insights and advancements that have taken place throughout our world, and applying them to re- tirement saving. These three rules are based on a blunt assessment of the risks you face today as a saver. Follow them, and you’ll be on a better path to saving. Why three rules? I could have created twenty or thirty new rules, from broad statements on savings philosophy to minutiae about daily savings activities, but I know you’re not going to re- member twenty rules. Besides, I’ve found it really boils down to three big actions. And if you take these three actions, you’ll be
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