Book Review: Martin Hawes' Twenty Good Summers

How do you fund the life you want when you are no longer part of the daily grind?

When you do get to the stage of wanting to step back and have an easier lifestyle how do you know you have enough?

Best-selling financial author, Martin Hawes shows you how to plan the life you want, maximise your financial potential in your earning years and recognise when the time is right to make the break and re-organise your finances to sustain your new lifestyle.

The catalyst for this book was when the author turned 50. Hawes took this milestone as a wakeup call for the fact that time was sliding by. It got him thinking that maybe he only had twenty good summers left (hopefully more). Twenty summers to enjoy what he loves doing and live the life he wants to.

Throughout the book there are handy examples of couples that are nearing or planning their retirement and how they go about achieving their goals. Hawes also revisits some of the terms used in previous books, such as the difference between Wealth Creating Assets and Security Assets.

Hawes acknowledges that typical ‘baby boomers’ will never retire like the previous generation, but will continue to travel, contribute to the community and have more time to relax.

It is your job to figure out how you want to spend your next years and how to rearrange and unlock the capital that you have. The important things to remember are to maintain focus on the life you want and plan – and plan early.

The starting point is to decide how much you need to live on and when you aim to make the break from the nine to five routine to a more relaxed lifestyle. Then it’s just a matter of putting this plan into action.

This book is ideal for those people planning an easier lifestyle – no matter their age.

It’s time to make every summer count!

Twenty Good Summers is available through the Good Returns Bookstore (www.goodreturns.co.nz/books or call 0800 345 675)

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