I had been reading Scott Burns posts on financial investing and came across a reference to his book.  This book just wowed me with the concept of income leveling.  The idea is to have a constant standard of living throughout your lifetime.  That is, spend to the end.  Our biggest obstacle to this goal?  We cannot borrow enough while we are young.

My favorite chapter – Scott analyzes the fortunes of a woman and her jobless surfer boyfriend.  (A sexist turnabout.)  Also interesting is the analysis that there is a U in the plot of standard of living vs. income.  How?  Government subsidies phase out faster than income rises.  What’s the worst income to be at you ask?  You will have to read the book!

A must read, even if you don’t buy into the whole income leveling concept.