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November 21, 2004 08:31 PM

How to Forecast a Lifespan


Excerpt: Need a better idea of just how long you might live -- and how you might be able to extend that time? Try these life-expectancy calculators. If nothing else, each of these calculators can help answer an always interesting question: How do you know when you're middle-aged? The answer: Find out when you're going to die, and divide by two.


Need a better idea of just how long you might live -- and how you might be able to extend that time? Try these life-expectancy calculators.

One of the big question marks in planning for retirement, long-term care and related needs is life expectancy. How long will my nest egg need to last? How long will my spouse need financial and medical support? Chances are good that the answers to such questions can be summarized as: longer than you think. A person who reaches age 65 in the U.S. has a life expectancy of 18 years. And remember, that's the average; about half of those who reach 65 will live beyond age 83.

Averages are a good starting point, but if you're looking for a better number for your life expectancy, try the following Web sites and calculators. Most ask a series of questions about your family history, personal habits and lifestyle. And most will show you how slightly different answers -- in terms of what you eat, for instance, or how much you exercise -- could change the final number.

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Read all 23 posts in the same category of Retirement:

Bush Says Social Security Plan Would Reassure Markets - Dec 17, 2004
Are You Ready To Retire? - Dec 13, 2004
Last-Minute Retirement Planning - Dec 12, 2004
Small Change Adds Up To Big Savings - Dec 09, 2004
Bush To Borrow To Fix Social Security - Dec 07, 2004
Moving Smoothly Into Retirement - Dec 07, 2004
Get Healthy, Get Wealthy - Dec 06, 2004
Five Books to Retire By - Dec 05, 2004
Tax Policy Promotes Early Retirement - Dec 02, 2004
Fidelity Analyzes Pension Performance - Dec 02, 2004
Social Security COLA Increase Looks Puny - Dec 02, 2004
No More IRA Leniency - Nov 29, 2004
To Yield A Good Retirement, Get Real, And Work It Out - Nov 28, 2004
Social Security Reforms On The Way? - Nov 26, 2004
Some New Ways To Preserve Your Retirement - Nov 23, 2004
Living Trust Offers: How to Make Sure They're Trust-Worthy - Nov 22, 2004
Be Happy, And Put Retirement Fears to Rest - Nov 21, 2004
Seven Ways to Stop Saying 'Oops!' - Nov 21, 2004
Retirees Don't Have to Be So Frugal: A Case for Withdrawing Up to 6% a Year - Nov 17, 2004
How to Avoid Living Like a Poor Student at Age 70 - Nov 09, 2004
What Social Security Might Look Like - Nov 09, 2004
Are You Retirement Ready -- Or Not? - Nov 03, 2004