I found the most helpful advice I've seen to date in a Times story called "A Boot Camp for Retirement." Not surprisingly, the "camp" is run by two women -- investment counselors -- who advise their clients to get their financial and emotional houses in order before retiring. They so believe in what they say that they share it, free of charge, in this story: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/your-money/25money.html?pagewanted=2&em.