Our generation is called the "sandwich generation" because there are more people born before us and more after us.  We're like the middle section of the hourglass.

What this means is that we have to plan for ourselves, and possibly our own parents and our kids...all at the same time.  If you are under 40, your parents might be Baby Boomers, people born from 1946-1964.  And they're all hitting retirement age starting in 2007 and it will keep growing.

Why should you care?

Well, on a personal level, your parents might not have enough money to last them into their 90's.  Do you know that the average life expectancy in the US is rising?  Think about it...medical care is always improving, people are living longer with diseases like diabetes and cancer.  There are replaceable parts like hips and knees!  People who retire at 65 can live well for another 30 years or so.  Who is saving for that???

You and/or your siblings might have to help them - can you afford it?  Aren't you trying to save for your own retirement?  Aren't you also trying to save for college?  Aren't you also just trying to get by day to day?  Paying your mortgage, car payments, gymnastics, karate, summer vacations, gym memberships, eating out, etc.?

On a National level, Social Security and Medicare have to support all these people - and you are paying for it.  So if it all gets used up on the Baby Boomers, will there be any left over for you when you're old?  Maybe not.  Hence the term, "Social InSecurity."

So talk with your parents and find a professional adviser to work with them to make sure they'll have enough money to last them.  Find yourself one too and I mean NOW!