Marla Brill

Back in 1981, when I decided to specialize in personal finance journalism, being a business writer meant reporting about Fortune 500 companies or interpreting the Federal Reserve's latest move. Most women didn't know--or care-- what a mutual fund or annuity was. And pensions were still very much a part of the retirement landscape. Today, with traditional pension plans virtually non-existent outside of the public sector, saving and investing have become necessary for a secure retirement. Extended life expectancies and higher divorce rates mean more women in their 50s, 60s, and beyond face critical financial decisions about taxes, estate planning, and investing. After nearly 40 years of writing about personal finance for publications such as Kiplinger's Personal Finance, MarketWatch, and Reuters, my goal is still to make complex personal finance topics entertaining and understandable. As I look toward retirement, I hope to continue doing that for Baby Boomers getting ready for the challenges and opportunities of a new phase of life.