Book excerpt: So You Want to Retire is a practical, easy-to-read guide to retirement planning. For over 19 years, the author interviewed hundreds of retirees and pre-retirees to discover their experiences and advice for others.Arthur S. Montgomery reports that the same issues and concerns recur frequently. His book gives examples of some of the more common mistakes retirees make and shows ways to avoid making them. He not only covers financial planning for retirement, but also advises on the physical and mental health aspects that, when handled properly, can relieve burdens placed on loved ones.Montgomery says there are many ways for retirees to stay active, yet not be over-committed. He also points out the resources available to help pre-retiree have more information to make informed decisions. This book is for anyone who ever plans to retire Author and financial advisor Arthur S. Montgomery has written articles for publications since 1992, but this is his first book. He has advised retirees for nearly two decades. After reading several books on retirement planning and dealing with being downsized, I couldn't find any one book that answered all of the larger questions that most pre-retirees have regarding retirement planning. So I decided to write one that answered those questions. The Missouri native is married and has three children.