I loved Sedona's post about why it is hard to retire because her post contains so much truth.  On the other hand, retirement for providers should be the same serious business that it is in other lines of work:  something to think about soberly and to plan for.  One of the sad things about the legal and social marginalization of escorting is that it discourages that type of planning and thinking.  So, ladies, here are some things to ponder:

1.  All of the wonderful plusses of providing -- lifestyle, no boss, great work -- are not, repeat NOT, reasons to forsake taking care of your future.  Visit a financial planner or get other professional advice, use your earning power now to take care of yourself later, open a brokerage account and decide to sock away a certain amount of money every month.  Get an IRA every year.

2.   Think of your work as a career rather than a job.  A career has a beginning, a middle and an end.  It is driven by goals and marked by accomplishments.  Your goals may be financial, they may be life-style oriented, they may be related to your reputation as a provider -- but whatever they are, give your work the dignity of something you're doing because you've chosen to do it -- and give it a "life."

3.   Then realize the obvious:  all living things must come to an end.  There are few things more pathetic than people who keep practicing their professions when they should be retired.  Realize that a time will come when it will be appropriate and desirable for you to do something else -- and it will be  really sad if you don't stop.  Plan for it, live large in the meantime, and exit gracefully while they're still calling for you.

Reverend Turkana now ends his sermon and steps down from the pulpit.  Thanks for listening.

In my humble opinion (based on experience gained from the 1960's to the present time) I would recommend the book listed below as being a good place for any novice investor to start.

Several books that I have given to ladies that I have gotten to know rather well. The Millionaire Next Door, The Motley Fool Guide to Investments, and Bogle on Mutual Funds. The old saying, people do not plan to fail, they fail to plan. It is esay to put off to tomorrow.... but it is not wise

If there are any ladies who do not grasp the value of the advice given by Turkana; Perhaps a quote from a very successful, very well invested provider I know will help drive it home.

 "There is nothing sadder than an Old, Fat, Broke Hooker"
                                                (J)

All the ladies owe you thanks, whether they realize it now or not.  A provider's career, like an athlete's, is necessarily short.  The time to think about what comes next is now.

After the above reading list by Leaky, you also might want to check out "Asset Allocation: Balancing Financial Risk" (2nd Edition) by Roger C. Gibson.

is Devil Take the Hindmost by Edward Chancelor. An easy read that will teach you not to get caught up in the hoopla of stocks. In 2000, I had already unloaded my Cisco, AOL, and Intel and ended up making 18% that year when a lot of people got crushed. Slow and steady is the way to go with stocks and you still might get lucky along the way and hit the big one.