Ray and Pete,

Ray; when I said "toys", I was using it symbolically, not literally. I meant that providing for your children and grandchildren was a goal that you're achieving. For me; I've moved into the camp of: "I want there to be enough for me and my wife." If we're lucky, then there'll be something left over for the inheritors.

Pete, I'm surprised that you're judging a book without reading it. Burns and Kotlikoff are two smart dudes. Burns has been advising people free of charge for many years thru his articles in the newspapers and now also his website. He's decided to add to his arsenal with assetbuilder which is the lowest cost financial service around for people who can't trust their own judgement (and also want DFA funds.)

Kotlikoff states in the beginning of the book that upon reading the book, you can apply the principles that ESplanner provides, and you don't have to buy the product. That says something about the lazy ass so-called financial planners who have to buy the product in order to advise their clients.

at one level, I think everyone basically wants more money rather than less

He's not saying "wants"; he's saying that sometimes "less equals more" when you have a third party messing with your plans (such as the IRS).

Sy