BLACK ENTERPRISE Reveals the 20 Best Places to Retire.

Plus: Financial Planning in Volatile Markets, Recovering From a Battered Portfolio, and Today's Safest Investment Vehicles--All in October Retirement Issue

NEW YORK -- For millions of Americans, having a comfortable retirement is in jeopardy. Over the past year, Wall Street volatility has battered portfolios, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers--iconic institutions in the American financial system--have collapsed, and subprime mortgages have wreaked havoc on the housing market. Because of the rapidly shifting economy and the new dynamics of financial planning, BLACK ENTERPRISE has packed its October Retirement Issue with a bevy of strategies to resuscitate your finances and reclaim the goal of a contented retirement. "We reveal where you want to live, how to develop a portfolio that will get you there, and--if you've taken a financial hit--the best way to get back on track," says BLACK ENTERPRISE Editor-in-Chief Derek T. Dingle. "The objective of our package is to make sure your retirement is filled with options and free from worry."

For those savvy readers who are sitting on a comfortable nest egg, BLACK ENTERPRISE presents its inaugural list of the "20 Best Places to Retire." In determining this ranking of the top retirement destinations, BLACK ENTERPRISE's editorial team took into account factors such as quality of life, healthcare facilities, taxes, general climate, and availability of culture and leisure activities. Topping the list is Durham, North Carolina. Known as the City of Medicine, Durham is home to the world-class Duke University Hospital. Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Atlantic Ocean beaches and three hours from the Great Smokey Mountains, Durham has more than 300 restaurants and more than 40 annual festivals. Its mild climate and affordable housing make it an ideal place to enjoy life. Rounding out the top five are No. 2, Charlottesville, Virginia; No. 3, Ann Arbor, Michigan; No. 4, Nashville, Tennessee; and No. 5, Lexington, Kentucky (Pg. 110).

Also in the October 2008 issue:

As the mortgage crisis continues to wreak havoc in the financial world, "Surviving the Banking Storm" details how homeowners can protect their assets and safeguard their large investments. (Pg. 85).

Finding top-performing investments is critical to achieving any financial goal. In "The Moneywise 100," our semiannual listing of the best mutual funds, BLACK ENTERPRISE explains how to actually profit from the high cost of gas (Pg. 97).

For baby boomers quickly approaching their post-work years, "Solving the Retirement Puzzle" provides a step-by-step, tactical plan for how to identify multiple income streams, figure out lifelong financial needs, and preserve wealth despite the current economic climate.

The October 2008 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE is on newsstands now.

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source for wealth creation, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 3.9 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BLACK ENTERPRISE also produces radio and television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends.