Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

In retirement you are likely to have several possibilities of income streams. Retirement accounts, Social Security, home equity, pensions, and part-time work are the most frequently citied sources of expected retirement income. According to a recent survey, nearly half of the respondents said they thought their most important source of retirement income would be personal investments and savings. Just 14% said employer-funded pensions, and 20% said Social Security. The truth is that actually the traditional “guaranteed” sources of retirement income such as Social Security, pensions, etc. are becoming less certain. Here are ten potential sources of retirement income:

The best retirement decisions come from the most accurate information.

Individuals who collect the most accurate information about their own retirement attitudes can make the best decisions.

A retirement annuity can provide dependable security: a stream of income payments that will continue for the rest of your life or for a period you select. If you are about to stop working, a retirement annuity may be a good place to put a large sum of money accumulated through a deferred annuity, a retirement plan or other savings vehicles.

Retirement may seem too far away, but if you hope to enjoy your golden years, it takes careful planning now to maximize your retirement savings.

For women, retirement planning requires even more forethought given the unique challenges they face, such as career gaps for family responsibilities, part-time work, lower pay and increased longevity. These factors make a big difference in the amount of savings women are able to accumulate for retirement. That's why it's crucial to plan now for the future rather than put it off or leave it up to your spouse to make those decisions.

•    Take charge
•    Start saving early
•    Maximize Social Security
•    Prioritize
•    Go with a professional advisor

This advice applies to men and women alike. Start early, set your goals, create priorities, maximize your savings, get professional help.