It’s time to retire: So, which of your savings vehicles should you tap first? Here’s what retired Americans need to know

For starters, cash doesn't work for you the way investments do. In fact, it loses value in direct proportion to inflation. For instance, $2,000 at the turn of the century could purchase about $3,839 worth of goods today, provided it kept pace with the consumer price index. But if your cash has been sitting in a shoebox or a zero-interest checking account for 26 years, it would still be worth $2,000 today.Cash is king for those who hope to kick off the golden years in royal style. If you've built cash reserv ...