You hear lots of talk about the fading luster of the American middle class. Experts say baby boomers are the first generation since the 1930s that’ll be worse off than their parents in retirement. But there’s no reason you have to be dragged down by a national trend. After all, as an individual you have the power to improve your own situation. And, frankly, nobody else is going to do it for you. You can escape the undertow.

This month’s cover story puts you on the path to a retirement overseas where you control your future, where you have not fewer choices for how you’ll live…but many, many more. In our Annual Global Retirement Index 2012, we profile the 19 best destinations on the planet for retirement today. Places where you can afford to hire a maid and gardener, wake up to a view, have great health care, eat well, enjoy the finer things in life—all for a fraction of what it would cost to stay home.

See below for all the articles in your January 2012 issue. If you’d prefer to read your issue in PDF format, click here.