The Internet is teeming with guidance on what steps to take as retirement draws near. The must-do list can be pared to a handful of essential pre-retirement moves.

Here are four steps to take before retirement.

Free Retirement Calculator: When Can You Retire? — Click Here to Find Out

1. Review Your Finances
Estimate what your retirement income will be annually from pensions, annuities, Social Security and any other sources. Determine, realistically, how much you can afford to spend, and what percentage you can regularly, safely withdraw from your portfolio without depleting it too rapidly.

Cheat Sheet advises: "Start with mapping out the monthly expenses, but don’t forget about big ticket items such as trips, home renovations, cars, and any financial assistance you plan to give family members."

2. Save
AARP suggests a renewed commitment to everyday budgeting before retirement begins, so as to get into the habit of saving: "Even cutting one movie night a month can bring you closer to your retirement goals."

Don't overlook the incentives that Uncle Sam gives to savers once they hit their 50s: The government raises annual caps on how much tax-deferred income can go into approved retirement accounts before they max out each year.

How Soon Can You Retire? Free Test Shows You When — Click Here

3. Think of Your Health
As we age, our health care spending tends to rise, so consider future expenses — seen and unforeseen — in terms of your health. Are you adequately insured? Do you have the right mix of Medicare and private coverage?

The "For Dummies" tutorial on personal finance and retirement planning urges serious consideration of long-term care insurance, expensive though it is, "to protect yourself and your spouse from a debilitating illness, which can destroy all that you have built financially."

4. Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Fidelity Investments suggests that trusts might also be a component of estate planning because "a will alone may not be enough to protect your assets."

An Extremely Simple Way to Determine If You're Ready to Retire — Find Out Now

Related Stories:

• What Is Probate Litigation?
• What to Do When Your Investments Tank