In a longitudinal study of preretirement education, one of two groups had a group discussion program for 10 weekly sessions. Volunteer participants were male, hourly-rated workers, 60-68 years old, employed in the Detroit area automobile assembly plants. Discussion centered on work and retirement, money management, physical and mental health, living arrangements, relationships with family and friends, legal issues, free time, and community programs. Data were collected by interviews with all subjects before retirement, six to 12 months, and 18 to 24 months after retirement. Results showed that the preretirement education significantly reduced retirement dissatisfaction and health worries, and encouraged participation in activities with family and friends. With both experimental and control groups, there was an increase in the husbands' power in family decision making after retirement. Certain tentative findings, such as the suggestion that the program was more effective with well educated whites, indicate that further study is needed. (jf)