A revealing new Harris Poll conducted by the firm Age Wave has confirmed substantial shifts in Americans’ perceptions of aging and longevity. The study surveyed over 2,000 U.S. adults, including over 900 adults age 50 plus. Here are some key takeaways from the survey.   “OLD” ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE The survey found that 79% of adults 50+ think today’s older adults are more active, and 58% say they are more open-minded and curious compared with the previous generation.   Correspondingly, the definition of what’s considered “old” today is changing. The survey found that while age 60 ..read more

In general, Boomers are given far less credit than they deserve when it comes to embracing information technology. The fact is, Boomers are very plugged in to the use of online tools and streaming services. The AARP 2022 Tech Trends report indicated the following: "Three in four people age 50-plus say they rely on technology to stay connected, with those in their 50s (76%), 60s (79%), and 70s (72%) all exceeding 70%." You may be part of the healthy segment of the Boomer demographic that is tech-savvy, which could translate into opportunities for personal gratification and supplemental income ..read more

The Boomer version of retirement is a new paradigm -- utterly different from past generations. One thing that has dramatically changed for Boomers is the reality that living longer means saving longer. In order to support themselves as they age, many Boomers are realizing they need more money than they originally thought to live comfortably. A recent article appearing in PlanAdviser.com does a good job of characterizing the challenge. As retirement coach Nancy Collamer points out, “The fact of the matter is that a lot of people have gotten to this point [of retirement], and they haven’t saved ..read more

It is not as if we did not know it was coming -- but new data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests an America that is aging, with people generally living longer. According to the Census Bureau: Between 2010 and 2020, median age in the U.S. grew older due to an increase in the older population. In 2020, there were 55.8 million people age 65 and over in the United States (16.8% of the total population), up 38.6% from 40.3 million in 2010. This growth primarily reflected the aging baby boom cohort. Centenarians grew 50% since 2010, the fastest recent census-to-census percent ch ..read more

The third iteration of a landmark retirement study by Age Wave, Edward Jones and The Harris Poll has just been released. It sheds some intriguing light on three types of events that retirees have experienced: "Cannonballs, curveballs and windfalls."  According to the study: Since retiring, a large majority of retirees (75%) have experienced cannonball events, major challenges that can derail a plan, or curveballs, relatively minor occurrences that cause setbacks. According to the research, the most common cannonballs and curveballs include having a family member or close friend pass away ..read more

Recently, the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, released a new Surgeon General Advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. According to Dr. Murthy, “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one ..read more

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended and the FDA  just authorized another Covid booster for adults 65 and over and individuals with weakened immune systems. A recent article in The New York Times cites the following data: Adults age 65 and over make up about 16 percent of the U.S. population (about 53 million people) About 7 million people have weak immune systems Around 250 people daily are still dying from Covid-related causes, the majority of whom are either over 70 years old or have weakened immune systems The median age of those hospitalized for Covi ..read more

Guest Post by Lilian Lewis Are you about to retire? How are you preparing for it? Perhaps you have already retired. Having a retirement plan to accomplish your later life goals is the ideal course of action to take. However, if you haven't adequately prepared for this eventuality, it's never too late.  The financial moves you make in your last 5 - 10 working years can make a difference in your life.  What financial moves can you make to increase your savings or investments to boost your retirement package? Let us explore a few ideas to get you back on track. Automatic saving plan ..read more

  Guest Post by Julie Gorges Editor's Note: My colleague Julie Gorges writes Baby Boomer Bliss, a blog I highly recommend. She recently posted an article that referred to "5 positive traits of boomers." At a time when there seems to be a fair amount of boomer bashing in various media, I asked Julie for permission to share an excerpt from her article because I think it does a great job of highlighting some of the really good things about the Boomer Generation. Here they are... 1. Boomers are Good at Reinventing Themselves Not being content to sit in a rocking chair reminisc ..read more

A recent article in The New York Times highlighted a harsh reality for Italy: "Italy’s population is aging and shrinking at the fastest rate in the West, forcing the country to adapt to a booming population of elderly that puts it at the forefront of a global demographic trend that experts call the 'silver tsunami.' But it faces a demographic double whammy, with a drastically sinking birthrate that is among the lowest in Europe." The article went on to point out, "The reality of the gray new world poses a make-or-break test for Italy, making it a laboratory for many Western countries with agin ..read more