Postings from Boomers! Central
It's Never Too Late
by Nancy Fernandez Mills Have you quit smoking and begun to eat more low fat foods? Everyone knows that those two things, along with exercise, are the best ways to prevent many diseases and live longer. But lots of us over 50 get discouraged. We worry that if we haven't been making daily trips to the gym or if we haven't learned to love our veggies, it might be too late. But the experts assure us it's not too late...and the changes we need to make are not really that big a deal! The Wall Street Journal did a summary of some recent research that Boomers can "take to heart." The following simple steps will help your body and mind and potentially add years to your life: 1. Eat your spinach! Green, leafy vegetables help prevent age-related diseases and help maintain cognitive function. 2. Boost your intake of vitamins B12 and D. Include fish, eggs, milk and fortified cereal in your diet to get B12. Consider taking a vitamin supplement to make sure you get enough vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and muscle strength. 3. Floss your teeth! This isn't just about a nice smile. There's a link between peridontal disease and stroke or heart problems. So get your teeth cleaned regularly and treat any indications of gum disease, which can cause increased levels of inflammation in the blood. 4. Analyse your sleep. Sleep apnea becomes more common in the 50's and has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. Snoring is annoying but this is really serious! 5. Cuddle up with your spouse or partner and stay in touch with your friends! Strong relationships, an active sex life and a lively social network are great antidotes to other losses of the 50's like the death of parents, empty nests and retirement. A few other things...walk the dog (briskly), lift weights, check your skin for changes, see your doctor for symptoms of depression and keep learning new things. It might sound like a lot but what have you got to lose? My favorite health tip: eat a small bit of dark chocolate when you get a craving. It's good for you! For more information on how to lower your health risks and feel younger, visit www.realage.com. I took their "Real Age" test and get their email tips for lowering my "real age." It's kind of cool and a good reminder of how the little thing can add up! 
Maintain Your Brain
by Nancy Fernandez Mills I went to a fascinating seminar this week that featured four of the nation's most prominent researchers who are trying to solve the mystery of Alzheimer's Disease. "On the Brink of Discovery" was a mostly upbeat event, with doctors and scientists reporting on the tremendous progress they've made in their search for treatments and a cure for this disease. But while the scientists toil in the labs, what can we do in the meantime to make sure we don't get Alzheimer's Disease or some other form of dementia? Scientists joke that the best prevention is to "choose your parents wisely," since genetics no doubt play a huge role here. But there are other things Baby Boomers can do to enhance their own brain health. There are no guarantees but there is hope! The Alzheimer's Association is conducting their first public health campaign in history. It's called "Maintain Your Brain" and calls on all of us to stay mentally, physically and socially active and to eat a low fat diet that is rich in antioxidents. Learn to ballroom dance. Lift weights and take brisk walks. Join a bridge club. Love those blueberries! Eat more Indian food (there's new evidence that the spice curcumin or turmeric in Indian dishes helps keep brains healthy!) If you want to know a little more about the Alzheimer's Association and what they are doing to create a world without Alzheimer's Disease, you can go to the home page of the Alzheimer's Association's Masschusetts Chapter and click on the Internet Interview. I recently interviewed a research physician, a family care expert and a family caregiver about state of the art care and prevention. Boomers need to learn about this now, so that we can take charge of our health and maintain our brains!
Are You Ready to Rewire ??
by Nancy Fernandez Mills If you're like a lot of Baby Boomers, getting off the fast track and letting go of the daily grind won't mean embracing an "About Schmidt" retirement. You'll want to stay engaged in something interesting, rewarding and meaningful. According to author Jeri Sedlar, you'll want to "rewire." Jeri is the co-author with her husband Rick Miners of a book called "Don't Retire, Rewire." I caught up with Jeri at last week's Life Planning Network meeting at New Directions on the Boston waterfront. Jeri and her husband run an executive search firm in New York City. They noticed that their clients who were "retirement eligible" weren't ready to fold up their tents. They were searching for the next thing but didn't always know how to begin. Jeri and Rick conducted some research. They asked about 500 people why they worked beyond a paycheck and got 85 reasons! They call these "drivers" and advise everyone to identify their own drivers as they step into their next job, volunteer activity, hobby... whatever! Click here to hear more from Jeri on how to rewire! 
The Fertile Void
By Nancy Fernandez Mills Do you remember what it was like to be 15? I do, not because I have such a great memory, but because I just went through a couple of years when I felt that way all over again! I often told my friends that turning 50 felt like being in a "Second Adolescence." It turns out I was more accurate than I knew! In her book Inventing the Rest of Our Lives, former MS Magazine Editor Suzanne Braun Levine talks about a period of time called the "fertile void." If you've been there, you get it right away. It's a time of confusion - who am I now? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? It's also a time of new energy, desires and searching. It's a time of knowing that something is "out there" calling you, but you're just not sure what it is or how to find it! Braun Levine says that new research shows that women's brains at midlife are actually changing, with startling new growth in the medial temporal lobe (the seat of emotional learning). The only other time of life when this happens is during the teenage years. Combine these brain changes with the huge hormonal shifts at midlife, and it's no wonder we feel like we're on a roller coaster! The good news is that the Second Adolescence leads to a Second Adulthood. It's really a Second Chance! We learn not to sweat the small stuff and to find our passion and purpose in life. And if we're lucky, we have the time, health and resources to create an exciting new chapter. I especially love the advice Braun Levine gives to women in this stage. I think it's great advice for men too! Slow down...give the confusion the time and space it needs...and pay attention. Don't try to figure it all out right away. It's OK to feel this way. Find a way to feel compassion for yourself as you go through this stage and find friends who support you. 
It's Not Just About The Money
By Mark Mills Still following up with some reflections from the Boomer Business Summit. I interviewed James Weil, Managing Director of Successful Aging for LifeCare, Inc. He talked about a coming overhaul in planning for retirement. For years, he said, it has been all about the money. All the planning has revolved around saving to build up a nest egg, and crunching the numbers to see how much you could withdraw from your savings each year for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, says James Weil, for most people the numbers don’t look too good, and they get discouraged. Weil says a new model is emerging, and will be dominant within 5 years. He says the future will be about life planning, and less about number crunching. Boomers need to save and plan the financial side of their retirement, but they should look at the future more broadly. If you haven’t saved a million bucks it doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of Hamburger Helper. Boomers won't have to retire cold turkey. They can "retire" from a primary career, says Weil, and then supplement their incomes by working in jobs that turn them on. Find an outlet for a passion and make a little extra money at it. Maybe you love golf. OK, so you can’t make it on the Champions Tour. But maybe you can get a job managing a club, or assisting in the pro shop, or working as the starter on the first tee. Earning extra income in a field you enjoy will stretch your retirement savings, and make those numbers look a lot better. And maybe you can sneak in some free golf in the off hours. Do you love art? Work part time in a museum. Love to cook? Maybe you can do some short-order work in a diner. Are you a handyman? They need you at Home Depot. These may all be lower paying jobs than you have had. But you would not be building a career at this stage. Just finding something you enjoy doing that brings in some extra money. James Weil says he has seen many pre-retirees visibly relieved when they look at the big picture and all its possibilities. Let's not obsess over those discouraging spread sheets that show you going broke in 8 years. There are plenty of ways to make some extra money, and plenty of ways to cut expenses so you won’t need a 7-figure nest egg. Let’s think about our lives, and not just about the money.
Boomers TV @ The Boomer Summit
 Bill Charette and Nancy Mills of Boomer Media Properties, Inc. at the Boomer Business Summit in Philadelphia
The Boomer Zeitgeist
By Mark Mills Hello Boomers. Greetings from What's Next? The Boomer Business Summit. More boomer talk here than I have heard since the '60's. It convinces me more than ever that a television series on boomers and their vision of the future is a great concept. We are continuing to move forward in that direction. Nancy made a presentation today at one of the general sessions and showed our video story of Betsey Jay, who made a heart wrenching move from her adopted Colorado back to her family roots in the East. See the video: http://www.stream-video.net/boomers/abundance-preview.htmI spoke with Mary Furlong of Mary Furlong and Associates, whose California based company is producing the event. I wanted to get Mary's view on what's driving today's boomers. What's the boomer zeitgeist in the new century? The audio segment runs 3:16.
Are Men Becoming Irrelevant?
By Mark Mills I didn't expect to encounter this subject at What's Next:The Boomer Business Summit. The conference got under way this morning in Philadelphia. It is focusing on boomer trends and how businesses can tap into the boomer market. One of the trends that is being discussed is the declining role of men in society. Some even see men as headed for extinction! One area that struck me is the problem of loneliness, depression, alcoholism and even suicide among boomer men. One of the speakers on this issue is author Jed Diamond. He writes about the challenges men face, and ways to cope with disappointment and sadness. I interviewed Jed this morning and here is an audio report on his comments. Runs 4:48.
What's Next? Boomer Business Summit
If the Boomer market consists of more than 76 million American consumers, representing more than $ 2 trillion in annual spending, then why don't all businesses know how to market to Boomers? The experts here at the second annual What's Next Boomer Business Summit at the Loew's Hotel in Philadelphia will give us some answers over the next two days. It's all about demographics! We Boomers are aging, with thousands of us turning 50 every day. In the past that has meant becoming suddenly invisible to Madison Avenue, where ad execs target those age 18 - 34 or in some cases, as old as 49! To preview the conference, we spoke to one expert who is predicting a revolution in the ad world. Brent Green, President of Brent Green & Associates of Denver is passionate about the value of the Boomer market and shared with us his own Boomer values! Click here to listen to our conversation.  Boomer marketing expert Brent Green, author of Marketing To Leading Edge
Baby Boomers
Relax and Renew
I spent the weekend assisting my yoga teacher, offering a workshop of yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting. It was wonderful! I had a chance to "get out of my head" ... just what I needed after working so much lately trying to get Boomers TV off the ground. I spend a lot of time on the computer these days! I also spend considerable time behind the wheel of my car, driving around Boston. If you've ever driven in this city, you'll understand why my shoulders have been feeling so tight lately! I came back from the weekend determined to spend more time each day letting go of that tension, not only in my daily yoga on the mat, but by just sitting quietly and breathing. Little breathing breaks can do wonders! The breath is a powerful tool. When we breathe deeply we tell our nervous system to let go, we bring more oxygen to every cell of the body and we improve our health and our sense of well being. I thought I'd create an audio blog to help you begin a practice of deep breathing. It runs about five minutes. It's a simple session of sitting, breathing and calming the mind. Give it a try... make time for yourself, sit in a quiet, comfortable place. Relax and renew!
Boomer Issues In The News
By Mark Mills Boomer news is booming these days. Every where I turn the dial or flip a page I am seeing Boomer retirement stories. Some of these things were planned in advance, but some are being driven by the social security debate. President Bush’s social security personal account plan has put the issue of Boomer retirement on page one. His 60 day-60 city road show is keeping it front and center. Check out a New York Times piece from Sunday March 6 by Steve Lohr. A great read on what’s going on with boomer retirement issues. Listen to NPR’s Talk of the Nation show on Boomer retirement which aired Monday March 7. Yikes! It’s Boomer Mania. Nancy and I are leaving tomorrow for Philadelphia to attend the What’s Next? Boomer Business Summit. We will be blogging from Philly. A summit preview audio report will be posted by Wednesday morning. Then, more blogs later in the week.
Free Calculator Helps You Plan
By Mark Mills, CFP OK Boomers. Time to crunch some numbers. Have you ever tossed and turned at night wondering, “How much money will I need to retire?” Maybe you’ve puzzled over the question, “If I can save half-a-million bucks, how long will it last when I retire?” The good news is you do not need to buy a Cray Supercomputer or hire Alan Greenspan to figure this stuff out. The better news is that a simple and FREE calculator can be downloaded in minutes which will give you answers to these and many other deep mysteries of the retirement numbers game. Up front note: sorry Mac World friends, this is a Windows only program (Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP). The Retirement Calculator comes courtesy of the wizards at American River Software. They sell some other financial software but the calculator is a freebie. To download go to the American River site. What kind of tricks can this puppy do? Almost anything, once you decide what parameters to feed it. For example, let’s say you think you can scrape together $500,000 from your 401(k), IRA’s, selling off the mansion and going condo, cashing in the old war bonds, and having a Wal-Mart size yard sale. Congratulations. But exactly what does that buy you in cash flow every year as you begin the Life of Riley (minus Peg, Gillis, and the job at the plant)? You’d like to take $35,000 a year from your stash. That, plus your social security (yes, there will be something, even after Bush gets through with it), and for the lucky few an actual pension, will provide a Trumply sum, lavishing you with a roof over head, 2,000 calories a day, and an occasional trip to Wally World. Since you plan to live a long time you have to consider inflation. You’re an optimist, so you guess inflation will average just 3 per cent a year for the rest of your time on the planet. That means your 35K must go up each year by 3 per cent to keep pace. And while you slice out a $35,000 piece of the pie in year one, the rest of the pie keeps growing. You are not hopeless when it comes to investing so you think you can average a 7 per cent annual return on the balance. With those inputs, the calculator tells you how long your half-mill will last until you go bust. In this case, 21 years. And if that 3 per cent inflation sounds like a harmless nuisance, your payout in year 21 is $63,213. Even a slow drip of inflation is like water torture to your savings. You can re-jigger the inputs all you want. If you think you can only get a 6 per cent investment return, the well runs dry in 19 years instead of 21. If you want your money to last 30 years the calculator will tell you how much you can take out each year. Again, with $500,000 to start, 3 per cent inflation, and a 7 per cent annual return, a 30-year payment stream starts with $27,441 in year one. If you want to take out $50,000 a year for 25 years with 3 per cent inflation and a 6 per cent annual return, our little buddy will cough up the total needed at retirement: $904,802. Actually, it just coughs up the number; you have to come up with the cash. The calculator generates a printable report showing year-by-year withdrawals, investment returns, and balances. Again, it is easy to download and easy to use. But it packs a wallop with invaluable information to help you plot your course to the Promise Land.
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