Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Just in case you are as desperate as we often get at this time of year, here are some very different, last-minute gift suggestions that might be "age-appropriate" for the baby boomers on your gift list:
"How Not to Act Old:185 Ways to Pass for Phat, Sick, Hot, Dope, Awesome, or at Least Not Totally Lame". By Pamela Redmond Satran. This very funny book gets rave reviews at Amazon. (recommended by our friend Linda).
- Roku HD player. You might ask yourself, what the heck is a Roku HD player (and why would I want one)! Trust us on this one, if you subscribe to Netflix or rent movies, you must have this device, which lets you watch online movies and TV shows on your TV (not just your computer). It works a lot more simply than you would guess. The device connects to your internet cable or your wireless system. From there you can play Netflix, Amazon, or other movies on your TV set, using simple on-screen controls. Read the reviews to find out more - we love it!
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Published on December 15, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
December 13, 2009. Thanks to everyone who took the time from their busy day to fill out the Topretirements member satisfaction survey last week. We received hundreds of comments and suggestions from our visitors. What we learned is that we serve a very diverse group of people with an interesting range of opinions and desires. Some of the comments were contradictory (particularly about regions to focus on), a few suggestions are easy to fix while others are more difficult, but all of the comments were thought provoking. We enjoyed reading them. Thanks, this input will help us build a better Topretirements.
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Published on December 13, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Note: This is the 3rd in a 3 article series about baby boomers and their retirement real estate plans. Part 1 featured the differences (and similarities) of boomers' retirement housing preferences and the homes builders are building. Part 2 explored the conflict between baby boomer desire to retire in suburbia vs. reality.
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Published on October 12, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Remember the great fear of a few years ago: baby boomers will be retiring in droves, creating a severe shortage of skilled workers and driving up costs for employers. Whew – there’s one less thing to worry about. A recent survey on the impact on retirement of the recession…
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Published on October 6, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Note: This article is a continuation of our earlier article, "55+ Home Buyers and Builders Not Exactly in Synch". See Part 3, a Boomer's Retirement Self-Assessment.
Baby boomers' expressed desires about where they want to retire are pretty clear: we want to continue living where we do now - in suburbia*. That sounds fine as long as we are in our 60's and 70's. But think about what will happen when we get into our 80's and 90's. Studies find most people outlive their ability to drive by 6 to 10 years. In the suburbs if we can't drive, we will be in very big trouble. Also, at that age moving and starting over with friends and neighbors is not that easy. It sounds harsh, but the reality is that many of us will become trapped in our homes with no easy exit.
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Published on September 27, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Note: This is the 1st of a 3 part article. Here is a link to the second, "Conflict Looming on Suburban Retirement: Desire Vs. Reality". Part 3 is a Self-Assessment for Baby Boomer Retirement Preferences.
As the largest demographic in American history, the baby boomer population is a well-studied group: all sorts of marketers are anxious to know what we will be up to next. Part II of a 55+Housing joint study done by the National Association of Home Builders and The Met Life Mature Marketing Institute was just released: "What are Builders Building, What Do Buyers Want", and the results provide an interesting insight into what is happening in the 55+ housing market.
One important fact to know is that some 62% of all boomers plan on staying where they live now,which is generally in the suburbs. That percentage staying home is probably lower than their parents' generation, but it still represents a very large number of people who intend to age in place. Only 9% are interested in living in a city, and 28% would prefer rural life.
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Published on September 22, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
First we must start with a question for you: "What is the best way for a member of Gen Y or Gen X to bait a baby boomer"? Answer: Be less than reverential when discussing the Beatles. (Thanks to Seth Schiesel of the New York Times).
So the music and the game world is, shall we say, "rocked" about 2 new releases about and from the Beatles. First up is a new video game that is garnering rave reviews, "The Beatles: Rock Band". It comes as the latest release in the highly successful Rock Band and Guitar Hero series.
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Published on September 7, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
Our friends at Eons.com ran a pretty nifty trivia quiz about Woodstock, now celebrating it’s 40th anniversary. The survey’s rankings of favorite rock groups playing at Woodstock: #1 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, #2 Credence Clearwater Revival, and #3 Jimi Hendrix. Favorite expression from that era: “Far Out” was “out…
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Published on August 11, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
April 28 - A much larger percentage of baby boomers now cite ''being close to family and friends'' as their primary motivation for selecting an age-qualified active adult community. The sharp increase, from 19.7% in 2001 to 39.9% in 2007, represents one of the most striking conclusions from a study released today at the NAHB`s Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium in Philadelphia. The study was produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI). The data is significant because by 2010 the Boomers will represent one quarter of the U.S. population.
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Published on April 28, 2009
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Category: Baby Boomer Retirement Issues
You know you are a force when industry experts call a conference to discuss how to best serve your needs. The National Association of Home Builders is hosting a conference in Philadelphia (April 27-29), “Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium”. The conference will bring together builders and a…
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Published on April 20, 2009
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