Baby Boomers - Tapping Into That Entrepreneurial Spirit

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

After 30 odd years of catering to the marketing needs of fast-food giants, Franny Martin withdrew from the corporate world in 2002, to begin her own business. Cookies on Call, is now a thriving online business, with one storefront, and 61 kinds of handmade cookies.

Older corporate workers are realizing that they would rather be doing something other than what they do right now. They also realize that time on earth is getting shorter, and this kind of existential reflection strikes home for most baby boomers, now that they get nearer 60. Many of them, still toiling as wage slaves, are beginning to ask themselves what comes next, and whether there is something more in life. A growing number, choose to leave their current job, to start a new chapter, where they can be the boss.

Studies of older job seekers found that 13 percent chose to start their own businesses in the second quarter of life, and 86.6 percent of them were over 40. The next big wave of entrepreneurship is going to be from seasoned workers with more and more access to self-employment options, and people deciding to put off retirement and work later and later.

Government data also shows that the group of people, 55 to 64 years old or older, now represent one of the fastest-growing self-employed worker pools in the US. The group of do-it-yourselfers aged 65 and older has grown 18%, and baby boomers aged 45 to 54 years are practically a quarter of the 9.6 million self-employed. As a whole, baby boomers and older entrepreneurs account for a grand 54 percent of all the self-employed workers in the US today.

A combination of middle-age angst with personal fulfillment issues is turning out to be a big driver for boomer entrepreneurs. In addition, recent lay-offs and cutbacks, resulting in a loss of employment acts as a shake-up in many cases, providing boomers with the need to find another job, and the means for start-ups as well, in the form of a severance package. The financial windfall from severance packages or pension buyouts gives older entrepreneurs an edge, giving them capital that they can spend toward new business costs or use to get a larger borrowing power at the bank. Older, more mature individuals of this generation are also seen by lenders as good credit risks, especially when they have collateral to back up a small-business loan.

Buying an already established business is easier and provides you instant goodwill and a customer base. There is a well-organized market for small businesses and brokerage networks where businesses are listed for sale.

Many workers find themselves stepping into their 60's without the financial ability to retire. They can choose to dip into savings to maintain their lifestyle not leaving much for when disaster strikes, or continue to work. The huge costs of illness and healthcare are the biggest cause for concern. Their ability to pay for healthcare has diminished with rising costs, leading to a fear of winding up in a nursing home. Many also feel obligated to help their adult children, financially. All these factors combine to give baby boomers a good reason to keep working.

ANNA D. BANKS, GCDF is an adjunct professor at Essex County College, career development and marketing coach, speaker, and author. Anna helps individuals design a game plan for an extraordinary career or business. Since 1996, Anna has helped hundreds of job-seekers, managers, business owners, and sales professionals achieve career success. For more information send an email to Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

© Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Author's Note:

Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please place a post on my website www.AnnaBanks.com or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Making Tax-friendly Investments for Stress-free Retirement

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Nothing in life is permanent. Everything is transient. That is why we must be secured, especially in financial terms, in case things go out of control. We must be always prepared for the future and that is why good retirement financial planning is most practical for a safe and secured future. Financial planning is very crucial like life planning and it requires lot of calculative and methodical moves, like choosing a home involves lots of tax factors like state and local taxes. Retirees should carefully study the tax matters before formulating the retirement financial strategies.

Retirees who wish to continue with their work during their golden years should be aware that the state taxation income varies widely for them and some states support their earned income and provide them extra privileges. Some states consider the retirees income like everyone else’s and some impose tax on all the earned income. Sometimes the taxation amount varies a lot between states. Retirees shifting to new domicile should watch out for the municipal income taxes.

Income from military, government, private pension and other retirement plans are increasingly important sources of income for some retirees. Some states exempt incomes generated from such sources, while some exempt only selected ones. Some place taxable limits on such sources. Some states even tax former residents on retirement plan withdrawals and create a possibility of tax in two states. Some states strictly adhere to the federal tax formulas under the social security benefits and others follow their own specified formulas, while some don’t provide any reimbursements at all.

Retirees should also consider the sales and property taxes, as some states offer tax deductions on properties purchased by retired seniors while others provide homestead benefits. Retired seniors should also study the tax exemptions provided on clothing, food, drugs and household goods. US tax code generally deems the retirement age and sometimes you might face the ugly tax brunt while tapping tax favored retirement benefits. It is very complex to avoid federal income tax, but it is possible to avoid the 10% penalty provided you plan way ahead.

Opt for the IRA withdrawals

If you use the Roth IRA withdrawals then when you withdraw your contributions, they are federal income tax free and penalty free, but sometimes this could be tricky if the source of income is from the following three sources:

• Money from annual tax contribution
• Money generated by converting tradition IRA into Roth IRA
• Earnings accumulated from your contribution

Tax deductions apply to only the first two sources and withdrawal before the retirement age from the third source is usually subjected to income tax.

Advantage of penalty free exemptions

If you have not opted for Roth IRA than the best option would be to opt for income tax withdrawal. Whenever you withdraw, you would owe some amount to the income tax. If you wish to break the rules, then switch to qualified retirement exemptions like 401(k).

Annuitize the Account

This is normally the surest and safest technique to legitimize for a penalty-free retirement account withdrawal, before the retirement age of 59 years and 6 months.

© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Baby Boomers: Know the Basics before Starting Your Own Business in the Golden Years

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

So, here at last are your golden years! After enjoying the honeymoon period of holidaying and chilling out, you could be wondering what to do next. Maybe you are toying with the idea of starting your own business, not only to keep yourself occupied, but also to bring in some extra income. If that is so, then here are some basics you need to take into consideration in order to make it a success.

All successful businesses are based on a single factor – a good business idea. A good idea is the best launching pad for any kind of business. Once you have that idea, and you are eager to get started, you will have to channel that energy in order to get started with the business. Getting a business started is not complicated if you know the basics.

One of the first considerations you will have to take into account is the marketability of your business idea. Will people buy the product or service you want to sell? Examine the market closely and find out what kind of competition there is. If you think there is too much competition out there, then you could think about narrowing your idea to fit a particular niche. Determine which area requires your product or service the most, and make it your target to promote and sell your idea.

The next thing you need to do is find out about your state’s laws. You will need to ensure that you have the correct certification and licenses to sell your product or service. For example, if it is a day care center you are opening in your house, it may need to be inspected by the state. Special papers may need to be filled out. Obtaining a license to start your business will be required in many areas. Find out from your municipality about what you will require. Business licenses are generally not expensive.

Creating a business plan is another thing that is advisable to do. It lets you set values and goals for your business. Concepts that may be useful later can also be written down on paper. It lets you see how your business will be run and what you will do for it to grow. A business plan doesn’t take a lot of time to write, and yet it is one of the best tools to bring your business into fruition.

Assessing your financial requirements is the next thing you need to do. You need to find out what the costs of operating your business will be, and whether you will need to get a business loan to get it started. If you need investors or require loans, you will certainly require a business plan.

Another important aspect of getting your business running is advertising. This is about the only way your customers will get to know that you exist. Creating a website is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of advertising your business. The Internet these days has become the primary source for people to get information about products and services, hence having a website has become essential and is not an option any longer. You can create a rudimentary website that does not cost much if you are on a budget. But if it is a high quality website that you want for your business, it is best to hire a website designer.

By advertising, you also put yourself out in the market, promoting your business constantly. Become a member of networking groups and mail out flyers. If you can afford it, place ads in magazines and newspapers. Although it is not required to do everything all at once, however, always look for chances to promote and expand your business.

Take enough time for building your business in the right way. It is most probable that you are excited about your business scheme; however, you need to turn this excitement into productivity in order to get your business up and running.

© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:

Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Hot Real Estate Destinations Baby Boomers Are Crazy About

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

The baby boomers of today are retiring much earlier than the past generations ever have, and many of them are considering unconventional destinations to retire in. More than 500,000 amongst those that have retired already move from their own states every year, seeking the perfect spot to retire in, be it by the sea, in mountain resorts, or near arid deserts.

Experts are of the opinion that relaxation and rest are the primary things baby boomers look for when shopping for a real estate destination for retirement. They hunt for places where they can sit back, kick their shoes off, and settle down. Apart from rest, baby boomers also want to have fun and enjoy their retirement to the hilt. So they look for destinations where there is great shopping, golf, theater, sight-seeing, antiquing, tennis, boating, and more. So, where are these intrepid baby boomers heading? While California, Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina continue topping the list as most popular destinations for retirement, baby boomers are choosing other places as well.

Baby boomers are redefining the trends in real estate destinations. With their better purchasing power, they have begun to expand the real estate destination market. In other words, they are beginning to focus their attention increasingly seriously to international locales.


This shift toward real estate destinations abroad comes as no great surprise to analysts who have been tracking baby boomers for several decades. The advent of the Internet and globalization has been the primary factors for this venturesome generation to seek recreation and investment outside the borders of their country. The baby boomer generation is being wooed by hot spots at international locations, and they are responding by investing in the attractive real estate destinations worldwide. While the main foreign real estate destinations continue to be the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico, baby boomers are also expanding out to Western Europe.

One of the best predictors of sales of real estate is the trend in tourism. This is especially true wherein both investors of real estate and tourists travel some way from their home country, and stay in a foreign locale for a considerable amount of time. Naturally, purchasing a piece of real estate involves a bigger discretionary expense compared to a vacation, with additional factors having to be considered. However, generally there is a significant overlap of the characteristics real estate investors and tourists look for.

People go on a holiday abroad. They chance upon a quaint little seaside haven and end up spending two or three heavenly weeks just chilling and having fun. When it gets time to return home, they look up the realtors and end up buying a house, or at the least, begin looking for one. This is how tourism and real estate are linked inexorably.

This trend can be seen all across Central America, which of late has become an increasingly popular area for U.S. baby boomers to retire in. The best tourism destinations are also the ones that are generating the most real estate purchasing activity. Some of the most popular ones are: Ambergis Caye, Belize; the Bay Islands, Honduras; San Juan del Sur and Granada, Nicaragua; Antigua, Guatemala; and Panama City, Bocas del Toro and Boquete, Panama.

© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Career Planning for Baby Boomers -- Re-Entering the Workforce

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Studies have shown that a large segment of mature people now want to stay employed or re-enter the workforce at the middle aged stage. There are several reasons as to why more mature people choose to start working again and many of these can be inter-connected.

The reasons why mature workers remain motivated for staying in, or re-entering the workforce, can be diverse and include:
• A necessity based approach that if focused on wages and pay.
• Satisfaction based, from contribution to economy and social contacts in the workplace (important especially for women or people living alone)
• Continuing usage of skills and abilities, expertise and capacities that are relevant to the workplace but with limited visibility and relevance outside.
• A good set of principles and work ethics, or a good set of values they have about work
• Complete pleasure and satisfaction in working, or comfort and familiarity with regular routines

However, most senior citizens don’t necessarily have to work where they worked before, or they don’t need to work in the same style as before. In fact, a considerably large number don’t want just any ordinary job, they want a kind of occupation or vocation that will allow them to fully express their interests and beliefs, values and morals and even changing objectives. While most mature adults can be looking for changes as to where and how they would like to work, for others, work might actually be something akin to a financial necessity. Today, in the United States, people aged over 45 are increasingly getting back into work, largely because they need good health care coverage, for example.

Financial independence is also and important factor in the work force re-entry of mature women. In the group of ethnically and economically diverse mature women in America, freedom from men seems to be a major motivation for work. Part of this emphasis on freedom from men – be it financial or any other sort of ties (whether spouses or children) comes from past negative experiences, some from the perceived risks of divorce, separation, abandonment, and ill treatment, faced by dependant women.

A number of reasons, in addition to the financial ones drive older, more mature people to get back to working. These may range from the fitness to the social issues. The reasons why mature adults re-enter the workforce are:

• To remain physically as well as mentally active.
• Due to family and relationship changes
• Job satisfaction
• Because they need a routine
• Want more to do
• Crave for more social contacts that can only be provided by work

The ones who do retire may not permanently leave the workforce, finding retirement less enjoyable than expected and may soon re-enter the workforce.

As increasing number of mature workers enter the workforce, there is an increasing number of 50+-year-old job seekers. Barriers, real or perceived, and the expectation of rejection undermine morale, and hurt self-confidence. Despite legislation making age discrimination illegal, it can be quite problematic, particularly for the unemployed seeking work out of necessity.

Some of the negative aspects that are attributed to older workers are:

• Lack of creativity and flexibility
• Outdated and archaic skills and abilities
• Tend to be accident prone
• Less capable of physical labor
• Poor health

In fact, research shows that older workers are:

• Faithful
• Trustworthy
• Diligent workers
• Productive
• Sophisticated
• Enthusiastic
• More experienced
• Dedicated


© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF

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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please place a post on www.AnnaBanks.com or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.