Baby Boomers: It's Never too Late for Change

By Anna D. Banks

The economy has most of us scared. We want to retire, but feel that we can't. Housing prices are down. Tuition for your college aged children is rising faster than the surf at "Big Sur", and even the "well-healed" baby boomer is feeling the economic pinch. Overall things may not feel full of promise, but take a look at the short video and be inspired.




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Live Fearlessly,

Anna

Baby Boomers: Plan Ahead and Build Your Own Business after Retirement

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Starting a Business after retirement requires you to plan ahead and build a good foundation. You need to face a number of issues and questions such as:

• What is a good business for you to undertake?
• How much time and effort are you willing to devote?
• Does this match with the time and effort demanded by the business you want to start?
• What are the key processes involved in starting a new business?
• What are the skills that are necessary for business success?
• How much should you invest in a new business?
• How do you go about developing an action plan for the business of your choice?

The process of starting a business can be a challenging, and an exciting experience. It can also be frightening, exhausting, and frustrating. The key to a minimum stress start-up is to plan ahead and build your own business after retirement, in a planned and rational way. Understanding, and planning out, the entire process of start-up makes a huge difference to the end result. There are, some basic steps that are common in planning and starting any business:

Assess your areas of strength. Are you a person who can easily take risks with money? If the idea is scary, it may be better to think twice before considering a business. No matter how you look at it, and how well you play it, being an entrepreneur involves risk. You must be willing to lose money if it comes to that. You must also have the ability and the will to work hard, be able to handle uncertainty well, and possess self-discipline.

Pick the right business. There are generally has two kinds of people. One kind consists of people who love something to the level of passion and are driven to make a career of it. If you belong in this category, make sure you conduct research to check that a market exists for the business. The other kind of person is one who is fascinated by the idea of being an entrepreneur, rather than a particular idea. In this case, pick a business that has instant demand and potential for future growth.

Come up with a solid business plan. Think of it as a map that tells you the direction you should be heading in and helps you to identify important markers you may see on the way. Before you open your doors to clients, think and plan out exactly what you want your business to be. Figure out what makes your product or service different or special, how you plan to attract customers, how you intend to beat competition, and other such essentials.

A major part of the business plan consists of a financial analysis, including:
• The amount of money needed
• How it should be spent
• Amount of profit expected etc.

Figure out where you will get the funding needed to start. Explore options like
• Your own savings
• Your credit cards
• Your retirement accounts
• Second mortgage
• Advance on inheritance
• Loans from friends or family members.

© Anna D. Banks, GCDF

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.
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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.

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.

Don’t Underestimate Inflation - Plan Now!!

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Inflation is an important aspect of retirement planning and you simply cannot afford to overlook it. Failing to consider inflation during retirement planning can lead to a financial disaster. Most of us would love to believe that life is going to be great post-retirement with fewer worries, no major responsibilities, and all the time in the world to do what you like. Unfortunately, all this will be possible only if you have saved prudently for your golden years. Inflation is inevitable and only those who plan ahead can survive the increased costs of living due to inflation after their retirement. Let us assume that you retire at the age of sixty-five with an average annual income of $60,000. However, the purchasing power of this amount would go down by almost forty to fifty percent in about twenty years. Thus, in order to maintain the same standard of living that you could enjoy for $60,000, you need to have almost double this amount to sustain the increased costs of living. Such is the effect inflation can have on your daily lives if you fail to prepare yourself in advance. With inflation rising steadily with an average growth of three percent per year since 1626, you need to ensure that your income increases with the rate of three percent every year during retirement.

Well, the good news is that with the growing number of investment options readily available in the financial market, it’s not very difficult to plan for your future. You can count on the pension plans that will automatically shield you from increased cost of living however, you need to check with your employer to know the exact amount you will receive through these plans.

Saving for the future

Start saving as early as you can, as sooner you start, you are left with longer time to invest and multiply your money. Set small, realistic goals based on your current financial needs and the amount of money you can put aside to begin your financial retirement planning.

Have you considered a 401K plan?

It’s perhaps the easiest and the best way of saving your hard earned money for your life after retirement. Also popular are the IRA plans however, you need to understand what's at stake and how such plans will benefit you before you go for any of these investment options.

Allocation of assets

How you divide your financial portfolio between bonds and stocks can have a huge impact on your financial gains in the long run. Financial experts strongly emphasize of stock investments due to the tremendous potential such investments have to render high returns over long periods of time.

Investing in a property

With remarkable tax benefits and easy finance options, property investments have emerged as an important investment vehicle. As you build equity and settle your mortgage loan, you may hardly have any monthly expenses except escrow payments on property taxes.

You may also consider consulting with a good financial expert or retirement expert who can suggest suitable investment options after assessing your income, assets, and financial liabilities. In addition, they are also the first to know about any new investment option that has newly come in the market and how it can benefit you. Having a good understanding of the financial market, they can also predict which financial companies will sustain the high fluctuations in the market and can be regarded as a safe bet.

© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF

ANNA D. BANKS, GCDF, is a passionate advocate for baby boomers in exploring their priorities, planning and setting goals for the next stage of their lives. Assisting her clients to attract and build a professional and personal life consistent with their values is not just a goal of Anna’s, it’s her passion. Her diverse work experience in business, education and financial services enables her to help the diverse population of baby-boomers with their life, career, and personal finance coaching needs. Anna is currently Adjunct Faculty at Essex County College, where she teaches Career Development & Management. Please place a post on www.AnnaBanks.com or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.
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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.

Resume, Cover Letter and Interview Strategies 50+

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Recent surveys have shown that there are more seniors who are now returning or sticking on to their jobs than ever before! Today, there are more 50+ workers working in the job market than at any time in the past. The terms ‘white-collar’ and ‘blue-collar’ workers have now been joined by a third adage, which is, ‘The Silver-collar worker’.

With over 77 million baby boomers in the United States and only 45 million Generation-X’ers, the difference in numbers clearly define a wide gap that needs to be filled by various strategies. So, the competition in the workplace between the two generations has increased twofold over the past ten years. So, if you happen to be a baby boomer on the look out for a job, then here are a couple of resume, cover letter and interview strategies to help you get started:

Resume Strategies for the 50+

• The thumb rule for all senior workers is to put at least 15 years worth of service on the resume.
• Don’t emphasize on dates. Never list your birth date and omit all college graduation dates that are more than 10 years old.
• Try toning down the job titles that you have listed on your resume so as to not seem overqualified. For instance, you can put down ‘senior manager’ instead of ‘Vice President’.
• Make sure you list all the professional courses and development activities that you have attended as this shows that you are willing to learn.
• List all the technological and computer skills that you possess.
• Highlight accomplishments, achievements and results that set you apart from the other candidates.

Cover Letter Strategies for Senior Workers

• Older workers tend to be proud of their work histories and are prone to putting self-applauding statements in their cover letters. With so much work experience, it is probably best you don’t put such cumulative experience statements in your cover letter. Instead of bragging, stick to using statements like ‘extensive experience’ or ‘significant experience’.
• An autobiography letter that rehashes your entire job history that is already on your resume isn’t a good idea. But, as an older worker it is more harmful as it draws attention to your age.
• Add in your cover letter that you are flexible, adaptable and are willing to learn.

Job Interview Strategies for Older Workers

When you go for a job interview, remember that you will probably be interviewed by someone who is younger than you, so don’t get embarrassed or unnerved by the situation.

• Start by stressing on how you are so willing to work and learn. Interviews claim that the biggest setback when it comes to hiring older workers is that most of the time their skills are outdated and they aren’t willing to learn.
• Suggest that you have an unsurpassable work ethic, which could be possible as compared to the younger workers.
• Convince you potential employers that your maturity will only be advantageous to them as your past experience makes you wiser in problem-solving situations.

© 2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF

ANNA D. BANKS, GCDF, is a passionate advocate for baby boomers in exploring their priorities, planning and setting goals for the next stage of their lives. Assisting her clients to attract and build a professional and personal life consistent with their values is not just a goal of Anna’s, it’s her passion. Her diverse work experience in business, education and financial services enables her to help the diverse population of baby-boomers with their life, career, and personal finance coaching needs. Anna is currently Adjunct Faculty at Essex County College, where she teaches Career Development & Management. Please place a post on www.AnnaBanks.com or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.
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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.

Diet Tips For Fitness Before And After Retirement

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Youth is a transient phase and the process of aging is natural. However, most of us want to remain fit and youthful for as long as we live. None of us want to undergo the miseries and sufferings of age-related ailments. Therefore, one of the best solutions to counteract the effects of aging and to maintain our fitness right into our old age is to consume a nutritionally rich, healthy diet.

The various benefits of proper nutrition and a healthy diet before and after retirement are: a stronger immune system; resistance to disease and illness; sharper mental faculties; higher levels of energy; better recuperation; and being able to manage chronic ailments better.

One of the first things you need to do to eat well for long-term health is learning what your body requires right now. Here are a few tips that will get you started.

Make choices in the food you consume that are:

* Dense in nutrition – low in sodium and saturated fat, high in calcium and fiber, with the calories in moderate quantity;

* Full of flavor so that mealtimes will be something that you will look forward to;

* Appealing to look at and

* Easy to digest.

Eating nutritious meals is not as difficult as it may sound. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

Choose healthy carbohydrates. Eschew all types of refined products like white rice, white bread any product in which white flour has been used. Instead choose whole grain products such as bread made of whole wheat, brown rice, rolled oats, millet, barley etc.

Get your roughage. Include at least one serving of raw vegetables and fruits every day. The main advantage of raw foods is that their nutritional value is preserved, and it is the best way to get rid of constipation. Raw vegetables and fruits are full of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and enzymes that help digestion. Besides, you don’t have to spend too much time preparing them. If you find it difficult to bite or chew, cut carrots or apples into small pieces. Or why not make a healthy green salad with shredded and grated vegetables.

Steam your veggies. Another way to preserve the nutrients in vegetables is to cook them by steaming. Or else sauté them lightly. When vegetables are boiled the nutrients are leeched from them, although the water leftover can be used as stock for soup.

Eat lean protein. Poultry, eggs, fish, tofu, nuts, beans and peas are all protein; hence you can vary your choices of healthy and lean protein easily. Choose skinless chicken or turkey. By using cooking methods like grilling, baking, broiling, poaching or steaming, not only will the flavor be enhanced, but you will also be eating low-cholesterol, low-fat healthy meals. Reduce your consumption of red meats, since they have saturated fat, and avoid meats that are very salty such as ham or bacon.

Get adequate calcium. Not all dairy foods are equal. While the calcium content in yogurt, milk and cheese are retained, it is not in cream cheese, butter and cream. Choose dairy products that are either low in fat or are fat-free. If you cannot tolerate lactose, consider products that are either low-lactose or are free of lactose, like yogurt and hard cheese. You could also consider a calcium supplement to get your daily quota of calcium.

Choose “good” fats. Fats like sunflower oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and those derived from seeds and nuts are considered healthy.

Eat foods high in moisture. Apart from drinking adequate amounts of water every day, eat foods that are high in water content. Proper hydration helps to flush out your body’s toxins, alleviates constipation, keeps your joints supple, and aids in keeping the mind sharp and clear. Foods like grapes, melons, cucumbers, apples, onions, cabbage, and soup are high in water content.

The human body is an amazingly complex structure that can run for many years without requiring much maintenance. Most of us take our bodies for granted, abusing it with wrong foods, drugs, alcohol and unhealthy lifestyles. And then when it breaks down, we wonder why. Hence, in order to be healthy and fit right into the golden years of our lives, we need to take care of ourselves by eating nutritious and healthy food.

© 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.

Developing Strategies to Deal with Uncle Sam Post Retirement

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Retirement is entirely a different and new chapter of life; some accept it with a smile where as some handle it with lot of stress. A well-planned retirement could get back your smile, and also enable you to enjoy all that which you missed while slogging for your family. Retirement planning can be sometimes quite complicated and one should be very careful and patient while planning for it. Even if your retirement plans are clear set with all your visions and goals in place, it is your financial requirement that will determine the success of the plan. A large percentage of Americans recognize the retirement systems and its undergoing changes but they are not planning well enough to retire comfortably.

• A Retirement Confidence Survey finds that the government regularly changes pension plans and the workers have been experiencing a severe decline in the retirement benefits, but they are not working towards it constructively. Nearly 2 in every 5 workers have not done anything to tackle this issue.

• Some workers depend on the employer provided retirement benefits and they expect that their spouse will receive income from such retirement plans.

• Half of the workers save for retirement, excluding the value of the primary residence. Majority of workers put aside some money for retirement.

• Health care for future retirees will be a huge burden especially with post-retirement financial problems. Workers should understand the use of Medicare and accumulate enough money to even cover the insurance and health costs they would likely face after retirement.

Americans are confident about the way they would spend their post retirement years. A few simple and easy planning strategies could bring order in Uncle Sam’s post retirement years. So get started with some regular saving plan. Developing a savings plan is not very difficult.

Simple strategies can put Uncle Sam on a comfortable and financially secured track.

• Goals- Start saving for either your children’s education, a comfortable retirement life or for financial emergencies. Figure out what life would be after 10, 20 or 30 years and then think of the costs and the number of years needed to save enough for it.

• Investing- Figure out the right time to start investing and please don’t get distracted. The best way would be to put aside some amount on monthly saving basis, save right from reducing your monthly expense bill to your telephone bill. If you can then invest to reach your goals. Don’t ever abandon your pre-retirement planning.

• Savings to match goals- This would depend on your needs and how much time you have to reach your goals, your ability to tolerate risk etc. Start by learning the key characteristics of each goal and then narrow your selection to savings as well as investment products. Selecting the right product can help you accomplish your goal.

However, if you decide what you want in life and how you wish to achieve it, it will sort out half your problem. This will help you in your planning and in choosing products to aid you.

© 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? Post a comment or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Choosing Destinations to Invest in a Second Home

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

With healthier lifestyles, people live well into their 80s these days. Hence, retirement is no longer the end of the tether, but is usually a new beginning. This is why many people are choosing to buy a second home before they retire, either for future investment or to get a jumpstart into a life of leisure.

What most people look for in a destination where they plan on investing in a second home are scenery, weather, and active property markets. These are the factors that make a destination popular. However, the popularity of a destination can be a mixed bag if you are planning on using your second home for vacationing or to settle down in after retirement. A popular destination entails more traffic, crowds, and long lines. But if you want to buy a second home with an eye on its potential as an investment – which is what most buyers of second homes say they want to do – then obviously you will want to own a property in a destination where other people flock to. Ideally, it would be best to invest today in a place that will be a hot destination tomorrow.

Whether you want to buy a second home for vacationing in or as a future investment, here are a few factors to consider about the destination you choose:
Being close to an urban center. Your second-home destination should be at least within two or three hours drive from a city, or somewhere that is reasonably near a major airport.

A place where there are lots of avenues for recreation. Most people want to do other stuff besides shopping. Choose a place according to your interests. For example, if skiing is what you like, choose a ski resort, if it is sunny beaches you hanker for, look for places with beachfront homes. Also, check to see whether there are enough cultural activities available, such as theaters, art galleries, museums, and so on.

Salubrious weather. Whether you use your second home for vacations or to settle down in, obviously you will want to go out and revel in all the recreation.

Substantial commercial establishments. Although old-timers have the tendency of grousing about malls and hotels sprouting up in their sleepy little haven, in fact, these indicate that the community is prospering economically.

Renting it out. Some people need to rent out their second home, at least a few months in the year, so that it is affordable. If that is the case, the location will be determined, at least partially, on how attractive it is for people who rent for vacations. Properties that are most desirable are the ones located near beaches, both for their resale potential and as rentals.

Buy a second home near water. According to a survey made by the National Association of Realtors, recreation in water was one of the topmost desires of second-home buyers. Vacationers love swimming, fishing, water skiing, or boating, hence selecting a destination near water will not only suit you but also your prospective renters.

The celebrity factor. Choose a place which has the potential of attracting the movers and shakers of society - the film stars, the social celebrities. This, in turn, will attract enough people to it to jack up real estate prices.

Some other factors to take into consideration about choosing a destination to buy a second home in are, the crime rate, the safety factor, the medical facilities, and so on.

© 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 - Can You Be "Too Young To Retire?"

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Boomers young and old are starting to think about the years ahead. Three-quarters of the 76 million Baby Boomers in the United States plan to work full or part time after age 65. Many are still focused on their families, providing care for their children as well as their parents.

With Baby Boomers living longer, healthier lives, the conventional idea of retirement is out of date. This cohort aged 50 to 65 wants to know "What's next?"

The “Too Young to Retire” Course answers their burning question with resources, inspiration and good humor. Enlightening exercises and workbook pages as well as a comprehensive list of publications, home exchange organizations, and websites are included to assist participants in making meaningful choices.

The 2young2retire Course

Who am I? What am I doing here? Baby Boomers start asking these Big Questions, in one form or another, around age 50. What if your Big Answers could launch a whole new, more meaningful life in the years ahead?

The 2young2retire course is a process that helps you get clear about your choices and future possibilities. Working with a 2young2retire certified facilitator,” participants will discover what matters most to them and where their skills and experience could be put to good purpose.

The six areas of discovery are:

► Work that matters (paid or not)
► Being your own boss (you can do it!)
► Community activism (it's about time!)
► Money control (at last)
► Wellness plan (quit stalling now!)
► Intelligent travel (why to go where)

To find out more about how the 2Young2Retire Course can assist you, visit 2Young2Retire.com.


© Anna D. Banks, GCDF

ANNA D. BANKS, GCDF is an adjunct professor at Essex County College, a certified “2Young2Retire" facilitator, career development and marketing coach, speaker, and author. Anna helps baby boomers and other adults 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.
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about the 2Young2Retire Course or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please post a question on this website or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com.

Baby Boomers - Turn your Creative Practical Hobbies into a Business

by Anna D. Banks, GCDF


The retired life

The baby boomers are those who were born in the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s and are now retired and living the cozy life. But is it cozy? If you were to ask any one of these retired individual how they are enjoying being retired, you would get a response saying they enjoyed it initially but now they are bored, with lots of free time and nothing to do. Adjusting to a retired life can be difficult for some, especially those who are used to being active and working. How much golf and sailing can one person do any way?

One of the biggest disadvantages of being retired is the fact that there is a problem of money. You are retired and do not have a monthly income coming in, so playing golf, sailing or just going shopping may not be an option to those who have money constraints.

Pick a hobby

Every single person, man, woman, teenager or child has a hobby. Something they enjoy doing when they have free time. It could be reading, singing, swimming, dancing, painting, gardening, shopping, and decorating…. the list is endless. Hobbies help people relax and distress. When we get involved in our hobby we forget all our troubles and worries.

Each one of us is talented and enthusiastic about our hobby. Wouldn’t it be great if our hobby could help us make money? This is what most of the baby boomers are doing. They are converting their hobby into money making ventures. But do not confuse this with a quick money making scheme, because it is not that simple. It involves hard work and dedication.

Make your hobby work for you

Once you have decided that you are going to use your hobby to make money and get an extra income, then comes the time to make your hobby work for you. Before you start with earning money through your hobby, you have to evaluate whether or not your hobby is marketable. You need a hobby that is marketable or you need to think of a way to make your hobby into a marketable resource.

If you enjoy collecting books, open up a small library with a monthly subscription. If you are a woman who enjoys shopping and is aware of the latest styles and trends then become a personal shopper for those who need it. If gardening is your forte then write a book on gardening or create a website that generates money on gardening. If you like writing, then work with a magazine or a local newspaper.

If you love kids, open up a crèche at home or start teaching or helping out at the local kindergarten. If you enjoy cooking, start a small catering business or work with a restaurant. If you are poetic, then get in touch with a greeting card company and help create the copy for greeting cards. If photography is your passion, make that work for you. If you are interested in tarot cards, then become a tarot card reader. There are so many options and so many avenues open for you.

© 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.

Colleges Use Grants to Reach Baby Boomers

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

A new "Plus 50 Initiative" has been announced by the American Association of Community Colleges. Ten community colleges will launch novel demonstration programs for students over the age of 50, with the help of seed grants from AACC and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

From the Press Release:

Organizers say the project is designed to help with one of the largest generational shifts affecting our nation, as baby boomers approach retirement and consider how to keep their lives active, healthy and engaged in careers and projects that matter to them.

"The baby boomer generation wants to stay active in retirement and holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that society cannot afford to see leave the talent pool," said George R. Boggs, AACC President and CEO. "By retooling educational programs and adjusting for the needs of plus 50 students, community colleges can empower baby boomers to continue give back by leading the vibrant and fulfilling lives they desire."


The official announcement, including more details, is available here.