Author Archive for Tom

According to an AP-Yahoo! News poll released this morning, people would rather have Obama at their July 4th BBQ this weekend than John McCain–he won that election 52% to 45%. But what about their wives?

I don’t know if this is true or not, but it seems as if this year both women have been receiving more scrutiny than past candidate’s wives. Both Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are baby boomers, and in another AP-Yahoo! News poll, it appears that the public is not taking to them quite yet.

What do you think? Does it matter to you when you’re deciding whom to vote for? Do you want the new first lady to be more like Hillary? Or like Laura? Or would you rather she just be like Michelle or Cindy?  Which one do you want bringing the potato salad to your BBQ?

Filed under: Boomers

1. Pay attention to things that appeal to you, rather than just the “should-dos.”

2. Identify the intrinsic things at work that are truly important to you and those you can do without.

3. Give yourself permission to take unscheduled time for dreaming and exploring lots of options.

4. Challenge assumptions about what it means to be over 50.

5. Stay flexible. Make plans, but be prepared to toss them aside.

6. Get a realistic picture of your finances and plan accordingly.

7. Accept that you are likely to feel anxiety and stress. Use them to grow and learn.

8. Let go of unrealized career fantasies and regrets. They are stumbling blocks to moving forward.

9. Ignore chirpy, 10-things-you-can-do-to-overcome-anxiety advice. There are no quick fixes for getting through the process.

10. Don’t go there alone. Get together with others who are grappling with the same questions you have.

From Smart Women Don’t Retire–They Break Free.

Filed under: Books

George Carlin, who died on Sunday at age 71, wasn’t a baby boomer, but his comedy routines were representative of the counter-culture that the boomers came to represent in the 60s and 70s. He will, of course, be remembered for the “seven words you can never say on television,” but his legacy can be seen in many of the popular comedians of today. 

For a more articulate piece on Carlin’s impact on comedy and on American culture generally, check out Richard Zoglin’s piece on Time’s website here.   

Filed under: Boomers

A few weeks ago we talked about the lack of boomer books and the upcoming panel at BEA on the subject. Carol Osbourn, the panel’s moderator and a blogger at The Boomer Blog continues the discussion in her follow-up post. She lists the three basics for marketing to boomers: research, cross-platform marketing, and intuitive genius/dumb luck. Those of us who work in publishing know that that you can have a whole lot of the first two and have books fail miserably. Sometimes the dumb luck is the most important one. You just never know what’s going to get people talking.

We had luck this year at Springboard with How Not to Look Old because it touched a nerve and women around the country started talking. But what will be the next big thing? Who knows? What do you think? What kinds of books would you like to see?

You can hear the a podcast of the whole panel here.

Filed under: Boomers

Barbara Corcoran will be on Larry King Live tonight to discuss the current real estate climate and, of course, Nextville. The show airs at 9pm EST.

The book also got a rave review from the LA Times this weekend. Check it out here.

Filed under: Media

Springboard is on Facebook now too! Click here to become a fan!

Filed under: Boomers

According to a new survey conducted by the dating site Lavalife, 46% of boomers enjoy sex more now than they did in their 20s and 30s.

Some more statistics for you:

34% would sleep with someone on a first date

25% are open to threesomes

10% hope to get married

Check out more here.

Filed under: Boomers

Over at the Boomer Blog, they raise a valid question. Why aren’t more books for boomers successful? It’s a good question (though maybe she should look more closely at the Springboard list–it’s all we’re doing over here!), but with any book for any audience it’s all about having the right idea written by the right person at the right time. Boomers, like all consumers, are looking for quality. Our own Karen Murgolo is quoted in the article and will be speaking on the BOOM panel this weekend at BEA. You can look to books like How Not to Look Old as a good model for those three things coming together at once.

Maybe after the panel, Boomer Blog will have more answers, but what do you think? What makes you go out and buy a book, whether you’re a boomer or not?

Filed under: Boomers

Barbara Corcoran’s Nextville has been in stores for a month now, and we’re wondering what you’re thinking about retirement and real estate. Take our poll and let us know.

Filed under: Boomers

The Society of Actuaries just released a report about the top retirement concerns and risks. US News & World Report’s Emily Brandon reports on their findings with the top 5 risks:

Inflation. Between 1980 and 2007, U.S. inflation averaged 3.5 percent a year, ranging from 1.1 to 8.9 percent. And yet most retirees have only one source of inflation-adjusted income: Social Security. Time-tested strategies to beat inflation include investing in stocks and stock-based mutual funds, owning a home and other assets, holding TIPS (Treasury inflation-protected securities), buying annuity products that offer a cost-of-living adjustment, and delaying tapping your retirement assets for as long as possible.

Outliving your assets. A 65-year-old American man can expect to live 17 years on average, while a woman the same age can expect to live 20 years. Fully 30 percent of women and 20 percent of men can expect to reach age 90. Defined-benefit pension plans, Social Security, investments that preserve principal, and deferred annuities that commence at high ages, such as 75 or 80, can all help protect assets.

Loss of a spouse. Women have longer life expectancies and tend to marry men who are older than them, so a widowhood period of 15 years or more is not uncommon. The death of a breadwinner spouse can trigger a dramatic decline in your standard of living. A single person requires nearly 80 percent of the income needed by a married couple, according to the Society of Actuaries. Yet the Social Security benefit paid to a survivor is typically only from 50 to 67 percent of what the couple received. Married couples can consider joint and survivor annuities and life insurance, plus strategies for maximizing their Social Security benefit.

Long-term care. Long-term care options include home care, adult day care centers, assisted-living facilities, and nursing homes. What they have in common: They’re all expensive. The cumulative cost of care may amount to $1 million for a couple, with nursing home costs reaching $70,000 annually. Long-term-care insurance can help pay for the cost of caring for disabled seniors.

Healthcare and medical expenses. Nearly all retirees and those near retirement say they maintain a healthy lifestyle, and three quarters have or plan to have supplemental health coverage. But retirees need to be prepared for unexpected health problems, Medicare premiums, and the expenses that Medicare doesn’t cover.

Filed under: Boomers