Do stock brokers and financial advisors need help in preparing to advise baby boomers how they should invest their money as they plan for retirement and retire? Well, Bank of America Merrill Lynch apparently thinks so. According to a report on today's "onwallstreet" website, Merrill has retained a gerontologist, to assist in preparing its advisors to deal with the aging population in America, who are customers of Merrill. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a gerontologist is a person who is trained to study the social,psychological and biological aspects of aging. It differs from geriatrics which is the medical study of aging.
The gerontologist named by Merrill, Cynthia Hutchins, has a degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC) and has worked for some 28 years in the financial industry and for 15 years with Merrill in various capacities.. She was named by Merrill to train Merrill's 15000 advisors on how they can better assist clients with age-related issues such as planning for retirement , use of resources in retirement as well as other health and finance issues, as well as issues arising from things such as dealing with adult children who return home and grandparents raising their grandchildren
Sounds like it might be a good idea. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
A Retirement Savings Plan for the Rest of Us
President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, made a revolutionary proposal concerning your potential retirement. In case you missed it, here is a brief discussion of that proposal.
All of us are familiar with the so-called 401(k) plans that enable employees of usually larger companies and businesses a to put aside some of their compensation in certain investments which are not taxable as income when received and which are permitted to grow tax-deferred until withdrawn in retirement. The idea is that those investments will be taxed at presumably a lower rate at retirement than at the current rate.
Until now, if your employer did not offer such a plan, you were out of luck. President Obama's proposal would permit those employees to fund a so-called MyRA account by having a part of each paycheck deducted and deposited in US Government Bonds, where they would be given the same treatment as traditional 401(k) plans.
According to administration officials, millions of Americans who do not have access to the automatic deposit feature of a 401(k) plan are likely to take advantage of the MyRA proposal.
Let me know what you think and whether, if you qualify, you would take advantage of such a plan.
All of us are familiar with the so-called 401(k) plans that enable employees of usually larger companies and businesses a to put aside some of their compensation in certain investments which are not taxable as income when received and which are permitted to grow tax-deferred until withdrawn in retirement. The idea is that those investments will be taxed at presumably a lower rate at retirement than at the current rate.
Until now, if your employer did not offer such a plan, you were out of luck. President Obama's proposal would permit those employees to fund a so-called MyRA account by having a part of each paycheck deducted and deposited in US Government Bonds, where they would be given the same treatment as traditional 401(k) plans.
According to administration officials, millions of Americans who do not have access to the automatic deposit feature of a 401(k) plan are likely to take advantage of the MyRA proposal.
Let me know what you think and whether, if you qualify, you would take advantage of such a plan.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Not Just for Boomers ---But for Everyone
The title of this blog is, of course, "Not Just for Boomers." And that is exactly, what it is intended to be. I am a baby boomer myself, but the material in this blog is not limited to baby boomers. It is really intended for everyone who has an interest in an eclectic mix of travel suggestions, help with your finances and health and exercise issues. Over the last almost two years, I have written almost 200 posts, all original, and covering material from a Mediterranean cruise to the many benefits of meditation and mindfulness.I hope what I have written has been helpful to you. And no, I am not shutting down the blog. On the contrary, I expect to keep on going. I appreciate your support, but I would ask you to remind your friends and not just boomers, that this blog is "Not Just for Boomers--But for Everyone."
Sunday, January 19, 2014
The Calusa Indians of Southwest Florida
Long before Ponce De Leon and the Spanish conquisidors visited Florida in the sixteenth century, the Calusa Indians had a well-developed civilization in the coastal areas of Southwest Florida. Today, you can still visit the remnants of that civilization in Pineland, Florida, located on Pine Island.
Pine Island is the largest coastal island off the coast of Southwest Florida. For 1500 years, the Calusas occupied a site near Fort Myers on Pine Island. Today, at the Randell Research Center run by the University of Florida, just off Pine Island Road,you can see some of the huge shell mounds that they created.. The Calusa were not farmers but rather subsisted on the abundant fish and shellfish in the rich estuaries in the area. They lacked any stone or metal and used shell and bone for tools. They did painting and sculpting which is considered to be among the most renowned created byNative Americans in North America.
The Calusa Indians died out in the late 1700s due to the diseases brought to America by the Spanish and French explorers in the area such as measles and small pox. In addition, neighboring tribes in Georgia and South Carolina invaded the Calusa villages and sold some of the Calusas they captured into slavery.
The Calusa Heritage Trail entrance is located on 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, Florida 33945,and is well wroth a visit. Phone number is 239-283-2157. There is a small gift shop and guided tours are offered.
Pine Island is the largest coastal island off the coast of Southwest Florida. For 1500 years, the Calusas occupied a site near Fort Myers on Pine Island. Today, at the Randell Research Center run by the University of Florida, just off Pine Island Road,you can see some of the huge shell mounds that they created.. The Calusa were not farmers but rather subsisted on the abundant fish and shellfish in the rich estuaries in the area. They lacked any stone or metal and used shell and bone for tools. They did painting and sculpting which is considered to be among the most renowned created byNative Americans in North America.
The Calusa Indians died out in the late 1700s due to the diseases brought to America by the Spanish and French explorers in the area such as measles and small pox. In addition, neighboring tribes in Georgia and South Carolina invaded the Calusa villages and sold some of the Calusas they captured into slavery.
The Calusa Heritage Trail entrance is located on 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, Florida 33945,and is well wroth a visit. Phone number is 239-283-2157. There is a small gift shop and guided tours are offered.
Friday, January 17, 2014
TripAdvisor
I thought you might enjoy the following website: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255100-d3723596-r186568444-Spilt_Milk-Melbourne_Victoria.html
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Bert's Bar and Grill on Matlacha
If you find yourself in Southwest Florida this winter, make sure you have lunch at Bert's Bar and Grill. Bert's is located on Pine Island in the fishing town of Matlacha. Pine Island is just a few miles from Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. It has been a draw for fishermen and those who love to eat fish since the 1930's, some seventy years ago. It has had various owners during that period, including a Lee County bar owner named Bert Clubb, who gave his name to the bar. The bar is located just before the Matlacha bridge which was made famous in the Elvis Presley movie, "Follow That Dream."
Located directly on the water, you can sit out on the specious deck or dine inside. We opted for a table outside with a view of Cape Coral in the distance.
The food is wonderful. Both my wife and I had the fried oyster and chips basket for $11.99 (market price). The oysters were perfectly fried and incredibly sweet. They were some of the best oysters I have ever eaten. I asked the waiter where they obtained them and he said they got them off of the Louisiana coast. The chips (real potato chips) were just right, not greasy and not overly salted. The meal also came with a small cup of cole slaw that was excellent.
Bert's Bar and Grill is located at 4271 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL. Phone number is 239-282-3232.
Located directly on the water, you can sit out on the specious deck or dine inside. We opted for a table outside with a view of Cape Coral in the distance.
The food is wonderful. Both my wife and I had the fried oyster and chips basket for $11.99 (market price). The oysters were perfectly fried and incredibly sweet. They were some of the best oysters I have ever eaten. I asked the waiter where they obtained them and he said they got them off of the Louisiana coast. The chips (real potato chips) were just right, not greasy and not overly salted. The meal also came with a small cup of cole slaw that was excellent.
Bert's Bar and Grill is located at 4271 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL. Phone number is 239-282-3232.
Friday, December 20, 2013
ABC's 20//20 on Dealing when Buying at the Mall
The ABC news magazine 20/20 featured a segment today on haggling at the mall featuring Mark Ellwood, the author of the book on haggling referred to in my December 4, 2013 post "How to Get the Best Deal and Service."
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