Guest Post by Lilian Lewis

Are you about to retire? How are you preparing for it?

Perhaps you have already retired.

Having a retirement plan to accomplish your later life goals is the ideal course of action to take. However, if you haven't adequately prepared for this eventuality, it's never too late. 

The financial moves you make in your last 5 - 10 working years can make a difference in your life. 

What financial moves can you make to increase your savings or investments to boost your retirement package? Let us explore a few ideas to get you back on track.

1. Automatic saving plans are best

The fact that you should save for retirement is evident to many of us; the problem we face is saving money consistently due to the many obligations competing for our income, including mortgages, college payments, among many other responsibilities.

Surmount this problem by creating an automatic saving system that deducts money from your salary every payday and sends it to a retirement plan of your choice.

2. Determine your retirement needs 

According to pension experts, most people require a minimum of 70 percent of their pre-retirement income to live. This is money for daily needs, like housing, food, and health expenses. 

Determine how much you have put away already and to determine how far along you are.

That will help you to find out how much more you can put away to increase your savings. It will also show you when these savings become vested so that you know they are fully available to you.

3. Start saving retirement money in IRAs

IRAs offer attractive tax advantages for savers that will make it worth your while. You can choose from two varieties: traditional IRA accounts and ROTH IRA accounts.

The money you save in traditional IRA accounts is pre-tax, while ROTH IRAs get you tax breaks in the form of tax-free withdrawals.

The maximum amount of money you can contribute to an IRA account if you are over 50 is $ 7,500. That's a standard $6,500 contribution and an extra $1,000 for people 50 years and older.

Married couples can contribute savings to two IRAs if they file their taxes jointly through a spousal IRA savings plan. This is a great way to create a comfortable nest egg for your old age with your spouse.

4. Use financial retirement tools

There are many savings tools that we can use to put aside money for our later years including 401 (k), 403 (b), and 457 savings plans, which are not subjected to tax until you withdraw.

These are workplace savings plans that you can fund to the max. People under 50 can contribute up to $23,000 to a 401 (k) plan annually. If you are over 50 years, you may add $7,500 to this standard amount as catch-up contributions.

5. Social security retirement benefits

The amount of social security benefits you can get is calculated based on your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). These calculations are done during your 35 highest-earning years. 

You can start getting money from your Social security fund typically from age 62, but you will receive your maximum benefit if you wait until age 70. The benefits from your social security can make up as much as 40 percent of your pre-retirement income.

Therefore, make sure your social security documents are up to date and follow the rules concerning this scheme to secure your social security benefits.

6. Talk to retirement investment experts

You will find retirement experts in many financial institutions, be it banks, labor unions, government savings organizations, and even the human resources/financial section in your workplace.

A retirement expert can help you explore other options to diversify your savings including blue chip stocks, government bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), and real estate investments.

Bonus point!

Document everything that you have invested in by drawing up a will. This ensures all your loved ones are well cared for in case of your demise or incapacitation. Get legal counsel to assist you with this. 

Final thoughts on what to consider when planning for retirement

In summary, here's what to focus on for your retirement:

• How much money do you need to retire comfortably? 
• How much interest would you like to earn from your retirement savings yearly?
• Which retirement savings options are available to you?
• Are there other ways to save money for your later years?
• Are you prepared for accidents, death, or incapacitation in your later years?

Remember, there is no limit to what you can save for retirement. Aim to set aside the highest amount you can.

Lilian Lewis is a writer who works closely with New Jersey Law firm, Aiello Harris. When not hunched over her computer writing on various legal matters, you can find her baking all sorts of goodies, and hiking the local trails to work off the goodies. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions, pixels.com

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Guest Post by Julie Gorges

Editor's Note: My colleague Julie Gorges writes Baby Boomer Bliss, a blog I highly recommend. She recently posted an article that referred to "5 positive traits of boomers." At a time when there seems to be a fair amount of boomer bashing in various media, I asked Julie for permission to share an excerpt from her article because I think it does a great job of highlighting some of the really good things about the Boomer Generation. Here they are...

1. Boomers are Good at Reinventing Themselves

Not being content to sit in a rocking chair reminiscing about the past after retirement – like some of our parents and grandparents – many boomers are still active, eagerly learning new things, and becoming more creative as they age.

Boomers may not be up on all the latest trends, but they remain young at heart.

Boomers tend to consider themselves a work in progress. Many are making spirituality and personal growth a priority, opening themselves to new experiences (like learning sign language and shark cage diving, in my case), and striving to reach their full potential.

Thanks to boomers, turning 60 or even 70 is no longer a professional death sentence as it was in the past. Many boomers are postponing retirement, both for financial and personal reasons. This has opened the doors for younger generations who, if desired, have a better chance of working as long as they want.

Often boomers are maligned for being technically deficient. However, many boomers have embraced new technologies like texting, videoconferencing, online banking, tablets, tech savvy homes, and social networking sites. A lot has changed, but boomers are enthusiastic about technology that’s valuable to them.

In my opinion, we’ve changed the way people age. And that’s a good thing for upcoming generations.

2. Boomers Value Family Relationships

Personally, I grew up in a traditional family that ate dinner together every night, watched The Wonderful World of Disney every week, attended religious services, and took camping trips together.

As a result, I practiced these same values with my own children and grandchildren. As a reward, we all remain close.

Just proves different generations can get along and even love each other!

3. Boomers Influenced Rock and Roll

As the article, “27 Amazing Things Baby Boomers Have Done for Humanity” points out on their website Mercatornet, the boomer generation changed music forever. “Popular music will never be the same after the 70s. These musicians [Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, and the Bee Gees] passed on an undying legacy with their lyrics, experimentation and harmonies.”

Of course, the 60s also changed music in a major way, becoming a vehicle for social change.

Brian Ward, a professor in American Studies at Northumbria University wrote in his article for the Gilder Lehrman Institude of Natural History, “What’s That Sound? Teaching the 1960s Through Popular Music: “Even students far too young to have experienced the decade first-hand often recognize a whole range of sounds as evocative of the era. The Motown soul of the Temptations and Marvin Gaye; the folk revivalism of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez; the folk-rock syntheses of the Byrds; the surfing sounds of the Beach Boys; the free jazz of Archie Shepp and Ornette Coleman; the girl-group sounds of the Chiffons and Crystals; the southern-fried soul of Percy Sledge and Otis Redding; the lush Nashville countrypolitanism of  Eddy Arnold and Tammy Wynette; the country-rock blends of the Flying Burrito Brothers; the progressive, psychedelic sounds of the Grateful Dead and the Doors; the self-reflective meditations of singer-songwriters James Taylor and Laura Nyro; the daring blues-rock-jazz blend of Jimi Hendrix; the pioneering funk of James Brown; the garage rock of the Standells and Seeds; and the avant-garde noisescapes of Captain Beefheart and the Velvet Underground.”

I would add The Rolling Stones, Queen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Simon and Garfunkel to the list of classic rock singers and bands that influenced music forever.

Many younger people still listen to these musicians today.

4. Boomers Tend to Work Hard

Boomers typically do not shy away from hard work. Most boomers grew up in well-structured and disciplined households. Boomers were taught to respect their parents and grandparents and do their chores. As a rule, boomers are self-disciplined, highly motivated, and focused on goals in life.

You would think that’s a good thing. But these qualities are often used against us. Boomers are called “workaholics” and a “greedy generation,” perceived as always putting money first. However, growing up in a spiritual family, these were not the values I was personally taught. I’d venture many boomers would say the same.

5. Boomers Want to Give Back

Now, can we talk a little about the blame game? Boomers are seemingly responsible for all that’s gone wrong in the world. In part, due to the size of their generation. By the way, is it my fault that my parents’ generation had a bunch of kids making the population “boom?” (The basis for the name of our generation, baby boomers.)

Good thing we weren’t around for the Great Depression. Somehow, that would be our fault too.

At any rate, baby boomer blaming seems like a way of oversimplifying extremely complex issues.

Although I do not feel personally responsible for every problem in the world today, I do understand the younger generation’s frustrations. For example, many boomers know how difficult it is for younger people who face challenging economic conditions today.

As a result, many parents have been generous with adult children who often need to live at home longer than expected. Some help their children financially even to their own detriment. And many grandparents are helping care for their grandchildren to help adult children save on child care costs.

In addition, boomers tend to look for a mission in life that offers meaning and purpose. Many of us are involved in volunteer work and our community.

Julie Gorges is a blogger, writer and author of non-fiction and fiction books. Check out her blog at https://babyboomerbliss.net

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya at pexels.com

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In a conversation with Karen Breslau of Bloomberg News at the Century Summit 2022 sponsored by the Longevity Project, Maria Shriver spoke eloquently about the concept of "reframing aging." The 67-year old Shriver is a journalist, best-selling author, entrepreneur, Alzheimer's advocate, film maker and more. The former first lady of California is now part of a task force on aging for Governor Newsom in the state.

With regard to the workplace, says Shriver, "So many industries are stuck in an old model." She observed that there are many people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s who "are at the top of their game," among them architect Frank Gehry and investor Warren Buffett.

Shriver added that people in their 50s and 60s want to keep working but are frustrated because society doesn't look at them as "valuable players." Says Shriver, "I think we need a sea change, a narrative change, a reframing change" and she credits Boomers with driving that change. She believes that workforces are better off when people in their 20s and 30s are working together with people in their 60s and 70s.

Shriver herself is a model for what she believes. She says for the first time in her life, she is free of bringing up children and caring for her elderly parents. She now thinks about where she wants to make a difference -- in aging, longevity and women's health. Interestingly, Shriver is also a model for intergenerational living. She has started a business with one son and says, "I love working with my children. I do a lot of that, and my parents did a lot of that." She says her parents worked up until their 80s.

Another key strategy Shriver has continued from her experience as first lady of California to the present day is putting lots of different people together in the same room -- whether they are different ages, from different walks of life, or with different perspectives. She does it "so people can talk, can share stories and learn a new narrative." Shriver believes in "updating story lines on a continuous basis because people don't hear the new story unless they meet people on the ground who are living that new story."

You can find more of Shriver's comments, as well as recordings of other sessions from the Century Summit 2022, here: https://www.longevity-project.com/century-summit-2022-videos

Image: Maria Shriver speaking at the Century Summit 2022, The Longevity Project, Stanford Center on Longevity

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A recent article in The New York Times highlighted a harsh reality for Italy:

"Italy’s population is aging and shrinking at the fastest rate in the West, forcing the country to adapt to a booming population of elderly that puts it at the forefront of a global demographic trend that experts call the 'silver tsunami.' But it faces a demographic double whammy, with a drastically sinking birthrate that is among the lowest in Europe."

The article went on to point out, "The reality of the gray new world poses a make-or-break test for Italy, making it a laboratory for many Western countries with aging populations, some experts said."

It won't be long before the United States faces a similar problem because America's demographics are trending in the same direction. I've previously written about the impact Boomers have on the country's workforce. Between 2008 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, workers 55 and older were responsible for 98 percent of the growth of the U.S. labor market. The current situation, however, is very different. Considerably more than half of the approximately 3,5 million people missing from America's labor market today are older workers who have retired.

Despite those who have chosen to retire, a good portion of older workers still want to continue to work. In fact, by 2030, about 25 percent of America's workforce is expected to be 55 years of age or older. The bad news is that as these workers age, employers will have to accommodate them when it comes to health issues.

Whether Boomers are in or out of the workforce, we will place a burden the health system as we age. Today, 35 percent of U.S. healthcare spending is on people 65 years of age and older. In addition to depending on Medicare as our primary health insurance, Boomers will be drawing on Social Security. We'll also increasingly need living situations that are conducive to aging -- whether it's products and services to help us age in place, congregate living facilities that assist us with the tasks of daily living or skilled nursing facilities that provide an even higher level of care.

Globally, numerous countries are seeing significant increases in their elderly populations. For now, the American version of the silver tsunami may not appear to be as ominous as the challenge faced by Italy -- but there is no question that it is coming.

Photo by lucas andreatta, pexels.com 

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Guest Post by Joe Hart

There's always a better way to respond to your current challenges and circumstances. Of course, this often requires a change in approach. Here are key strategies that will help you “do the work” to find your inner strength, build enduring relationships, unlock your full potential and ultimately create the life you want.

#1 Find Your Inner Strength
One key to living a happy and successful life is finding your inner strength. This means understanding and managing your thoughts and emotions, and developing habits and practices that help you cultivate a strong, optimistic mindset. Here are a few ways to do this:
Pay Attention to Your Thoughts
How often do you think about what you think? Most of us go through our days reacting to things that happen to us, without taking the time to really consider our thoughts. But the thoughts we have can have a big impact on our emotions and actions. It's important to take a step back and ask yourself if you're really thinking about something the right way. Are you seeing things clearly? Challenge negative thoughts and try to see things in a more positive light.
Handle Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, but it's important to learn how to manage it. When we're stressed, it can be tempting to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like overeating, procrastinating, or relying on drugs or alcohol. But these behaviors can actually make things worse in the long run. Instead, try healthy stress management techniques like exercise, meditation, or talking to a trusted friend or family member.
Build Courage and Confidence
Another key to inner strength is courage and confidence. When we feel confident, we're more likely to take on new challenges and persevere when things get tough. But confidence doesn't always come naturally. It's something we need to work on and build over time. One way to do this is by setting small, achievable goals for ourselves and then celebrating our successes. As we accomplish more and more, our confidence will grow.
Deal with Change
Change is a fact of life, and it can be hard to deal with at times. But it's also an opportunity for growth and development. When faced with change, try to focus on the positives and see it as a chance to learn and adapt. Change can be scary, but it can also be exciting. Embrace it and see where it takes you.
Move Past Regret
It's natural to have regrets from time to time, but it's important not to let them hold us back. Instead of dwelling on the past, try to learn from your mistakes and move on. Don't let regret keep you from pursuing your goals and living the life you want.

#2 Building Enduring Relationships
Having strong connections with the people around us is an essential part of a fulfilling life. Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, it's important to be able to connect with people authentically and respectfully. Here are a few ways to build great relationships:
Be Warm
Showing warmth is an important part of building relationships. Being open and friendly with body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice helps others feel emotionally safe and trustworthy. Research shows that 55% of communication is nonverbal, so the way you present yourself is almost more important than what you say.
Listen
Effective listening involves more than simply not talking while someone else speaks. It means opening your mind to truly hear what the other person is saying and asking follow-up questions to gain a deeper understanding. It also means being patient and showing that you're truly listening. Dale Carnegie wrote that "intent and focused listening is one of the highest compliments we can pay someone."
Find Common Ground and Show Genuine Interest
Connecting with others through common interests, hobbies, professions, and values can help build strong relationships. This is especially important in the early stages of getting to know someone, but it can also be used to reconnect with relationships that have faded or to strengthen relationships that are going through a rough patch.
Showing genuine interest in others helps build connections.

#3 Taking Command of Your Future
Set Clear Goals
Pursuing your purpose and creating a vision for your life are important steps in living an intentional life. This means knowing your "why": what drives you and what you want to accomplish. It's about taking control of your life and making conscious decisions about the kind of life you want to live and the contribution you want to make. To live an intentional life, it's important to step back and think about your values, goals, and priorities. In the end, living an intentional life is about making conscious choices that align with your values and goals. By taking control of your future and defining your purpose, you can create a life that is meaningful and fulfilling.
Seek Fellowship-Based Inspiration
Developing a vision for your life can be exhilarating, as it allows you to see the possibilities for your future. It can also be eye-opening, as it may reveal areas of your life that you're not fully satisfied with or that you're not giving the attention they deserve. For example, you may realize that you've been focusing too much on work and not enough on your relationships with friends and family. To create a vision for your life, it can be helpful to seek guidance from inspiring leaders who are pursuing their dreams and making a lasting difference. These individuals can provide valuable insight on how to pursue your own passions and make a positive impact on the world.

It's important to remember that each of us has inherent greatness within us, no matter one’s background or circumstances. By developing and leveraging this greatness, you have the potential to achieve anything for yourself and make a positive impact on the lives of others. The strategies outlined above require ongoing attention and proactive application in order to achieve success. By focusing on your thoughts, emotions, relationships and passions with regularity, you can better control your future and live life to its fullest.

Joe Hart is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Dale Carnegie—a global training and development company with operations in over 75 countries an d a worldwide leader in professional development, performance improvement, leadership training and employee engagement. Participants can build skills through in-person, live online, and hybrid programs. Also author of the book, “Take Command: Find Your Inner Strength, Build Enduring Relationships, and Live the Life You Want,” Joe has a unique understanding of how leaders can inspire trust, create an environment of psychological safety, drive employee engagement and instill a culture of creativity and resilience toward change.

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Here's a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic unrelated to hospitalizations and deaths that is just as statistically significant: Baby Boomers have been leaving the job market with no plans to return.

Between the end of the 2008 recession and the start of the pandemic, the U.S. labor force increased by almost 10 million people, and workers 55 and older made up nearly 98 percent of that growth. Boomers were clearly bullish on the job market.

That was then and this is now. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers age 65 and older were 26 percent of the labor participation rate in February 2020, but that had dropped to 22.7 percent in July 2021. In November 2022, it was 23.5 percent.

A recent article in The New York Times suggests that of the 3.5 million currently missing from the labor force, "roughly two million, have simply retired." The article goes on to state:

"Among Americans ages 18 to 64, the labor force participation rate — the share of people working or actively looking for work — has largely rebounded to early 2020 levels. Among those 65 and up, on the other hand, participation lags well below its prepandemic level, the equivalent of a decline of about 900,000 people. That has helped to keep overall participation steadily lower than it was in 2020.

...the pandemic seems to have nudged people who might otherwise have labored through a few more years over the cusp and into retirement."

So what are all of these newly "retired" Boomers doing? Some are working part-time for employers. Some have started their own businesses. Others are volunteering. Others may be drawing on Social Security and retirement savings, kicking back and enjoying a work-free life. Or -- some combination thereof.

 It is likely COVID-19 played a role in changing the perspective of Boomers, some of whom may have seen the pandemic as a wakeup call that life is even more fleeting than they thought -- so why spend it working? It could also be that some Boomers were fed up with the relentless ageism they encountered in the workplace. Those Boomers who could afford not to work at full-time jobs apparently decided to leave the workforce.

Whatever their motivation, the mass exit of Boomers from the U.S. labor market is a dramatic reversal of a long-time trend -- and it's a reality that has not gone unnoticed.

Photo by Thuong.Nguyen.97, pexels.com 

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From now until January 1, 2023, you can purchase any eBooks for boomers below at half price! This special sale is available only at Smashwords.com, where you can download the eBook in your choice of format, including Mobi (Kindle), ePUB and PDF.

To get 50% off every one of the books listed, simply click on the title. You'll go directly to a page where you can order the eBook at half price. This offer is only good until January 1, 2023, so order today!

Boomer Brands: Iconic Brands that Shaped Our Childhood

Regularly $4.99, now $2.49

This unique book is a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about the beloved brands Boomers first met in the 50s and 60s. Brand maven Barry Silverstein shares “Boomer Brand Cameos” of over fifty of the brands Boomers grew up with: Disney, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Good Humor, Howard Johnson, Hush Puppies, MAD, Ovaltine, Twinkies, WIFFLE Ball and many more. Most of these brands began during the Boomer era and are still around. Plus, Boomers will gain rare insight into how these iconic brands shaped their childhood and have a lasting impact on their life. Boomer Brands is meant to be read by Boomers, shared with Boomers, and savored for the memories!

Boomer Brand Winners & Losers: 156 Best & Worst Brands of the 50s and 60s

Regularly $4.99, now $2.49

This remarkable book features fascinating stories of 156 best and worst brands of the Boomer era. Relive the days of Cap’n Crunch and Cocoa Puffs, E-Z Pop and Pop-Tarts, cap guns and comic books. Recall the time when automobiles ruled the road and a transistor radio was “advanced technology.” Learn how television played a key role in brand advertising. Discover which brands blossomed and which were a bust. Boomer Brand Winners & Losers is a wondrous walk down Memory Lane!

World War Brands: World War II and the Rise of the Modern American Brand

Regularly $5.99, now $2.99

This book traces the development of the American brand from World War I through the 1920s and 1930s. It then explores the interrelationship of World War II and American brands, showing how the war itself was "branded," how brand advertisers leveraged the war, and how the post-war economy helped birth the modern brand. Included are 38 vintage ads and scores of stories about some of the best-known brands of the '40s and '50s. The book also examines brands in the context of American post-war culture, moving from the war's end into the 1950s and 1960s. Many brands from this time have survived and thrived into the 21^st Century.

Let's Make Money, Honey: The Couple's Guide to Starting a Service Business

Regularly $6.99, now $3.49

By a baby boomer couple who start a small service business as a second career, this how-to guide covers planning, financing, outfitting, and launching a service business, as well as operations, marketing, sales, customer service, and managing growth. Included are useful tools to help couples assess their business interests and compatibility. Let’s Make Money, Honey is a must-read for Boomer couples, especially those exploring encore careers.

One of the symbols of ageism is the unwelcome image of a doddering, feeble and discombobulated old-timer. Scientific research suggests this could not be further from the truth.

A fascinating article written by two doctors and published last July in Cerebrum, sponsored by the private philanthropic organization Dana Foundation, cites research that most adults age successfully, and their aging brains are a large part of the reason why. Drs. Tanya Nguyen and Dilip Jeste write:

"As we grow older, our physical functioning declines, but our mental and social functioning tends to improve. ...Physical capacity and mental speed begin to decline around age 30, and even more noticeably after age 50. But not all mental functions deteriorate. 'Crystallized' cognitive skills at age 75 are roughly equivalent to those at age 20. These are the intellectual abilities based on the accumulation of knowledge, facts, skills, and experiences throughout life, such as verbal skills and inductive reasoning."

In citing a study conducted at the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging, Nguyen and Jeste report:

"...mental well-being improved in an almost linear fashion from age 20 until the 90s. Young adults in their 20s and 30s suffered the most from depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. As the years progressed, most people felt they were aging successfully—a sense of well-being that includes attainment of goals, positive attitudes toward oneself and the future, social connectedness, and adaptation—despite worse physical functioning and social stresses. We saw this phenomenon not only in healthy older adults living in communities but also in those with and being treated for serious mental and medical illnesses, including schizophrenia, AIDS, and cancer."

Some of the most important brain research is in the area of neuroplasticity. According to Nguyen and Jeste:

"One of the most exciting developments in neuroscience during the past two decades is the discovery that our brain continues to evolve into old age through 'plasticity,' i.e., strengthening of existing synapses and formation of new ones, in the context of appropriate physical, cognitive, and psychosocial stimulation. ...People who stay active physically, cognitively, and socially tend to maintain their vocabulary, their ability to recognize events, objects, and people they’ve encountered before, and the motor skills learned during early childhood, such as swimming or bicycling. Their brains are likely to escape the atrophy that occurs in the brains of sedentary, lonely, inactive seniors."

Another intriguing aspect of the aging brain is in responding to emotions:

"This might explain the “positivity effect” of aging, a tendency to favor positive emotions and memories. Older people pay attention to and remember pleasurable and gratifying events better than sad, frightening, regrettable ones, whereas younger individuals retain positive and negative information equally well. It is as if young minds are like Velcro^® for negative experiences, and older minds like Teflon^®. Older adults more easily dispel feelings of disappointment, regret, and remorse, and worry less about events or issues they cannot change."

Perhaps this offers some reassurance that an aging brain is not a bad thing -- and aging isn't so bad either!

Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova, pexels.com 

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This report about a survey conducted a few months ago caught my eye and I thought it was worth sharing:

More than three in 10 U.S. retirees [31 percent] say they would be motivated to rejoin the workforce if inflation continued to eat into their savings, according to the latest American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor^® online survey conducted by The Harris Poll.

In addition to inflation, the role of Social Security insurance was also top of mind for many retirees, with 25% saying they’d be motivated to rejoin the workforce if Social Security no longer covered their expenses. Thirty-nine percent of retirees cited Social Security as their main source of income, while 33% cited retirement plans such as 401(k) accounts and pensions.

Overall, 14% of current retirees stated they are open to or actively looking for work. However, the study found that 43% of retirees said their age could be a barrier to getting a new job. In addition, 41% of retirees would look for a job if they could have a flexible work schedule, and 35% would do so if they could work remote full-time.

“At a time when more retirees need additional income and employers need their expertise and experience, older workers continue to face hiring barriers,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer at the American Staffing Association. “Employers that take steps to embrace flexibility and diversity across their entire workforces will be more productive and have higher levels of employee engagement.”

The news comes at a time when there are nearly two job openings per unemployed person in the U.S., according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With financial markets currently unsettled, it is likely retirement savings accounts are being battered right now. On the other hand, the Social Security Administration indicated that monthly payments would increase around 8.7 percent -- sure to be appreciated by those Boomers drawing benefits.

Persistent inflation has changed the way some retirees are thinking about work. As the survey report indicates, almost one third of all retirees may well consider returning to the workforce, but almost half of them believe age is a barrier to getting a job. A flexible work schedule is especially attractive to retirees.

Wouldn't it be nice if the desires of older workers actually meshed with the needs of employers -- and if employers recognized the value of hiring older workers.

Photo by Ron Lach, pexels.com

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History is packed with stories of individuals who made society a better place after they turned 50. Many of those individuals continue to strive to better their communities - and the world - each and every day.

Courtesy of MedicareInsurance.com,  here are five outstanding people who made a difference after age 50.

5. Jimmy Carter

President Jimmy Carter has spent the majority of his life working to make a difference in the world. However, he’s best known for his public service outside of office. Especially the work he’s done with Habitat for Humanity.

In 1986, at the age of 62, President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, established the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. What started with President and Rosalynn Carter working with Habitat for Humanity volunteers to renovate a run-down apartment building has grown into an annual program that’s helped thousands of families in fourteen countries.

At age 98, President Carter still volunteers his time to the JRCWP to help Habitat volunteers build safe shelters for families in need.

4. Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela spent the vast majority of his life working to end the vile apartheid movement in South Africa. It was as he entered his 70s that he would do his greatest work.

In 1991, Mandela became a key part of the Convention for a Democratic South America, helping broker the negotiations that would end the dark era of apartheid in South Africa. After being elected President in 1994, he ushered in a long-awaited reconciliation between the Black and white populations of South Africa.

Even after leaving office, President Mandela continued to champion for human rights around the world. Through his Nelson Mandela Foundation, he also continued to work to improve living conditions in his native South Africa.

3. Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks is the comic genius behind such legendary films as Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Blazing Saddles. What you may not know is that he has long championed the visions of younger artists as a producer. The kicker is that, ever the late bloomer, Brooks didn’t earn his reputation as a “producer on the cutting edge” until he was well in his 50s!

Brooks would start his "Brooksfilms" imprint in 1980 at the age of 56. This gave him a platform to bolster the works of auteurs whose art may have never been seen by a wider audience if not for him. In essence, Brooks showed audiences that “Old Hollywood” could still have their finger on the pulse of what was considered cutting edge.

2. Katherine Johnson

After the release of the hit film Hidden Figures, the work of NASA engineer Katherine Johnson reached a wider audience than ever. Even in the wake of the 2016 film, however, this groundbreaking scientist astill has yet to receive the recognition and accolades that she truly deserves.

Johnson’s success in her field showed women of color that their achievements had no ceiling. Her numerous achievements in her field have inspired young women everywhere to enter the once-considered “off limits” fields of science and technology.

1. Maya Angelou

The late, great Maya Angelou overcame a tormented past to blaze trails for people of color in the fields of writing and art. Her poetry and prose, designed to help her confront the worst parts of her life, heavily influenced numerous hip-hop artists and writers of color.

Angelou’s work and never-ending advocacy for peace and healing made her an often-called-upon speaker to advocate for those who wished to further work in civil rights and reformations in the justice system. As a result, her words have played a huge role in the never-ending battle to reform human rights in the United States.

Hopefully, this goes to show you that you’re never too old to be the change you want to see in the world. That change starts with you.

This post was provided by MedicareInsurance.com. A quality Medicare plan can keep you healthy in mind and body, and MedicareInsurance.com can help you find one in your area. You can reach one of their licensed agents at (800) 950-0608 to discover your options.

Photo credits:
Jimmy Carter: DOD, Department of the Navy. Naval Photographic Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Nelson Mandela: Johannesburg, South Africa, 2008. CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mel Brooks: Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Katherine Johnson: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Maya Angelou: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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