How Demographics Effect Real Estate

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:12 +0000

Demographics are routinely overlooked when it comes understanding real estate. Here are some things to consider.

As mentioned before on this site, much of the housing boom that occurred, occurred because of demographics and demographic shifts.

Older babyboomers were scaling down either in size of home or price of home and moving.
Younger baby-boomers were moving up to have more room for their expanding family.

These two alone caused for a lot of home buying and building. But now they are done…at least for now.

If you are thinking about owing real estate, consider asking yourself these questions:

What are the demographic trends of the future when it comes to housing?

Baby-boomers moving down and moving out
Homesteading where multiple generations share the same property
Immigration: People will continue to immigrate to the U.S. legally and illegally…The population will continue to grow and it will need housing. But how long will it take till all the vacant homes are purchased by increasing population?

Where will large groups of people be moving to?

Mid-Atlantic and Southern East Coast States: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
Texas
Pacific Northwest
Resort communities that cater to full-time residents

What type of homes will people be interested in buying?

Smaller
Homes with land for gardening and farming
Homes that allow multiple families to live in them
Homes in more of a rural area, but convenient (45-60 minutes) to amenities and homes in more urban areas. Suburban areas will likely experience and exodus or at least become a less desirable place to live.

What states are pro business?

Virginia
Utah
North Carolina
Wyoming
South Carolina
South Dakota
Kansas
Georgia
Florida
Nebraska

*Notice 5 of the Top 10 States For Business are the Mid-Atlantic and Southern east coast states.

Where is business booming or will likely grow?

Texas
Virginia
North Carolina
Georgia

What states have low income taxes or no sales taxes?

No Income Tax States

Alaska
Florida
Nevada
South Dakota
Texas
Washington
Wyoming

Tax on only investment/dividend income states

New Hampshire
Tennessee

No Sales Tax States

Alaska
Delaware
Montana
New Hampshire
Oregon

Check out this article: The Future of Housing Demand: 4 Key Demographic Trends

For more information on Christian Economics and Real Estate, please visit The Christian Economic Report at www.ChristianEconomicReport.com.
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A Home For Me & My In-Laws 65 Miles Outside Of Chicago

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:13:45 +0000

In earlier times in America, families and extended families often lived together under one roof. The savings aspect of such an arrangement are obvious, as are the sharing of family stories from one generation to another generation. Often, older members of an extended family may also require “extra care,” while younger members of a given family may need some “extra help” financially. For all of those reasons and others (like an unplanned divorce in a family) men and women may wind up living together under the same roof, who might never have anticipated doing so previously, with a mother or father or with their spouse’s Mom and/or Dad.

So, how does such an arrangement work out from a family, who has “been there and done that?” Here’s one example from our Generation of Babyboomers, which you may find enlightening, especially if you have been considering a similar solution lately for your family and “extended family.”

Located approximately 65 miles Northwest of Downtown Chicago lies a former rural county, which is currently in a transition to suburban. McHenry County, IL was once the horse capitol of the US on a per capita basis. While it still possesses rich soil for its farmers, some of its inhabitants today are actually transformed city dwellers and suburbanites, like me and my family.

My wife and I discovered “our little piece of heaven” now more than 13 years ago. What brought us as a family out to this area was an assignment for my wife as pastor of a local PCUSA congregation. With us also came my mother-in-law and my father-in-law, who was in an early stage of Alzheimer’s. In fact, within one year of moving into our nearly 5,300 square foot ranch with an in-law wing, my father-in-law, Dr. George Roush, was admitted into a Greater Chicago area Alzheimer’s facility, which was better equipped to deal with his progressive disease.

Over the years, we have learned that other individuals have discovered McHenry County, IL because families get “more house and land” for the money than they could ever afford closer to the City of Chicago. So, the word BARGAIN becomes an operative word in our area.

Our house is also located on nearly 17 acres, is heavily wooded and includes a 1-acre pond. Deer and a large variety of other animals roam freely on our property and in our immediate neighborhood. That description even includes a Giant Turtle, who occasionally comes to visit and travels undisturbed in our area. Our property has even registered in the IL Dept. of Natural Resources “Forestry Program,” which creates a significant tax break.

The view out of an extensive number of Pella Windows is consistently breathtaking in every direction. In fact, a long, winding drive through towering trees on all sides leads to this totally secluded country estate.

The home itself has 4 1/2 baths plus 4 bedrooms and a Giant Family Room, which we refer to as the Great Room and which is physically located in the in-law wing of our home. There are also two separate laundry rooms, Living Rooms, Kitchens and Dining Rooms, which gives each separate family their own space in a non-crowded living arrangement for an “extended family special circumstance.”

Why does such an arrangement make particular sense in today’s global economy? It’s because it takes a lot of money to afford a quality nursuing home option today, which is not at all like being part of an extended family. In our living space at least initially were my wife and I in one wing of our house, my mother-in-law with my father-in-law in the opposite end of our home and our nephew (who we ultimately adopted), in his own separate bedroom with his own bathroom. We even had anticipated a live-in caregiver for my father-in-law and had made that plan even before we moved into our Woodstock, IL house.

So, perhaps, you too are looking for a similar in-law arrangement just one hour by Express Train from Downtown Chicago. If so, you should take a moment to check out the following listing:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/9911-Lucas-Road_Woodstock_IL_60098_1115485287?source=a20058

Google the following:

Realtor 9911 Lucas Road Woodstock, IL 60098

James O. Armstrong is President of NowWhatJobs.net, Inc., http://www.nowwhatjobs.net, and he serves as the Editor of NowWhatJobs.net. In addition, Jim is the author of “Now What: Discovering Your New Life And Career After 50″ and the President of James Armstrong & Associates, Inc., a media representation firm based in Suburban Chicago.
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Baby Boomer Health – Begin With the Basics

Articles are the property of their respective authors — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:16:42 +0000

Baby boomer health has included a supply of massive income sources surrounding literature, analysis, conferences and discussion in recent times. Every bookstore has a vast collection of books describing what to eat, when to eat, how to eat and even why to eat. Some content almost requires a PhD to comprehend the meaning of the message.

This does not mean we’re expected to purchase and apply expensive and unusual products because of their unique content and high price to enjoy good baby boomer health. Because of the great love coming from our Creator He has provided every single product, program, procedure, practice and rule to ensure high quality maintenance, restoration and healing of the chosen one. This vast supply will meet every one of our baby boomer health needs depending on circumstance and not decline in quality over time.

As the supreme creation we have a responsibility to maintain and establish baby boomer health with the best possible provision. As this has been at the core of the overall plan so also is the daily availability of beginning baby boomer health from scratch.

For both our general and unique maintenance requirements He has made available a vast collection of products to meet every income and most tastes. A nice crisp apple may be more preferable on a hot summer day. Provision has been made through cold storage to enjoy this with a certain amount of benefit based on feelings on a hot day. The humble apple is in natural supply during the colder months in this country. During this time it is both cheaper and widely available and may require a mother’s discipline of juvenile consumption. The primary reason for this is the Creator’s local supply of necessary vitamin C to meet the needs of a body possibly needing to fight a next door neighbor’s virus.

Seasons are one of primary relevance. Not every body on the planet can eat broccoli and spinach in the one week. Provision fits in with a very complex plan that will feed and nourish a body perfectly with what is growing, being sold and in oversupply in nearly every part of the globe.

Superior maintenance or renovation of baby boomer health is available from the supermarket more often than the pharmacy but sill requires the payment, routine and belief.

The decision to establish baby boomer health must be strong and determined. From this will grow a need to discover through basic observation just what is in season in your suburb. If a budget must be observed don’t hesitate to select from the oversupply barrel. A body will be just as carefully filled with the necessary vitamins and minerals whether it comes from the $1.00 or $5.00 a kilo selection of greens. The higher paying purchaser may get the benefit of a greater selection and probably nicer looking vegetables but these issues are of little relevance when a body is fed, maintained and possibly healed with the cheaper content.

Certainly there is a place for vitamins, advice, doctors and written instruction but basic provision will provide a very simple but powerful asset to maintain a happy and healthy body. If a body is basically beginning from scratch for better health a primary key is to purchase the in-season products that are available on every visit. Selection and preference may not always provide superior taste and enjoyment but the essential body needs will be met with the amount of cash available for daily feeds.

Ken Little is a writer, teacher, public speaker and publisher of a classic – Get your Free ebook “How I Became Young at Sixty” by going to:
http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com/get-your-f-r-e-e-ebook.htm
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Seven Reasons Why Baby Boomers Resisit Change for Health and Wellness

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:57:15 +0000

Many babyboomers, especially those experiencing a midlife crisis, set their attention on moving away from a problem rather than moving forward toward a solution. Stopping or denying the difficulty or challenge takes precedence over finding a real, positive, and long-lasting resolution.

Unclear Goals

As stated above, most people want to find solutions by moving away from a problem rather than moving toward a solution. It’s a relatively simple concept– If you do not know where you are going, how will you know when you get there? For instance, if you wanted to drive somewhere in your car, would you drive with out directions? Having a fixed, clear, desired outcome is key when seeking change.

Fear of the Unknown

Changes take you out of your comfort zone. Familiarity reinforces the status quo. You need to think outside the box when pursuing your goals.

Inaccurate Perceptions

Perceptions are what you see. When you are considering change, it is difficult to be objective about your challenges. You are what you think!

Impatience

Immediate results may be false and temporary at best. There are no quick fixes to a crisis situation. Solutions to a crisis or desired change are processes. The process may appear daunting, but the results can lead to new growth and a healthy, balanced life.

Lack of Support

Think back to when you were in high school. Do you remember all the socializing with friends? Friends were the most important piece of your life back then. It still holds true today. Open up to family and friends. Everyone needs encouragement and motivation. Find a trusting, lending ear.

Lack of Accountability

Gentle support aids in helping you to be liable for your actions without judgment and with complete confidentiality. This is one of the main reasons coaching is so successful. Accountability is the support you need to keep yourself on track.

Unwilling to Sacrifice

We have come a long way, baby boomers, but many of us are unwilling to give up what we have in order to get what we want. Many of us are unwilling to give up where we are now for where we want to be. However, this implies that we have a choice. Take a chance and regain control.

Change is difficult unless you see the circumstances as a new opportunity. Moving away from a challenge will keep you from finding a healthy solution. Get the support you need and move forward.

Go to Nancy’s blog, http://www.babyboomerhealthandwellness.com for support. Nancy Stark is a professional certified life coach who specializes in the health and wellness of baby boomers. Learn practical and easy ways to integrate positive thinking, nutrition and exercise into your day to day activities.
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The Secret of Life Insurance

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:31:31 +0000

Do you love someone enough to spend your hard earned dollars on a life insurance premium — month after month?

Because the real benefit of a life insurance policy isn’t for you. It’s for those you love… but after you’ve gone.

Life insurance is money paid to those who rely on you right now to provide a secure standard of living. They can lose this in a heartbeat.

Life insurance is money when needed the most… with no income tax or publicity.

Buying a life insurance policy is challenging because it isn’t an easy subject matter to begin with.

Most people get confused about how it works and whom they can trust enough to make the purchase.

And there’s a large number of companies and sales agents all clamoring for your attention.

This article will help to clarify a huge misconception about term life insurance. Also, I’ll introduce you to what many knowledgable professionals consider to be the best kept secret in a life insurance policy.

Buy term and invest the difference is a phrase touted by those … including many life insurance agents … who have absolutely no idea how much harm it’s implementation can cause.

The principle theory is you no longer need life insurance when you reach a certain age such as 55, 60 or 65.

Supposedly your kids have finished school and are doing just fine earning their own income. And you and your spouse are living comfortably on retirement savings and social security.

On the surface and to the naive, this might appear reasonable.

Now, it’s easy to pick apart this hypothesis, but let’s focus instead on the real problem with this scenario.

We are living longer than ever before. We may not be enjoying it very much due to poor health but, nevertheless, we’re hanging on.

Life insurance companies know this better than anyone. In fact, most of them now use age 115 has a factor when calculating life insurance policy premiums.

You hear about retirees who are forced to find work at McDonald’s or Wal-Mart. Have you ever joined a seniors chat room on the Internet and witnessed the concerns most of them have about running out of money before they die?

Many of these seniors are frightened to death. And what about the millions of babyboomers right behind them.

An intelligently purchased life insurance policy can be the saving grace for those you love the most.

Now, let me set the record straight. I have nothing against term life insurance. For over 24 years I’ve personally sold millions of dollars worth.

What bothers me … and what I believe to be criminal … is when term life insurance is sold under false pretenses.

Let’s use a simple example.

A 35 year old nonsmoking male in excellent health can buy a $500,000 term life insurance policy for about $700 per year.

The premium is guaranteed to be $700 for 30 years. Some companies will be a little cheaper and some a little more expensive.

The buy term and invest the difference advocate would compare this to a $500,000 whole life insurance policy at $3,650 per year. Once again, some companies will be higher and some lower.

Theoretically, you have $2,950 to invest each year for 30 years. I say theoretically because in the real world you would never consistently invest $2,950 each year.

Not the same way you would commit to a life insurance policy premium.

How do I know this? Call it human nature based on lots of experience.

But, let’s give you the benefit of the doubt and say you actually do invest according to this hypothetical plan. What rate of return are you going to make over 30 years? 5% … 8% … 10 percent?

By the way, this question opens up another can of worms. The psychology of investing. But, we’ll save that controversy for another time.

For arguments sake let’s assume you get an 8% compounded rate of return each year for 30 years. This comes to $360,920.41.

Okay… so now you’re 65 years old and you have $360,920.41. But guess what?

When you reach 66 your $500,000 term life insurance policy will lapse without value because the annual premium becomes $21,180.

Yep, you read that right! It jumps from $700 to over 21 thousand dollars.

At age 70, it’s $31,430. At age 75, it’s $52,970.

There’s no way on earth you’ll pay this premium. Problem is… you aren’t dead yet!

You have paid $21,000 over a 30 year timeframe to have a $500,000 life insurance policy during a period of time when the odds are you would never die anyway.

Under normal circumstances you will die somewhere around age 80 — give or take. Your loved one’s investment account still won’t be worth $500,000.

What’s more, she will have to pay income tax on the investment gains. Remember, life insurance proceeds are income tax free.

Permit me to repeat myself. I am not against term life insurance … as long it’s purchased with an eye towards the reality of future expectations.

If your term life insurance policy is issued by a highly rated company with a broad selection of products, you will have ample opportunity to convert the term into something more permanent over the course of the 30 years in our example.

Keep in mind your age determines the length of time the term policy will have a guaranteed level premium.

You may not be able to get more than a 10 year guarantee if you are over 50 years of age.

So, exactly what is the best kept secret in a life insurance policy?

It is a universal life insurance policy that guarantees the death benefit regardless of investment performance.

Universal life is the most flexible type of policy on the market. The premium is higher than term, but lower than whole life. There are several on the market, so you must be careful.

If you decide to buy term because of budget constraints, then be certain to buy from a company that also offers universal life.

This gives you the chance to slowly convert the term into universal with the same company over the length of the term guarantee.

As your budget permits convert term into universal.

One word of caution. Long term interest rates are critical to the performance of universal life insurance.

Because they’ve been depressed for several years and will likely continue so, you must get the universal life with an unconditional death benefit guarantee.

Here’s an example using our 30 year old male. The $500,000 universal life insurance policy premium is $2,871 per year. This compares with the already discussed $700 term and $3,650 whole life premiums.

Let’s say you really do decide life insurance isn’t important when you reach 65. By that time, you would have paid $86,130 in total premiums.

Down a rat hole like the term plan? Nope!

The cash surrender value would be at least $85,501. It might well be over $100,000 based on the actual competitive interest rates credited to the policy over the 30 years.

When you buy the right type of universal life you guarantee the death benefit for as long as necessary… plus you have the ability to recover your expense if you wish to cash it in.

You can benefit from the best of both worlds when you use the best kept secret in a life insurance policy.

Visit the Types Of Tomatoes website to learn about growing tomatoes indoors and fertilizer for tomatoes.
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Where Would You Rather Live Than in Your Home?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:00:58 +0000

As multitudes of babyboomers become senior citizens, they’re finding that in many cases the key to aging gracefully is aging in place. Most seniors are satisfied and comfortable living in their own residences and moving through their daily lives in the cities and towns they think of as home. Aging in place is the idea that elderly people should be able to live a desirable – even sought after – lifestyle, by being active participants in their communities, engaging in meaningful activities, earning money if they so choose, remaining independent, and having access to an array of recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities. For most people, these things can be done right at home, in their own communities where they’ve lived and thrived for years.

Why should being old feel any less satisfying than that? There should be a sense of pride that comes with growing older, but sadly many are robbed of that quality of life, particularly when they have to relocate to a living situation that is new, unfamiliar, and a far cry from the comforts of home.

When it comes to finding home care, Wake Forest NC to Durham, seniors and their loved ones have a vast pool of agencies to sift through. And with a decision like this, you definitely want to be scrupulous. Get recommendations, check references, conduct interviews. Make sure the caregiver is qualified, experienced, compassionate, and able to meet your specific needs. After all, you are opening your home up and practically entrusting your life to them, not to mention giving them your money. This is why choosing who will provide you with home care, Durham, NC seniors, could be the most important decision of your life.

For some reason, our society is rather obsessed with pinning negative nuances to the process of aging. Why does growing old have to be viewed as this dark, daunting event, when it could be celebrated as a right of passage? You’ve lived, you’ve learned, you’ve paid your dues. Maybe you’ve worked all your life, or perhaps you’ve taken care of children. You are wise and adept in the ways of the world. You are looked up to and well respected by people younger than you. Now that you’ve reached your golden years, you can relax and enjoy life’s bounty.

But even those choosing to age in place may eventually need assistance. The reality is that growing old is often accompanied by some degree of physical and/or mental deterioration. Many folks look to in-home elder care – Raleigh, NC seniors are fortunate to be privy to a plethora of wonderful geriatric resources, including many that support those choosing to age in place. Once you’ve gone through the often complicated process of finding the right caregiver, you can look forward to companionship, mobility, a sense of security (especially when it comes to health and safety issues), and even a renewed sense of independence despite the fact that someone is helping you. Aging gracefully means accepting the inevitable changes, however difficult, that occur as a result of getting older, and thriving in a place where you are comfortable and happy. For most people, that place is their home.

Written by Jenny Heart. Quality home care Wake Forest NC: Receive home care Durham NC, alzheimer’s and senior care through elder care Raleigh NC, Clayton, Chapel Hill, Cary, Wake Forest.
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The Age Wave: Understanding the Diversity and Needs of Older Clients

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:39:12 +0000

Me work with older adults? Not if I can help it!That is frequently the attitude of students I encounter who think of the elderly as a boring and debilitated population residing in nursing homes or other institutional settings. While not saying so in such blunt terms, many clinicians in practice secretly share these perceptions. The reality is that whether one has planned to or not, working with older adults is an increasing likelihood for all clinicians unless they limit their practice to children and adolescents. Even marriage and family therapists will find more of their caseloads taken up with adult children confronting problemparents (Should they be driving? Can they safely stay in the family home? Are they making bad financial decisions?) rather than problemchildren. Demographic data tell us that the fastest growing segment of the population is adults over the age of 75, with the over-85 group increasing more than sixfold.

As BabyBoomers age, the number of adults living well into their 80s and 90s will jump exponentially. Identification and classification of the aging population has proved challenging. For example, gerontologists traditionally identify persons aged 60 years and above as older adults. Researchers, however, often break old age into three categories: the young old(ages 65-75), the old(ages 75â€”85), and the oldest old(age 85+). Others have argued that healthnot ageshould be the criterion so that the young oldare all those who are over 65 and healthy while the oldest oldare those over 65 who are ill or disabled. Much of this confusion in terminology is related to the changing character of aging in this country. Current generations of older adults are healthier and better educated than past cohorts. They enter old age with more old_resources and different expectations from those of earlier cohorts. The consequence is that as Baby Boomers age, they will be more psychologically minded and open to psychotherapy as a helpful process than were their parents and grandparents.

Barriers to Working with older Adults Unfortunately, the average counselor usually has had little direct contact or experience working with a large number of older adults. This lack of experience can limit the counselors interest in or comfort with this population. As a consequence, it is easy for societal myths about older people and inappropriate stereotypes to impact the mental health professionals attitudes toward older clients. For example, a common misperception is that most older adults live in nursing homes or other institutional settings. However, the reality is that less than 5% of the elderly population reside in nursing homes. The majority of older adults never spend any time in a nursing home but rather live independently, successfully coping with their life situations. Another barrier to services is the myth that older people do not change or benefit from counseling. Multiple studies have consistently documented that psychotherapy is effective in overcoming depression and other mental health disorders in older adults. In fact, rates of improvement and the extent of gains are often similar to those found among younger groups. In addition, interventions that focus on family members or on hospital or nursing home staff can result in significant improvements even for patients who are unable to participate in traditional psychotherapy (such as dementia patients). Counselors must examine and challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that limit their understanding and willingness to serve this population.Christian Counselor is always available to help you out.

The reality is that older adults experience the same broad array of psychological issues and disorders that affect younger adults. To be helpful, counselors need to better understand the diversity of situations and needs of these clients and the wide range of issues and concerns confronting them. This is not a homogenous population. Often the only commonality among them is that they are over the age of 65. Differences in education, health status, economic status, and life experiences are often greater in this group than in younger clients and must be recognized and evaluated if effective treatment is to be provided. Working with older clients presents a challenge to mental health practitioners and demands that they acquire specific knowledge and skills needed to work creatively and effectively with this population. (Unfortunately, few have had even minimal academic or clinical training to prepare them to work competently with older adults.)

Successful Aging

One of the most important new trends in working with older populations is a deemphasis on only negative aspects of aging and a growing emphasis on successful aging.Prevention and early intervention are playing larger roles in helping to optimize life satisfaction and quality of life in old age. There appears to be some truth to the wry observation of the elderly gentleman who commented, If Id known I was going to live this long, Id have taken better care of myself.A multidimensional approach is needed to achieve optimal quality of life for the elderly. It has been suggested that positive aging is associated with: avoidance of disease and disability; maintenance of high physical and cognitive function; and sustained engagement in social and productive activities.

One of the most striking aspects of working with older adults is the need to go beyond an individual focus to develop a multidisciplinary approach that involves the medical, family, and social systems of the client. Christian counselors have a unique opportunity to enhance these multidimensional goals by providing an additional focus on clients spiritual and religious old_resources as well as drawing on the church community for support and care. A finding often ignored by mental health professionals is that religion plays a significant role in the lives of older adults. In fact, it has been reported that religious affiliation is the most common form of organizational participation among older adults, with 50% attending religious services weekly.

What Mental Health Professionals Should Know about older Adults The majority of older adults manage to face problems and overcome them effectively, but others will need help facing the challenges of aging. Depression and anxiety should not be considered normal conditions of the elderly. These are treatable disorders. In fact, older people evidence fewer diagnosable psychiatric disorders than younger persons. Only cognitive impairment (dementia, delirium) shows a definite age-associated increase in incidence. What information, then, should counselors have to provide useful and competent help to older clients?

eCounseling.com is the only online counseling help website that allows clients and counselors to connect online – with no software to download or cumbersome technology! It seeks to be an excellent information resource for consumers, and to connect prospective counseling clients to counseling professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Its director is himself trained professional Dr. Anthony Centore.
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A Website for Up-and-coming Older People â the “elderly” Need not Apply

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:41:34 +0000

Every year Glazer+Kalayjian is proud to work with a select number of non-profit organizations, one of our most recent clients being Service Program for Older People, or SPOP (http://spop.org). As one of New York’s leading providers of mental health and related services for older adults, SPOP offers a number of services to its clients including Counseling Services, an Adult Day Center, Services for Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill Adults, Bereavement Support, Government Entitlements and Insurance Benefits, and Education and Training. At SPOP, they don’t ease the last years of a person’s life; they enhance them!

Despite their older clientele, SPOP prides itself on staying away from images of elderly and geriatric peopleâthe term “old” is not in their vocabulary. Older, yesâbut not “old”. As Diane Adler of SPOP explains, “For over 35 years, Service Program for Older People has been showing adults in the New York area that aging is no barrier to maintaining an active and meaningful life.” As she further details, SPOP’s philosophy is based on professionalism and respect, which meant GK needed to create a website that showed older people who are great at living life, and by modern standards they should be; they have the most experience at it.

It was this unique twist on adult life that inspired GK to create something that was user-friendly, up-to-date and fun without being too complex. To do this, we changed the color scheme from an institutional blue to a vibrant, yet sophisticated color palette of blue, orange, brown, red and green and kept the font and images neat, clean and extremely simple.

We also included a text-enlarger, making the content easier to read for those with less-than perfect eyesight, and an easy-to-read RSS feed that quickly and easily updates SPOP siteseers on the latest SPOP news. SPOP.org also offers an online newsletter, previous issues of their paper newsletter and the ability to register online for SPOP seminars. Then of course, the SPOP site also features the newly updated SPOP logo created by Glazer+Kalayjian.

In the end, it was no Myspace, it wasn’t even MyOldSpace, it was exactly what it needed to be: a website utilizing today’s top technological features while still appealing to those who prefer the simple things in life.

According to the United States Census, 7,918 people per day turned 60 in 2006, and by 2030 we can estimate there will be 57.8 million babyboomers across the US. One might even be surprised just how often they’re online. In 2002 CBS reported:

* Online boomers were more likely to send or receive e-mail on a given day: 54 percent versus 49 percent of younger Americans who are wired.

* Sixty-six percent of online boomers have looked up health information online, compared with 54 percent for younger users.

* Boomers were more likely to visit online support groups for specific medical conditions and personal situations: 55 percent versus 36 percent.

* Half of online boomers have used the Internet for financial information, compared with 28 percent for the younger group.

* Fifteen percent of wired boomers have traded stocks or bonds online, while only 9 percent of younger Americans have.

* Boomers were also more likely to have gotten religious and spiritual information over the Internet and used government Web sites.

Today, Glazer+Kalayjian is well positioned for the niche babyboomer market. “Every generation offers us something new or different,” says Caitlin E. Brown, Project Manager of Glazer+Kalayjian, “and it’s up to us to return the favor.”

Glazer+Kalayjian is a global strategic branding consultancy specializing in brand strategy and brand architecture, visual brand identity systems, product naming and company naming, trademark search, linguistic analysis, package design, graphic design and interactive design. With a full web branding and interactive design team, Glazer+Kalayjian also produces custom websites, creative online advertising, search engine optimization strategies and e-commerce solutions. Based in New York City, GK maintains a satellite office in Westport, CT, and partner offices all over the globe. With over 30 years of experience creating and sustaining brands for some of the world’s most admired organizations, GK provides a level of expertise that is unmatched. For an estimate on your next design project, contact the Marketing Director of Glazer+Kalayjian for more information at http://www.gkdesign.com/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=2 or call us at +1.203.226.8255 Ext 12.
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Meet the Twixters!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:29:17 +0000

There is a new stage of development for parents to consider.

The stages of development are roughly the following: children move from infancy, to early childhood and onwards to middle childhood. These stages take roughly the first ten or so years of life. Our children then move into a long stage known as adolescence (with a number three sub-stages) that is a transition phase into adulthood. That’s it, right?

No, it seems that we have another phase that links adolescence with adulthood. The twenty-first birthday used to signify a move into adulthood and all its accompanying privileges and responsibilities. Now the years from 18 until 25 and beyond seem to have become a distinct stage of life, where young people seem to have lodged for a while, staving off the responsibilities of full adulthood. This phase has been dubbed the Twixter stage.

This group has been on the radar for some years but it seems only now that they are reaching significant status of a sub-culture. They have been variously dubbed ‘permakids’, ‘boomerang kids’ and ‘adultescence’. Their babyboomer parents don’t want to grow old – they don’t want to grow up.

Twixters have put many of the traditional markers of adulthood on hold – home ownership, marriage and children, if they have them, have been delayed until well into their 30’s. Entering the workforce later than previous generations and knowing they will live into their eighties this group has plenty of time to play.

This group can afford to take their time to grow up as they have the luxury of having relatively affluent, cashed-up parents who act as a safety net or a financial back-up in times of need. Oh, and a large number of them still live at home.

It is not as if living at home presents any significant hardship to Twixters. Both parents and twixters hold each other in high regard and maybe both groups gain significant benefits from living with each other longer, rather than having young people flee the nest at the first opportunity.

A recent US Gallup poll found that 90 per cent of young people report being very close to their parents, which contrasts with 40 per cent of babyboomers in 1974 who said that they would be better off without their parents. Twixters and their parents get on with each other.

If young people are delaying partnering and beginning their own families then they are seeking and support networks elsewhere. This is where friends and family of origin play an important role.

Twixters have a special gift for friendships and their culture revolves around strong friendship groups. The American sitcom Friends and its Australian counterpart The Secret Life of Us! showed how friends are a type of surrogate family for twentysomethings – where you go to for emotional support and acceptance.

The point is Twixters will not go away. Biologically, it seems that the human brain is still developing well into the 20’s so a young person’s neurological development at 18 is still a many years from being complete.

There is little doubt that adulthood is delayed in a communal sense. One survey recently found that most people believe that the transition to adulthood should be completed by the age of 26, on average and the number is going up.

So, if your eldest is a toddler then you had better make sure you get on because he or she will be around for a couple of decades yet. It may be a scary thought! It certainly challenges us all to rethink the way we parent young people, rethink the notion of adolescence itself and its transitions and rethink how we organise our personal lives to accommodate the demands of these Peter Pans.

Michael Grose is Australia’s NO. 1 parenting expert. He is the director of www.parentingideas.com.au, the author of seven books for parents and a popular presenter who speaks to audiences in Australia, Singapore and the USA. Get your FREE Chores and Responsibilities for Kids Guide when you visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au
Get a hold of Michael’s sensational new book Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It at www.michaelgrose.com. You’ll be astounded when you learn about your birth order personality and how the postion in your familoy impacts on your life!
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Baby Boomers Capture Christmas Memories!

Articles are the property of their respective authors — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:47:20 +0000

So it would be very understanding that baby boomers would want to capture as many wonderful memories as possible. Christmas memories can be easily captured every year by using the Christmas Planner to assist you documenting the seasonal event and then journaling that event into a personal journal. The Christmas Planner records all events focused on the festive season such as family, guests and visitor lists, calendars for task to get completed and social events to be recorded, a complete Christmas cost plan, a home escape plan, 12 weekly calendars for activities, reminders, plans and events, Christmas card lists, wish, shopping, grocery, and Christmas supply lists, large or small events planners, daily or single meal menu planners, table seating arrangement plans and table cards, favorite recipes section and a notes section to record all miscellaneous memories.

One option of journaling is using the book called, My Personal BABYBOOMER RETIREMENT Book. This book records personal contact information, stores memories and acts as a journal that is focused on retiring baby boomers. It can be personalized to the user’s baby boomer year by adding the ‘PACKETS’ that is designed to compliment the user’s book. Having a copy of My Personal BABYBOOMER RETIREMENT Book allows the user to record family and friend’s personal information, keeps confidential and financial information, health, fitness and social notes and an extensive travel planner. Besides using your book as a journal, some of the extras included in the book are a family chart, a brief bio, accomplishments/achievements, hobbies, wishes, dreams, special mentions, in memory of, dedications to pets, a section to keep the utmost special pictures close by, dates to remember and favorite websites. The user controls how much information is exposed in the journal with an opportunity to leave vital information for certain ‘trusted’ loved ones or an opportunity to allow loved ones to have a real personal inside look of shared hopes and dreams.

By combining the use of the Christmas Planner with the book called My Personal BABYBOOMER RETIREMENT Book, Christmas memories can be easily captured and reviewed at the user’s convenience. Merry Christmas to all!

Dorothy Krusky was born in Guelph, Ontario in 1956. As a child she enjoyed playing games and going on adventures. Coming from a large family there was always material readily available.
She dabbled in the various areas of education her most proud moment was when she received her high school diploma in her mid forties. She went on to further her education in Creative Writing and Computer studies.
Her love of animals, nature and people has allowed her to express herself through her poetry. She enjoys writing for children. The Christmas Cat written in 2005 is her first book that has won many rave reviews.
She resides in the small community of Hanmer, Ontario where one can often find her immersed in her writing.
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