Small Business Boomers

Every business has good and bad times.  And every business owner goes through times when they are excited about their business and times when they are not.  For Baby Boomers who have been in business for many years, this phenomenon is always at work.
We all run in cycles, both emotional, physical, financial, and social.  And we’re all going through a down financial time, which can lower emotional and physical energy.  If the recent depressing economic news and tougher business times has you down, here are some suggestions to help you out of your slump and re-excite your passion for your …read more

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In honor of Thanksgiving in the U.S. today, I got to thinking about things for which I’m thankful.  In my list, I decided to include being thankful I’m a Baby Boomer and for my really great job here at Bizzia with Small Business Boomers.  Here is why:
1.  I like being part of history – Baby Boomers are the largest single demographic group in history.  I think that’s pretty cool.
2.  I enjoy interacting with other Baby Boomers who have similar interests and ideas.  It’s fun to get emails from people who “get” what I’m trying to do.
3.  I figure we all …read more

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A recent article in Reuters provides the results of a survey showing that half of adults surveyed refuse flu shots.  Some of us Baby Boomers have chronic conditions that may lead to complications from the flu, so many doctors recommend it.  Of those surveyed, 48% said they won’t get a flu shot, many stating as their reason: “I don’t get sick” (45%).
Other reasons for not getting a flu shot are that it’s better to build up an immunity, that the vaccines are ineffective (26%) or that flu shots can bring on the flu (41%).  I’m with the 26% who believe …read more

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Pfizer, maker of Lipitor, the world’s most prescribed drug, says Lipitor sales are down 13%.  Tough. Baby Boomers and others are taking a hard look at drugs they take and asking if there are more natural alternatives.
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Part of Pfizer’s problem was an ad campaign featuring noted heart specialist Robert Jarvik (maker of artificial hearts). The Jarvik campaign was pulled in favor of one featuring an average Baby Boomer, back in September.  But Lipitor is set to go “generic” in 2011; it will be interesting to see if Pfizer will come up with another drug in place …read more

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Herewith the start of an every-so-often Saturday Saying.  Something to think about as you end the week and start a new one.  In this case, we are starting a month, so it’s a double thought.  Here it is:
 I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn’t have signed up in the first place!
(From Life Thoughts by Ducky )
My post the other day about keeping physically fit to stay mentally fit really hit home.  Since I am “retiring” to stay at home to write, I am going …read more

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My best friend just got back from China.  She walked the Great Wall, up many steps, and she was able to keep up when other younger people weren’t.  She has a regular vigorous walking routine, she lifts weights, swims with a Master’s group, and does yoga.  She is in great shape! And new information shows that being in shape physically can help keep you mentally fit too.
A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health (and published in September in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) shows that older women who are active do better on cognitive (knowledge) …read more

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Or will younger voters, who are supposed to be turning out in great numbers, be the deciding generation?
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A recent TVLand poll predicts that 94% of Baby Boomers will be voting a week from today, with 82% of those polled stating that they are “extremely likely” to vote.  Since Baby Boomers are the largest generation, we could have a definite effect on the outcome of the election.  As you might have guessed, top issues for Baby Boomers are: the economy (81%), health care (65%), gas price (62%), Social Security and Medicare (58%) and taxes (57%).  But 76% …read more

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If you have been reading my posts on (1) Basics of LTC Insurance and (2) How LTC Insurance works with Medicare and Medicaid, you may have more questions than answers.
One basic I forgot to mention earlier is the difference in levels of care facilities. While these are general, and the experts would probably take issue with my descriptions, here is my understanding of what these terms mean (from my own experience):

Independent living facilities offer seniors the ability to live independently in apartments; a dining room is on premises. No nurse is on staff, but there are trained staff …read more

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It’s a Friday and it’s October.  And the market seems to be following historical precedent:
I just heard that foreign trading seems to be in a panic mode, and Dow Futures (pre-opening trading) on the NYSE was so low it was halted to stop the slide.  It’s called “limit down.” Remember what I said about “FALL.”
We have nothing to do but hang on.  I am NOT looking at our 401(k) portfolio today.  No matter what.  It’s only a paper loss, we don’t desperately need the money right now, so we will wait until things improve.  And they always do.
If the weather …read more

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A couple of days ago I wrote about the basics of buying long term care insurance. Today, some more thoughts, in particular about Medicare and Medicaid, so you can think about whether you want long-term care insurance. First, some basics, then a longer explanation:
Basics (I’m generalizing what is a very complicated subject, to illustrate. Please do your own research to be sure you have the full story):

Medicare only pays for acute care, for up to 100 days, after you have been in the hospital 3 days
After that, you go on “private pay” in a nursing home, …read more

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