1964: The Ladies Who Invest

Of all the ads The Merrill Anderson Company created for U.S. Trust, this message from half a century ago probably was the most off beat.

Does the headline strike you as sexist or condescending? Remember that Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique had appeared only a year earlier, in 1963.

U.S. Trust was entitled to boast about advertising to women back in 1864. At that time married women in New York State had been allowed to own and control property for less than 20 years. (More on the evolution of laws granting property rights to female U.S. citizens here.) Most likely, women during The Civil War were compelled to take on more responsibility for family wealth.

•

For all his copywriting skills, the founder of The Merrill Anderson Co. was not noted for his sense of humor. Wish I knew whose idea it was to sneak the dozing businessman into the illustration. 

An interesting report on how seniors use the internet and smart phones

Older Adults and Technology Use

America’s seniors have historically been late adopters to the world of technology compared to their younger compatriots, but their movement into digital life continues to deepen, according to newly released data from the Pew Research Center. In this report, we take advantage of a particularly large survey to conduct a unique exploration not only of technology use between Americans ages 65 or older and the rest of the population, but withinthe senior population as well.

Two different groups of older Americans emerge. The first group (which leans toward younger, more highly educated, or more affluent seniors) has relatively substantial technology assets, and also has a positive view toward the benefits of online platforms. The other (which tends to be older and less affluent, often with significant challenges with health or disability) is largely disconnected from the world of digital tools and services, both physically and psychologically. Read More.

The IRA turns 40

by James B. Gust

Senior Editor, Merrill Anderson Co. Inc.

Once upon a time, there was no such thing as a tax break for individual retirement savings.  That was before 1974, before passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  The primary purpose of ERISA was make certain that the retirement promises made by private companies to their employees would be kept, and that tax-preferred retirement savings programs would be made available in a nondiscriminatory fashion.  But what about those who did not participate in an employer plan? For them, the Individual Retirement Account was created.  At that time, up to $1,500 could be contributed by eligible taxpayers to an IRA, and a corresponding deduction taken.  The eligibility rules were loosened in 1981, but the tax deduction was scaled back later for higher-income taxpayers.

            Last year the Investment Company Institute released a new study of the important role that IRAs now play in Americans’ financial security in retirement.  Datapoints of interest:

            • 38% of all U.S. households have an IRA.

            • Total IRA assets have reached $5.7 trillion, which is more than one-quarter of all U.S. retirement assets.

            • Twenty years ago, IRAs represented just 4% of total household assets. Last year that figure was 9%.

            • The growth of IRAs has been fueled in part by rollovers from company retirement plans, accounting for half of the traditional IRAs.

            • 15.6% of households have a Roth IRA, which was first made available in 1998.

            • IRAs are being used for their intended purpose, making retirement more financially secure.  70% of those making IRA withdrawals are 70 years old or older, while just 8% are under age 59. 

            How does one decide how much to withdraw from an IRA? According to the report, most people ask their professional financial advisor.  If you’d like help with your IRA, or a consultation on managing your retirement investments in general, please give us a call.

(May 2014)

© 2014 M.A. Co. All rights reserved.

We Actually Get Nicer With Age

The Surprising Good News About Getting Older 

The headline in this morning’s Wall Street Journal caught my eye: 

 “We Actually Get Nicer With Age.”

Wow! So much for the stereotype of the grumpy old man and the cranky old lady.
According to the article, as people get older, they report increases in positive traits such as conscientiousness, agreeableness and emotional stability. What’s more, negative traits — like neuroticism, anger and anxiety — seem to decline. Overall,  as we age we become “more responsible, more agreeable and more emotionally stable,” according to the Journal. Read More.

 

Boomers: 5 daily tactics to defy aging in 10 minutes or less

(BPT) - Determined, vivacious, passionate – a lot of words describe America’s estimated 78 million baby boomers. This spirited group is redefining their golden years, staying active by working, traveling and enjoying the great outdoors. They know that in order to live life to the fullest, they must make their health a priority, and many are dramatically affecting their personal well-being with a few key activities that take 10 minutes or less a day to complete.

Tavis Piattoly is a sports dietitian, expert nutritionist and co-founder of My Sports Dietitian. He stresses that small daily activities can have a cumulative effect on health, and therefore encourages baby boomers to consistently stay active and eat well.

He suggests five ways boomers can keep their health on track in 10 minutes each day:

1. Quick exercises
“Exercise should be enjoyable, so whether it is a brisk walk, strength training or participating in a sport, enjoying what you do will increase your chance of sticking with that activity,” says Piattoly.
He recommends boomers incorporate strength training into their workout routine to prevent loss of muscle tissues – a concern that increases with aging. Here are three simple exercises:
Chair squats – Use any chair and perform 10 to 12 repetitions standing up and sitting down. To increase difficulty, hold a light dumbbell to add resistance.
Wall push-ups – Place arms against a wall and perform 10 to 12 push-ups. If this is too easy, get into the push-up position on the floor, using your knees for support.
Dumbbell curls or soup-can bicep curls – Use a light to moderate weight dumbbell (2 to 10 pounds) and perform 10 to 12 bicep curls. Don’t have dumbbells? Substitute soup cans.

2. Nutrient-dense foods
It takes only minutes to eat a snack or a meal, and what’s on your plate fuels your overall health. Piattoly recommends starting with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables.
“As we age, our immune system is not as strong as it once was to fight off infections and illnesses, and fruits and veggies could play a big role in fighting off heart disease, cancer and age-related diseases,” he says
Next, Piattoly recommends eating lean protein like farm-raised eggs, extra lean beef or omega-3-rich salmon at every meal. “Since we lose muscle mass at a rate of around 1 percent per year starting at age 35, a diet rich in protein may minimize the rate at which we lose muscle,” he says.
Piattoly also suggests a balance of healthy fats. “Focus on a mix of healthy fats from sources like olive oil, avocados, almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios and natural peanut butter.”

3. Select supplements
“Omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish oil, are beneficial for both brain and cardiovascular health,” Piattoly says, noting that multiple research studies have demonstrated that fish oil supplementation is linked with lower levels of beta-amyloid protein, which may lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, research shows fish oil supplementation can reduce arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, improve triglyceride levels, and increase HDL (good cholesterol). “I recommend taking between 2000 and 3000 mg per day of triglyceride-based fish oil. I personally take and recommend Nordic Naturals. They’re the leading manufacturer of omega-3 supplements and all their products are tested for purity and safety.”
Additionally, because between 50 to 75 percent of the population has a vitamin D deficiency, Piattoly recommends a vitamin D supplement. “Optimal levels of vitamin D may reduce your risk for cancer and heart disease, as well as improve bone health. Shoot for 2000 IU per day but be sure to speak with your doctor to determine how much you should take,” he says.

4. Embrace technology
Numerous applications for smartphones and tablets make it easy to track your exercise progress, stay motivated and eat healthy. Best of all, most apps are free and only take a few minutes a day to use.
“I’m a big fan of MyFitnessPal, a nice fitness and nutrition app where you can track your activity and what you eat. You can visit www.myfitnesspal.com or download the app to your smartphone.”

5. Be social
“One of the best things boomers can do is form a social network of friends who enjoy living a healthier lifestyle,” says Piattoly. “Surrounding yourself with active people increases your opportunities for healthy activities. Habits are contagious, so associate with people who enjoy regular exercise.”

Eye-opening facts about aging eyes and vision problems

(BPT) - Most Americans know that vision problems begin to increase as they age. What they may not realize is that reduced vision is also linked to a higher frequency of falls, injuries and depression. Eye disorders such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can rob seniors of their independence.

Here are some facts and tips for maintaining eye health and vision while aging gracefully:

Many people can avoid vision loss as they age

Losing sight as you age should not be considered an inevitability. In fact, the World Health Organization states that 80 percent of blindness is preventable if the disease or condition causing it is diagnosed and treated in time.

Although many people find that they need reading glasses as they get older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six seniors has a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. This may be caused by common eye conditions and diseases, including:

* Cataract, a clouding of the eye's lens.

* Glaucoma, a disease which can rob the eye of its peripheral vision.

* Age-related macular degeneration, the deterioration of the central vision that is responsible for the ability to see fine details clearly.

With proper preventive care and timely treatment, many seniors can avoid permanent vision loss due to these diseases.

Eye exams are key to healthy vision

Many eye diseases and conditions have few or no noticeable symptoms until vision has already been lost, so it's important to keep up with regular exams.

By age 40, a person should have obtained a baseline comprehensive medical eye exam and by age 65, eye exams should be scheduled every one to two years, or as recommended by an ophthalmologist - a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of all eye diseases and conditions.

Finding an ophthalmologist can be easy

There are approximately 30,000 ophthalmologists across the United States.

For seniors concerned about the cost of seeing an ophthalmologist, EyeCare America, a national public service program of the Foundation for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is available to ensure seniors have access to eye care they need.

The program matches eligible seniors who haven't seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years with one of more than 6,000 volunteer ophthalmologists who provide them with a comprehensive eye exam and care, often at no out-of-pocket cost for up to one year. To see if you, your friends or family members are eligible, visit www.eyecareamerica.org.

A healthy body also benefits your eyes

Here are a few tips to help care for your eyes between exams:

* Eat well. Ensure you include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables and cold water fish in your diet.

* Exercise regularly. Not only does it help your heart, waistline and energy levels, but 30 minutes of physical exercise a day will also benefit your eyes.

* Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses protect the eyes from cataracts and even eye lid cancers, so make sure you wear them, especially during the summer, when at the beach or in the water, when participating in winter sports, and when taking medications that increase your sensitivity to light.

* Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, as well as risks for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence the health of your eyes.

"Keeping your eyes in good health is incredibly important, and the first step is to get an eye exam," says Dr. Charles P. Wilkinson, an ophthalmologist and chair of EyeCare America. "Most people take vision for granted until they notice changes too late to avoid vision loss. Maintaining your eye health can help you keep your independence."

EyeCare America is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation with additional support from Alcon.

Former all-star short stop and professional baseball coach Larry Bowa discusses his painful case of shingles

(BPT) - Larry Bowa may be known for his baseball prowess and fiery personality, but in June 2013, the two-time Golden Glove-winner was stopped in his tracks by a case of shingles, which he says caused him some of the worst pain of his life. Bowa said the pain he felt was so intense he could barely walk, originally leading him to think he had injured his back. But his MRI came back negative, and he received instead an unexpected diagnosis of shingles.

“I was a professional athlete for most of my life, and I’m still an active guy, so I was surprised to find that I developed a disease this painful,” said Bowa, 67.

Bowa learned that he was at risk for shingles simply because he had had chickenpox, which according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 98 percent of US adults has had.

Shingles is the common name for herpes zoster, a disease caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus never leaves the body. Instead, it lies dormant in the nervous system, and at some point later in life, it can reactivate and erupt as shingles and as you get older your risk increases.

The first symptoms of shingles are often felt, but may not be seen, and may initially include itching, tingling or burning in a specific area on one side of the face or body; for Bowa, it was the inside of his right leg. The pain is often followed by a rash in a band or strip along the affected area, and for Bowa, his rash persisted for three or four weeks, but the pain lasted much longer.

“Before I had shingles, I didn’t know anything about the disease, and I think this is the case for most people despite the fact almost everyone knows someone who has had it. That’s why I want to share my personal story to raise public awareness about people’s risk of disease and its severity,” Bowa said, who is partnering with Merck to help educate about shingles.

According to the CDC, one in three people will get shingles in their lifetime, and there are approximately one million cases of shingles each year in the United States. There's no way to predict if or when someone will get shingles, or how severe the case could be, so speaking with a healthcare provider to understand personal risk is important.

To learn more about shingles, talk to your doctor or pharmacist and visit shinglesinfo.com.