While employees new to the working world spend time and effort striving  to figure out what they want to do for their career (something that takes many of us a lifetime), older workers are comfortable with what is expected of them. Careers have evolved into what they will be and the focus can be on doing well the job at hand.

Younger workers tend to need guidance, encouragement, and patient hand-holding as they learn how to navigate a corporate world that older workers are familiar with and know the ropes.

And as those omnipresent start-ups begin to get traction and grow, they are starting to look to older workers who have done it before and are aware of the pitfalls to avoid.

Additional benefits older workers bring to the table include mentoring, espousing the company culture, low absenteeism, self-motivation and self-managing. As a nice side effect most experienced workers have also learned how to balance work and life and focus on what really matters.

For more corroborating evidence, have a look at this week’s US News & World blog Why Older Workers are Better Workers.

Each year thousands of senior citizens fall victim to financial scams. Because they usually have retirement money set aside, they are much less likely to report fraud due to embarrassment. This is very unsettling because it is completely avoidable. We can’t be as trusting as our parents and grandparents used to be, and we all need to take responsibility and educate ourselves about these scams.

Types of Scams

• Phishing – This term refers to a phone call or email that attempts to trick the victim into giving out important personal and/or financial information, which the thief then uses to access bank and credit card accounts.
• Rebate Scams – The only way you can receive an economic stimulus rebate is with your tax return, but some thieves contact seniors and tell them they can receive another rebate if they give the caller their bank information or send it via email.
• Product Scams – In this type of scam, the thief will call a home and offer fake products, free travel, or other prizes. They usually target older women, and they typically use pressure tactics to scare the victim into giving away their information.
• Advance Fee Scams – A fake investment opportunity or a lottery win is the draw for this scam. The thief gets the victim to believe that they will receive large amounts of money with the thief’s help, and then they pretend to help the victim to gain their trust. They ask for an advance fee, usually in the amount of thousands of dollars, before the victim can get their money, and then the thief disappears.
• Reverse Mortgage Scams – Fake banks or other lenders contact seniors with an offer for a reverse mortgage. Then they pressure the victim to convince them to sign a contract and give all of their information to the fake company.

How to Avoid Them

• Don’t respond to advertisements you did not ask for through the mail, by phone, or through email.
• Always read through everything you have to sign very thoroughly.
• NEVER give out your credit card information, social security number, or any other personal or financial information over the phone unless you know for sure that you are contacting someone trustworthy.
• Double check any emails you receive requesting financial information. Even if it looks like it is coming from a legitimate place, but scammers can easily copy logos and text to make their email seem legitimate.
• Pay attention to your personal finances. Look over all of your bank records and other financial documents to make sure you know where your money is going.
• Ask your bank to contact you when they see suspicious withdrawals.
• Block the numbers of suspicious callers if possible.
• Above all, remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it very well may be.

Elise Brown is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about understanding payday loans at Payday Loans Resource

Aging workers are realizing that retirement does not necessarily have to be an all or nothing event. Some senior citizens are now thinking that part time retirement sounds pretty appealing and they are not alone. According to Sun Financial 36% of those planning on retiring would prefer to go back and forth between periods of work and leisure.

What a great idea – work full time for a awhile and then start a period of retirement. You can retire for whatever length of time works best for you. And when you start getting bored with retired life, begin your research into your next job. You may never retire full time!

Such a strategy gives you a chance to pursue career paths that you have always wanted and if they do not work out, stop, recharge and find something else.

Part time retirement offers risks as well as rewards which I discuss more in depth in this week’s blog Growing Interest in Part Time Retirement

Cast a similar glance on a senior citizen and what do you see? I would venture that based on external appearance you expect the older person to be a bit slow, set in their ways, occasionally grumpy, and far from energetic. I fear that you – and I – are guilty of an injustice if we do not strive to look beyond the wrinkles to see the person within.

Yes seniors face challenges ranging from the threat of falling to the many adjustments that come as we learn to accept our aging minds and bodies.

But inside most still burns the fire to live and love, to learn and experience life, and to share happiness and survive sadness.

We all hope to be recognized as the person we are inside instead of who we appear to be externally. As we prepare for retirement what a great exercise to look for the person within and go beyond the wrinkles. After all isn’t that the way we ourselves hope to be treated?

This week’s blog in US News & World Only Old on the Outside offers some additional thoughts.

And it is not necessarily a bad thing. A job definitely has its good points as you engage with people each day and put yourself to the test to achieve goals and deadlines. Plus it is always nice to have a little additional money in our accounts although many have wisely come to realize that money is not all there is to a satisfying retirement.

With the reality that many boomers will be working into retirement, it becomes important to shape that retirement career into something that gives you enjoyment and satisfaction. This second act can be an opportunity to explore new interests and pursue your true passion.

Take a look at this weeks blog in US News & World Baby Boomers Plan Their Retirement Career for some additional thoughts on preparing for this important phase of retirement life.

Helpful Site: I recently discovered a site that provides a collection of eBooks with a focus on personal finance and retirement planning. Some books are free – including yours truly Navigating the Retirement Jungle – and others come at a nominal price. I recommend you take a look when you have a chance at Personal Finance eBook Library.

At 76 years of age I’m in my 15th year of retirement.  After being in the education profession for thirty-five years I transitioned from the busy life of being a school principal to serve as a supervisor of student teachers and administrative practicum students
at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I knew that I could not just retire with nothing to do, so I spent considerable time planning this first transition.

I believe planning for retirement is much like planning for a special trip you are taking.  This thoughtful preparation is critical for those early years after stepping away from a job you have enjoyed and treasured.

The other thing I’ve noticed about retirement is that it has been a series of transitions.  I spent eleven years at the university, but after eight or nine years there I began to scale back my schedule.  At this time I once again put careful and thoughtful planning on the front burner.  I asked myself what I wished to do after my second retirement.  During the last three years at the university, I studied what I wanted to do in the next stage of life.

Keeping busy in retirement

I am now retired and volunteer as a tutor in four elementary schools a week.  In addition to that I deliver meals on wheels one day a week, and am very involved in our local Kiwanis Club.  I volunteer in schools because I knew that I needed to be around children.

It is very important to know yourself, and think about how you want to spend the extra hours you have each week. I’m a firm believer in having a purpose and finding meaning, and working with children has fulfilled those things for me.  Each year, I
take some time to look ahead, and think about the next transition in my life.  My tutoring ends at noon each day which gives me the afternoon for golf, fishing, and other hobbies I have.

Retirement has also taught me the importance of balance and truly enjoying leisure
time. I’m still learning about this stage of life called retirement. I prefer to call it, “Finding a new life.”

It is possible to have an impact on the spending side of things if we are willing to take a little time to review our expenditures and reconsider choices made. I am not talking about drastic changes in your lifestyle but rather little tweaks here and there. For example, cutting your cable bill by $50 per month nets you a nice $600 yearly addition to your account. Cha-CHING!

Read how you can make a few minor adjustments in your retirment lifestyle to leave you with more at the end of the month in this weeks US News & World Blog 5 Cost-Cutting Tips to Stretch your Retirement Budget

From plumeting home values to shrinking 401ks, from rising medical costs to insufficient retirement nest eggs, the future can look pretty bleak. And many senior citizens are effectively “stuck in place” – they no longer have the time or resources to replace depleted savings.

That is why it is so important to begin retirement planning BEFORE you retire. Plan now to identify potential problems while you still have time to make corrections to your course. Set goals for retirement and stick to them.

Obviously finances will be an important consideration so start now getting into the mindset of saving money in retirement.

And we should not expect to do it all on our own – we need to enlist the aid of our support network of friends and family. Here are a few insightful tidits of retirement advice from current retirees.

For some additional ideas to help cope with challenging times, take a look at this weeks US News & World blog Retirement Planning in a Volatile Economy

Welcome to the rollercoaster!

In today’s 2012, gone are the traditional methods of dating—nowadays, singles everywhere are heading straight for the internet in search of that special someone.  And if you happen to be a single senior who is looking for love or companionship, senior dating sites are great places to meet your match. 

But because the internet provides such anonymity, it unfortunately also provides a place where financial predators, con artists and other dangerous villains wreak havoc on innocent online daters like you.  To avoid finding yourself in a potentially harmful situation, before signing up to a senior dating site, be sure to arm yourself with the following safety tips to ensure a safe and successful experience:

Keep personal information personal.  When composing your online dating profile and communicating with fellow senior singles, never give out any personally identifying details that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with in the hands of a stranger.  This includes material like your last name, home address, phone number, financial info or access to your accounts. 

Take things slow.  When you meet someone over the internet who you would like to meet in person, the idea of a first date can be very exciting.  However, it is very important to take the time to get to know one another over the internet first.   Most senior dating sites allow you to build an online connection through voice chat, video chat, email, etc.  Utilize these tools to learn more about the person, watch for red flags or inconsistencies, and determine if your online friend is trustworthy enough to take things to the next level.   

Plan a safe first date.  If an online relationship has progressed to the point of a face-to-face date, no matter how well you think you may know someone from your internet contact with them, you must continue to place safety as your number one priority.  Follow these tips for a safe first date:

• Never rely on your date for transportation—use your own ride to meet your date in a crowded, public place.
• Tell someone where you are going—let a friend or family member know your whereabouts as well as the name of your date.  Be sure to call when you arrive home and keep a cell phone handy in case you need to reach someone in an emergency. 
• Be observant of your surroundings—forgo the alcohol for the first few dates and keep an eye on your drink as well as belongings like your wallet, purse and phone. 

Listen to your intuition.   If at any point you feel uncomfortable while using a senior dating site, don’t ignore that feeling.  Should your gut tell you that something is wrong while in communication with someone you met online, listen to it and cease all contact with that person.  Never be ashamed or embarrassed of your safety precautions.  Anyone who is pursuing you for the right reasons will understand and respect your need for safety. 

Ellie Stevens is a guest post author who shares with us her tips for safe online dating.  In addition, Ellie also owns Best Senior Dating Sites where she provides resources for seniors looking for an online match. 

Little things indeed but what is life without noticing those nuances and hints that add to our quality of life?

In retirement we are finally able to slow down from the frenetic pace we have grown accustomed to and take time to literally smell the roses. Hurrying hither and yon is stressful and there is no place for stress in retirement! No more need to rush through a meal but instead concentrate on the flavors and combinations, the spices and nuances of what you put into your mouth.

We want and deserve to live the good life in retirement and being conscious of the moments that make up our life is a good place to start.

 Take a look at this weeks US News & World blog 6 Ways to Improve the quality of your retirement. You can make it happen!