Vol.7 No.4
10 Tips for Negotiating a Better Price on Anything
5 Mistakes And Myths That Can Spoil A Successful Retirement
F (Forget) Being Old:
Takin’ it Easy in “The Big Easy”
Boomer Travel:
11 Fall Foliage Train Rides to Book NOW!
Old Enough for Sex: How Sex Makes You a Happier & Healthier Person
How to Avoid Social Security Scams Today’s BoomeR
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This Issue September / October 2018 Volume 7, Number 4
Social Security
5
How to Avoid Social Security Scams
Boomer Consumer Watch
7
10 Tips For Negotiating Anything
Old Enough For Sex
Founders: John Vardallas & Alexandra Maragha Editor-In-Chief: Alexandra Maragha
9
How Sex Makes You a Happier and Healthier Person
Contributing Writers : Chef Eben Atwater: Healthy Eating Advertising: Team
Boomer Travel
10
11 Fall Foliage Train Rides to Book Right Now
F (Forget)- Being Old 15 Takin’ It Easy in The Big Easy
AARP’s 2018 Most Livable Cities
19
5 Mistakes And Myths That 20 Can Spoil Retirement Boomer Healthy Eating
23
The RIGHT Dried Apricot and Cranberry Tart
For Letters to the Editor, articles and feedback as well as advertising inquiries email Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com
The American BoomeR.com John Vardallas CEO/Founder Professional Speaker Business/Lifestyle Strategist Boomer Sage and Blogger JohnVardallas@TheAmericanBoomeR.com (608) 577-8707 Alexandra Maragha Founder & Editor-In-Chief Today’s BoomeR Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com Today’s BoomeR Vol.7 No.4 Today’s BoomeR is published six times (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/ June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) a year by The American BoomeR.com 769 North Star Drive (Suite 207) Madison, WI 53718 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
The American Boomer @American_Boomer Today’s BoomeR 3
EDITOR’S LETTER
Take It Easy!
(feature)
The simple phrase “take it easy” has multiple meanings based on context. The advice or command given when said, could suggest for someone to back off or calm down, in a state of intensity, while we seldom think of the more original care-free approach to life to just sit back and “take it easy”! These three words can be hard to hear within ourselves with the fast paced and at times overwhelming daily schedules that one is trying to achieve and balance. All those that we care for and have obligations for, keep us in a cluster of a-million-words-a-minute flying in our thoughts, with often-times the ones WE are concerned about telling us to “take it easy”… followed by a rebuttal of our own efforts being thrown back against us. Its time to stop and take a moment and a conscious effort for the cause of ourselves to recharge and relax and simply “take it easy”, so we may compile our life to focus in a more simplistic manageable effort, so life will come a bit more easy!
p. 4
Alexandra Maragha Editor-In-Chief
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Social Security:
How to Avoid Social Security Scams
By newsfeedback@fool.com (Rita Williams), AP
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently issued a warning
initiated, such as a question or request
about an upsurge in schemes targeting Social Security recipients. for help. So if you get an unsolicited Someone calls you over the phone claiming to be from the SSA and call from the SSA, it's likely not them. says your Social Security accounts have been suspended due to
Hang up immediately. Some robocalls will ask you to press a button
suspicion of illegal activity. They may be a real live person or a
to stop getting these calls. Don't respond! Fraudsters use these
robocaller. The caller then says that if you fail to resolve the issue by calling back a certain phone number, your assets will be frozen.
responses to identify potential victims. If you have contacted the SSA recently and want to verify that the
Pretty scary, right? Especially when a majority of older people rely
caller is actually from the agency, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
on Social Security benefits for a large part of their income after
This is a customer service line through which you can ascertain
retirement. The specter of criminal prosecution or the freezing of
whether the caller is authentic and determine what they were
vital assets can frighten elderly Social Security recipients into giving calling about. the caller whatever information he or she asks for. 2. Never provide personal information over the telephone to an And guess what: That information -- which may include your Social
unknown caller
Security number, your mother's maiden name, your date of birth,
Don't give out your personal information over the telephone to
and your bank account numbers -- will be used for identity theft.
someone you don't know, whether they seem to be threatening
Social Security scams are widespread
action or not. The information is likely to be used in ways that will harm you, not help you.
Unfortunately, this is only the most recent of many scams targeting If the caller asks to verify information, don't say "yes." They may be recording your voice. The word "yes" can then be used out of Social Security recipients. Several years ago, many Social Security beneficiaries received an email purporting to be from the SSA. It
context -- to authorize charges on your bank accounts and credit
used a highly official-looking email address, "no-reply@ssa.gov,"
cards, for example. 3. Report the call to the SSA
and asked recipients to click on a link to receive augmented protection for their benefits. Fraudsters have set up fake websites looking like the SSA portal to entice people to apply for Social Security benefits. Callers can also duplicate the Washington, D.C., area code so you're more likely to believe you've been called by a government agency. So don't be
Finally, you should report the call to the SSA. Scams involving people who claim to be from the SSA are frequent enough that the SSA has a Fraud Hotline. You can reach it at 1-800-269-0271 or, if you're hearing-impaired, at 1-866-501-2101 (TTY). You can also report fraud online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Make no mistake: All of these communications are designed to
Reporting an attempted scam helps the SSA alert the public to both the frequency and the nature of these potential frauds. You're not
defraud the recipients. They are undertaken with the intent of
only protecting yourself, but also helping protect the public.
fooled by calls, emails, or websites that look official.
stealing your personal information, which can be used to drain your The $16,728 Social Security bonus most retirees completely bank and other accounts.
overlook Three steps to protect yourself
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind
If you're targeted by one of these calls, take these three steps to
on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social
protect yourself.
Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement
1. Hang up immediately If you are contacted out of the blue by the SSA, it is in all
income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,728 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your
probability a fraudster. The SSA says it calls Social Security
Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with
beneficiaries only in response to something the beneficiary has
the peace of mind we're all after.
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TheAmericanBoomer.com Thanks You for your continual Support and for making your voice heard in Saving Our Social Security! While we have heard YOUR voice through signing our petition, the work to maintain and preserve the Social Security Trust Fund is far from over.
URGE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO PRESERVE THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND! MAKE THEM HEAR YOUR VOICE BY CALLING, WRITING, EVEN TWEETING YOUR VOICE TO SAVE OUR SOCIAL SECURITY! #SOSS
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Boomer Consumer Watch: 10 Tips for Negotiating a Better Price on Anything By Brandon Ballenger, Money Talks News These days, many people rely on technology to save money. They go online for Groupon offers, print coupons and scan deals pages.
business isn’t guaranteed. If sellers are convinced you’re going to buy from them, you’re at their mercy.
Not getting the price you want? Tell the seller you’re going to see if the next competitor down the list can Those are all worthy ways to cut costs. But there’s an do better. The party with the power is the one who doesn’t care if the deal gets done. even simpler way to save. It’s the technique human beings have used for millennia: haggling. 3. Ask the right person
Many of us expect to haggle when shopping for big-ticket items like cars or houses. But there’s no reason you shouldn’t ask for a better deal with less-expensive items. It can work when you buy furniture or even stay at a hotel. Or consider electronics: Last year, Consumer Reports said that 69 percent of online shoppers and 59 percent of in-store shoppers got a discount on an electronic product simply by haggling for it. How do you know if you can haggle for something? There’s only one way to find out, and the worst that can happen is to receive a “no.” If you want to boost your odds, try these tips to increase your odds of haggling successfully:
Not everybody has the authority to negotiate, so seek out the decision-maker. Whether it is an issue of sales, customer service, billing or cancellation, the person you speak to first might not have the authority to negotiate. Whenever someone can’t or won’t help you with any purchase or problem, say, “OK, I understand you can’t help me. So, may I please speak with someone who can?”
4. Time it right One trick to negotiating is understanding the other person’s business. For instance, at certain times of the year, clothing stores are eager to get rid of seasonal merchandise. Or, car dealers might push to meet an end-of-month quota.
1. Do your homework
Also remember that every salesperson is more It’s easier to bargain for a deal — and recognize if attentive when business is slow, such as after the you’re really getting one — when you understand the holidays or during summer doldrums. So, try to buy numbers. Before you go shopping, research prices when other shoppers are staying home or keeping and competitors. Check on store policies to see if a their wallets shut. business matches prices, and under what conditions. 5. Pay with paper instead of plastic
And while this obviously applies to big purchases like appliances, don’t stop there. If the dry cleaner down the street is charging $1 for shirts, why should you pay $1.25 at your current dry cleaner? 2. Don’t be afraid to walk away
Businesses can pay up to 3 percent in transaction costs when they accept a credit card for payment. If you’re paying cash, you deserve to take up to that much — or even more — off the purchase price. 6. Don’t fear awkwardness
Your biggest bargaining chip is the fact that your Today’s BoomeR 7
8. Be firm Being nice doesn’t mean rolling over. If you’re a steady customer, don’t be shy about pointing that out. Your loyalty should be worth something. And if not, your future business definitely is. 9. Be persistent Stacy’s rule is to ask three times:
© Radius Images/Getty Images Couple with car saleswoman.
If you have little experience haggling, don’t sell yourself short just because it feels weird. You’re not being a cheapskate, and the other party isn’t going to hate you.
When I go into a hotel, I ask for a discount. If they say no, I say, “Are you sure there’s not some special rate you can give me?” If they still say no, then I use my fallback. I smile big and say, “Well, you can at Don’t get flustered by a momentary silence, and least give me the Elvis suite for the same price, don’t be afraid to pause and think. In fact, silence right?” They invariably laugh, and almost invariably can be a bargaining tool. Money Talks News founder give me the best deal they possibly can. Stacy Johnson was in securities sales for 10 years. He 10. Go for extras says: If the price is non-negotiable, don’t give up. There In any negotiation, make an offer, then shut up. Wait are other ways to sweeten a deal, such as: 10 minutes in silence if you have to. Because more • A free upgrade often than not, the next person to speak loses. 7. Be friendly Being aggressive only works when you’re in the superior position. If you lack power — which you do when trying to negotiate something like a discounted hotel room — play nice. Rude customers are the rule for most people in customer service. So, be the exception. Smile, be patient, make a joke. Nobody wants to help a jerk, but everyone wants to do a favor for a friend. 8 Today’s BoomeR
•
A future discount
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Free shipping
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Free delivery
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Free installation
Sometimes, businesses are already prepared to offer these concessions, because they’re cheaper than dropping the price but still make customers happy.
Old Enough for Sex : How Sex Makes You A Happier And Healthier Person By Jenna Birch, Huffington Post Whenever you have good sex, you likely experience a mix of emotional and physical effects ― both during the act and after you’re finished. Not only does sex and orgasming feel incredible, it’s also amazing for your health and well-being. Researchers and sex therapists constantly sing the praises of regular sex, and there’s a reason (or, really, many reasons) for it. There are plenty of positive, well-documented physiological changes that happen whenever you do the deed. Here are just some of the ways physical intimacy can improve your body and brain: Sex can improve longevity
“Orgasms also produce oxytocin, which works as a natural pain reliever and can help reduce headaches and muscle aches.” Oxytocin doesn’t just bond you to a partner; it can calm you, too. Sex will burn calories Although there’s a lot of debate over just how much exercise sex gives you (not that much), it’s certainly better than just hitting the sack after a long day. “A couple burns about 100 calories every time they have sex,” Rodgers said. “If they have sex approximately three times each week, they can burn over 15,000 calories a year without ever visiting the gym.” Every little bit counts!
Having regular sex can improve your life span, according to Sunny Rodgers, a clinical sexologist and certified sex coach. “Every time you reach orgasm, your body releases DHEA, a hormone known to boost your immune system, improve cognition, keep skin healthy and help you look younger,” Rodgers said. Gives new meaning to the term “afterglow,” right?
Sex is a good stress-reliever
Sex can increase intimacy with your partner
which can lead to better sex and stronger orgasms over time.” The pain-relieving component of sex extends to premenstrual symptoms, such as cramps, too, Rodgers said.
Specifically, orgasms can release a lot of tension throughout your body, Watson said. “I had a female patient who’d been having sex three times a week for 12 years without an orgasm,” she explained. “When we finally worked on it and she did orgasm, she said, ‘Wow, you’re right! There’s so much stress relief.’” A study published in the journal PLOS One found that having sex every day for two weeks may lead to Sex may improve mental health cell growth in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that Ever felt your worries melt away during sex? Sex can lead regulates mood. There is also evidence that feeling close to to “decreased pain and anxiety, and increased relaxation and your partner emotionally and physically can ward off stress by a sense of well-being,” Rodgers said. This is mostly thanks to reducing levels of cortisol (aka the stress hormone). chemicals released in the brain during sex. “Endorphins are the neurotransmitters associated with happy feelings that can Sex can lead to greater pelvic and menstrual health improve overall mood and fight off depression,” Rodgers Sex simply leads to better sex, Rodgers said, because it added. “strengthens muscle tone in the genital and pelvic floor area,
Touch will bring you closer to your partner in a very physical and hormonal way, explained Laurie Watson, a certified sex therapist and podcaster of “Foreplay Radio Sex Therapy.” “In a committed partnership, having sex releases oxytocin, the bonding hormone, where you’ll feel more connected to your partner,” she said. According to a 2017 study, the immediate bonding benefits last for about 48 hours after sex, thus increasing relationship quality in the longer term. Sex can be good medicine Frequent sex may aid your physical health in multiple ways. “According to a study by the Boston University School of Public Health, ejaculation lowers the risk of prostate cancer, which makes sex a healthy option for men,” Rodgers said.
Bottom line? Embracing more sex is usually a good idea The benefits of regular sex are boundless ― and always remember that by “sex,” experts mean any sexual activity you’re comfortable with, any of which connects you to your partner and provides health benefits. “Sex and sexual pleasure can include kissing, touch, foreplay, sensual massage, oral acts, using intimate pleasure products, mutual masturbation and more,” Rodgers said. “Couples should move away from getting hung up on the definition and concentrate on the pleasurable experiences they create together.” Today’s BoomeR 9
BOOMER TRAVEL
By Anna Goldfarb, The New York Times Image Amrita Marino
11 Fall Foliage Train Rides to Book Right Now By Lyndsey Matthews, AFAR
This September and October, take in beautiful fall colors from the Adirondacks to the Alps on these scenic train excursions around the world. It’s never too early to start planning your fall getaways. But instead of going on the same fall foliage drive you do every year, consider ditching the car to take in the changing scenery from the comfort of a train. Here are 11 of our favorite scenic train rides that depart this September and October throughout the United States and beyond. Mount Washington Cog Railway
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Route: Marshfield Base Station to Mount Washington Summit, New Hampshire
Ride the rails to the top of Mount Washington on this three-hour round-trip excursion that’s been an attraction in New Hampshire’s White Mountains since 1869. While the railway still operates two vintage steam locomotives, it has made an effort to reduce emissions by introducing seven biodiesel locomotives along the route. Visit between late September and mid-October to see the fall colors at their peak. From $72 round-trip. Alaska Railroad Denali Star Train Route: Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska The foliage changes early in Alaska, peaking in late August
and the first few weeks of September each year. Not only will you see a variety of fall colors through the dome car windows on this 12-hour train ride, but you can also catch a view of Denali and the northern lights in Fairbanks, if the weather is clear. From $195 one way. Sagano Scenic Railway Route: Saga Torokko Station to Kameoka Torokko Station, Japan
Just 15 minutes outside of Kyoto, you can catch the Sagano Scenic Railway from the Saga Torokko Station. It will take you on a 25-minute train ride through the Hozukyo Ravine, Today’s BoomeR 11
up into its namesake Adirondack Mountains before traveling along the shores of Lake Champlain and arriving in Montreal in the evening. From September 27 and November 2, 2018, Amtrak’s vintage Great Dome Car will be attached to the Adirondack in Albany to give riders even better views of upstate New York’s fall foliage. From $69 one way. Agawa Canyon Tour Train
which is lined with Japanese maple trees that turn red and orange every autumn. From $6 one way. Amtrak Adirondack Route: New York City to Montreal, Canada Departing New York’s Penn Station in the morning, you’ll spend the next 10 hours winding through the Hudson Valley and
Route: Sault Ste. Marie to Agawa Canyon, Canada Operating this season until October 14, 2018, this scenic train takes you on a daylong journey from the lakeside city of Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario 114 miles north to the Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park, where you’ll have 90 minutes to go on a hike or stop for a picnic near the Agawa River. Peak fall foliage tours typically happen 12 Today’s BoomeR
between late September and the first week of October and are incredibly popular, so book your ticket early. From $92 round-trip. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Route: Independence to Akron, Ohio You can take this scenic train ride throughout the summer, but go in October before it closes for the season to see the sugar maples and dogwood trees turn various shades of red, orange, and yellow on a threeand-a-half-hour loop through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. From $15 round-trip (Upper Dome Car tickets from $28).
Bernina Express Route: Chur or Davos, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy The Rhaetian Railway through the Albula and Bernina Passes in the Alps was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its outstanding architectural and civil engineering achievements, which include hundreds of
viaducts and bridges through high mountain passes. The open scenic carriages with no windows will still be attached to the Bernina Express trains between Davos and Tirano through September 23, 2018, giving you the chance to take in the early fall foliage en plein air. From $78 one way. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Route: Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico This narrow-gauge steam train travels between two small towns located right on the Colorado–New Mexico border through October 21, 2018. The ticket price includes lunch at the midway point in Osier, Colorado, plus access to the open-air gondola car for better photo opps of the aspen trees that turn bright yellow in autumn. From $105 round-trip. The Jacobite
Route: Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland Harry Potter fans will recognize this vintage steam Today’s BoomeR 13
locomotive as the real-life version of the Hogwarts Express that crossed over the Glennfinnan Viaduct in the films. You might not be on your way to Hogwarts, but you’ll certainly take in some magical scenery along the 84-mile train ride, which runs through the last week of October 2018. From $46 round-trip Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Route: Blue Ridge, Georgia, to Copperhill, Tennessee Between the last week of September and the first week of November, take in the season’s colors on this scenic 26-mile round-trip excursion along the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest. From $54 round-trip. Conway Scenic Railway Route: North Conway to Fabyan, New Hampshire On this five-hour round-trip journey, you’ll pass 14 Today’s BoomeR
through some of New Hampshire’s most scenic landscapes, including the famed Crawford Notch pass of the White Mountains that lights up in a riot of red, yellow, and orange foliage from late September to the first few weeks of October every year. From $59 round-trip (Upper Dome Car tickets from $85).
F– (Forget) Being Old:
Takin’ it Easy in The Big Easy By John A. Vardallas, Founder/CEO TheAmericanBoomeR.com America is a great country with plenty of wonderful places to visit. We have great cities and towns big and small with their own charm and landmarks. However, when it comes to one city that has more history, charm, architecture, music, sites, unique people and great cuisine all rolled into one---in this boomer’s opinion- it has to be, “The Big Easy” New Orleans, Louisiana! Located up from the gulf coast at the mouth of the Mississippi River, NOLA, also known as Crescent City, has more than enough to offer any first time or return visitor.
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I recently returned to my favorite city (having been there numerous times over the past 35 years) on business and decided to spend a few extra days just sightseeing with no agenda. NOLA did not disappoint! Founded in 1718, New Orleans has been celebrating its 300th anniversary all year. New Orleans has more historic districts than any other city in the US. New Orleans has been governed under four flags— The French, Spanish, English and U.S. For history buffs, the French Market ranks as the oldest active public market in the country. Preservation hall boasts the sounds of cool jazz customs. The French Quarter has “View Carre” (beautiful view), and is the oldest neighborhood in the city and a national historic
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landmark, reflecting also it’s unique representation of the “melting pot of America”, and offers a continuous party vibe on Bourbon Street. The famous Mardi Gras has been openly celebrated since the 1730’s. It’s a place that never sleeps and is always full of excitement and surprises. “The Quarter”, as locals call it, contains shops, bars, cool eating establishments, charming hotels, diverse music venues on every block and boasts its own flea and farmers markets. The Café Du Monde is definitely the place for a daily chicory coffee and famous beignets (sugar donuts).
A new attraction that is a must see for every visitor to “The Big Easy” is the new National World War II Museum. The venue is set up to tell the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world, why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today so that all generations can learn and understand the price of freedom.
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The music scene is equally impressive whether you like blues, jazz, pop, rock or Cajun. Among some of the very cool places are Pat ‘O Brian’s, Preservation Hall, House of Blues, the Cat’s Meow, Tipitina’s, as well as very good street musicians in Jackson Square. Many of the local hotels also have great entertainment in their lounges.
Through great visual exhibits, multimedia experiences, and thousands of personal accounts, the Museum takes visitors on a tour or World War II in every theater of war. Especially impressive to me personally was to see the area in the Pacific campaign where my father fought during the war and insights as to what he and his fellow soldiers endured. The “Beyond All Boundaries” 4D video experience of WWII, narrated by Tom Hanks, was simply awesome!
I would be remised if I did not mention some of the unique local historic tours available to all visitors. You One cannot write about NOLA without mentioning can ride an authentic steamboat up and down the the great cuisine to be found in French and Creole Mississippi River or check out The Garden Districts restaurants everywhere. From great seafood (fried or many beautiful Antebellum Homes. The cemeteries on the half-shell oysters) to gumbo, red beans and are all above ground due to the city being below sea rice and Muffalata sandwiches, it is impossible to level and are eye catching. Haunted houses, ghost have a bad meal in New Orleans. and Voodoo tours are authentic and a bit creepy. Just outside the city one can visit a pre-Civil War There are just too many wonderful places to eat that Plantation. And for the adventurous, I would will surely satisfy any appetite. Some of the places recommend a jet air boat swamp excursion. yours truly has checked out include: One visit won’t be enough to see and experience all Brennan s, Mr.Bs, Central Grocery, Emeril’s, K-Paul's there is in “The Big Easy”, and it won’t take long for Louisiana Kitchen, The Chop House, Acme & Felix’s you to feel the Cajun “Laissez Les Bons Temps Ouster Houses, Antoine’s, The Napoleon House, Rouler” (Let the Good Times Roll) vibe that embraces Commanders Palace and Pascal Manales (for great all who experience NOLA! BBQ shrimp). 18 Today’s BoomeR
AARP’s 2018 Most Livable Cities 30 American Places Creating Communities Where Residents Thrive By Shelley Emling, AARP AARP's 2018 Most Livable Cities are vibrant communities large, medium and small where residents thrive, thanks to quality-of-life factors such as plentiful jobs and accessible health care. This year's list of 30 cities and towns, an update of AARP's Livability Index launched in 2015, includes places as varied as Austin, Texas, and Sheboygan, Wis. To assess their livability, AARP looked at 40 criteria in seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, civic and social engagement, and opportunity for jobs. Nineteen of the cities that made this year's list also were on the 2015 list. Rodney Harrell, director of Livability Thought Leadership for AARP, says many local officials are taking positive steps toward making their cities more livable. AARP's index is "part of AARP’s overall livability approach to help improve communities across the country so that people can stay put and not have to move as they grow older,” Harrell said. Other cities still face challenges. Philadelphia makes the 2018 list, for example, because it has effective policies in place such as employment services for those age 55 and older, but accessibility remains a sticking point for the city, which has limited residences and transit options that are compliant with American Disabilities Act standards.
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5 Mistakes And Myths That Can Spoil A Successful Retirement Social Security is Key issues about retirement finances are misunderstood by Americans who are retired or are the foundation of retirement within 10 years of retiring, and those misunderstanding reduce the probability of having finance for many people because of those two features, and it is the successful retirement. only source of guaranteed income The misinformation and confusion covers the for many people. spectrum of retirement finance topics, according to Those features also are why many longtime retirees a survey conducted for Nationwide Financial report that Social Security becomes their major Services. source of income later in retirement. Mistake #1: About 72% of respondents worried Social Security benefits need to be understood and that Social Security would run out of money in decisions planned carefully. Use online calculators their lifetimes. to estimate the benefits under different scenarios In fact, the annual report from the trustees for or consult with a financial planner who knows Social Social Security and Medicare indicates that even Security well. after the trust fund is exhausted (projected to occur Mistake #3: Most people don’t know the key around 2032) the payroll taxes paid into the system elements that determine their level of Social should pay indefinitely for about 70% of promised Security retirement benefits and how to benefits. maximize those benefits. This widespread belief that Social Security will run out of money might be why so few people take the Only about a third of respondents knew their full retirement age, the age at which you can receive time to understand the program and how to full Social Security benefits without a penalty. Most, maximize their benefits. The survey found large even those already retired, thought they were majorities were misinformed about basic features eligible for full benefits before they really were. of Social Security. The result is they leave a lot of money on the table. Some experts estimate that it’s In general, future retirees overestimate how much not unusual for married couples to lose out on they’ll receive in benefits. Most expect to receive $200,000 or so of lifetime benefits because of poor about 30% more in benefits than current retirees Social Security decisions. receive. About 25% believe the program should By Bob Carlson Contributor, Forbes
Mistake #2: More than half of respondents were provide enough income for them to live comfortably in retirement, and 55% said Social not aware that Social Security benefits are Security would be their primary source of income guaranteed for life and indexed for inflation. throughout retirement. 20 Today’s BoomeR
Mistake #4: Medical expenses disrupt retirement plans, because people underestimate health problems and their out-of-pocket cost of medical care. In the survey, about a quarter of those already retired said medical expenses don’t let them live the retirement they expected. About 80% of retirees said health problems occurred sooner than they expected, with 63% saying health issues began interfering with retirement more than five years before they expected.
without limit.
Mistake #5: Many people still significantly underestimate average life expectancy, and that means they don’t have a plan that will fund their full retirement.
While the average 65-year-old woman today has a life expectancy of 86.6 years, most retirees and near retirees guessed life expectancy was about three years shorter. Many guessed a considerably shorter life expectancy. Of course, half the population lives longer than the average life Many people enter retirement believing Medicare expectancy. It’s hard to accurately plan for will pay for all or most of their medical expenses. In retirement without a reasonable estimate of life fact, there are many expenses not covered by expectancy. Medicare. It doesn’t cover dental or vision This is just a sampling of key misunderstandings expenses at all and has very limited prescription people have about important factors in their drug coverage. For most covered care, there’s 20% retirement plans. Before and during retirement, it’s coinsurance. You’re responsible for 20% of the cost Today’s BoomeR 21
important to identify the key risks to retirement and develop strategies to reduce those risks so you’ll have a successful retirement. The key steps to take • are: •
Determine the standard of living you want in retirement. Make a realistic estimate of the cost of that lifestyle and begin to match it with your expected cash flow.
•
Establish guaranteed lifetime income to cover basic living expenses. That means first maximizing Social Security benefits, and married couples need to coordinate their benefit decisions. Additional guaranteed lifetime income can be obtained by purchasing either an immediate annuity or deferred income annuity (longevity annuity).
•
Plan for the medical expense wildcard. You need to know the gaps in Medicare and minimize them by either joining a Medicare Advantage plan or obtaining Part D Prescription Drug
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insurance and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. Have a plan for long-term care expenses. For most people, the bulk of needed long-term care expenses should be funded by insurance. You can buy a stand-alone traditional long-term care insurance policy. You also can buy the more popular annuities or life insurance policies with long-term care riders, often called policies or asset-based long-term care policies.
I am the editor of Retirement Watch, a monthly newsletter and web site I founded in 1990. I research and write about all the financial issues of retirement and retirement planning, for both those planning retirement and already retired. I cover estate planning, Medicare, long-term care, income taxes, IRA strategies, annuities, investments, and more. Trained as an attorney and accountant, I use independent, objective research and don’t rely on rules of thumb, conventional wisdom, or biased research. I also write books, such as The New Rules of Retirement-Revised Edition (Wiley 2016) and speak to groups. A believer in public service, I’ve served on the Board of Trustees of the Fairfax County (Va.) Employees’ Retirement System (since 1992; chairman since 1995) and the Virginia Retirement System (2000-2005). Read more of my thoughts at RetirementWatch.com or follow on Twitter @RWcommunity.
BOOMER HEALTHY EATING: The RIGHT Dried Apricot and Cranberry Tart
Recipes and Photos from Chef Eben Atwater
www.urbanmonique.com We made a dried apricot tart this weekend, which we tweaked to our liking, (or so we thought). It came from a recipe M found online. I’ll bet you’re expecting to see that tweaked recipe down at the end of this post too, yeah? Well, truth be told, there will be a recipe at the end, but it won’t be this one -we need to talk about recipe development. The recipe came from what we shall call a Very Established And Respected Public Source for writing about food. Whether it’s Monica or me that gets an itch to make something and turn it into our own, we both do our due diligence – AKA, research. I work in the food biz, she does not, but the roots of the process are similar regardless of whether it’s her, me, or us doing the work. If it’s me doing the lion’s share, I tend to use resources like The Flavor Bible, Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking, and various other regional or genre experts for thoughts on ingredients, technique, and the like. Monica tends to go for a mainstream recipe, which she studies and then alters to achieve what she is after. Fact is, both routes are just fine and work pretty much equally well. Granted, I have more arcane food knowledge in my noggin, and as such, I tend to model on or alter recipes less than she does – But that doesn’t mean my method is better – it may take fewer tries to get where we want to go, but that’s really neither here nor there when it comes to the end result. It would be disingenuous to say I create more recipes than she does because of differences in method – I create more because I do the majority of the cooking and developing – There’s really nothing more operative in that regard.
Because when you put your stamp on it, and then repeat it, and it becomes a beloved standard for you, then my friend, that recipe is 100%, no doubt about it, yours. So, what about this recipe would warrant me stating that it definitely needed further development? Well, frankly, it’s because the finished tart sucked. Bad. Now, that said – the caveats – Yes, it’s possible we screwed it up, (we didn’t), or that our ingredients were sub-par, (they weren’t), but the fact is, that recipe just was not designed or explained well at all. I knew it, truth be told, and so did M – But this was again, from a very reputable source, so we thought, what the hell, we’ll give it a spin – You have to do that sometimes, because there may well be magic where you least expect it, and if you don’t try it, you’ll never know. I gotta say though, in this case, it used some ingredients that are not cheap, so springing for that stuff and ending up with sub par results should not make a consumer happy. We really tried with this thing. Again, we added a couple twists of our own, but nothing earthshaking –
My point with that last paragraph is this – I hear a lot of folks who seem almost embarrassed to say that they made something their own, when ‘all I did was tweak a recipe.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Fact is, even great chefs, legendary chefs, do exactly that. That is why, almost every post here includes some variation on the phrase, make it yours – Today’s BoomeR 23
We didn’t have mascarpone in house, so we subbed cream cheese, heavy cream, and sour cream – That’s a certified, A-OK cheat, by the way, (but again? I knew better, and we did it anyway – My bad…) We also added a few dried cranberries, because they go nicely with apricots, and well, why not? And… It sucked. We ate a piece each, and the rest went to the squirrels and jays, (sorry, fellas). So why did that happen?
The answer to that requires digging in a bit deeper. First off, reading all 30+ of the review comments left by folks who made the recipe, (which supposedly received a 4 out of 5 star rating), it became immediately evident that almost no one said outright that this was a great tart recipe. In fact, overwhelmingly, people had trouble interpreting it, and said so – It was too vague, didn’t speak thoroughly to method, ingredient handling, or proper bakeware. Another healthy chunk said, in so many words, that it didn’t taste good – it was dry, had too much crust, the apricots shouldn’t have been left whole as shown, and so on. Several folks complained about the custard. So how did this thing score so highly? Good question. I noted the following. The ‘custard’ was, in fact, mascarpone, eggs, sugar, and almond extract – Which is not custard. The recipe never stated how thick the crust should end up, and frankly, the mix they used was more of a pie crust than a tart crust, and yes, there’s a difference. It called for bringing 2/3 cup of whiskey and 30 dried apricots ‘to a simmer and then set aside’, which is insufficient to soften dried fruits, or to burn off the alcohol. It listed an egg yolk in ingredients that didn’t make it to procedure, and a couple of tablespoons of water showed up in procedure that were not in the ingredient list. This was not from a home blogger, gang. This was from a major publication with over 100 years of experience – And they screwed it up. I’m not saying that to make them look bad – I’m really not – I’m saying it because it illustrates how tough it can be to create and share a good recipe, what can happen if you don’t, and why there’s a big time caveat emptor consideration for home cooks with damn near any recipe.
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So, what did it actually take to fix this thing? A little more work, a few less sort cuts, and a little better narrative. First off, we made a real tart crust, (and for the record, for a 9” to 10” tart, that should be around 1/4” thick, and thinner yet if you’re doing tartlets). Secondly, softening dried fruit in booze is costly, especially if you use the proper amount, which means enough to completely cover and submerge 30 some odd apricots – You can see from our image that the proscribed amount wasn’t even close in that regard. And in any event, doing that is simply not as effective as hot water – If you want the taste of whisky or whatever, a quarter cup in a sauce pan over medium heat, simmered until the raw booze smell dissipates and the liquid thickens slightly, then cooled and added to the custard, will do the trick much better. And finally, custard is custard, gang. That’s milk heated gently and mixed with eggs, which act as a thickener – again, mascarpone doth not a custard make – That stuff is basically cream cheese that is already quite stiff. Adding eggs and sugar and flavoring to that will not make a custard – It’ll make an eggy, sweet cream cheese, which is not, repeat not, what we’re after here. So – All that said, here’s what we did for the one we ate all of.
Dried Apricot and Cranberry Tart For the Tart 1 Cup Pastry Flour 1/2 Cup Almond Flour 1/4 Cup Bakers Sugar 1/2 Cup Cold Unsalted Butter 1 Large Egg Pinch Sea Salt You can do the tart by hand, which is my preferred method, or you can do it in a food processor, which is M’s preferred method – Either is just fine. In a large mixing bowl, (or the processor), add flours, sugar, and salt and combine thoroughly. Cut butter into roughly 1/4” cubes. Add that to the dry mix and combine by hand or process until the mixture looks like coarse corn meal. Add the egg and incorporate thoroughly, but don’t go overboard – you don’t want the dough forming a ball on its own – You can check for done by squishing a hunk between your thumb and dialing finger – It should stick together, but not feel dry, or fall apart, (it also should not be sticky).
About 40 dried Apricots 1/4 Cup dried, sweetened Cranberries 1 small Lemon 1 Cup heavy Cream 2 Large Eggs 1 Egg Yolk 1/2 Cup Bakers Sugar 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Pull the dough and form it into a roughly 1” disk. Wrap that in waxed paper and refrigerate for an hour, at least, (and longer is fine – Even up to a couple days – You can also freeze it, so long as you refrigerator thaw overnight prior to use). When you’re ready to go, preheat your oven to 375° F and place a rack in a middle position. You’ll want either a tart pan or a pie pan to bake in – Either really is fine. Lightly grease the pan with butter. Place the dough between sheets of waxed paper or parchment, and roll it out to about 1/4” thickness. Carefully peel one sheet of paper off the dough and place it onto your chosen pan. Use a fork and liberally and evenly prick the crust.
Set aside about a dozen apricots and 6-8 cranberries. Place the rest of the dried fruit into a mixing bowl. Quarter the lemon, squeeze out the juice and add it to the rest of the fruit. Cover the fruit with boiling water and allow it to steep for 15 minutes. When the fruit is hydrated, pour off the liquid through a single mesh strainer, reserve the fruit. Chop the reserved dozen apricots and the cranberries, set aside. Preheat oven to 350° F and make sure there’s still a rack in the middle position. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, egg yolk, vanilla, and sugar. Whisk thoroughly to incorporate – You want to
Cover the tart with a shaped piece of parchment, then use pie weights, beans, or rice to weigh down the tart. Bake at 375° F for about 20-25 minutes, until the tart looks firm and is beginning to pull away from the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and allow to cool. For the Filling/Custard Today’s BoomeR 25
get some air into this mix, so take your time – 2 to 3 minutes or so. In a sauce pan over medium heat, scald the cream – That is, heat it until small bubbles start to form at the edges of the liquid. Remove the cream from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Slowly add the cream to the egg and sugar mixture, whisking steadily but gently – Don’t put too much of the hot cream in at a time – You want to temper the egg mix slowly, so that it doesn’t curdle. Place whole apricots and cherries evenly across the tart, then carefully pour the custard onto the fruit. Top tart with the chopped apricots around the rim of the tart, and the cranberries in the middle. Bake at 350° F for 35 to 45 minutes, until custard is firm but still jiggles a bit in the middle, and fruit is slightly browned. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Garnish with mint, if you like. You certainly may add whipped cream or creme fraiche as well.
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