As the saying goes, ‘tis the season to be jolly. For many of us, that means bringing out the decorations, sipping some eggnog and singing carols around the fire. However, for others, the holidays can be stressful or lonely or simply a reminder of the things that they lack. For those of you that have the good fortune of feeling that holiday joy, why not spread it around and make the season a little brighter for someone else? Fortunately, there are no shortage of ways that you can make a difference and FirstLantic has some suggestions to help you get started!   Sponsor a family What if you did not have the money to buy even the most modest of gifts for your loved ones? [...]

Studies show that older people that are involved in doing good for others also tend to be happier and more positive. In fact, a recent research report conducted by Stanford University, found that 34 million older American adults, or nearly a third, exhibit purpose beyond the self – that is, they actively pursue goals that are both personally meaningful and contribute to the greater good. Download the report here >   And with estimates that 140 million Americans will be over 50 by 2035, there is a lot of talent that non-profits and social enterprises can tap into. Two of those organizations, Encore.org and Senior Corps are determined to do just that. They are both focused on matching seniors with groups that can utilize their [...]

For most of us, the Internet has become a regular part of our daily lives. Whether we are using it for information gathering, entertainment or social interaction, it’s hard to imagine what we did before we had all of this information at our fingertips!   However, it can be daunting to find sites that are specifically targeted towards a senior demographic, so FirstLantic has put together a comprehensive list for you. And to make it easier to find your area of interest, we have categorized them in themes such as travel, technology, humor, dating, careers, etc. If you simply want to download the full list to keep as a handy guide, click here.   Travel   It’s time to hit the road and there is [...]

Fraud affects up to 25 million people per year in the United States alone and seniors are especially vulnerable. If you are age 60 or older—you are at an increased risk of being a target of con artists who sell fake products and services by email or telephone. And with mid-terms right around the corner, electoral fraud is another potential threat. Posing as political volunteers, they try to lure voters into donating money by asking for cash or a credit card number. They may even offer to register you over the phone if you provide your social security number (which is not a legal method of registration in any state).   So what are some other common fraudulent schemes to watch out for and how [...]

Part 2 in a 2 part series. In our FirstLantic blog last week, we provided some inspiring examples of baby boomers who have embarked on new career paths. This week we want to help you get started on planning your own “encore” career with helpful resources. One of the most intimidating parts of the process can be figuring out where to even begin. And then the old self-doubt starts to creep in. “Am I too old to start something new?” ‘Will I be able to keep up with my younger peers when it comes to technology?” “What new skills will I need?” Fortunately, there are organizations that were started with the express intention of making it easier for boomers to start fresh whether that be [...]

Part 1 in a 2 part series Have you ever contemplated what it would be like to have an “encore” career? It wasn’t that long ago that an idea like that would have been considered impossible. But like many outdated notions, that’s no longer the case. Many baby boomers aren’t satisfied with simply settling for golf and bridge games in retirement but instead are embarking on completely new careers. Boomers have always valued hard work and were willing to pay their dues to get ahead. That’s why many boomers are not afraid to start a new chapter. They have acquired valuable skills in their work life and they see an opportunity to parlay those skills into a second act. In fact, 74 percent of workers [...]

In our FirstLantic blog last week, we focused on how to speak with your parents about uncomfortable topics. And while that may be challenging, it could be even harder to discuss certain subjects with your own children such as their approach to parenting. One of the biggest benefits of being a grandparent is that you can spend your time spoiling instead of disciplining, however, there are boundaries that you have to respect especially as it comes to rules and structure that have been established. The last thing that you want to do is ignore your children’s wishes or undermine them. So what are some things that you should keep in mind to ensure that you maintain a positive relationship? First of all, respect boundaries. You [...]

Do your kids ever roll their eyes at you when you’re talking to them? Have you ever done the same thing to your own parents? Generational differences have always been a challenge and that becomes even harder as our parents age. It is extremely difficult to see someone you love start to become more forgetful or frail. After all, your parents were the ones that always took care of you. They comforted you when you skinned your knee and helped put you through college and reassured you when you were having problems with your own kids. So how do you have that difficult conversation when you think they might need help? While it may not be totally comfortable, there are some communication techniques that can [...]