Today’s BoomeR

Today’s

John Vardallas What the Founder & CEO of The American BoomeR.com Really thinks about being

60

Boomer Travel:

Boomer Healthy Eating: Top 10

Foods for better health

Vol.1 No.1

Plan ahead and gain

more in 2012

Make a Difference:

Volunteer

The Inaugural

Issue!

Featuring The Only B2B Featuring The Only B2B Featuring The Only B2B ---Business 2 BoomeR Marketplace!Business 2 BoomeR Marketplace!Business 2 BoomeR Marketplace!

Work-Tirement Boomers

plan for new “Golden Years”

2 Today’s BoomeR

Alaska – By Sea & By Land 2012 “CU Leadership Strategies Forum”

May 14 – 24, 2012

Scotland, Ireland, France & the British Isles Cruise 2012

“CU Elected Leaders Symposium” June 7 – 19, 2012

Western Caribbean Odyssey 2012 “CU Discovery EduCruise”

June 17 – 24, 2012

Odyssey of the Ancient Crusaders 2012

“CU Winds of Change EduCruise” September 21 – October 3, 2012

Hawaiian Isles Tropical Adventure 2012

“CU Success Strategies Symposium” November 3 - 10, 2012

Today’s BoomeR 3

Founder John Vardallas & Alexandra Maragha

Editor-In-Chief Alexandra Maragha

Contributing Writers Karyl Richson

Advertising Team

The American BoomeR.com

John Vardallas CAE, CUDE

CEO/Founder Professional Speaker

Business/Lifestyle Strategist

Boomer Sage and Blogger

JohnVardallas@TheAmericanBoomeR.com

(608) 577-8707

Alexandra Maragha

Executive Director of Communications,

Editor-In-Chief Today’s BoomeR

Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com

Today’s BoomeR Vol.1 No.1 Today’s BoomeR is published

six times (Feb/Mar, Apr/May, June/July, Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov,

Dec/Jan) 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

This Issue

February / March 2012

Volume 1, Number 1

“Work-Tirement” 5

Boomers plan for new “Golden Years”

Make a Difference 6

Volunteer

Being John Vardallas 8

What the Founder and CEO really thinks

about being 60

Boomer Healthy Eating 10

Top ten foods for better health

Boomer Travel 12

Why cruising is the way to go

Social Security 16

Plan ahead and gain more in 2012

B2B Marketplace 17

Business 2 Boomers Marketplace

4 Today’s BoomeR

(feature) p. 10

p. 4

p. 12

Social Security:

Plan Ahead in 2012 p. 3

D IAMOND IN THE ROUGH

I would like to think that my parents are proud.

Proud for most things that children would want

their parent’s to be proud of, but most of all, I

would like them to be proud for embodying an

extension of their values and experiences as

Baby Boomers.

I treasure the stories, the moments and all of

the “good times” that shine through and create

diamond moments; reflecting the past and

shining light towards the future.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Today’s

I welcome all to enjoy this inaugural issue

of Today’s BoomeR magazine and indulge

yourself in our stories about travel,

healthy eating, making a difference, our

featured Boomer and much more each

issue. This issue features John Vardallas,

a visionary in guiding, inspiring Baby

Boomers to reach past their full

potentials.

This magazine is the oracle of resources

and information for Baby Boomers by

Baby Boomers and those who value the

Boomer generation to enlighten and en-

thrall. Future issues will feature lifestyle,

health, finance, style, food, travel, retro

music, muscle cars, pet care, relationship

topics and much more aimed to connect

Boomers while guiding and reflecting

their active and diverse lifestyles. Our

featured “B2B– Business 2 Boomers

Marketplace” is the only Boomer

marketplace that allows for all things

Boomer to be just one click away!

I encourage your feedback and voice to

be heard. Here’s to all those who shine!

Alexandra Maragha

Editor-In-Chief

Alexandra@theamericanboomer.com

Today’s BoomeR 5

Boomers must

Plan for new

golden years:

“Work-Tirement”

? Since the proposed changes to Social Security and concern for

future funding have become a national debate, many Americans

are starting to think seriously about revising their retirement

plans. People are now healthier and expected to live longer and

with the recent unprecedented downturn in the economy and

stock market losses, many of us Boomers will have to delay full

time retirement and extend their work life. It is no longer unusu-

al to spend as much time in retirement as in working full-time.

More than half of American say they plan to work in retirement

according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

Many retirees are depending on relatives, government assis-

tance and part-time work to survive. The 70-year-old at the gro-

cery check-out is likely to be partnered with another retiree bag-

ging groceries or greeting customers at a discount store.

Special Challenge for Boomers

Baby Boomers will make up the largest population of retired

workers in history with the longest life expectancy. Boomers will

be the most diverse group of retirees. Their biggest concern is

will they outlive their money. They may be funding their chil-

dren’s education, supporting adult children and caring for elder-

ly parents. It is for these reasons Boomers will be engaging in

Work-Tirement to keep up with their financial needs. While

some Boomers have done an adequate job of saving for retire-

ment, many wait until it is too late. People have a difficult time

estimating their retirement expenses because they fail to keep

track of their own spending habits.

Estimate Your Spending Habits—Give Yourself A Financial

Check Up

It’s a fallacy to assume that your spending habits will dramatical-

ly decline during retirement. Many retirees travel and pursue

other activities that keep themselves occupied. The first step in

retirement planning is to get an estimate of your expenses—

your annual cost of living. There are several ways to do this:

· Keep a journal of everything you spend for a few months

· Compile your years expenses via cancelled checks, bills and

cash withdrawals

· Determine your take-home pay over a period of time. Calculate

what you’ve saved—what’s left will give you an idea of what you

are spending.

Retirement Income

After you’ve estimated your expenses, you’ll need to determine

if your retirement income will cover your living expenses. Only

one-third of Boomers save enough of what they need to retire at

their income level, according to USA Today. The “three-legged

stool” of retirement income consists of personal savings, Social

Security and pensions have now been expanded to five to in-

clude maintaining good health and job skills/competencies. It’s a

good idea to get an estimate of your Social Security benefits.

You can go online and use their tools to get this information by

visiting the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov.

If you have a pension of 401K, calculate your benefits. If a previ-

ous employer went out of business, you may still be able to

claim benefits. The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation guar-

antees pensions and lists names of people that have unclaimed

money due to them. You can find the list at www.pbgc.gov.

Add up all of your personal savings and determine how much

you can withdraw each year. Make sure to determine any other

expenses you’ll likely have during your retirement. Many boom-

ers feel that they will be or already have become the primary

caregiver for an elderly parent or family member. Likewise, a

nursing home can cost from $50,000 to $75,000 a year.

All of these dynamics will re-define retirement and may call for

us Boomers to stay engaged in work beyond our golden years.

More resources on this issue can be accessed at

www.theamericanboomer.com for more details.

By John A. Vardallas

6 Today’s BoomeR

Make a Difference:

Volunteer

While monetary and other material donations and contributions

are always helpful to individuals and organizations, one of the

best ways to make a difference in the lives of others is to

volunteer.

Time is very valuable. Many

Boomers balance family, careers,

and other obligations all at once while trying to make time for

themselves. Your time is valuable to yourself and those in your

daily lives and can mean just as much or even more for others

when one is able to volunteer.

Many organizations are underfunded and seek volunteers to

help with many aspects of their operations. Volunteer work can

range from face to face interactions with those that an organiza-

tion may help directly—such as reading a story to a child or

walking a dog, or by enlisting a specific skill that one has or

offering your professional services at no cost. A common

misconception about volunteering that hinders some is making a

More than half of

Americans say they plan to

work in retirement. Here

are some resources for

Boomers to help with the

Job Hunt.

Encore.org

Retiredbrains.com

Grayhairmanagement.com

Comingofage.org

Americorps.gov

See more Boomer Resource

Links and information at

TheAmericanBoomer.com

Boomer

Resource

Links: Re-Careering

By Alexandra Maragha

Today’s BoomeR 7

long term commitment. While many

organizations often seek and appreciate

more long term or recurring availability,

many equally welcome help at one time

events, or leave the door open for people to

help when they can.

Volunteering can also be a great thing to do

with friends and family and a great activity

for groups and business organizations to

partner with and give back directly to

causes that impact their local communities.

A friendly conversation that evokes a smile

on the face of a stranger or a soft touch to

an animal longing for affection can seem

small, but through volunteering, can be a

priceless and rewarding experience and

make a difference.

Do you know a Boomer who Makes A Difference

in the lives of others?

Tell us and they could be recognized in a future issue of

Today’s Boomer!

“Like” The American Boomer on Facebook

to connect and tell their story

8 Today’s BoomeR

Being

John Vardallas

At 63, John Vardallas is redefining the phrase “you are as old as you

feel”. As CEO and Founder of The American BoomeR.com, he aims to

inspire and motivate Baby Boomers to see and surpass their potential,

live their dreams and to make a difference.

Interview by Alexandra Maragha

Today’s BoomeR 9

Who really is John Vardallas? How would you

describe yourself

I am sort of a renaissance man seeking to be

all that I can be while using my skills to help

others be successful. I think of myself as a

provocateur who seeks the best that life

offers.

What led you to found The American

BoomeR.com?

I channeled 30 years of teaching and training,

passion, education, work experiences and the

desire to help people and organizations reach

their potential into a mission and purpose for

my business. I love inspiring people to do

better. Most folks can do and be more than

they think.

You just turned 63, how does it feel and what

do you think about age and ability?

On being 63, aging does not bother me. Aging

successfully is key for me. It means the daily

thought of knowing you are living and pursu-

ing your life’s passion—whatever that might

be. Success is a state of mind not measured in

years lived. Its not about how many years you

live, its about the life you put into your years.

Life is a journey not a destination. The free-

dom and capacity to enjoy one’s passions is

the ultimate measure of success. As I continue

my own journey through life, that defines my

aging process and level of success. When I

turned 60, I created the phrase “60 is the new

40”, so I can say at the age of “43” I am doing

pretty good.

You are very accomplished at this point in

your life, do you feel that you have fulfilled

your goals and what’s next?

As I age, I have never had the feeling that I

have accomplished my goals. They are sort of

a continuum that I keep stretching, therefore,

challenging myself. I feel its ok to be satisfied

with dis-satisfaction. Regarding thoughts of

what’s next, I tend to live my life working

backwards from my mortality. I long ago

asked myself one key question: How do I want

to be remembered? The answer has guided

my pursuit of personal and professional pas-

sions. My feeling is that once we realize our

own mortality and that we really do not have

a lot of time on this earth, we begin to live

more giving and fulfilling lives on a daily basis.

What is the one thing that you want to be

known for?

I am part of the generation that fought for

change in America. My legacy I aim to leave is

to be known for the person who helped make

a difference while “s-aging” gracefully!

10 Today’s BoomeR

BOOMER HEALTHY EATING:

Top 10 foods for better health

B e sure to incorporate these

top ten healthy foods into your

diet for optimum Boomer health.

You may already eat some of

these foods, but knowing the

benefits can help motivate and

maintain steps in preventative

measures against many health

concerns, increase energy,

longevity and maintain health.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a major source of the strong antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and helps us to function better mentally in old age.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A major part of a Mediterranean diet, extra virgin olive oil is shown to help reduce death from heart disease and cancer and is naturally cholesterol free.

Red Grapes

This includes red grape juice and wine.

Today’s BoomeR 11

Purple grape juice tops other juices in antioxidant activity having four times more than orange juice.

Nuts

Almonds and walnuts lower blood cholesterol. Nuts are high in fat, but most is good-type monounsaturated and/or omega-3 fatty acids.

Whole Grains

Whole grains contain anti-cancer agents and help stabilize blood sugar and insulin, which may promote longevity.

Salmon and other Fatty Fish

These fish are high in amounts of the type of fat-omega-3 fatty acids-that performs “miracles” throughout the body, fighting virtually every chronic disease known.

Blueberries and other “Purple” colored

foods

Blue berries and other purple colored foods such as pomegranates, mulberries, aecia berries, egg-plants, and beets are all antioxidant rich foods.

Garlic

This herb is packed with nutrients known to help fend off cancer, heart disease, aging and other health problems.

Spinach

This super health-promoter is second among vegetables only to garlic in antioxidant capacity and is rich in folic acid.

Tea

Green and ordinary black tea pack the same amounts of antioxidants and have equal benefits.

See this and other Boomer healthy eating tips and recipes in

the Boomer Healthy Eating Guide from

TheAmericanBoomer.com

12 Today’s BoomeR

BO

OM

ER

TR

AV

EL

Set your sightsSet your sights

and sailsand sails

for the best for the best

way to travelway to travel

CRUISING Story by Alexandra Maragha, Photgraphy by John Vardallas

Today’s BoomeR 13

14 Today’s BoomeR

F or more than 160 years,

passenger ships have been

exciting travelers to come

aboard to experience ocean

adventures with a mix of high seas

romance, exotic foreign

destinations and relaxation. Today,

with larger and more luxurious

ships, varied routes, on-board and

destination options and activities

for all types and interests, sea and

river cruises are calling out to

travelers like never before.

With every new ship that is built,

cruise lines are luring new cruisers

with sexier and more comfortable

staterooms, high seas ambiance

and cuisine that will fit any palate.

For Boomers, cruising is overall a

safe and cost effective method of

travel.

Taking a trip to your most desirable

destination does not have to break

the bank and can allow you to

determine the length of time you

take to get the full experience you

want.

For more ‘dollar conscious’ Boom-

ers, compared to land based vaca-

tions, cruising is the most cost

effective way to vacation.

Many itineraries will allow you to

experience as many as five

different countries within a weeks’

worth of travel, minus the hassle

and cost of visiting the same places

“a la carte”. Once you check in and

board, you will never have to worry

about knowing where you will call

“home” during the time of your

trip.

After experiencing more than 80

countries in the last ten years, it is

safe to say Johnny V is “hooked on

cruising”. For this Boomer, who did

not start regular cruising until he

was 50, he insists “it’s the best way

to see the world.”

“Cruise ships have taken me to The

Great Wall of China, the Great

Pyramids of Egypt, the glory that

was Greece and Rome,

Today’s BoomeR 15

piranha fishing on the Amazon

River, the bottom of the world in

Ushuaia, Argentina and Cape Horn

and experience the history of the

czars in St. Petersburg Russia.”

Cruises offer vast destinations that

according to Johnny V, “have all

helped knock my ‘bucket list’ down

several notches to a manageable

number as I age.”

Cruising is also a great way to meet

people of like interests and even

rekindle or discover new romance

as well. Cruise lines now cater to

the single boomer traveler (male or

female) by offering individual

cabins and events on board.

“I have had the privilege to

connect with people and cultures

that have left a profound influence

on my life- not to mention

experiencing the terrific panoramic

sun rises and sunsets at sea that

only be described as nothing short

of spiritual”, said V.

Boomers can now expect to

experience everything from

Broadway shows, marquee

entertainers, world class culinary

meals to exotic shore sightseeing

and cultural tours.

In addition, the variety of on ship

activities like zip lining, surfing,

dancing, and seminars keeps

expanding with every cruise

offered. Now even river cruises are

featuring open air balconies,

luxurious cabins and solariums.

Since Boomers make up the

majority of the profile of cruisers

worldwide, more upgrades and

amenities can be expected in the

future.

So heads up “matey” and consider

getting onboard the next time

you’re planning a getaway. Check

out all of the cruising options avail-

able to the Boomer generation.

You can connect with

The American Boomer.com for

more resource information about

Boomer cruising.

Many itineraries will allow you to

experience as many as five different

countries within a weeks’ worth of

travel, minus the hassle and cost of

visiting the same places “a la carte”.

For the past 12 years Johnny V has been a Senior Speaker of CU Edu Cruises

(Seminars at Sea) and has cruised to over 80 countries.

16 Today’s BoomeR

Social Security: Plan ahead and gain

more in 2012

Think about retirement

Whether you’re 26 and beginning a career or 62 and

thinking about the best time to stop working, give some

thought to what your retirement plan will be. Social

Security is the largest source of income for elderly

Americans today, but it was never intended to be your

only source of income when you retire. You also will

need savings, investments, pensions or retirement ac-

counts to make sure you have enough money to live

comfortably when you retire. The earlier you begin

your financial planning, the better off you will be. For

tips to help you save, visit www.mymoney.gov.

Plan ahead

The best way to begin planning for retirement is by us-

ing the free resources provided by Social Security. Start

by using our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a

personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement

benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios.

Visit the Retirement Estimator at

www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Make sure you have all your numbers

While tax season may seem far away, now is the time

that many taxpayers start gathering records and docu-

mentation for filing tax returns. One of the most im-

portant things you need is a Social

Security number for everyone whom you will claim as a

dependent. If you don’t have a number for one of your

dependents, you need to apply now to have the Social

Security number in time to file your tax return. Learn

more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

Do a little light reading

The best way to learn more about Social Security, the

benefit programs, and what they mean to you and your

family is to browse through our online library of publica-

tions. You can find overviews as well as more detailed

booklets. Our library at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs is

always open.

Help a loved one

Sometimes we get the most satisfaction out of helping

someone else. If you have a grandparent, parent, rela-

tive, or friend who could benefit from Social Security,

share our website and online services with them. You

can even help a loved one apply for retirement or Medi-

care benefits — or for Extra Help with Medicare pre-

scription drug costs — in as little as 10 minutes. Wheth-

er you forward a publication or sit down to help some-

one apply for Social Security, the place to go is

www.socialsecurity.gov.

We hope you’ll consider some of these resolutions.

Happy New Year from Social Security!

By Karyl Richson

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Milwaukee, WI

Happy 2012 from Social Security!

With the new year, many people put together lists of goals and resolutions. Allow us to share with

you some new year’s resolutions that you may find worth keeping.

Today’s BoomeR 17

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Rates 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page

1 time $300.00 per ad $600.00 per ad $800.00 per ad

6 times $250.00 per ad (When paid in Full)

$500.00 per ad

(When paid in Full)

$700.00 per ad

(When paid in Full)

Advertise with us and connect

directly with America’s Baby

Boom generation!

Be apart of the

“B2B - Business 2 Boomer

Marketplace” and allow

Boomers to visit your

Today’s BoomeR storefront

direct! Become one click away

from your Boomer consumer!

For more information about how to Advertise email

Alexandra@theamericanboomer.com

Don’t Miss an Issue!Don’t Miss an Issue! Subscribe to Today’s BoomeR FREE by visiting

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Today’s

Advertise With Us!Advertise With Us!

Take Advantage of our Special

2012 Introductory Rates!

MARKETPLACEMARKETPLACE

Click on the “storefront” ad to enter each store in the B2B Marketplace!

18 Today’s BoomeR

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Today’s BoomeR 19

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

20 Today’s BoomeR

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

Today’s BoomeR 21

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

22 Today’s BoomeR

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Today’s BoomeR 23

April/May Issue:

Retro Rides are

Back! Detroit

flexing its

Muscle in 2012

Boomers

“Hooking-up”

Spring Break

Destination Tips

Boomer Healthy

Recipes

Here is a Sneak Peak of the Here is a Sneak Peak of the Here is a Sneak Peak of the

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Relationships: Bridging the

Generation Gap

24 Today’s BoomeR