Baby You Can Drive My Car

A tale of three continents of luxury

It was the best of times, at least that’s the way we Baby Boomers remember it. As children we made fun of the Japanese, as “Made in Japan” was a euphemism for “Cheap,” we came of age with American muscle cars, and as we entered our adult years we virtually anointed German automobile engineering as the ultimate status symbol. For better or for worse, all these years, since we were born, we’ve been dealing with our Asian, European and American biases. Read More

In Every Issue

THE BOOMER BUCK—FINANCE in the new economy, work, investment strategies and what’s left over

To Trust or Not to Trust… That is the Question?

Late last month I received a newsletter from my old friend and colleague, Sam Swansen. For those of who don’t know Sam he’s an attorney, an author and an expert on matters of estate transfers. His co-authored book, Generations… Planning Your Legacy is widely considered to be a priceless resource for answering questions regarding proper estate planning. My autographed copy remains a centerpiece on my office bookshelf. Read More

Alternative to investing in stocks - Franchising

Boomer readers routinely were raised by dads who made pithy comments like, “You never have to break a habit you don’t start” and “It’s who you know, not what you know.” The first quote applying to vices and the second quote to business. Read More

It’s Like a HEET Wave! Why Boomers Should Consider a Health and Education Exclusion Trust

As many Boomers (particularly those of us here on the East Coast) muscle through the effects of the latest summer heat wave, I thought it prudent to bring attention to another type of HEET – the Health and Education Exclusion Trust! Read More

Don’t Get Caught by Catch Phrases

The problem with the trite phrases brokers spew forth is that they are often inappropriate, misleading or wrong. Here are a few of my favorites:
Buy on dips: if you’ve been Buying on Dips for the last 10 years, you’ve been losing money. Sell After A Rally has been much better advice. But that’s okay, “they” tell you, because The Market Will Be Back. Long-term that’s true, but empires and their values don’t stay strong forever – just ask the Persians, Romans or Japanese.
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SHELF LIFE—HEALTH and medical advances, lifestyle and holding on

What Is Happening To My Body?

I frequently hear this question from my baby boomer patients. The males complain that it takes them longer to heal when they exercise too much. They say they just can’t get rid of their love handles. My female patients complain of weight gain and whole body fatigue.

I want to share some information that can help everyone heal faster, lose weight, and improve energy levels. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill to make everything better. As much as we would like it to, becoming healthy does not happen overnight. But it’s easier to improve your health than you might think. Read More

Alzheimer Disease and the Apo E Gene

Cognitive decline in old age has been described throughout history. However, it was not until the early part of the 20th century that a collection of brain cell abnormalities was specifically identified by a German physician, Alois Alzheimer, for whom the dread disease was named.

Nearly a century later, a high risk for Alzheimer disease was associated with the Apo E 4 Gene. Immediately following this discovery, ethical dilemmas associated with genetic testing led to the conclusion that medical records should be kept private in order to protect the rights of patients. Guidelines for genetic testing for Alzheimer disease determined that individuals should not be tested without their primary medical providers’ support and guidance. In 1997, President Clinton proposed a law that would help make it a crime for employers or insurance companies to discriminate on the grounds of genetic testing data they obtained. While his proposal did not become law, half the states in the United States have adopted this policy. Read More

GETTING WARMER
Travel destinations with the Boomer in mind

Mexico turns the big 200

Mexico is planning a party, and you're invited. To two parties, actually, one on Sept. 15 and the other on Nov. 20. They're both birthday bashes, but you don't need to bring a present. Read More

An awesome foursome in Norway

Talk about spectacular sightseeing: First, we hop on Norway's Rauma Railway with WatchBoom contributor Bob Jenkins for a ride down the mountains past soaring cliffs and awesome waterwalls. From there, Bob takes us on a tour of the Art Nouveau town of Alesund (shown above), a cruise along the shoreline on one of the country's famed Hurtigruten ships and finally a visit to the medieval city of Bergen. Read More

Belize, Southern Style

Senior WatchBoom contributor Ted Alan Stedman again leads us to a place most of us know nothing about (although its pristine beauty might very well tempt us to spend some time there). This month, Ted cuts a path through the jungle to the parks, rivers, island reserves and Mayan ruins of Southern Belize, a tropical wonderland once considered “worthless” by British explorers because its reefs were infested with, ecchhh, giant lobsters. Read More

Thai culture gets an adventure kick in Chiang Mai

Remember the ornate palaces, shrines and royal gardens in the movie, Anna and the King of Siam? Many of these eye-popping sights are still there, only today the country is called Thailand. In her WatchBoom debut story, well-known travel journalist Diana Rowe immerses us in the sights, sounds and culture of the country – including a visit to an “elephant farm” where visitors can buddy up with one of the surprisingly gentle animals for a day. Read More

From beaches to battlefields, up the coast from San Diego

From the globe-trekking Walkinganddrinkingbeer.com adventures of Rich Grant comes this tour of Old California towns north of San Diego. Follow Rich from the famous shores of La Jolla to a spot up the coast that comes to life from the pages of author Henry Dana Jr.'s great sailing novel, Two Years Before the Mast. Read More

The savvy traveler: Tips of the trade (Part 1)

What's the difference between a “direct” flight and a “nonstop” flight? What does “gone to bag heaven” mean? Did you know that you can wait out flights in plush chairs in “comfort lounges” -- with no charge to get in -- at a major U.S. airport? In this story, WatchBoom travel editor (and veteran airline exec) Bob Schulman offers tips for smoother trips. Read More