Kerry Takes a Second Look at Midlifers’ Second Acts
On Sunday, I stopped by La Cappella, a Pittsburgh restaurant, with my mom, who I was visiting. As I pushed open the door, I was delighted to see Colleen Sheerer, the bustling bistro’s co-owner (with her husband, Tim) and her big smile. I’d featured Tim’s second-act story in a 2006 article — he previously worked […]
Best Ways to Find a Career Coach
Last fall, I had the opportunity to attend the Gerontological Society of America meeting, which brought together 3,600 researchers from around the globe to present research on the aging population. My agenda was to attend sessions on working in our 60s and beyond and the challenges and rewards if entrepreneurship and being your own boss. […]
The Pitfalls of Franchising
Many boomers eyeing a second career fancy the idea of running their own business. Yet the risk and work involved in starting a business from scratch can be daunting. One way to ease into entrepreneurship is to purchase a franchise. Many franchises provide a full range of services, including site selection, training, product supply, marketing plans and […]
Kerry’s Expert Advice on NBC: Retirees keep one foot in workforce
Seniors today may well enjoy rounds of golf and water aerobics when they retire. But chances are, they fit it in when they’re off the clock. Whether motivated by mental stimulation or cold, hard cash, millions of Americans age 65 and older are keeping one foot in the workforce long after they leave their full-time […]
Kerry’s Advice on AARP: What’s Next? 10 Tips for Career Changers
A police officer turned music agent. A Navy captain who became a circus manager. A botanist who traded plants for making chocolate. Those are a few of the major career changes among boomers and retirees I interviewed for my book, What’s Next? Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond. Each […]
Kerry’s Expert Advice: USA Today: Building a Successful 2nd Career
When Barry Duckworth, 59, of Sherrills Ford, N.C., was looking for a second career that could last him into his 60s and beyond, he realized he had to be adaptable. “You have to not only accept change but embrace it.” For 30 years, he worked as a licensed general building contractor, overseeing the construction of […]
Shrewd Money Advice for Women Over 50
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz dedicates her new soup-to-nuts personal finance book, The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty, to “Chuck, who I am proud to call Dad.” Chuck, of course, is the founder of the Charles Schwab brokerage firm. His author daughter is president of the Charles Schwab Foundation and senior vice president at Charles Schwab & Co. […]
How to Profit Modestly by Moving to a Nonprofit
WHEN he was 5 years old, Steven Elson built pretend skyscrapers out of blocks. It was the start of a love affair with buildings. At 60, his passion hasn’t subsided. Today, after being laid off from a top commercial real estate job in Connecticut in 2008, he is working in the nonprofit sector, overseeing the […]
Kerry’s Advice on Today.com Women Want Financial Advisers Who Get Their Needs
Women are heading more households and making small inroads in the C-suite. They have also increased their presence on the Forbes list of billionaires. And research by Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy found that because women tend to outlive their spouses, overall they will be managing the majority of the $41 trillion in wealth that will pass […]
For Some, Age Is No Obstacle to Entrepreneurship
WHEN Marvin Gay, 71, a retired accountant, and his wife, Leslie, 61, decided to open a Painting With a Twist franchise in St. Petersburg, Fla., their start-up costs were close to $70,000. To finance the business, which combines art instruction with bring-your-own wine (or soft drink) parties, the couple tapped their personal savings. “The interest […]
