Welcome to the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference PDF Print E-mail

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2nd Annual Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference.  The success of this event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, the contributions of our outstanding speakers and panelists, and the enthusiasm of all who attended.

 

The Conference received very positive news coverage, including a feature by New York Times “Generation B” columnist Michael Winerip.  Please see the links below and click here for additional conference releases and coverage.
 
The Fountain of Reinvention, April 25, 2010, New York Times

 

For Boomers, Back to Basics, April 15, 2010, St. Petersburg Times

 

Select Conference presentations are also available on our SlideShare page.

 

View an video excerpt from the Conference at our You Tube Channel.

 

Key Takeaways from the 2010 Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference:

  • Reinvention was the overall theme of the Conference, and research unveiled by Schwartz Consulting Partners showed why:
    - 39% of boomer households in Florida had someone who’d lost a job in the last five years
    - 34% experienced a hospitalization
    - 15% had a mortgage larger than the value of their home
    - Almost half surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that they plan to work through retirement.
  • Some good news for Florida businesses – 74% of boomers plan to stay in Florida
  • Even with economic setbacks, Florida boomers report high quality of life in the state
  • Florida boomer consumers react more favorably to advertising that emphasizes integrity, positive messaging and innovation. They don’t particularly like to be referred to as “boomers” in advertising.
  • It may sound bad that a quarter of Florida boomers are now living with an elderly parent or adult child, or both, but savvy marketers will find opportunity in this statistic  by developing and marketing  services and products that can meet these new challenges boomers and their families are facing
  • Two speakers in particular – A.D. Frazier and Pat Deering – urged unemployed boomer workers to take control of their own lives by becoming an entrepreneur, independent worker, or buying a franchise.

 

 
  • Mark Miller and Roger Chiocchi talked retirement with the crowd.  Both agreed that boomers aren’t ready financially for retirement and Boomers previous notion of retirement is gone
    - Miller suggested retiring retirement for two reasons: we’re living much longer and boomers either can’t or don’t want to retire
    - Miller’s tips for financing retirement:  pay down debt, don’t rely too much on your 401(k), plan to work longer, consider long-term care insurance, and educate yourself about Medicare
    - Chiocchi explained that boomers no longer feel as comfortable about their finances and job security as they did pre-downturn.  They are furious with large banks, Wall Street and other big business; they’re cutting back on luxury items, and are looking for more “cheap thrill purchases” that allow them to enjoy life on a budget. 
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida’s trend report on health and wellness noted that boomers are worried about costs of healthcare and struggling with chronic conditions; but will NOT accept slowing down or pain due to aging.  They’re working hard to feel better longer and want four things from healthcare: access, prevention, information and control.
  • With more elderly people staying in their homes longer, Aging in Place Technology Watch’s Laurie Orlov predicted that emerging technologies and products being developed to assist seniors in the home would continue to grow.  The market will soon be flooded with products like home monitoring and movement sensors, health alarms, computerized pill dispensers and GPS devices.
  • Mary Furlong closed the day with the top 5 trends shaping the boomer and senior market:
    - A wave of top talent from Fortune 500 companies is migrating to boomer and senior focused companies –and the venture capital money is following
    - The recession has created a new wave of public-private partnerships in boomer and senior market.  Non-profits are playing a larger role in helping companies reach and serve these consumers.
    - Niche marketing and alternative channels of distribution are emerging as dominant go-to-market strategies for the 50+ market.
    - Boomer and senior marketers getting the best bang for the buck from integrated media outreach, especially since online and social media participation among boomers and seniors is growing.
    - Boomer entrepreneurship is exploding.  It’s a trend that’s both good for boomers’ ability to finance their longevity and experience personal satisfaction AND our nation’s economic recovery.  According to the Kauffman Foundation, more than 80 percent of all start-up businesses in the U.S. are launched by people over forty years of age. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the 2011 Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference.  Date and location to be announced soon!