Nevin's Data "Points"

   Apparently, Baby Boomers have some ‘splainin to do. Yes, after decades of being blamed for everything from the demise of defined benefit pensions to the price of housing, Boomers are now being castigated for something else: spending the money that their children were (apparently) counting on inheriting. Indeed, there’s been a lot of talk about the so-called “Great Wealth Transfer” — and lately a fair amount of consternation that Boomers might actually spend some of that wealth before they die. Which got me wondering: How much did the Boomers actually inherit from their parents? Turns out, for most, not all that much. Back in 2011, researchers at Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research [i] took a specific look at that question. They estimated that about two-thirds of Boomer households would ultimately receive an inheritance. And that median expected inheritance was ... (just) $64,000 . Now, $64,000 is certainly nothing to sneeze at. But neither is it the kind of ge...

I recently stumbled across a provocative article in the  New York Times  with that intriguing headline. Honestly, I laughed out loud (drawing my wife’s quizzical attention on an otherwise quiet Saturday morning) when I read it. I’m a (proud) Boomer, of course, and while Gen X basically slipped quietly into the workplace (much to their frustration), Millennials (to my experience) landed with a bang, upending traditional norms of business and meeting etiquette, demanding a voice that seemed well beyond their experience (and, yes, sometimes knowledge)—and, frustratingly (certainly for those of us who played by a different set of rules at their age), getting it.  So the notion that they were now feeling the same kind of pressures from the  next  generation of workers (a.k.a. Gen Z) was somewhat humorous to me in a “so, how do  you  like it?” kind of way.   Yes, having lived through the not-so-subtle eye-rolling of younger co-workers...

If you’re still struggling to figure out how to reach Millennials (even if you are a Millennial), take heart – there’s (already) another generational cohort entering the workforce. This new cohort is called Generation Z (at one point, Millennials were referred to as Gen Y, so…) – they are, generally speaking, children of Gen X – born in the mid-1990s, and separated from Millennials by their lack of a memory of 9/11. Gen Z is, in fact, already entering the workforce – and, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, they currently comprise a quarter of the population. They are seen as being more “realistic” when it comes to life and working than Millennials, who have been characterized as more “optimistic.” Gen Z is said to be more independent and competitive in their work than the collaborative Millennials, more concerned with privacy (Snapchat versus Facebook), and are said to have a preference for communicating face-to-face. It’s said they’ll eschew racking up big college debt, and are...

It is something of a tradition this time of year to look back, to reminisce about past events and lessons learned, and sometimes to look ahead. Here are some insights – nearly 80 – from columns past that should help lay the groundwork for a productive and prosperous 2017. 3 Things Retirement Savers Can Learn from Pokémon Go Here are some things that will help you in Pokémon Go and saving for retirement. 4 Things You Should Know About Social Media Whether you are fully engaged in social media, just thinking about how to get started, or somewhere in between, here are four things to keep in mind. 4 ‘Sure’ Things About Saving for Retirement That Aren’t Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, upending even the most “certain” outcomes. These so-called “sure” things sometimes turn out to be anything but that – and those that have relied on those assumptions, these “conventional wisdoms” as “givens” can wind up being disappointed – and ill-prepared for financing retirement. 4...