If you are a frequent visitor to this blog, you may have noticed the small panel in the left sidebar that indicates this blog is for sale.  I thought you deserved a few words of explanation.

Why Does Anyone Sell Their Blog

Some may find it surprising that anyone would sell a blog they have created.  Isn’t a blog a kind of personal journal of information and thoughts on a topic of interest?  That probably is true for 99% of blogs, but clearly not so for the biggies like the Huffington Post or TechCrunch, which are akin to online newspapers.

Thinking of the other 99%, what is going on when someone wants to sell one of these blogs.  It clearly depends on the extent to which the blog is reflecting the personality of the author.  A highly personal blog is probably not saleable as an ongoing concern.  On the other hand, a blog which has been built as a way of chronicling some topic with minimal linking to the personality of the author is clearly saleable.  Senior Money Memos is such a blog.

If you are interested in the details of the sale, then you should check the This Blog For Sale web page.  If you’re interested in the reasons behind the sale and why it might make sense for you to buy it, then please read on.

Reasons Why I Want To Sell

Not Enough Time

This is the principal reason why the thought of selling this blog came to mind.  A number of new interests are taking up time and this is crowding out the time I would normally devote to this blog.  There is no diminution of interest in the topic, which is still a growing factor as society evolves.

Focus, Focus, Focus

Here I must confess I have not been taking my own advice.  Those three words of Peter Drucker are ones I have repeated many times to others.  Put all your energies ideally into a single cause and you will be much more effective in achieving your goals.  As Michael Porter said strategy is about saying no.  You cannot pursue every enthusiasm you may have and do it effectively.

Benefits To The Purchaser

Hot Topic with Growing Interest

Seniors are a growing proportion of the population.  This creates interesting challenges for society and for the seniors.  Seniors are healthier and are living longer.  This can stretch whatever financial resources they have.  To enjoy their later years they must be more resourceful with what they have. They have a keen interest in finding out all they can on how best to achieve a long and fulfilling life.

Building An Authority Website With A Good Reputation

A large number of websites are coming online to meet that senior appetite for useful information. Senior Money Memos aims to be an effective entry point to what is available.

Search Engine Visible

Search engines such as Google and Bing can bring the majority of visitors to a site such as Senior Money Memos.  The sheer volume of content provides a strong magnet for such search engine interest.  Most posts have been created so as to rank well in appropriate keyword searches.

Effective Technology Gives A Mobile Device Friendly Website

The blog uses WordPress software and has a child theme from the latest default theme, twentyeleven.  This gives excellent rendering on desktop PCs and is fully mobile device friendly for iPhones and Android smart phones.  With the increasing share of Internet visitor traffic that are using mobile devices, either iPhone or Android, this is a very important strength of the Senior Money Memos.

Monetization

Personal finances for seniors is a topic that is of interest to major financial institutions and of course to the seniors themselves.  Both display ads and Adsense ads can perform well, particularly as volumes grow through time.

Avoids all the problems and frustrations of starting a blog from scratch

If you would like to be running your own blog on personal finances for seniors, then Senior Money Memos is a great opportunity for you.  You don’t need to go through all the challenges and frustrations of starting a blog from scratch.  Instead you can manage a successful blog and tune it to reflect your own preferences.

How To Proceed

If you would like to know more, then you have two choices:

A.  Make Contact Now

You can contact Barry Welford to find out whatever information you need.  If it sells prior to auction, you are likely getting this blog for a lower price.

B.  Participate in the Auction

Unless this blog is sold prior to auction, it will be auctioned shortly via Flippa.com for a period of 30 days with a Buy-It-Now (BIN) price of $4,000. There will probably be further information provided on the auction website. Drop us a line if you would like to be informed when it goes live on the Flippa.com website.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

This Blog Is For Sale

Technorati Tags: auction, blog, sale

Other Posts From The Archives

• October 20, 2009 -- Best Bargain Vacations (2)
• January 29, 2012 -- Winter Safety Tips That Won’t Cost You A Pretty Penny (0)
• August 4, 2011 -- Senior Savings Tips – Cut Back On Energy And Save Money (3)
• January 19, 2009 -- More Bank Bailouts – Keep The Pumps Working (0)
• February 25, 2009 -- Quebec Provincial Pension Fund Posts Record Loss In 2008 (0)

This is a guest post by Daniela Baker from CreditDonkey

Approximately half of all Americans die without a will. For those without one, the court steps in to divide up the property according to state laws. Because making a will should be a relatively simple process, this scenario can be avoided. You can create one through an attorney or on your own. Here are six important things to consider before making yours.

1. To Whom It May Concern – The people in your will are probably the most important aspect of this legal document. According to the National Caregivers Library, in the U.S. this includes your beneficiaries, executor, guardian of any children, and alternates in case the original people pass away or are no longer able to serve. List names, addresses, and relationship to all people in your will. Consult an attorney about any other possible requirements or concerns.If you wish to exclude anyone from your will, it can be tricky. You need to consult your attorney to ensure this is done properly.
2. In Perfect Harmony – The National Caregivers Library website also states that beneficiaries on life insurance policies, annuities, and individual retirement accounts should correspond with your current wishes.
3. Taxes: Life’s Other Certainty – There may be multiple taxes to consider depending on where you live. These taxes can affect the amount your heirs ultimately receive and have other consequences, such as the ability to keep land in the family. According to bankrate.com, in 2011 U.S. estates valued at $5 million or less are exempt from the federal estate tax. Estates valued more than this amount are taxed at 35%. Make sure you consult your attorney, insurance agent, and other appropriate professionals about the best plan for you and your heirs. You should remember to discuss with your estate planner how debt such as credit card debt is handled.
4. Seasons of Change – You may need to make revisions or even redraft your will after certain events. Talk to your attorney. Some of these events, listed in a New Mexico State University publication, include but may not be limited to:
   • Divorce
   • Birth of children
   • Death in the family
   • Accident or illness
   • Move to another state
   • Change in value of property
   • New laws that effect distribution of property
   • Death of beneficiaries, guardians, executors, or others in your will
5. Can I Have Your Autograph? – There may be certain requirements regarding the signing of your will, such as the number and age of witnesses. There may be a number of other requirements depending on the laws in your region. Remember to consult your attorney to ensure everything is done to make your will legal and valid.
6. For Safekeeping – There are a variety of places you can keep your will. Some of these options include in your own possession, in a safe-deposit box, with your attorney, on file with the probate or surrogate’s court (U.S.), or with a trust institution. There are pros and cons with each option, so consult your attorney before deciding upon the best place to keep your will.

Before you start, do not forget to include your full name and address and list full information regarding your assets, including those out of state (or out of country). This list is not exhaustive, but is meant to highlight a few important issues in hopes you will be better educated about this serious issue. Hopefully, this off-putting task should now be a little more tolerable.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

6 Things to Think About When Making Your Will

Technorati Tags: Executor, heir, probate, will

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This is a guest post by Chris Johnson.

Thanks to the rising costs of almost anything and the bad state of the economy in general, more and more people are finding it tough to pay their bills. That’s to say nothing of being able to save money for a “rainy day”. Seniors are especially susceptible to those issues because most senior citizens are on a fixed income. Let’s face some facts. Costs are going up. However, the fixed income that seniors are receiving is not. So, whether you are a senior citizen yourself or you are just caring for one, you need to take action. Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can do to cut down your energy bills.

In Winter Months:

In the winter months, your primary objective should be to keep the house draft-free. Your heating system is going to be working hard as it is. You don’t need to make its job more difficult. Some simple ideas include:

• Check to see that your heating system is functioning properly before winter hits.
• Change air filters when they need to be changed.
• Caulk around all of your doors and windows.
• Purchase Energy Star windows, storm doors and storm windows.

Storm windows can actually reduce your energy/heat loss by up to half. That can make a huge dent in your energy bills and keep your heating units from having to work extra hard. So, that is definitely an important step in making your home energy efficient.

The thermostat is also important. Make sure that you get a programmable thermostat. These days, you can even set your thermostat to lower the temperature at times when you aren’t home. Also, be sure that your thermostat is not located near any heating ducts, doors, windows or appliances. Otherwise, heat or drafts could influence when the thermostat triggers.

Water Heating Tips:

Another area where you can save in the winter months is water heating. Your water does not always have to be hot. You can use cold water for things like dishes and laundry. You can also get a cover of sorts, which some people refer to as a “jacket” for your hot water heater. That will keep it insulated and make it more energy efficient.

In Summer Months:

In the summer months, your primary concern is keeping your house cool. There are a number of ways to do that.

First of all, you need to make sure that your air conditioning ducts are in working order and your filters are changed regularly. Any leaks or clogged filters could add to your energy consumption by 20% or more.

It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to cool your house when you aren’t home. So, always put your thermostat up to a high number, such as 85, when you go out. Then, when you come home, put it back to a temperature you feel comfortable with.

You also need to be careful of how you cook in the summertime. Any cooking at all can really heat your house up, but obviously you do have to eat. So, one option is to simply grill outside. An outdoor barbecue can be fun for the whole family and much more energy efficient than using your oven.

Finally, another good option, if you happen to own a toaster oven, is to use it more often in the summer. A toaster oven can do a lot of things that a regular oven can do, but in under half the time and with a lot less energy spent. Also, it is much easier to clean your toaster oven than to try to clean your regular oven.

Author Bio:

Chris Johnson is an avid energy conservationist and writer. He is also the publisher of Toasterovenguide.com, which is a website devoted to helping consumers save energy, especially using small kitchen appliances, such as toaster ovens. Toasterovenguide.com allows consumers to compare prices and features on anything from the best toaster ovens like Delonghi toaster ovens to Black and Decker toaster oven models. Chris’s mission is to help consumers make great choices and save both energy and money. In his spare time Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and finding new ways to preserve the planet for his children and future generations.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Senior Savings Tips – Cut Back On Energy And Save Money

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• January 31, 2009 -- The Global Financial Crisis And Corruption (0)
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• October 17, 2009 -- Online Lottery Scams Target Seniors (0)

As CTV pointed out back in May, the Rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  

Now more than ever, Canada’s rich are getting richer while the poor get poorer and the middle class stagnates, according to the latest census data released May 1 by Statistics Canada.  Between 1980 and 2005, median earnings among Canada’s top earners rose more than 16 per cent while those in the bottom fifth saw their wages dip by 20 per cent.

Now the Vancouver Sun points out that this particularly affects seniors who are left behind as the rich-poor gap widens in Canada.

This is based on a study released by the Conference Board of Canada, a business think-tank.

Among other findings, the study showed the number of low-income seniors — a disproportionate number of whom are women — has been on the rise since the 1990s.

While low income can be measured in various ways, the report said 9.6 to 13.3 per cent of the overall Canadian population could be considered low income in 2009, a situation that has been worsening since 2007.

British Columbia is near the top of this trend, with about 13 per cent of its population low income. Newfoundland had the highest number of low-income people and Nova Scotia came second.

Vancouver was far ahead of all other large Canadian cities, with 16.5 per cent of its population struggling with low incomes.

It’s part of a bigger picture that shows a widening gap between Canada’s richest and poorest citizens as you can see if you go to what the Conference Board describes as a Hot Topic: Canada Inequality: Is Canada becoming more unequal?  July 2011

The Key Messages in the report run as follows:

• Income inequality in Canada has increased over the past 20 years.
• The richest group of Canadians increased its share of total national income between 1993 and 2008, while the poorest group lost share. Middle-income Canadians also lost share.
• Although the gap between the rich and poor widened, Canadians in the poorest income group still saw their income levels rise, albeit minimally.

The full report has some really hot topics within it.  Here is just a sample

Why are the rich getting richer?

Most gains have gone to a very small group of “super-rich.” To understand this, we have to look in more detail at the top quintile group—the top 20 per cent of Canadians. For this we need a different data set, one that provides more information on this group of super-rich. In a study for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, researcher Armine Yalnizyan uses tax file data to track the richest 1 per cent of Canadians; that is, those whose income was higher than 99 per cent of Canadian tax filers. She found that this group—the 246,000 people whose average income was $405,000—took home almost a third of all growth in incomes from 1998 to 2007, a decade that saw the fastest economic growth in this generation.

The phenomenal growth in incomes of the super-rich is not due to the assets they own. Yalnizyan points out that, while it is true that historically the super-rich relied mostly on unearned income from assets, “the income of the richest 1 per cent is due mostly to the lavish sums they are paid for the work they do."

Reading that is enough to make all those seniors living below the poverty line really angry.  One can only hope that the Governor General’s goal to make Canada a Smart and Caring Society will begin to have an impact.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Rich get richer, poor get poorer

Technorati Tags: poverty, rich-poor gap, super-rich

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This is a guest post by Claire Bradshaw.

Seniors often find that the house seems to grow larger and become less manageable as they grow older. Advancing years can make tasks that once seemed easy much more difficult, and housework and home maintenance may eventually become a great stressor to elderly people. For these reasons people often begin to think of downsizing their homes in their later years.

Other reasons for considering smaller, more convenient housing when the children have left the nest include the following:

• Rising financial needs
• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Desire for more simplicity and less clutter
• Need for adaptive equipment or easier accessibility
• More convenient location for basic necessities
• Lower property taxes

Seniors who are thinking of downsizing their living area should remember that any decisions about new living arrangements should be made with their changing physical needs in mind. The following checklist of questions might be helpful to seniors who are actively searching for the best location in which to enjoy their later years:

• Is the house being considered located within walking distance of their pharmacy, doctor’s office, grocery store, and church?
• Is the hospital nearby?
• Is public transport readily available?
• Is the lawn small, and is the landscaping easily controlled?
• What will the heating and cooling costs be?
• Is the home close enough for family members to visit frequently?
• Are the doorways wide enough for wheelchair or walker access, should they be needed in the future?
• Is there a walk-in shower?
• Does the house have plenty of lighting, both inside and out?
• If there are porches, are they accessible by ramp?
• How safe is the surrounding neighborhood?

Many people feel that seniors should not consider purchasing a home on more than one level in case of mobility issues in later years, but if the house fits most of their other important requirements, the problem is easily solved by installing a stairlift. This can be purchased new, but economical second hand stairlifts are also available from reputable suppliers.

Safety is probably the most important factor in deciding whether a house is suitable for those entering their golden years. Most people know that doors should have deadbolt locks, but the smaller aspects of safety are often overlooked. For example, the texture of the flooring is quite important. Slippery surfaces can be a real problem as balance becomes less stable, and a fall can be of grave concern to older people. Finding a way to reach higher areas of the home is also problematic, so low kitchen surfaces, cabinets, and appliances are very helpful.

Although finding the perfect home may be difficult, downsizing can certainly result in many benefits. Seniors who are patient and take the time to find the right home for their personal needs will find themselves excited about what the future holds and may also lengthen the period of time that they can live independently.

About the Author: Claire Bradshaw enjoys writing on topics relating to senior living. She writes for Stairlift Advisor and believes that a home adapted to their needs can help seniors continue to enjoy their lives to the full.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Tips for Seniors Downsizing to a Smaller Home

Technorati Tags: downsizing, independence, safety

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Having a bank is a necessity in modern-day living, but unfortunately many people are dissatisfied with the available choices.  At the start of this year Forbes listed America’s Best And Worst Banks, but it was somewhat surprising to see what they analyzed.

With Bank of America and Citigroup buoying their balance sheets and repaying billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout funds, the casual observer might assume the banking crisis is just about over. The casual observer would be wrong.  Lots of banks are going under these days. Here are the best and worst among the 100 largest.

Busted banks are still keeping the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. busy. In the past two months, 41 went under, surpassing the total of 26 for all of 2008. What’s more, by some measures bank balance sheets are in worse shape today than they were at the height of the financial crisis.

It is of course necessary that your bank will still be there when you wish to get your money.  However that is a very minimal criterion in selecting a bank.

Unfortunately reports since then indicate that on other dimensions, banks are not doing very well. One title suggested that Customer Satisfaction With the Biggest Banks Plummets.

While customer satisfaction with banks over all remained unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2009 from the year-earlier period, customer satisfaction with some of the biggest banks has declined to the lowest fourth-quarter levels in years.  The results, from the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, back up similar findings from a Forrester Research report.  This found that customers of the biggest banks in the United States were the least likely to believe their financial institution did what was best for them as opposed to what was best for the institution’s bottom line.

A report from Reuters today shows that there is no improvement: Large bank customers  are even more dissatisfied.

Some of the largest U.S. banks were ranked very low for retail customer satisfaction.  A US marketing research company study by J.D. Power and Associates implies that as some of the biggest banks get bigger, customers may not be happy.  The three biggest U.S. retail banks — JPMorgan Chase & Co’s Chase, Citigroup’s Citibank, and Bank of America Corp’s Bank of America — consistently rank at or near the bottom for customer service in the regions they serve.

This dissatisfaction with banks and the service they provide seems to be the case wherever you look.  Here are some results from the UK on how different services rank for customer satisfaction.

According to a recent survey conducted by moneysupermarket.com, it is hairdressers and hotels that that we think provide the best service. While banks and estate agents are thought to offer the worst.  Restaurants, coffee shops, garden centres, supermarkets, clothes stores and entertainment centres such as the cinema and bowling alleys all scored highly with consumers.

Here below are the results for this year.  Compared to last year’s survey it would appear that the service provided by banks has actually got worse. Banks have dropped a place in this table.

The industries at the bottom of the table have all traditionally suffered a bad press. Most of them – banks, energy companies, estate agents – demand hefty fees of their customers and provide necessary and essential  services, rather than luxuries.

Unfortunately the attitude in many banks may be as Tom Peters said, that “we are no worse than the others”.  If you are looking for one of the best banks, hopefully you can find one that searches for banking excellence, which includes not only safeguarding your money but also delivering a high level of customer satisfaction.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Best Banks

Technorati Tags: Banking Services, banks, Customer service, Forrester Research

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It is some time since Darren Barefoot, that well-known Vancouver writer, suggested You’d Be Wise to Avoid Freedom 55 Financial.  He was somewhat irate about his dealings with Freedom 55 Financial, which is a division of London Life Insurance Company.

The Vancouver Sun today is on the same theme as it suggests Companies are shifting to an older workforce.

Freedom 55 is a thing of the past, and many Canadians aren’t banking on Freedom 65, either.  This means a shift to an older workforce, and while it is creating challenges for everyone involved, the trend is also benefiting employers by staving off an anticipated shortage of skilled workers as boomers age.

Barbara Jaworski, CEO of Toronto’s Workplace Institute, which provides consultation and training on mature worker issues explains, “The challenge for employers is to accommodate new sorts of issues that perhaps they’ve never had to deal with in the past.”

She has even coined the term KAA-Boomer!, which she explains as follows:

KAA-Boom is for 45+ Baby Boomers who are interested in their health, lifestyle, people, learning and experiencing their second adulthood.  Businesses should be paying attention to demographics, why workforce strategies need to be rethought and why action should be taken now!  See how the Best Employers for 50 Plus Canadians do it!

As she notes the oldest baby boomers showed little interest in leaving the workforce even before the economic crisis gutted their investments and pension plans.  Deferred retirement is more about baby boomers wanting to stay engaged. Financial necessity has made the option to stop working even less attractive.

Freedom 55 is perhaps linked to what used to be the traditional work life pattern where you started working at say 15 and at three score years and ten (70) you would be lucky to be alive. With many living beyond 90 now and being in good physical shape, life is completely changed.  Now it is time for postponing retirement and thinking instead about a second career.  Freedom 55 may still be the brand for some but many more will be seeking Second Life 55 or Engagement 55.  It’s an inviting prospect.

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• Boomerang staff will keep coming back (telegraph.co.uk)

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Freedom 55 No Longer Just Financial

Technorati Tags: Baby Boomer, Darren Barefoot, Freedom 55, London Life Insurance Company

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Given the difficult economic conditions, everyone is eager to get any income tax refund they may be due from the Canada Revenue Agency as quickly as possible.  Knowing that, the scam artists try to phish, or in other words get unwary people to give personal information that will allow them to be defrauded.  That is why last August, the Canada Revenue Agency warned Canadians of a mail scam.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning taxpayers to beware of a recent scam where some Canadians are receiving a letter fraudulently identified as coming from the CRA and asking for personal information. The letter is not from the CRA. A PDF version of the letter is available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/alert.

The letter claims that there is “insufficient information” for the individual’s tax return and that in order to receive any “claims,” they will have to update their records. The letter attaches a form specifically requesting the individual’s personal information in writing, via fax or email, including information on bank accounts and passports. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender.

All taxpayers should be vigilant when divulging any confidential information to third parties. The CRA has well established practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayers’ information.

It appears that the scammers have moved online according to a former CRA employee, who warns all to beware of online tax scams.

Robert Day says taxpayers should be wary of the information they’re willing to give up online during tax season. Even though he worked for the Canada Revenue Agency for 30 years, he fell for the scam.

When Day clicked on a link inside an official looking email that appeared to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, it took him to an official looking website that asked for some personal information.  “I don’t know whether I had a short circuit between the earlobes or something,” said Day. “But, I went into this darn site and it had you type in your social insurance number to get into the site.”

If someone with such experience can fall for it, everyone should be doubly cautious when they receive e-mail messages that appear to come from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Today I received the following e-mail message, that purports to come from the Canada Revenue Agency.  However unless some staff members at the CRA have inferior spelling skills, this should not fool too many people.

Worm Regards, indeed.  It is so ludicrous that one wonders if it is a deliberate spoof.  Nevertheless it can serve to warn all that more insidious e-mail scam messages from the Canada Revenue Agency are making the rounds.  Remember the CRA will not be contacting you this way and nor will the security departments of your bank or your credit card company.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Canada Revenue Agency E-mail Scam

Technorati Tags: Canada Revenue Agency, Income tax, Phishing, scam

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The world is changing for all and particularly for seniors.  With the global recession, some seniors are seeing their retirement funds dwindling alarmingly.  At the same time, with improved health services, seniors can look forward to much longer lives than in the past.  Accordingly, seniors looking for jobs can be grouped in three categories:

• There are those who are retired and would like to do something active that would give them monetary rewards.
• There are those who would like to retire but must continue to work because it is tough taking ends meet in these recessionary times, and
• There are those who do not consider themselves seniors but are healthy and looking for a second career as they pass fifty.

There are a number of information resources on the Web and here we will highlight four of them.

Retired Worker (Canada)

Retired Worker connects 50+ job-seekers to employers who are looking for the experience, broad skill base and value such workers deliver. It was launched in 2003 by Sarah Welstead and Max Stocker in Toronto and is now the largest employment website in Canada for 50+ job-seekers.

SeniorsForJobs.com (Canada)

SeniorsForJobs.com serves talented job seekers who wish to remain in the workforce and astute employers who are looking for skilled, experienced and reliable employees. Membership is free for job seekers who can access the jobs database and apply for jobs. There are also employment resources and career management tools that are tailored to mature and experienced workers.

Jobs For Seniors ( Canada)

Job4seniors.ca will help seniors meet the challenges of re-entering the workplace and find the right position either in a part-time or full-time environment. In hiring a senior, an employer can look forward to the benefit of a productive and reliable person with many years of experience and knowledge.

Seniors Info (Canada)

This website in Ontario is part of a national project, the Collaborative Seniors’ Portal Network, and provides important information. for seniors, their families, and service providers. It has been developed through and by all three orders of government, and numerous seniors groups and service providers. Information about Federal and Provincial services is now readily available and in the future a wealth of local information of particular interest to seniors will be added.

The other factor that influences job choices is that there are many More Active Seniors than in the past.  Many are using time and money to pursue lifelong interests or to take on a second career, quite unlike the stereotype of grandparents sitting on the porch in rocking chairs.  Retirement can be a time of personal growth and activity. 

That is the thinking behind CARP, Canada’s Association for the 50Plus, which brings a New Vision of Aging for Canada.

As the population ages and the “boomer” generation enters the “seniors” category, the more mature portion of our population become ever more important. Moses Znaimer, executive director of CARP, has coined the term ZOOMER to describe the highly motivated, energetic, well trained and non-retiring senior – a “boomer with ZIP”, as Moses puts it.

As part of that, there is a Canadian website, Seniors For Hire.ca, where progressive employers can connect with mature workers of 50 plus years.  The website is also known as ZoomerJobs.com.

A Job-seeker can browse jobs and post resumes for free. An Employer can have immediate access to hundreds of job-seekers and post job vacancies, which will be accessible to almost 100,000 viewers each month for a small fee.

“Mature workers – employees of 50 + years up to “seniors” (wherever that starts) are a tremendous boon to the workplace”, says Darryl Wall, Vice President of SeniorsForHire.ca . “Progressive employers throughout Canada are hiring seniors to supplement their workforce and provide a positive role model for new employees”.

This changed view of the 50+ threshold is also reflected in a similar US website, SeniorJobBank. which is a meeting place for over-50 job seekers and the employers seeking their services. Originally established in 1975, the SeniorJobBank claims to be  the most recognized name on the Internet serving this audience. The average age of visitors to the website is 57.

Such individuals are not ready to be put out to the proverbial pasture. They’re vibrant, dedicated, and knowledgeable. An employer can tap into this valuable and increasing segment of the population and benefit from the talent, experience and work ethic that they bring to any company or organization.

For those who do not think of themselves as seniors at 50, there is a sister website, Workforce50. designed for employers who wish to advertise to more mature job seekers for their job openings.

Many jobs will be better filled by mature workers, with skills, knowledge and experience who are wise in the ways of the world.  A win/win situation is certainly very likely for both employer and employee.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Jobs For Seniors Information Websites

Technorati Tags: Canada, Employment, jobs, Moses Znaimer

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Tax Return time is upon us and reminders on this are coming up almost every day.  Although the specifics depend on which country you live in, there is often merit in looking over lists to see whether it sparks ideas on tax deductions that may be overlooked. 

One US article that offered Tax Tips for Senior Citizens  pointed out that if anyone needs a little extra tax know how, it’s retired senior citizens, more and more of whom are just trying to make ends meet.  You should not forgo completing your tax returns since there may be benefits to which you are entitled.

Another US post today mentions 25 Easily Overlooked Tax Deductions.  As is pointed out, if you are one of the millions of Americans who throws all their receipts, credit card and bank statements into a box, you are likely to overlook hundreds of dollars in tax deductions when preparing your tax filings. Here is their list of deductible expenses:

1. Medical transportation expenses including tolls, parking, and mileage for trips to doctor’s, health facilities, laboratories.
2. Prescribed medical aids such as crutches, canes, and orthopedic shoes
3. Hearing aids, eye glasses, and contact lenses
4. The cost of alcohol and drug abuse programs, and certain smoking-cessation treatments
5. Education expenses you paid to maintain or improve job skills (including professional books)
6. Professional journals, magazines, and newspapers that are job-related
7. Cost of safe deposit box used for to store investments or investment information
8. Required uniforms and work clothes not suitable for street wear
9. Union dues.
10. Job-seeking expenses within your present field of employment – from printing resumes to phone charges.
11. Dues to professional organizations and business gifts up to $25 per customer or client
12. Cellular phones required for business
13. If you are self-employed, half of the self-employment tax paid
14. Self-employed health insurance premiums and long-term care insurance premiums up to the annual limits.
15. Fees for tax preparation or advice, including software like TurboTax if you meet limits
16. Services of a housekeeper, maid, or cook needed to run your home for the benefit of a qualifying dependent while you work
17. Penalties paid on early withdrawal of savings
18. State income taxes owed from a prior year and paid in the tax year-with your last return
19. Mileage incurred in performing charitable activities
20. Gambling losses to the extent of your gambling winnings – but be prepared to document this
21. The cost of employment agency fees or commissions in certain cases
22. Home office expenses, if your home is your primary place of business
23. Cash and non-cash contributions to qualified charities
24. Reservist and National Guard overnight travel expenses
25. Worthless stock or securities – but you must follow the prescribed rules.

The Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury has a useful tutorial giving Tips for Seniors in Preparing their Taxes.  As it explains:

Current research indicates that individuals are likely to make errors when preparing their tax returns. The tax tips included were developed to help you avoid some of the common errors dealing with the standard deduction for seniors, the taxable amount of Social Security benefits, and the Credit for the Elderly and Disabled. In addition, you’ll find links to helpful publications as well as information on how to obtain free tax assistance.

One Canadian website, TaxTips.ca, provides Canadian Tax and Financial Information with links to a large number of resources on Income tax information items such as:

• Pension splitting
• Attendant care expenses
• Attendant care expenses paid to a retirement home
• Disability supports deduction
• Amount for an eligible dependent – A single person can claim a tax credit for a dependent child, grandchild, sibling, parent or grandparent.
• Caregiver amount tax credit may be available if (dependent or non-dependent) parent or grandparent (over 65) lives with you, or if a dependent relative lives with you.
• See non-refundable tax credits on the Filing Your Return page for tax credits available for seniors.
• Do you qualify for the Service for Seniors Telefile to file your tax return?
• Access your Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) tax slips online.
• You might save tax by sharing your CPP retirement pension with your spouse.

The Canada Revenue Agency of the Canadian Government also has a website offering Tax and benefit information for seniors:

As a senior, you may be entitled to claim numerous credits and benefits on your income tax and benefit return. You have specific information needs when it comes to completing your return, and various resources are available to help you file your return accurately and on time. Here you will find much of the information you need to make filing easy, and to get all the tax savings and benefits to which you are entitled.

If you wish to complete your tax returns yourself or are looking for assistance in getting someone else to assist you, then the above links will give you the necessary information. Remember too that the government offers a free IRS efile service that will save you a few more dollars in addition to the deductions listed above. Since you may possibly be receiving a check for tax credits owed to you, it is better to complete your tax return earlier rather than later. We hope you appreciate this additional reminder.

If there are other sources of assistance for seniors on their tax returns that you have found useful, then why not add these in the comments.  You may make someone extremely grateful.

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Post from: Senior Money Memos

Tax Tips And Tax Deductions for Seniors

Technorati Tags: Canada, Tax credit, Tax deduction, tax return, TaxTips, United States

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