When Mark started gambling at age 11, it was a clandestine pursuit. He and other boys from their Brooklyn neighborhood huddled together for games of poker when their parents weren’t around. Later, he’d steal money from his sister’s piggybank and skip school to go to the racetrack. (He asked that his last name not be used for this story.)
Now 62, the Prescott, Ariz., resident says he’s in recovery from an addiction that stole his college plans, numerous jobs, apartments and relationships. It drove him to the brink of suicide. And though he hasn’t gambled since his 20s, “I can still feel what it would be like to have chips in my hand,” he said.
A Significant Increase in Gambling
Legalized gambling has spread broadly across the United States since the 1990s and older adults have increasingly joined the gaming ranks — even if they didn’t place bets in their younger years. One study showed 69 percent of adults 61 and older reported gambling in the past year.
The vast majority of older adults who gamble do so with no negative consequences, said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
But gambling addiction presents particular risks to this age group, and it can be difficult for older adults to view the problem for what it is, he said. “They have the lowest rates of seeing gambling as a treatable disorder and the highest rates of viewing it as immoral or bad behavior,” noted Whyte.
In rare cases, some individuals with Parkinson’s disease have developed a gambling problem as a side effect of the drug Mirapex (pramipexole).
A Casino in Every Smartphone and Computer
But a much bigger reason for the increase in problem gambling among older Americans is that nearly any adult can gamble now, Whyte said.
“There’s been a fundamental, massive shift in the availability and accessibility of legalized gambling, right when [older adults] are entering the prime of their life, where they've got the money and time to be able to spend on leisure pursuits,” he said. But, Whyte added, “They can blow their nest egg in a matter of months.”
The common perception is that the people gambling online with their laptops or smartphones are 18- to 24-year-olds. The online gaming industry favors this youthful image, Whyte said. In reality, “the industry is really bemoaning the fact that their players are the 50-plus — it’s slightly more likely to be senior women,” Whyte said.
Making Sure ‘the Bathrooms Are Clean’
Brick-and-mortar casinos, on the other hand, often cater to older adults, offering transportation and discounts on lodging, food and drink. They see 50+ women, in particular, as great customers, Whyte said.
“[The casinos] make sure the bathrooms are clean,” he said. “Often they prohibit smoking if they’re allowed. They want it to be a place that's very comfortable for women to come in and spend a few hours.”
Customers have responded; trips to casinos are popular outings at many assisted living centers and retirement communities.
When Is Gambling a Problem?
Gambling becomes a problem when you are unable to set a limit of money and time spent.
Other signs of compulsive gambling, according to the Mayo Clinic, include: a preoccupation with gambling, lying to others to hide your gambling, trying to recoup losses by continuing to gamble, jeopardizing relationships because of gambling, gambling to avoid negative feelings like depression or anxiety and stealing to get gambling money.
Even if you are in your 50s, 60s or older, it’s not too late to seek treatment, Mark said.
“Get help,” he advised. “There’s plenty of time left for recovery and quality of life.”
Compulsive gamblers can call or text the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 24-hour helpline at 800-522-4700 or visit its website.


Problem Gambling Among Older Adults

Emily Gurnon

You've undoubtedly heard about the recent stock market frenzy over Gamestop and other so-called "meme stocks" that skyrocketed and then plummeted. That's all interesting for CNBC viewers, but what does it mean for you and your retirement funds?
My "Friends Talk Money" podcast co-hosts and I just explored that question in our recent episode (which you can hear wherever you get podcasts or at the end of this article). For help, we turned to Edward Gottfried, director of product management at Betterment for Business, the 401(k) advisory firm from the Betterment robo-adviser.
"It's important to remember," Gottfried said, "that the vast majority of 401(k)s don't even allow individual stocks to be held as part of them." As a result, he added, "you are insulated generally by nature of that account type from some of these wild swings that you can see in securities that have a smaller presence in the market."
"The name of the chatroom tells it all. Notice it wasn't called Wall Street Invests."
A Brief History of the Gamestop Stock Frenzy
Like Gamestop — the financially wobbly video game and consumer electronics retailer with stores across America. Its sales have dropped during 10 of the last 11 quarters. The company hasn't shown a profit since 2017 and has had five chief executives since then.
But that didn't keep its shares from soaring from about $20 a share on January 11 to nearly $500. In late February, Gamestop stock — or as billionaire CEO Elon Musk tweeted it, Gamestonk! — has been selling for roughly $50.
It's called a meme stock (along with shares of companies like the AMC movie theater chain and the mobile phone makers Blackberry and Nokia) because it's lightly traded and begins with a low price — typically under $25 — and then Wall Street hedge funds short it. And that means those professional investors are making big bets that the stock will fall precipitously in value.
If the short sellers are right, they then make money by betting against the stock. If they're wrong, as happened with Gamestop, when amateur investors who were members of social media platform Reddit's "Wallstreetbets" chat group furiously purchased the company's shares and drove them higher, the short sellers lose big in what's known as a "short squeeze." Call it Revenge of the Nerds 2021.
"The name of the chatroom tells it all. Notice it wasn't called Wall Street Invests," said my "Friends Talk Money" co-host Pam Krueger, who's also co-host of MoneyTrack on public television and the founder of Wealthramp.com. 
Investing Versus Speculating
"Yeah, they succeeded a little," Krueger said, of the Wallstreetbets Gamestop investors. "Those are the gamblers. And I promise there are a lot of losers, just like with all gambling." The Gamestop incident, Krueger said, showed us the difference between speculation and investing.
As my other "Friends Talk Money" podcast co-host Terry Savage, the nationally syndicated personal finance columnist and author of "The Savage Truth on Money," said: "There's never been a twenty-year period where you lost money in a diversified portfolio of large-company, American stocks with dividends reinvested. Bubbles come and bubbles go, but if you hang in there, you ought to come out ahead in the long run."
Certainly, though, people who jumped in to buy Gamestop shares once the stock topped $300 and held on as the price nosedived have been losers — at least for now. Said Savage: "Every bubble bursts eventually." And, she added, "I think a lot of people learned a lot of lessons about speculation," due to the Gamestop events.
Maybe you needn't worry that your 401(k) manager bought Gamestop or other meme stocks, endangering your retirement funds. But what if some of your 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account money is in an index fund that buys a diversified basket of many different stocks? Or in a target-date fund that holds many stocks and bonds? Couldn't Gamestop and its ilk be in those?
It's possible, but Gottfried said not to sweat that.
Gamestop Stock and Retirement Investments
"If you are an investor with broad market exposure through things like index funds or target-date mutual funds that have broad asset-class exposure and broad exposure to different industries, I think that it's not something that you need to be particularly worried about," Gottfried said. "It would take a whole lot of different events happening in quick succession for these isolated fluctuations to reflect on the broad market."
That's comforting. But regulators and policymakers in Washington, D.C., aren't so sanguine about what happened with Gamestock and other meme stocks.
"The stock market — if you want it to be a giant gambling casino, it can be."
The Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Congress and others are looking into whether laws were broken or investing rules need to be revised. Their decision might impact how you and professional money managers can — and can't — invest in the future.
A Word of Caution
One final thought on all this: Some people, especially some millennials, are hopping on the trend to buy and quickly sell shares of individual stocks as though it's a game. Often, they're using smartphone brokerage apps with zero trading commissions, like Robinhood, to do it. The view of my "Friends Talk Money" co-hosts and I: be careful.
As Krueger said: "The stock market — if you want it to be a giant gambling casino, it can be. I always joke and say, the name of Jim Cramer's show on CNBC [where he offers stock picks] is called "Mad Money."
So, if you or your adult child or another loved one wants to buy and sell stocks this way, be sure to keep that amount of money small as a percentage of an investment portfolio. And don't get greedy: Set a target price for how much gain would be satisfying and sell at that point.
Bulls and bears on Wall Street are fine. Pigs aren't.


What Does the Gamestop Madness Mean for Your Retirement Funds?

Richard Eisenberg

Between our aging population and the many hours that we spend daily staring at electronic screens, there's little wonder why more and more Americans — 165.5 million adults, according to the Vision Council, an industry group — wear corrective eyewear.
At the same time the market for glasses is growing, technology is disrupting it.Aging matters because it is associated with presbyopia, commonly known as far-sightedness, and usually develops in older adults, of which we have many. Screens matter because prolonged use of them is correlated with computer vision syndrome as well as myopia, or near-sightedness, which has become much more common, research shows.
Consumers today can even get a refraction exam for prescription lenses by using their smartphone or laptop. 
The U.S. market for eyewear was $31.7 billion in 2021, 6% more than 2020. Globally, the market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% from 2023 to 2030.
Tech Disrupts the Market
At the same time the market for glasses is growing, technology is disrupting it. The industry is evolving as more consumer choices, online competition and regulatory updates pull the rug out from under its old model of one-stop exam and glasses purchase.
Advancements in eyewear technology and telehealth also are driving changes in the industry. For example, consumers today can even get a refraction exam for prescription lenses by using their smartphone or laptop. Why step into a doctor's office?
Result? There are myriad ways to save money on eye care, including shopping online.
Even the three largest eyewear retailers the U.S. — EssilorLuxottica, Walmart and National Vision Holdings — have felt the effect of changes to the industry and responded: EssilorLuxottica has added big box stores and online retailers. National Vision Holdings, which owns five retail chains, is opening new stores across the country. Walmart has extended from in-store to online shopping.
The Eyeglass Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) promotes fair competition in the marketplace, including eyeglasses. Since 1978, the "Eyeglass Rule" has given you the right to get a written copy of your eyeglass prescription at no extra charge after an eye exam. Having a copy lets you comparison shop for frames and lenses. Many consumers ask for a hard copy and a digital version to have on hand wherever they are.
Be sure to ask for your pupillary distance (PD), which is the distance in millimeters between your pupils or from your pupils to the center of your nose bridge. It's necessary to properly fit new glasses, but not always part of your prescription.
Choosing to Save Money
Whichever way you choose to shop, before you start looking for eyeglasses, check with your health insurance to understand if any part of the eyeglasses are covered. For veterans, seek your eye care through the benefits you are entitled to.
Another way to save on eyeglasses is rather than get new frames, ask for the lenses to be replaced with your new prescription.
Another way to save on eyeglasses is rather than get new frames, ask for the lenses to be replaced with your new prescription.
For locations with on-site optometrists, Walmart Vision Center and Costco Optical cannot be beat on prices. They typically offer frames and lenses at much lower prices than a local store. The only downside, their optometrists may not always be available for after-hours emergencies.
Check Your Vision Insurance
LensCrafters and Pearle Vision have a wide range of frames and services and can be great places to save on spectacles if you watch for sales and coupons. Some places have same-day service.
Online buying may be cheaper, faster and easier than traditional retailers, but understand that spectacles with a low price may be of low quality and may not come with a warranty.
Another caveat: Many online retailers do not accept your medical insurance.
When Not to Go Online
Going online makes sense if you wear a single lens prescription or need a second pair of glasses; however, if your prescription is complicated, you may be making a mistake that degrades your vision. Contact lenses are harder to fit and could damage your eye without an initial fitting by a professional.
Your provider may understand if high-index lens materials, which yield thinner, lighter lenses, are right for you, and may be trained in using digital lenses that use a laser to precisely measure eyes to make lenses that are more customized to each individual.
Going online makes sense if you wear a single lens prescription or need a second pair of glasses; however, if your prescription is complicated, you may be making a mistake that degrades your vision.
Before you shop only for price, consider what your provider offers. Warranties and free adjustments are usually available so you can see clearly during the life of your glasses.
Beyond the Bottom Line
On the medical side, ask if your eye doctor regularly monitors various health conditions and is available for medical emergencies. Consider their overall benefits beyond the cost for an exam or eyeglasses alone. Price matters but so does eye health.
And keep in mind that despite the growth of online services, there are reasons why there are still 43,000 brick and mortar optical stores, the same number as in 2018. Some consumers are willing to pay to shop at luxury, high-end eyewear stores that focus on service, prestige and convenience, not to mention frames that flatter your face shape and match your prescription.
Medical expenses are one of the biggest costs for retirees. For those of us who wear glasses or need other devices, the cost can take a significant slice of our income. The options discussed here do not just apply to glasses; you can price shop many other medical services, from hearing aids to dental treatment.
We have come a long way since John McAllister opened America's first optical shop, in Philadelphia in 1796. That was a time of ready-made frames and lenses. With the centuries has come innovation and personalization. Being open and exploring options makes medical and financial sense.


Is Now a Good Time to Buy Glasses Online?

Christine D. Moriarty

Lax regulation on Capitol Hill. Risky behavior by Wall Street. Everyday Americans going about their business, trusting their money will be just fine.
Sound familiar?
"In the decade since our pension assets were stripped away, millions of retirees have been similarly cast off without our consent or advance knowledge."Americans have long had an unfortunate habit of reacting to crises instead of anticipating them. When it comes to corporate malfeasance, that tendency cost the country dearly in the Great Recession of 2008 — and unless we take a stand now, it could soon strike a cruel blow to the swelling ranks of American retirees.
But pension de-risking, also known as pension stripping, is not simply an administrative exercise that changes where a retiree's earned pension payments come from.
The creeping threat at hand is called pension de-risking. It occurs when corporations decide to absolve themselves of the fiduciary responsibility to deliver the retirement income promised by the defined benefit pension plans they created years ago. They do so by transferring the obligations to insurance providers, private equity funds or other financial investors.
Pension Guarantees Go Out the Window
At first, the de-risking trend was framed by corporations as a reasonable way to guard against fluctuating interest rates and market volatility that could potentially alter their balance sheet obligations. They would simply transfer their pension obligations to entities that would continue paying them out to retirees.
But pension de-risking, also known as pension stripping, is not simply an administrative exercise that changes where a retiree's earned pension payments come from. It permits retirement assets to be transferred across industries, like poker chips at a casino.
General Motors and Verizon started the de-risking trend in 2012 when they replaced all or part of their pension obligations with annuities issued under group annuity contracts. The deal was the largest to date, with the automaker paying Prudential Insurance Co. of America $29 billion to take those pensions off its balance sheet.
A List of Corporate De-Riskers
Meanwhile, I was one of the 41,000 Verizon managers whose pensions were transferred to Prudential in a $7.5 billion deal that same year. Fortunately, Prudential has maintained promised payments and followed through on its responsibilities to retirees.
In the decade since our pension assets were stripped away, millions of retirees have been similarly cast off without our consent or advance knowledge. Ford, Dow Dupont, Federal Express, JC Penney, Lockheed Martin and the New York Times Co. are some of the hundreds of companies that have transferred their pension obligations to insurance companies. Pension de-risking transfers in 2019 and 2020 each exceeded $25 billion.
Here's the big problem not being confronted: Insurance contracts are self-regulated by 50 different state jurisdictions, leaving them relatively free from any regulatory reign at all.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), a safety net intended by Congress to spare older Americans from corporate and financial predators' malfeasance with our precious retirement assets, no longer applies once a pension is de-risked.
Even worse, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), established by ERISA as a backstop to protect older Americans, is out the window as well.
Until 1974, there were few protections for retiree pensions. When the Studebaker company of South Bend, Indiana, terminated its employee pension plan in 1963, more than 4,000 auto workers lost nearly all of their promised pension plan benefits with no recourse. It was a narrative that happened again and again, so Congress and the White House acted.
Stripping the Safety Net, Too
According to the PBGC, some 920,000 retirees in more than 5,000 failed plans currently receive pension benefits from the PBGC, with an additional 473,000 workers from failed plans to receive their benefits when they retire.
Among the companies terminating pension plans and turning them over to the PBGC are Sears, with 90,000 beneficiaries; United Airlines, which in 2005 had a $7 billion pension obligation; and Bethlehem Steel, which had a $3.7 billion retiree pension plan.
Yet, somehow, along the way corporate and insurance industry leaders found a new loophole to strip away those retirees' ERISA and PBGC protections. It leaves tens of millions of older Americans exposed to destitution if a financial calamity were to befall one of the massive pension annuity issuers.
Financial Failures to Keep in Mind
Let us not forget the 2023 collapse of supposedly rock-solid banks: Silicon Valley, Signature and First Republic. Before they crumbled, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and AIG turned to dust. When institutions like these topple, it's often due to celebrated greed or unrecognized fraud coupled with a lack of transparency, as occurred in the collapse of Enron or Madoff Securities.
If the insurers now holding retirees' pension assets go insolvent, their limit on lifetime replacement payments in most states tops out at $300,000. If you are 72 years old and your annual pension is $30,000, after 10 years you and your spouse are out of luck! If you have a $50,000 annual pension, you have only six years before needing to find work at the local fast-food chain.
More concerning is that insurance companies can, and often do, subsequently transfer both assets and liabilities to affiliated offshore entities and private equity partners. That can result in a retiree's pension assets being controlled by firms and managers they do not know, and who are typically compensated to look after their own short-term profit.
Losing Track of My Pension
These companies' clout and control over a quarter-trillion of retirees' pension assets is exploding. Do they have the financial capability and fiduciary duty to continue making payments for the coming 20 to 30 years of our lives?
It's why a bipartisan federal law, the 2022 Secure Act 2.0, is so critical for all retirees today. It requires the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to seriously evaluate the negative impacts of pension stripping.
It's also why last summer, I testified to the DOL's ERISA Advisory Council. Others should do so too.
I worked for 30 years to earn my pension and my interests are simple: I and millions of other retirees whose pension assets have already been de-risked need ERISA and PBCG protections or something comparable. Secure 2.0 was passed to protect older Americans who need this protection.
Older Americans have witnessed carelessness on Wall Street before, and we saw that passive compliance led us down a bad road. It's time to ward off the next crisis before it develops. It's time to end corporate circumvention of laws intended to shield retirees from financial distress.


Pension Stripping Threatens America’s Retirees

Donald R. Kaufmann

Like bungee jumping, leaping out of a plane and riding on a mechanical bull, looking for love on dating apps is not for the faint of heart.
You may be thinking, at least when you throw yourself out of a plane, you get a parachute to ease your fall, right?
"With an online-dating app, you can gaze happily at a recent snapshot of your upcoming date and read the person's profile. You possibly won't be unpleasantly surprised. You have no obligations to meet the person in the photo."You may fret: But I'm too old to use a dating app! I don't know whether to swipe right or left! An "LTR" — say WHAT? I don't even recognize the difference between Match and Hinge — or un-Hinged, for that matter. I mean, I don't understand how much of a lie to write down to impress a stranger. And I went to Harvard — and Stanford!
Let me put your mind at ease. NOBODY is too old to use a dating app — or to master one, for that matter. Keep it simple, stupid: Just think of a dating app as a glorified blind date — only better.
Let me put your mind at ease. NOBODY is too old to use a dating app — or to master one, for that matter.
When you agree to go on a blind date, you have put yourself at the mercy of a well-meaning friend or a loved one who is so anxious for you to settle down that they would celebrate your attraction to a doorknob.
This do-gooder has ASSURED you that your future companion is great looking, charming, tall enough, cultured, financially secure, culturally and politically simpatico with you, refined, well-educated and a witty conversationalist. You imagine having either a latte or a martini or a meal with someone glib, funny, quick-witted — and did I mention great looking?
Then, within five seconds of ringing the doorbell and saying hello, you wish you were back home, in front of the TV set, checking out Netflix or Amazon Prime or the ballgame or Anderson Cooper or even the Weather Channel. Anything else!
On the other hand, online dating gives you a built-in home court advantage. With an online-dating app, you can gaze happily at a recent snapshot of your upcoming date and read the person's profile. You possibly won't be unpleasantly surprised. You have no obligations to meet the person in the photo. (Of course, if the person is a serial liar, all bets are off.)
Creating a Successful Dating Profile 
Here, then, are 9 easy tips for thriving in the wild, wild world of online dating:
Do NOT tell a lie. Why lie at all? Are you already ashamed of how you look? Or where you went to school? Or how many university degrees you possess? Or that, once upon a time, you actually majored in anthropology? Or that you have seen 124 Bruce Springsteen concerts? Or that Barry Manilow is a staple on your iPhone playlists? So what, if any, or all, of these factoids is true? And if they are true, well, own up to it. Don't merely admit it. Brag about it. Because this is you, after all. And the person fidgeting across the table from you on your first date may just find these details to be endearing. Present an accurate photo of yourself. Hey, the other person is going to find out sooner or later, anyway, that you have a bit of a gut. Or that you're five inches shorter than you said. Or that you may be prematurely gray or follicly challenged. So what!Don’t wear sunglasses in your profile photo. You will look less attractive and besides, that person wants to see your eyes.Don’t be photographed while you’re chowing down some food. Terrible optics, and it detracts from your essential smile, too.Be witty! Try not to be too eccentric and iconoclastic.
Make it clear what you want. Do you desire a quick fling? Or are you hoping for that "LTR" — long-term relationship? Oh yes, there are blessed dating apps for both and everything in between.    Don’t express bitterness or hostility in your profile. Nobody wants to be around a Debbie Downer. Instead, radiate hope and optimism. Remember, you are not so unique. Everybody who uses a dating app is in the same leaky boat.Watch out for un-funny humor. If you attempt to kid around, keep your quips at a minimum and don’t write something that can be misinterpreted for antisocial behavior. Be witty! Try not to be too eccentric and iconoclastic. And pssst, maybe you shouldn’t brag that you have all of the charm of Hannibal Lecter or joke that your favorite scene in “The Godfather” involved the horse’s head in the bed. Save those bon mots for your weekend together in the country.Now, go for it! Have an upbeat attitude, swipe away and let us know when you're toasting your first wedding anniversary!


How to Flourish on Online Dating Sites

Jon Friedman

Americans shop online for everything these days — food, beds, cars, even dates. So why does an overwhelming majority of families still go to funeral homes to buy final resting products for their loved ones?
"Families walk into a funeral home and think [what they're offered] is the going rate. They don't know what's possible."Because we don't realize there's an alternative, entrepreneurs say. And funeral homes, though ordered to be open about prices and options, often are not, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which regulates these matters under its little-known "Funeral Rule."
"Families walk into a funeral home and think [what they're offered] is the going rate," says Jeffrey Vaynberg, president of Prime Casket Company, which works exclusively with Costco. "They don't know what's possible."
The Benefits of Competition
What's possible is lower cost, more solicitous service and quicker response. If you would rather have your estate go to your heirs rather than those of a funeral director, consider talking with relatives this holiday season about modern options for buying a casket or urn — with quality just as high as you can get across town.
"Industry studies show that the average casket shopper buys one of the first three models shown, generally the middle-priced of the three. So it's in the seller's best interest to start out by showing you higher-end models."
If you are planning a traditional full-service funeral, the coffin is often its most expensive item, the FTC says. "Caskets vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their visual appeal. . . . Although an average casket costs slightly more than $2,000, some mahogany, bronze or copper caskets sell for as much as $10,000."
Here's what can happen to an unsuspecting consumer, according to the FTC's Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist: "When you visit a funeral home or showroom to shop for a casket, the Funeral Rule requires the funeral director to show you a list of caskets the company sells, with descriptions and prices, before showing you the caskets.
"Industry studies show that the average casket shopper buys one of the first three models shown, generally the middle-priced of the three. So it's in the seller's best interest to start out by showing you higher-end models."
Even if you want to see an unfinished wooden casket — the "pine box" of old — a salesperson will rarely show one, and especially not an economical, eco-friendly canvas or cardboard model. True, these won't preserve the deceased. But then, neither will the most "gasketed" or "sealed" metal casket, no matter what a funeral director suggests.
Don't Expect Miracles
"The Funeral Rule forbids claims that these features help preserve the remains indefinitely because they don't," the FTC states. "They just add to the cost of the casket."
Nontraditional vendors, though, offer caskets of all materials at a wide range of prices. Shop around for what you want. Staff at reputable vendors are happy to answer questions by phone.
Rebecca Plett, a lawyer with the FTC Division of Marketing Practices says the commission is considering revising its Funeral Rule, which took effect in 1984 and hasn't been updated since 1994.
One possible change would require online price disclosures, says Plett, who is also one of the FTC's Funeral Rule coordinators. Many funeral directors have a poor record of telling consumers their prices in person and by phone.
The Prime Rose is the most popular offering from Prime Casket. Members will find this 18-gauge-steel, pink-velvet-lined item on the website for a pretax price of $1,149.99. Members of Sam's Club might choose a Titan casket; Costco Next and Amazon offer these as well.
Savings, Selection and Service
"By cutting the middle man, we can save you thousands of dollars on funeral costs," Trusted Caskets promises. The company's "Father" metal casket in monarch blue and silver is priced at $1,249. Titan sells a cloth model for $799; in a TikTok video, company co-founder Scott Ginsburg lifts one over his head.
As with most consumer goods, cost is not the only comparison point, though.
"We provide way more selection than [customers] can expect to find at their local funeral home — there just isn't the space there."
"We provide way more selection than [customers] can expect to find at their local funeral home — there just isn't the space there," says John Haake, head of growth for Overnight Caskets, which sells through Amazon and Walmart and direct to consumers online. "They are so knocked out by the selection that we get photos all the time from customers pleased at the product and service we provided."
Consider the choices at Trusted Caskets: Materials include stainless steel, standard steel, bronze, copper, and wood (mahogany, walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pine, poplar and cedar, solid and veneer). There are oversize caskets, men's and women's designs and religious themes. Titan, for one, adds military themes, bright colors and child and youth sizes.
Shipping — Where and How
The FTC says its Funeral Rule gives consumers the right to buy a casket from a third-party dealer "and have it shipped directly to the funeral home."
If you do this, Plett says, "generally it would be helpful to let the funeral home know that you've placed an order so that they know to expect it."
A word of warning about the Funeral Rule: This federal regulation applies to all "funeral service providers," which are defined as offering both goods and services. Companies that sell only caskets or urns, for example, are not offering services (such as burial or cremation services), so they are not covered by the rule.
Some casket companies will not deal with the delays and complexities of shipping to Alaska and Hawaii. If you are arranging a funeral in either of these states, check your options carefully. In Hawaii, for example, Overnight Caskets ships only to Honolulu. When an online shopper entered a ZIP code in Alaska, all Walmart caskets suddenly became out of stock.
"This is a new way for Americans to shop for funeral products." 
Laura Mack of Bemidji, Minnesota, has ordered from Overnight twice — in 2016 and this spring. The first time, she contacted customer support to be sure the product would arrive by the desired day if the family ordered by a certain cutoff time. "They promised, and it came the next morning," she says.
In both cases, she says, the funeral home was impressed at the product's "perfect" condition; the second time, officials requested that family be there when it arrived in case of damage, but "it was so well packed and so well shipped" that there was none.
The National Funeral Directors Association recently estimated that a majority — 60.5% — of Americans will choose cremation for themselves or a loved one this year. This statistic has risen every year for decades.
Cremation Urns and Details
Families who opt for cremation often will rent a casket for the visitation and funeral. In such cases, the funeral director is required to offer a plain wooden, canvas or sturdy cardboard container that is then cremated with the remains. The FTC tells consumers that funeral homes must disclose in writing your right to buy such a container for direct cremation and make it available.
Of course, these too are available online from the same outlets that sell fancier caskets.
The same principles apply for cremation urns: They cost more when bought at funeral homes, which have traditionally had a near-monopoly. Funeral homes cannot refuse to use an urn you provide or have delivered to them, nor can they charge extra to do so. And more vendors are offering a greater variety online for less.
Decorators Enter the Market
Urns, being small, are available from a larger variety of vendors; even Wayfair, the online home decorating retailer, is in on the action. Every color and style seems to be available, and some are true works of art not easily recognizable for what they are. There are plenty of choices for your pet's remains, too.
The biggest change of all: you can choose at home, in private.
"This is a new way for Americans to shop for funeral products," says Haake of Overnight Caskets. "Not so long ago we bought books and CDs online but couldn't imagine buying cars and homes this way. It's the same kind of evolution for funeral products."


Frugal to the Very End

Ellen Ryan

I've never much enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. But this past summer, I got hooked on Wordle.
For those who are unfamiliar, Wordle is a free web-based word game that became wildly popular during the pandemic. Each day, you're given six attempts to guess one five-letter word. The goal is to solve the puzzle in as few turns as possible. It's a fun, challenging and delightfully compelling game.
Breakthrough moments in a job search can happen when you least expect them — so schedule time to periodically relax, refresh and clear your mind.Recently, it occurred to me that Wordle holds some interesting life lessons. As a career coach, I couldn't help but notice how those lessons relate to a job search. Here are six to consider:
1. Every "no" brings you closer to a "yes." Play on Wordle begins with a blank grid, so your first guess is essentially a shot in the dark. Most days, you'll guess at least a few letters that are not in the winning word, and they will appear in gray; letters that are in the word but not in the correct order are in yellow; letters in the right place appear in green. On each turn, you eliminate more letters and learn which are in the correct spot. The process of elimination makes it more likely you'll solve the puzzle with each turn.
"Rejection is never fun, but it can be instructive."
Job Search Lesson: Rejection is never fun, but it can be instructive. So, pay attention to what isn't working in your search. Do you get more rejections from certain industries or roles than others? Perhaps it's time to pivot to a different but related industry. Is your lack of technical skills an issue? Maybe it's time to invest in skills training. Often, just a few small but strategic tweaks will lead to better results down the road.
2. There can be several equally viable solutions to a problem. When playing Wordle, you'll sometimes guess four out of five letters correctly, and then have to select the fifth letter from several equally plausible choices. For example, a word that ends with ODGE could start with "D" or "L" or "M." When this situation occurs, it's impossible to know which letter is correct and so you need to venture a guess.
Job Search Lesson: In real life, there is rarely one "perfect" job or career. Rather, there are a variety of situations that could be equally satisfying. So think through what you want, and then cast your net wide to generate several "good enough" opportunities. If you find an opportunity that meets 80% of what you're looking for, odds are good that you've got a winning match.
3. Success comes from small steps. Unlike other popular word games, Wordle involves guessing just one word each day. It typically takes less than ten minutes to solve and is easy to fit into your morning routine. It's a fun way to jump-start your day with a quick hit of accomplishment before moving on to more consequential tasks.
"Winning habits evolve from small steps."
Job Search Lesson: Finding time to search for a job can be challenging, especially if you're already working full-time. But there are several things you can do to advance your job search in less than 10 minutes a day: Post an interesting article on LinkedIn, read an industry newsletter, send a note to a friend who was recently promoted or set up a lunch date with an old colleague. Winning habits evolve from small steps.
4. Taking a break can speed your success. Some days you stare and stare at a Wordle board but can't make progress. Yet if you take a break, it often is easier to solve the puzzle when you return. Walking away from it gives you a fresh perspective that allows you to see possibilities that were previously blocked from view.
Job Search Lesson: Breakthrough moments in a job search can happen when you least expect them — while on a walk with a friend, watching an inspirational movie or hiking in nature. So schedule time to periodically relax, refresh and clear your mind.
5. Simple sells. Wordle is remarkably easy to access, learn and play. You don't have to download an app; it has few rules, and you're only allowed to guess one word each day. Thanks to its simplicity and ease of use, millions of players are devoted fans.
Job Search Lesson: When it comes to your resume and LinkedIn profile, practice the old business adage KISS: Keep it simple, stupid. You only have a few seconds to grab a recruiter's attention, so make sure every word counts: Limit the use of jargon and acronyms; eliminate dated skills; avoid fancy graphics that confuse computerized tracking systems and explain relevant accomplishments in as few words as possible.
Pay Attention to What Employers Like
6. Track what works — and what doesn't. One of the most useful features on Wordle is the color-coded display beneath the playing grid that tracks which letters you've tried and which are still available. The visual makes it simpler to decide on next steps than if you had to rely on memory alone.
Job Search Lesson: A job search involves multiple decisions and action steps, some of which are more effective than others. So keep notes on what you have done and what's working best. It's much easier to see patterns and track results when you write them down instead of trying to just think them through.
Most importantly, Wordle reminds us that no matter how difficult life is today, there is always hope for tomorrow. So even if the job search has you really down, keep at it. As the old lottery ad proclaimed, "You gotta be in it, to win it!"


6 Lessons Job Seekers Can Learn from Wordle

Nancy Collamer

Named for its naturally flowing thermal spring waters, Hot Springs, Arkansas, a town that celebrates its storied past and keeps its eye on the future, is a worthy trip no matter the generation. 
Located about an hour from Little Rock, Arkansas, and nestled in the Ouachita Mountains at the center of Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs has all the appeal of a worthy natural destination blended with one-of-a-kind experiences, like thermal bath soaks, historic museums, botanical gardens, hiking trails, fine dining and more.
Hot Springs, Ark.Stylish Digs  
Staying in Hot Springs can take many forms, from historic bed and breakfasts to contemporary lakeside digs.
For a fun intergenerational trip, book a stay at the Best Court Cottages, a drive-up style motel with roots in the 1930s. If the accommodations conjure a bygone era, the menu at Best Cafe and Bar, the on-site restaurant, is quite the counter. Run by Arkansas native and executive chef Joshua Garland, who boomeranged back to Hot Springs following a decade of far-flung national and global travels, the cafe is celebrated for its decadent breakfasts, including crème brûlée French toast and savory confit duck hash topped with poached egg.
Hot Springs may be known for its thermal mineral waters and national park, but rich and varied history, contemporary art, outdoor activities and more are worthy draws.
For a luxurious bed-and-breakfast experience, The Reserve at Hot Springs sits atop several acres, just minutes from the popular Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Built in 1890, the stately former private residence of W.C. Brown, now a national heritage landmark, was remodeled in 1919 to its current Neoclassical style. Stroll around the well-landscaped grounds or reconnect with family and friends around the fire pit.
Book a contemporary room at Lookout Point Lakeside Inn for a secluded, waterfront experience. Birds flock to the lush, manicured backyard, where complimentary kayaks or canoes are available at the private pier.
What to Do 
Hot Springs may be known for its thermal mineral waters and national park, but rich and varied history, contemporary art, outdoor activities, craft beer and more are worthy draws, too. The main attractions, including the three-story Fordyce Bathhouse and park visitors' center, can be found along Central Avenue downtown, but quick jaunts farther afield reveal serene botanical gardens, top-notch dining, live art presentations and more.
Experience a Traditional Thermal Bath 
Between 1892 and 1923, eight properties along Bathhouse Row drew visitors to the springs for their rejuvenating and healing properties. Today, only one is still in operation and open to the public. Sign up for a soak at Buckstaff Bathhouse, which opened in 1912 and offers a traditional experience, during which bath attendants take you on a station-by-station journey through the process, from whirlpool soak to steam and full-body massage.
The Quapaw Bathhouse located in Hot Springs National ParkThrow Back a Cold One 
While downtown, head over to the Superior Bathhouse Brewery, the only brewery in the country housed inside a national park. Built in 1916, and operating as one of Bath Row's original bathhouses until 1983, the structure sat vacant for over 30 years until beer lover Rose Schweikhart had a big idea. In 2013, the brewer, who cultivated her love of beer while touring as a tuba player in Europe, signed a lease from the Department of the Interior and has been serving up some of Hot Springs favorite brews and bites ever since.
Sample one of the 18 beers on tap, all brewed with the region's celebrated thermal mineral water, or try a flight — your choice of four samples, like Arkansour, Heaven or Helles, or Spicy Ride jalapeño ale. Ciders, wines and a variety of hearty menu items are available for non-beer drinkers.
Hot Springs has played host to the nation's top teams, including Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox.

Sample Impressive Fare
Mealtime in Hot Springs may breed indecision. For an elevated or romantic experience, make the drive from downtown to J&S Italian Villa. While its location may not look like much — it's tucked in a nondescript strip mall — it's what happens inside that matters. Here, the chefs serve up savory Italian fare, like short rib pappardelle and veal osso buco, alongside seafood-heavy, coastal Italian-inspired items. 
For a quicker bite that's no less satisfying, make a stop at Deluca's Pizzeria and share a brick-oven pie. After dinner, head over to The Ohio Club — a buzzy joint that claims to be Arkansas's oldest bar — for a signature cocktail and live blues and jazz.
Dig Into History 
The Hot Springs Creek Greenway TrailAs the birthplace of spring training, Hot Springs has played host to the nation's top teams, including Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Nationals, Chicago White Stockings, and Boston Red Sox. Along the Hot Springs Baseball Trail, learn about the town's important contributions to America's favorite pastime.
At The Gangster Museum of America, walk through several themed rooms displaying video clips and original artifacts from the infamous mobsters affiliated with the town, including Al Capone and Frank Costello. (The museum's director, Robert Raines, wrote a book on the subject.)
Watch Local Art Take Form 
Glass-blowing brothers Charles and Michael Riley fire up beautifully crafted creations from their studio just southwest of downtown. The California-born duo grew up visiting their grandparents in Hot Springs, and in 2006, opened Riley Art Glass Studio. Today, the formally trained artists invite visitors to stop in and watch their well-oiled choreography as they blend an age-old process with modern technique.
Get Outside
For active travelers, walking, hiking, and mountain biking are all draws in Hot Springs. Gain access to several trails from downtown's historic district. The Pullman Trail connects to over 30 miles of cycling trails at Northwoods Trails. And given the area's three lakes, fishing and boating is also worth a look.
Stroll Through Botanical Gardens 
Nearby Garvan Woodland Gardens is definitely worth the short drive. The official botanical gardens of the University of Arkansas, the gardens offer an accessible path that winds through over 200 acres of waterfalls, ponds and lush greenery, snuggled beside the serene waters of Lake Hamilton. Be sure to climb up into the Evans treehouse, an architecturally stunning structure built among the towering pines.


Come for the Thermal Springs, Stay for the Art and Botanical Gardens

Virginia Brown

When I think of Christmas from my childhood, I remember The Book.
I'm sure you know what it is.
In the late 1970s and early '80s, my friends and I couldn't wait to get our grubby little hands on it. Because in those days before the internet, the Sears Wish Book was as close to online shopping as any of us could ever get.
A 1968 Sears Christmas Wish BookWhen it would arrive — seemingly as thick as the telephone book — I couldn't wait to flip those pages and see all those wonderful, amazing toys! Back then, if you wanted it, and parents could buy it, it usually appeared inside. I'd mark up what I wanted, circling items and then dog-earing the pages (I didn't want my mom to miss anything. She was my connection to Santa, after all). 
Now as an adult, I realize what was so much fun about looking through the book was not so much all the toys I would get, but rather, the possibilities.
The Beginnings of the Sears Wish Book 
Sears began printing and distributing their first catalogs back in 1933. That's also the year that the "Sears Christmas Book Catalog," which would eventually be known as the Sears Wish Book, came out.
The book featured toys such as a Mickey Mouse watch, Lionel electric trains, and a Miss Pigtails doll, among others. 
For many decades, the Sears Wish Book became children's go-to for hopes and dreams of the Christmas season.
For many decades, the Sears Wish Book became children's go-to for hopes and dreams of the Christmas season. And although I would bet most of us thought the whole thing was toys, the front of the book actually featured gifts for adults — the nerve!
Much like the Grinch's heart at the end of the story, the Sears Wish Book grew and grew from a few hundred pages to its largest size ever: 834 pages of fabulousness in 1992.
In 1993, Sears discontinued their regular print catalogs. The Wish Book wasn't far behind. It continued to shrink in the number of pages. In 2005, the company put out a tiny book in its place that was given out at Sears Auto Centers. Measuring a measly 2.5 inches square, the "Little Big Wish Book" was a pitiful imposter of its once-grand forebearer.
In 2007, the company put out another Sears Wish Book, but it was only about 100 pages, a mere shell of its former self. Then in 2017, wishbookweb.com reported that it was coming back.
Oh the joy! How great would it be for new generations to flip through those pages. Everything old was new again!
Um, but it was mostly online. And that was the final time it appeared.
Today, there are only a few Sears stores still open. What was once the leader in retail may soon be completely gone.
Reliving the Dream 
When trying to recapture my memories of the Sears Wish Book I went — where else? — online. To my surprise and delight, I was able to page through old catalogs on Christmas.Musetechnical.com. 
Suddenly, I was lying on the red-patterned carpet in my childhood home or sitting in the basement of my friend Sandy's house, as we looked through a book (we each had our own copy) and practically squealed at all it offered. In my mind, I was back there wondering what gifts we'd each get from Santa that year. 
While perusing the catalog as an adult, I recognized the Spyder girl's bike with the white basket with plastic flowers all over it. I had that exact bike and rode it around the neighborhood proudly until I hit my teens, and it wasn't cool anymore.

There were pages and pages of dolls of all kinds — Baby Alive and Crissy, the doll whose hair you could make grow by pushing a button in her tummy (then you had to crank it back into her head with a switch on the back) but we were kids, a time when such a thing was absolutely amazing.
While my other friends wanted baby strollers or infant dolls to feed, I was focused on another kind of doll — Barbie! In a closet in my basement, I still have some of the Barbies that I desired back then—Malibu Barbie with her rocking blond hair, cool shades, and light blue bathing suit. I also have Barbie's Country Living Home and Barbie's Sleep 'n Keep Case, which featured two twin beds (which I'm sure are made of cardboard and covered in plastic) that folded down. 
Unfortunately, Barbie's Country Camper — that bright orange van with a fold-out plastic tent — bit the dust during a flood in the basement of the first home my husband and I owned.
I miss that van. And as Christmas rolls around, I miss the Wish Book too.
Wish Book Fans Share Their Memories 
I asked folks on social media what they remembered about the Sears Wish Book. Here's what some of them had to say:
"We lived in Alaska during the mid-sixties when my dad was stationed there in the Air Force. In those days, retail was very limited up there, and the Sears catalog was how we got Christmas presents. It was also our lifeline to 'The Lower 48.'  It was beyond huge." – Bruce Cunningham
"I loved it. It had clothes and toys. I would dog-ear the pages. I used it to write my letter to Santa, complete with item name and page number." – Lauren Szczepanski Mueller
Upon reading Lauren's post, Lynn Yeager Comegna replied, "Me too. I never understood why Santa needed the page numbers, though."
"It was practically my Christmas prayer book." — Ann Cunningham
"They sold burros and ponies and saddles and tack. I wanted a pony, but that wasn't going to happen." – Carol Ekarius
"As kids and teens, we loved the Sears Wish Book! We would go through it, circling things we each wanted for Christmas. There was a Sears delivery office on Main Street. Months later, after a new Sears catalog had arrived, we would cut out some of the models and some of the clothes to make paper dolls with many changeable outfits," says Joan Giannone. "We even cut tabs on the shoulders and waists to fold over the model so the clothes would stay on. We also were thrilled if there was a picture of a bed — so we could cut a slit in it by the pillow, and insert the paper doll so it looked like he/she was in bed."
"Gosh, I loved that book. Don't know how I managed so much time with it, being one of four kids, but that thing was marked up, dog-eared, and revered like a happiness Bible." – Christine McDonald
"Most of my dolls came from the Christmas Sears Wish Book. It was my Barbie headquarters! I would go to the mailbox every day, starting December 1st, looking for the catalog. After we got one, I would spend days going through it, dog-earring the pages I wanted Santa to see. I was given some pretty cool stuff from Sears: Barbies and accessories, Dawn fashion dolls, Troll dolls, and Kiddle dolls. They had board games too —Twister, Life, and Battleship. Some great Christmas memories!" — Diane Lyn
"There were more dog ears in that book than the city pound! That was like the Holy Grail at Christmas."
"Oh, it was a holiday! It would arrive, and we would sit down and go over every page. I remember the smell — the cheap, shiny pages with 'Technicolor hues.' The girls my age in miniskirts and white boots and lipstick! It was several inches thick and was more of a delivery issue than for a phone book. I bought one for 50 cents about 10 years ago. It was from the '70s — wow, that was an ugly decade — and it provided hours of hilarious reading."— Denisa Protani
"There were more dog ears in that book than the city pound! That was like the Holy Grail at Christmas." – Christopher Erhardt
"My favorite memory was definitely going through it, dog-earring the pages of the things I liked, and writing my list. I remember helping my little brother do the same thing when he was old enough. Our lists were always pretty long, so it was always a magical surprise on Christmas morning." – Katie Elloff
"Sitting with my Mimi (grandma) the evening it came and going page by page with her, circling the things I wanted and the things I thought my cousins/sister would like. Its arrival was a big deal." – Dean Massalsky
"My favorite memories are that 1.) it would come in September, and the countdown to Christmas would start in my head then and 2.) I would immediately turn the book over and go through it backwards because all the toys were in the back." – Wayne Zahner
"Getting it in the mail was a red-letter day. Of course, it was looking at all the toys and entertaining gadgets, dreaming of which one would be best. Sears always made that easy by rating each item 'Good,' 'Better,' or 'Best.' It just seemed like that toy section went on forever, and I always had a rich and full list for my parents to forward to Santa." — Darryl Musick
"My favorite memory was lying on the floor with my sisters, dog-earring the pages of the toys we wanted. My parents always shopped from the catalog because we lived in a small town—Effingham, Illinois. My mom finally got a job in the local shipping storefront when I started first grade, and she got us each our own Wish Book. It was the best memory of my childhood. I remember picking out a pair of blue, slip-on tennis shoes, and my mom took me to the store, opened the package, and I got to try them on and wear them out of the store. It was the best. Mom said they would make me faster since they were from her work. I loved those little shoes." — Valerie Worley
"It occurred to me when the Amazon Toy Book arrived [in the mail] with its toy ads and stickers and word searches that it must be the new 'Wish Book.'" – Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
And just like that, everything old is new once again. 


The Book of Christmas Wishes

Michele Wojciechowski

You may remember when Mick Jagger, then 31, famously told a magazine reporter he'd "rather be dead than sing 'Satisfaction' when I'm 45." Jagger is 80 now, and he sang "Satisfaction" at every stop on the band's "Sixty" concert tour last year, which celebrated six decades playing together.
The Roxy Janes. From left: Mary Hough, Molly Pauken, Linda Dachtyl (partly obscured), Kaye Harris and Gayla Smith What's in it for aging rockers? Why do they keep climbing on stages and performing live even if they don't make as much as the Rolling Stones? Gayla Smith, Jimmy D. Rogers and Stephen Winter say performing provides some income — and plenty of job satisfaction.
"People see us as inspiring, and it's the baby boomers who come out to hear us, to sing along, to party and to live life bigger."
Just ask Smith, who sings lead vocals and plays keyboards, guitar and bass for the Roxy Janes, an all-female rock band working in and around Columbus, Ohio. "We're like a purple cow," says Smith, 67. "At first, people didn't know what to make of the band, but now we play a couple of nights a week and most weekends three seasons out of the year."
Tribute to a Spirited Ancestor
Smith's bandmates are Linda Dachtyl (drums and keyboards), Kay Harris (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin and percussion), Mary Hough (guitar) and Molly Pauken (bass, vocals, guitar, percussion and drums). They range from their late 50s to late 60s.
"We're all veterans with music degrees who have done gigs forever as solos, duos and in bands," Smith says. "We play the vintage rock music we grew up with — Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, the Pretenders, Black Country Communion, the Allman Brothers — but with our own arrangements."
Smith credits Pauken and Harris with the idea for the Roxy Janes, named for Harris' spirited great-grandmother. The band got started on Zoom during the COVID-19 lockdown, when none of them had work — on stage, that is. Each of them hold other jobs, from health care positions to studio artist to fulfillment manager for a restaurant furniture company. Smith also is a visual artist.
Playing for the Love of Music
The band's first gig was on Smith's front porch in Buckeye Lake, Ohio, east of Columbus, in September 2021. As word got around, area clubs booked the band for the following summer, and its success has grown.
Smith acknowledges that many women her age wouldn't join a rock band, for any number of reasons.
"We decided we would do it, and it has turned out to be a blessing for us and for our fans," she says. "People see us as inspiring, and it's the baby boomers who come out to hear us, to sing along, to party and to live life bigger."
'I Came to the Blues Through Country'
Almost every Saturday night — and many a weeknight and Sunday afternoon — Rogers, a solo artist, plays rock, R&B or country (and sometimes all that) on keyboards or bass guitar for audiences in Middletown, Ohio, and throughout the region.
Jimmy D. Rogers"I take as many gigs as I can get booked in a week," says Rogers, 62. "I've done 10 in one week and even had stretches where I played 40 nights in a row, some of them doubles." In between, he rehearses, sits in for recording sessions and writes his own songs.
He considers himself primarily an R&B and blues player. "That's what my rep sits on, particularly my work with Teeny Tucker, the daughter of the late blues musician Tommy Tucker." Rogers also plays with I Dig Pig, a tribute band inspired by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan of the early Grateful Dead.
Some aging rockers have day jobs, Rogers notes, but he doesn't. "Music can be become a hobby at the age we are, something to do just on weekends, but that's not how I approach it. I've never gone the commercial route or played big cities, but this is what I do, and I do the best I can." (Hear some of his best here, at the 2020 semi-finals at the International Blues Challenge.)
Rogers' interest in music was kindled when he joined his elementary school band in Kettering, a suburb of Dayton, where he grew up. The school district had "all kinds of music programs, independent music teachers and music stores," he recalls. His family also spent a lot of time in eastern Kentucky, where his parents had met.
Any Music for Any Audience
"Both places reflect what I am and what I do," Rogers says. "Some of my first gigs were with the grandparents of kids in my class, people who would be 100 or older now. I played several instruments, and I learned about jazz. Later, I came to the blues through country western music."
Today, Rogers works with several bands, some of them the ages of his grown kids, and he often plays solo gigs. "I always serve the music, bring the style that belongs there, and music has been the one thing I've had when the whole world seemed to fall in," he says. "Right now, there is a demand for keyboard players, and I can always find work, playing all kinds of music in all situations."
'I Wanted to Be Paul McCartney'
Winter, 62, also plays all kinds of music in all situations, often three or four weeknights and on weekends. Based in St. Louis, Winter is a keyboardist and vocalist with several groups, including Mr. Blue Sky, a 10-piece Electric Light Orchestra tribute band that performs throughout the Midwest. He also handles solo and duo gigs on piano and entertains at wineries and a local mead bar.
"I do all this for the love of music, and to pay my bills."
"Wherever and whatever I'm playing, I can express my joy through the music," Winter says. "As a solo or duo artist, I really connect with audiences, help make their day, and when I'm playing good music in band gigs — when we're just cooking — I connect with the people on stage. Either way, I do all this for the love of music, and to pay my bills."
Winter first took piano lessons at the age of 8, while living with his family in London. After a move to the U.S., he discovered he had perfect pitch. "I learned 'Let It Be' just by listening to it, and decided I wanted to be Paul McCartney," he says. "At some point I stopped taking lessons and just soaked up what I could learn from every record we had in the house."
In college, though he was "unskilled and unschooled," Winter signed up for an hour at an open mic night to perform songs by Pink Floyd, Genesis and Kansas. "Everybody from my dorm showed up — and I was awful," Winter says. As he improved, he got piano gigs at local hotels and later joined bands, one that played Motown and blues and then a rock band.
A Ticket to Anywhere
"About age 30, I discovered dueling pianos, and made a good income from that in Vail and Sacramento, and later in a top casino in Las Vegas," Winter recalls. After landing an engagement in Hong Kong, Winter decided to see the world.
"I played piano in Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Ireland," he says, "and I worked on cruise ships traveling in the Mediterranean and to the Baltic countries." Back on U.S. soil in 2008, Winter accepted jobs making music all over the U.S.
"There I was, in my late 50s, with a crazy work schedule right up until the pandemic, and I loved it," Winter says. "Right now, I can still get up on a stage and people think it's cool. That's amazing, and I'm grateful — and I'm going to do this until I can't."


Aging Rockers Get Satisfaction on Stage

Patricia Corrigan

The Retirement Gap is a real-life problem. Learn how to prepare for whatever retirement may look like for you.

Growing a business means managing change. Read how entrepreneurs like you have done just that and found resources to succeed.

Nationwide workshops and festivals offer community for aging artists

There is power in talking openly about mental health and mental illness. Featuring expert insight and personal stories, find support and resources on how to challenge stigma and rethink mental health as we age.

Perceptions on Wealth in Retirement

Navigating Change

Art + Aging in Community

Talking About It: Aging and Mental Health