Aging Parent: How Do I Know If I Should Be Worried? By Barbara E. Friesner NABBW’s Elder Care Expert This is the time of year when we see parents and other aging loved ones that we may not have the opportunity to see the rest of the year. Regardless of how often you talk by phone throughout the year, seeing an aging parent in person tells you a lot more than phone calls alone can reveal. The clues are all around you if you know what to look for. And the best part is that you can look around without making it a big deal for you or your parent. Here are some things to look for: Is your loved... Read More

Buying Mom’s House: Be Careful By Liza Weiman Hanks NABBW’s Estate Planning Expert Dear Liza, The only asset funding my Mother’s Trust is her primary residence. However, she recently moved from CA to live with me in WA. My sister would like to purchase the home but doesn’t have the full amount. She would pay a down payment of $150,000 which would assist with my Mother’s caregivers and in-home health care. The balance approx. $150,000-$200,000 would be recorded as a Deed of Trust naming the Trustee of the Trust as the beneficiary. Would this affect or invalidate the Trust in any... Read More

Why I Let Go of Being A Business Mentor By Sheri Keys NABBW’s Entrepreneurial Publishing Expert As many of you may have heard, I made an announcement a few months ago that after 2012, I would no longer show up in the world as a business mentor. I received many emails from followers, clients and close friends. Most of you congratulated me on my transition and a few people I am really close to showed up completely honest as usual and said, “Are you crazy?” My close friends know I love them because they are so honest and without them in my life to ask such beautiful and hard questions,... Read More

America Recycles Day – What Are You Recycling? By Diane MacEachern NABBW’s Going Green Expert Today is America Recycles Day. Recycling is important, because it saves energy, reduces trash, and helps stop climate change. Here\’s what I recycle, and how I\’ve changed what I buy so I can buy less in the first place, reuse more and throwaway less. And keep reading for information on how you can recycle and reduce the number of catalogs you receive. Food and soda cans – I recycle glass, metal and plastic containers in my community\’s curbside recycling program. But... Read More

Turkey Chili By Pat Sinclair NABBW’s Cooking for Two Expert Recently my husband and I took a brief trip “up North” to Duluth to view the brilliant colors of autumn. The aspen trees and poplars covered hillsides in shimmering shades of yellow that were a strong contrast to the red maples. As we left Duluth we took a few photos from the top of the hill overlooking the harbor and the St. Louis River. On a cool blustery fall day, Chili is always welcome and the scent of simmering spices fills the house with warmth. Ground turkey contains less cholesterol than ground beef and is... Read More

Tiritiri Mitangi – Birding Adventure Down Under By Linda Ballou NABBW’s Adventure Travel Expert December is a great time to explore the other land down under. The North Island of New Zealand is easy to get around and much less pricey than neighboring Australia. Kiwis take pride in making guests feel welcome and love to share their miles of hiking trails and un-trammeled shores. Tremendous efforts on the part of New Zealanders to preserve forests and the unique birds that call them home are especially evident on the tiny isle of Tiritiri Mitangi. Spray splashed over the bow of our... Read More

Just the Flax By Leigh Anne Jasheway NABBW’s Boomer Humor Expert On the advice of Dr. Oz and this guy I sat next to at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I’ve started adding flax and chia seeds to everything I eat. They’re both tasty when sprinkled on cereal and baked into cookies (mmmh, cookies), but I have to say it’s hard to get the seeds to adhere to carrot sticks unless I slather them with cream cheese or peanut butter first. I’m sure that’s heart-healthy, right? Besides, as far as I know, no one’s made flax butter yet. One thing no one warned me about was that these tiny... Read More

Thanksgiving By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. Elbert Hubbard Memories rise up. People we have spent time with and those we no longer can see, come visiting in our minds and hearts. Memories are a good thing. We fear the tears, the loneliness, and we long for connections. What I appreciate about the human spirit is we get to begin, again. We get to be brave and make up new traditions, break some rules, and allow who we are today to simply be happy. Some people have communities and others don\’t.... Read More

All the Single Ladies By Jan Cullinane NABBW’s Expert on The New Retirement Did you know that there are more than 25 million single women over the age of 45 in the United States, and that this demographic is growing? And, even if you\’re a happily married woman now, there\’s an 80-90% chance you\’ll be single at some point, and be responsible for all decisions, including where you\’ll live? I attribute the growth of this powerful group to what I call the “5Ds”: Divorce, Death of a spouse, Delayed marriage, Dumped (or did the dumping), and just Don\’t... Read More

Why Women Need Life Insurance By Pamela J. Sams, CRPC NABBW’s Retirement Planning for Women Expert At any age, health care is a priority. But when you retire, you should probably focus more on health care than ever before. This is especially true for women. Women live longer, develop certain chronic conditions (e.g., osteoporosis) at a higher rate than men, and are more apt to experience medical limitations that directly affect their daily activities. That\’s why it\’s particularly important for women to factor in the cost of health care, including long-term care, as part of... Read More