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I am sure that most of us have some sort of retirement plan, and have generally been “ok” with it. Most of the time with your retirement portfolios you just set it up and then leave it alone to grow. Well even the best portfolios need a check up from time to time. That is why when I read this great article about tweaks to your retirement plan from Reuters.com, I had to share it with you guys! Take a look at some of tweaks and reminders you need to do in 2012:

1. Adjust your 401(k) contribution.

The maximum employee contribution allowable by the IRS rises by $500 in 2012, to $17,000; workers over age 50 can contribute another $5,500 in catch-up contributions. If you’re already maxing out, adjust your contribution rate for 2012 accordingly. Deductible contribution maximums for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs are unchanged for 2012 - you can sock away $5,000 (or $6,000 if you are over age 50).

2. Rebalance.

Make sure your equity and fixed income allocations are on target by buying or selling assets as needed to make sure you’re not taking more risk than desired. Adds Jessica Ness, director of financial planning at Glassman Wealth Services: “Rebalancing puts an automatic buy-low and sell-high methodology to work because you trim asset classes that have grown in size and you contribute to asset classes that have shrunk.” Ideally, you should rebalance quarterly.

3. Consider Roth IRA options.

A Roth isn’t always the best investment option for available pre-tax dollars because it’s a bet on future tax rates, and what you expect your personal tax rate will be in retirement. But a Roth is a slam-dunk option if you’re investing after-tax dollars because everything in the account grows tax-free.

Income eligibility limits to qualify for a Roth IRA contribution will increase in 2012. Single income tax return filers with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) less than $110,000 will be eligible to make the maximum contribution to a Roth; for joint filers, the income limit will be $173,000.

If you don’t meet the income qualifications, there’s another option: the so-called “back-door Roth.” It’s a two-step process; first, you make a contribution to a non-deductible traditional IRA; then immediately convert that IRA to a Roth. “The key is to do the conversion right after you make the contribution, so the account doesn’t have time to accrue taxable earnings,” says Maria Bruno, a senior investment analyst at Vanguard Investments.

A caveat: This strategy works best if you don’t have other traditional IRA assets, because federal law requires you to aggregate all your IRA assets for tax purposes. So, if you have significant IRA assets that were funded with pre-tax contributions, you’ll need to weigh the potential tax bite.

To take a look at the rest of the tweaks for 2012, check out the article here - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/01/us-usa-retirement-idUSTRE7B01GB20111201?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563

So what are you doing for your retirement plan? Are you following these tweaks and modifications or are you taking a different approach? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know, so please tell us your thoughts in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

Like many people, it is hard to come up with practical items that you would want for Christmas. Sure you know what you really want, and I am sure that are not something most people can buy you. There is no shame in wanting really nice things, but I am talking about things that you could ask anyone for. There are also lot of people out there are still unemployed, especially older workers. So here is a great article from FlexJobs.com that list some items you can ask for or buy for those who are searching for a job this Christmas. Many of the gifts they list are from their member savings partner, and some are not, so just keep that in mind when shopping. So without any further ado, here is the gift list:

1) Professional resume and cover letter retooling. One of the biggest obstacles that job seekers have to overcome is a less-than-wowing resume or cover letter. Why not give the gift of a resume or cover letter consultation or review? Services like Resume Deli work with job seekers to craft amazing job search documents, and can also help to improve interview skills and provide career counseling…

2) A How-To Career Guide Book. Especially great for people who are transitioning into a new career, career guides give solid information and guidance on specific careers, including how to get started and strategies for success. The career publishing company, FabJob, offers guides to over 120 careers…

3) A Flexible Work Arrangement Proposal. Yes, there is such a thing and you can give it as a gift! For professionals in search of better work-life balance, services like WorkOptions will help you craft a proposal requesting a flexible work arrangement that you can present to your boss. When you’re serious about flexibility, getting guidance from a company that has helped thousands of job seekers can help you seal the deal…

4) A Stylish Bag, Briefcase, or Portfolio. This gift is perennially on the list of great gifts for job seekers, and with good reason. The first impression employers form of a job seeker has a lot to do with appearance. Whether that’s a good thing or not, it’s true, so job seekers should spiff up their interview wardrobe and accessories. Kolobags has items like business card cases, professional bags and briefcases, and cases for all your gadgets…

To see the rest of the gift list, check out the article here - http://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/11-useful-holiday-gifts-for-job-seekers/

This is a good list for buying or asking for the holidays. So what do you plan on asking for this holiday season? we here at WiserWorker.com want to know! Also if you have other gift ideas, please list them in the comment section or on our twitter and facebook pages.

It is that time of year again. The time when we all get invited to holiday parties and events. Everyone seems to have them, and there always seem to be a lot of them during the holidays. Don’t dread these events! They are great opportunities to do some leg work on finding a job. Most people think that this is the perfect time to shut things down until the new year, but they would be wrong. Take a look at a great article from CareerSolvers.com and their tips on networking during the holidays:

1. Attend holiday parties. Many professional associations host holiday parties. This is a great way to meet others in your field that may be able to make meaningful introductions for you.
2. Throw your own party. Have an intimate dinner party or a bigger bash at your home or nearby restaurant. This is a great way to practice your pitch, and reconnect with people who may be able to assist you in your search.
3. Ask for informational interviews. The last two weeks of December are traditionally slow for most businesses. You may find that some of the decision makers you need to get in front of  are in the office during those last two weeks and it may be a lot easier to get in front of them during this time of year.
4. Volunteer. Tis the season…volunteer to do something meaningful in your personal or professional communities during December. Doing so can increase your visibility and jump start some conversations with people who may be able to help you in the New Year.

To view the rest of their tips, check out the article here - http://www.careersolvers.com/blog/2011/11/28/seven-tips-for-networking-during-the-holiday-season/

These are some great tips! We here at WiserWorker.com want to know how you plan on spending your time at holiday parties and events. How do you go about networking during this time? Do you have other tips and suggestions? If so, please list them in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

Well you knew if we had a blog on Black Friday, then we surely were going to cover Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday is the Monday that follows Black Friday. This “holiday” is designed to attract people to buy things online at Black Friday prices The term was first coined in 2005, so it is a fairly new event to the block. So once again the Boomer Consumer, Rita R. Robinson is on top of her game with a great blog post on Cyber Monday shopping tips. Here are just some of the tips:

1. The Wish List

Make a list. It keeps you on track and prevents unnecessary impulse buys. As with Black Friday, many merchants announce their online offers well in advance. Sites such as CouponSherpa have a roundup of deals available from merchants to help you compile your list ahead of time. They also have special coupon codes available.

2. Pre-shopping

Some marketers make a regular price look like a bargain. They want shoppers to be swept up in a bargain frenzy, thinking they’re one of the lucky few. Before you start loading your cart, do comparison shopping. Sites like PriceGrabber.com allow you to compare prices across the web and at local stores.

3. Use protection

Online shopping has become so commonplace we rarely consider the risks. With tons of shoppers eager to transmit credit card information over the Web in one day, scammers are salivating.

To protect yourself, download the latest updates for your anti-virus and spyware software. Also, make sure any page during checkout is secure by looking for the “https” in the address bar before giving the e-retailer your billing information.

If you want to see the rest of the tips, check out the article here - http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/2011/11/26/top-10-tips-for-shopping-on-cyber-monday/

So with that said, do you plan on shopping on Cyber Monday? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know! Tell us all about your Cyber Monday plans in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

If you need more tips check out our last years blog post here.

Well Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so that means Black Friday is the day after! The day when the Christmas shopping officially begins. There is always that mad rush at early hours in the morning to get great prices on things. There are some great things to buy, but then there are thing you shouldn’t buy on Black Friday. Here is a great list on what not to buy from the Boomer Consumer Rita R. Robinson:

1. Toys: Black Friday is not the best time to buy toys for the holidays. They’ll likely still be discounted. While it may feel pretty good to get your shopping done early, you won’t like the sinking feeling you’ll get when you see those toys listed on dealnews for less about two weeks before Christmas.

2. Top-brand TVs: Black Friday is an excellent time to get a cheap TV, with numerous sizes prepped to hit their lowest price points we’ve ever seen. But don’t expect the best deals to be flooded with brand-name sets. Those will come with a bit of patience.

3. 2012 calendars: Wait until the end of January or early February to see the first significant discounts on 2012 calendars. Keep your appointments in your smartphone in the meantime.

4. Christmas decorations: While you’ll get fantastic deals on Christmas items the closer you get to the holiday, and after the holiday, you can still score a relatively good deal if you skip Black Friday and shop on Cyber Monday for these festive goods.

To see the rest of what you should not buy on Black Friday, check the article here - http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/2011/11/16/don%E2%80%99t-buy-these-10-things-on-black-friday/

So are you going out on Black Friday to do some shopping? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know! What are you going to buy? What are you not going to buy? Tell us all about in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

Like many people in today’s economy, seasonal work seems to be all there is available. There is NOTHING wrong with seasonal work and this can help you round out some skills you never knew you had. However, when the time comes to apply for a job that is more permanent, you may find yourself wondering if you should list your past seasonal jobs on your resume. Well here is some great help from the folks over at Aol Jobs on what to consider on putting seasonal work in your resume:

1. Take note.

Pretend you’re an employer looking through a resume. What would you think if the resume’s most recent position lasted from December to January? You’d probably think that the candidate was fired or was flaky and ditched the position.

When writing seasonal positions into your resume, be sure to include “seasonal” in the title or at least the description. This tells the employer that you didn’t flake; your position was just temporary.

2. Find the pros (not the cons).

Unless you’re in high school, you might not think that a seasonal position is something worth being proud of or putting on your resume. Sure, the position was temporary, but there are a lot of pros associated with seasonal work. Seasonal jobs require a considerable amount of adaptability and flexibility, not to mention a strong work ethic.

Highlight these traits in your resume and cover letter so that the employer doesn’t focus on the fact that you were just a seasonal employee or anything negative.

3. Seek a path

Your position may have ended, but your time with the company ends when you choose. Companies are far more likely to hire folks who have worked for them before. After all, you know the ropes!

If you enjoyed working for a company, create your own path with them or one of their associate companies, who will be able to use existing information about you. Maintain relationships with managers and co-workers so that you have an edge when applying for full time employment.

These are some great tips to consider when thinking about listing your seasonal work on your resume. What do you guys think? Are there tips that you have used in that past that have worked? Things that haven’t? We want to know! Tell us about in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

That seems to be an all to common occurrence these days. Finding work at any age right now has been a challenge, especially if you are older. Many of which think they will never find jobs, but there is still hope! Employers still value seasoned veterans! Older workers ARE valuable and provide great experience! Take a look at this great article from Darlene Zambruski at the Resume Edge Blog that goes over how those over 50 can showcase their talents. She explains that most employers value:

1. An employee that requires little to no training

2. Someone who works well with others and fits easily into the company structure

3. An achiever rather than an individual who just puts in his/her time

However, that alone sometimes is not enough to land a job. You need to tailor your resume to wow the hiring manager. Take a look at what she recommends:

• Begin with an opening summary that proves you are the ideal candidate for the position. Dovetail all that you know to what the employer needs. Add one, preferably two, recent/relevant/quantified accomplishments.

• Follow that section with even more accomplishments. Most candidates won’t do that. So you’re already well ahead of the pack. Make certain that you add dollar figures of cost savings or earnings, time periods in which the achievement took place and how you managed to excel. Tell a story.

To see the rest of her resume tips, check the article here - http://www.resumeedge.com/blog/index.php/youre-50-or-older-and-youre-looking-for-a-job/

These are some great tips to stand above the rest! What do you think? Do you have other tips that work? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know! Tell us your resume advice in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

In today’s society is seems as if Social Security is under attack. There is a preconceived notion by many that think Social Security has too many problems and is destined to fail. There are many out there that don’t believe in the system. According to a poll from CNN, 60% of people who are not retired yet, expect to get NOTHING from Social Security in their old age. They would be wrong! That is why AARP is taking on the challenge to debunk several myths that plague Social Security. Check out what they have to say here:

Myth No. 1: Social Security is going bankrupt. No, it’s not. Even in the unlikely event that nothing changes and the program’s entire surplus runs out in 2036, as projected, checks would keep coming. Payroll taxes at current rates would cover 77 percent of all the future benefits promised. That’s true for young and old alike, and includes inflation adjustments.

Myth No. 2: I’d be better off if I’d kept my Social Security taxes in my own investment account. Hmmm ­ ­ — you’re saying that you’d faithfully put that money aside, every year of your working life, in a mix of stocks and bonds, without ever skipping a year, drawing on your nest egg or selling when the market dropped? Few such paragons exist.

You’d need to invest far more than you probably realize to match the benefits Social Security pays. As an example, take a 65-year-old couple with a single breadwinner who earned the average wage. At retirement, they’d currently get about $2,170 a month, plus inflation adjustments, for life, the Urban Institute reports.

To equal that sum in private savings, they’d need to have about $580,000, says Michael Kitces, director of research for Pinnacle Advisory Group, and the money might last only 30 years. How many average earners are likely to save that much?

Check out the rest of the Myths here - http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-11-2011/5-social-security-myths.html

What do you think about Social Security? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know! Tell us your thoughts on the article or your own experience with Social Security in the comments below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

I mentioned this topic yesterday on our social media channels, but it is worth repeating here in blog form! We here at WiserWorker.com salute our troops and all that they do for our country. Well today is Veterans Day and I came across a great blog from the Survive and Thrive Boomers Guide that mentions where vets can get free or discounted items. These are great for all active military and veterans alike. I am very glad to see that these establishments are giving back and deservedly so! Take a look at just a few that are mentioned:

1. Cabela’s Outdoor Store

Employee discount of 5 to 50 percent – Nov. 11 to 12
Applies to: Veterans, active-duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel

2. Chili’s

Free meal – Nov. 11
Applies to: Active duty and veterans
Chili’s is offering a choice of one of six meals on a dine-in-only basis. Beverages and gratuity aren’t included.

3. Denny’s

Free Grand Slam breakfast – Nov. 11
Applies to: Active military or veterans
Available only at participating locations.

4. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants

Free lunch or dinner entrée – Nov 13
Applies to: Veterans
This is the 13th Annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event at McCormick & Schmick’s.

To see the rest of the items, check out the rest of the article here - http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com/the_survive_and_thrive_bo/2011/11/11-free-or-discounted-items-for-veterans-on-veterans-day.html

Also for the complete list check out Coupon Sherpa’s list of “35 Veterans Day Freebies.”

We here at WiserWorker.com want know what your plans are for Veterans Day! Let us know in the comments section below or on our twitter and facebook pages.

More and more Baby Boomers are getting used to using social media these days. Many of us don’t want to admit, but we are just like our kids sometimes when it comes to wanting real time information. Social media is a great way to stay in touch, get the latest news, or even job search. Check out Anthony Cirillo’s article from About.com’s Assisted Living blog on social media. He was at the Leading Age conference last month and was able to hear Lori Bitter speak. She is the President and CEO of Continuum Crew. Here is some of the highlights from what her speech.

Some of the research highlights:

• boomer online use is up 62%, mimicking national statistics
• boomers are willing to give up most anything except their cell phone and Internet
• older boomers behaving like “Ike’s” (as in Eisenhower) and younger boomers behave like Gen X’ers
  Translation - some of us are like our parents when it comes to social media; some of us are like our kids.
• older boomers still use traditional media including local newspapers

This shows that more older boomers and seniors are still a little unsure and not ready to dive head first into social media. Though, it does show that the younger boomer crowd are starving for information at their fingertips. This is probably to be expected, but the pendulum is starting to swing towards many more boomers using social media and joining the younger crowds in staying connected.

The article goes on to list a checklist for getting into social media. Here is what Lori states as her checklist:

1. Listen online.
Before you enter the conversation understand what is being talked about online, the style of communication and the interaction.

2. Establish clear goals.
Pretty self-explanatory - what are your objectives? - engaging a community in a dialogue, traffic to your website? Get clear on what you want to accomplish.

3. Have the people power to execute.
This is time intensive make no mistake. You can do it yourself or hire someone but you need to commit resources. Here is some perspective.

To see the rest of the checklist, check out the article here - http://assistedliving.about.com/b/2011/11/09/some-new-wrinkles-on-social-media-at-leading-age-session.htm

Are you on social media yet? We here at WiserWorker.com want to know! You can follow us on twitter or like us on facebook. Let’s chat!