SURVEY SAYS: Stuck in a Prior Decade

Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Are you stuck in a prior decade?”

I also asked readers if they feel younger than they are.

The majority of responding readers (62.3%) indicated they are not stuck in a prior decade. Among those who are, the biggest proportion (15.9%) is stuck in the 80s. More than 7% are stuck in the 70s, while 5.8% are stuck in the 90s, 4.3% are stuck in the 60s, 2.9% are stuck in the 00s, and 1.4% are stuck in the 50s.

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The vast majority of responding readers feel younger than they are, with 42.9% feeling up to 10 years younger and 40% feeling more than 10 years younger. More than 4% said they feel older than they are and 12.9% said they feel exactly their age.

Many of the readers who left comments said that while they are not totally stuck in another decade, there are aspects of prior decades—music, clothes, values, etc.—they prefer. Others commenting about feeling younger than they are note that their bodies are not in agreement with their minds. I feel ya! Some point out that they feel younger… until their child or a Millennial coworker snaps them back into reality. To the commenter concerned that I was dissing my good friend about his 80s preferences, we joke about it together and each feel very blessed to have the other in our life. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “I only wish the bands from the 80’s and 90’s that are still touring would start their concerts at 6 pm instead of 8 pm. These late shows interfere with my bedtime and when I’m supposed to take my prescription medication.”

A big thank you to all who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

prefer the music of the 70s

I just celebrated (yes, celebrated) a birthday so although the mirror confirmed that my body is feeling all of its 56 years, my mind sometimes makes me feel like I'm still 16.

Sometimes I feel older than my age, sometimes I feel younger. It varies with how my day is going and how much sleep I got the night before.

Everyone I know seems older than I. My family, my friends, my neighbors. They've all lost their openness and ability to laugh and have FUN!! I may need to change my friends.

My boss is stuck with a marketing mentality in the 1980s. Does not bode well for us worker-bees.

While I am not "stuck" in a prior decade, I am also not willing to be "stuck" in THIS one -- filling my head and heart with only content created since 2010. I prefer to enjoy the cream of all prior decades -- books, music, movies. TV, art, history, philosophy, etc. -- rather than reject stuff simply because it isn't "new.'' I prefer the timeless over the trendy. -- Gary Theroux

Young is only a word, it's thoughts, actions and reactions and staying current. One needs to be young in mind, body, trends, habits. It will serve you well going forward and keep you touch with our rapidly ever changing world.

I am forever 27 (not in a vampire-y way)

I'm terribly sorry but why on earth do you care what decade of pop culture this person prefers? I am so absolutely tired of people being so judgmental over every.little.thing people do. How is this person's choice of entertainment and apparel any of your concern? I feel sorry for this person that they have judgmental and non-supportive people like you in their life. Live and let live. Rant over.

The thought of shortly becoming a senior citizen doesn't seem possible; then I look in the mirror....

Verbatim (cont.) 

Could be because I work with many folks who are in their early to mid 20's, while I am in my late 30's.

Some attitudes or habits are stuck. Picky things like using correct grammar (even in text messages) and not publicly displaying undergarments may make me appear older to some people. I prefer to think of them as good manners and education.

Some days I feel older, some days younger and some days I just feel. At 55 years of age, what is old? What is young? Been told by many I meet that I look to be in my late 30s or my 40s. Since I was born in 1960 I can say that yesterday was never all that much better than today and who knows what tomorrow will bring. I know I would never want to go back and relive my past to try to change it. As Popeye would say "I yam what I yam". I watch very limited TV produced today. But, I enjoy many of today's PC Games where I can play single player. Reflexes are not great as I learned multiplying against my son. I'm too easy a target. LOL

My kids keep me young and up to date, but not as to infringe on their decade.

Just turned 56, going to ride 400+ miles on my bike for a vacation next week. My kids shake their heads and ask that I check in daily cause there's no way they're going with.

My brain feels like I am a lot younger than my 52 years. My bones beg to differ.

I am not stuck in a prior decade except when it comes to manners. I am still in the 70's when Excuse me was something you said when you accidently bumped into someone . Today Excuse Me is said as a person practically knocks you over trying to get by you and it means get out of my way. I also love my smart phone but I prefer the 70's where people did not use their phone in the water closet, who wants to hear that? I have a few other rants when it comes to manners

I do NOT feel 40... until the 22 year old new hires walk in.

Sometimes it is nice to go back thinking about the 1970s and 1980s. The music was better, people were friendlier, life was at a slower pace and everyone you loved was still alive.

Only stuck in the 80s for the music

Verbatim (cont.) 

I'm only stuck when it comes to music - I still like the 50's, 60's and 70's music best!

Most of my '80s fixation is via the music from that decade. The fashion I can leave behind, but the music, especially New Wave, has stuck with me for 30 years. I still listen to it weekly, if not daily. I also keep up with the new stuff, but that decade will never leave me.

I feel younger because I stay active and take care of my body. I don't, however, have the time or patience to keep up on current trends.

I run marathons with guys who are 10 to 20 years younger than I am, so I guess I feel younger than my age. And I'm still working.

I wasn't born in the 50s but I'm far more traditional than most and thoroughly enjoyed being at home with my children, sharing a cup of sugar with my neighbors, and taking part in my children's education. When they aged, however, I entered the workforce and as a result of a divorce, never have to cook my "husband" dinner again!

I only wish the bands from the 80's and 90's that are still touring would start their concerts at 6 pm instead of 8 pm. These late shows interfere with my bedtime and when I'm supposed to take my prescription medication.

The 70's were a simpler time for me and I don't want to give that up. It was before technology (phones and computers), political correctness, and government took our freedoms away.

While I try to stay in the here and now, I think I am stuck (a bit) in each decade that I've lived in

Young people are always will to change so I try to remain flexible. I get tired of listening to people my age (60) complain about how they don't like changes. Life means changes, adjust or step aside. When you're dead you won't have to worry about changes.

It's a strange phenomenon that I just don't understand. I guess it is likely tied to the feeling that high school truly was the "glory days" and people want to hold onto that. I will be 50 this year and see people my age still drinking in bars like they did in high school - getting loud and stupid and disliking any music made after 1982.

In the 80s, when I was in my 30s, I made a number of good choices (personal, political, religious) that have lasted me ever since. While I believe in daily progress, I also believe in major leaps of faith. These happened for me in the 80s and I have never looked back.

Verbatim (cont.) 

It's amazing how kids can make you feel both younger and older. I feel young when my teens tell me to slow down because they can't keep up, but feel old when they have to show me how to use my phone.

Although born in the 80s, I prefer music from the 70s!

I'm not stuck, as much as I am nostalgic. I feel much younger than my age and try to avoid mirrors as much as possible.

I'm much more active than my peers, still like old time rock n roll and hippies.

My brain suggests I'm still twenty-something but my body is confused. It's showing signs of aging - wrinkles, graying, aches and pains, and so on. Wish it would wise up and agree with my brain!

I often think the 90s was just ten years ago and it boggles my mind that it was double that.

Stuck on music from the '80s, television from the '80s and '90s and too many of my clothes are likely from the '90s and '00s - but only because my clothes from the '80s don't fit very well

I am in my early 30's so it's not too far of a stretch, but I feel like I'm in my late 20's. Although I did catch myself telling someone I was a year older than I actually was the other day...

While I am subject to the technology challenges that only my kids can resolve, I'm mainly stuck in the 80's (and 70's) when it comes to music. Hearing the classics is what keeps me young. Plus, the family knows when dad has been driving the vehicle with XM radio, nicely set on Classic Rewind or Classic Vinyl!

I don't know that I feel younger, but I try to ACT younger....

While I wouldn't say I'm stuck in the 80s, I love the music from that time, and have a number of classic films from that time that I'll watch again and again.

NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.

Retirement Industry People Moves

Kravitz opens and staffs a new Chicago office; Chris Barrett joins Stadion as a regional vice president; and James Macey becomes co-lead on Franklin Templeton Allocation Funds and TDF suite.

Kravitz, a national provider of cash balance retirement plans, announced the opening of a Chicago office to meet the growing demand for cash balance retirement plans throughout the Midwest region.

The firm says it already serves a large client base across the Midwest, so expanding to Chicago was an obvious next step from a growth and client service perspective. The firm shares figures suggesting the number of new cash balance plans “has been increasing more than 20% annually while the traditional 401(k) market remains flat.”

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Kravitz tapped Chicago native and cash balance expert Steve Stone to lead the new office. Stone brings more than 15 years of retirement industry experience, including roles at John Hancock and J.P. Morgan. Most recently he worked for a large regional third-party administration firm.

NEXT: Stadion Hires Sales VP in New England

Stadion Money Management announced the hire of Chris Barrett as a regional vice president, with responsibility for retirement sales in New England and Northern New Jersey.  

Stadion says Barrett is a retirement industry veteran who has more than 28 years of industry experience. Immediately prior to joining Stadion, he worked for Transamerica Retirement Services, where he was a divisional vice president responsible for managing the sales and marketing effort for defined contribution and defined benefit plans in the Northeast U.S.

Previously, he held senior sales and sales management roles with U. S. Trust, UBS, and MFS Investment Management.

Barrett received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and an M.B.A. from the Suffolk University Sawyer School of Management. He also holds the accredited retirement plan consultant (ARPC) designation from FINRA.

NEXT: Franklin Templeton adds fund manager 

Franklin Templeton Investments hired James Macey as co-lead on the Franklin Allocation Funds and Franklin LifeSmart Retirement Target Funds.

Macey becomes a senior vice president and portfolio manager in the new role, and will maintain a focus on retirement solutions. He joins current co-lead managers Tom Nelson, senior vice president, director of investment solutions, and Tony Coffey, senior vice president, on the management team for the allocation and target-date funds.

With 15 years of investment industry experience, Macey was previously at Allianz Global Investors, where he was a co-lead manager for their target-date and retirement income portfolios. He was also a portfolio manager for Allianz’s multi-asset U.S. mutual funds and helped to operate target-risk, multi-asset real return and 529 college-savings plan funds.

Macey holds a master’s of science degree in astrophysics from University College London. He also holds chartered financial analyst, chartered alternative investment analyst and professional risk manager designations.

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