AARP North Carolina

By AARP NC Associate State Director Charmaine Fuller Cooper

You’ve worked hard to save for retirement and you deserve a financial advisor who works just as hard to protect what you’ve earned. Right now, loopholes in the law allow bad-actors in the financial industry to provide retirement savings “advice” based on what’s best for their pocketbook, not yours. The result? They can recommend investments with higher fees, riskier features, and lower returns because they earn more money, even if those investments are not the best choice for you. Bad advice is wrong, and it is costing Americans up to $17 billion per year.

RALEIGH -- In a first-of-its-kind effort, AARP North Carolina and Shaw University Divinity School have announced a pilot program on financial literacy. This effort is being implemented to improve the savings rates of individuals of all ages so people can be better prepared to meet the financial demands of the future.

Are you at the point in your life when you ask yourself what’s next? You’ve finished one chapter of your life and you’re ready to start the next. Many reach this point at mid-life, but it can happen at any age.

By Doug Dickerson

For many people, finding their “what’s next,” means having time to travel. This week on Real Life, you will hear from world renowned travel expert Samantha Brown, host of several programs on the Travel Channel. Brown, who is AARP’s Travel Ambassador, is on board to help you be a savvy traveler. Real Life caught up with her this week when spoke at an AARP Life Reimagined event in Wilmington where she provided an audience of all ages tips and advice for those planning trips both large and small.

For many people, finding their “what’s next,” means having time to travel. This week on Real Life, you will hear from world renowned travel expert Samantha Brown, host of several programs on the Travel Channel. Brown, who is AARP’s Travel Ambassador, is on board to help you be a savvy traveler. Real Life caught up with her this week when spoke at an AARP Life Reimagined event in Wilmington where she provided an audience of all ages tips and advice for those planning trips both large and small.

RALEIGH -- As North Carolina’s population ages, nearly all of the state’s voters ages 45 plus (92%) believe it is important to be able to provide care so their loved ones can keep living independently in their own homes. 2014 North Carolina Caregiving Report FINAL collected the opinions of North Carolina residents on issues related to providing unpaid care to loved ones and proposals to provide support for family caregivers.

Governor McCrory released his $21.5 billion budget that holds most existing programs steady with inflation. Looking toward the future of this state, health, retirement and financial security for families and seniors are critical.

In North Carolina, 1.7 million people are providing care to family members or loved ones at some point of time each year. Why is the issue of family caregiving so important right now? What kind of challenges do they face? What kind of resources do family caregivers need?