I get excited when I see major brands steering away from the out-dated concept of age-based market segmentation. Recent research in the UK conducted by Marketing Week, suggests that just 7% of marketers believe terms like Gen X, Gen Z and millennial are a very effective means of segmentation. In fact, 55% say such demographic […]
finance
Aviva Strives to Become an Age-Friendly Employer

In a world full of ‘talk’ about the ageing consumer it is rare to find examples of companies that are adapting to it, and benefiting from the change. According to an article in Marketing Week, Aviva (the UK insurance giant) has set up a community to support the development of people aged over 45, helping […]
Merrill Lynch Embraces The Longevity Economy

When it comes to the issue of longevity and the ageing population, there is so much talk and very little consumer-facing action. So it is always refreshing when I see evidence of a company that is actually responding in a positive way, to this inevitable change. According to this article in the Harvard Business Review, […]
Financial abuse is the second-most common form of elder abuse

While some banks have made efforts to become more age-friendly, they need to do more to prevent elder financial abuse. Although the finding that elder financial abuse is the second-most common form of elder abuse after physical abuse, came from a 1981 report, now 40 years later, financial abuse and fraud continue to cost older Americans […]
Life Settlements are a reverse mortgage on your life and a rare innovation from the insurance industry

The insurance industry is all about risk and evidence suggests that insurance risk and innovation are often unwelcome bed-partners. Which is why I was interested to learn about the “Life-Settlement insurance business. It would seem too that I’m a little late to this party because one such provider claims to have been Founded in 2004! As […]
Bank TV spot captures the essence of ageless marketing

Through the lead-lined curtain of Millennial Marketing Madness (M3) we get an occasional glimpse of ageless marketing. This time it’s a TV spot from UOB (a Singapore Bank), and I love it. Marketers are often hood-winked to believing that Millennials, GenX and others are unique, as if creatures from another planet. But ultimately, each generation […]
74% of seniors have poor financial literacy. Problem or opportunity?

Poor financial literacy means that many older people are not making the most of their money in retirement. The findings from a recent survey conducted by the American College New York Life Center for Retirement Income of over 1,300 Americans (reported here in Motley Fool) show that almost 3 out of 4 people aged 60 to […]
Banks fail to meet the needs of their lucrative, older customers

Today, the 50 years and older segment represents 35% of the entire U.S. population, yet they control more than half of the nation’s investable assets. In Asia Pacific, 54% of high net worth individuals are over 56 years of age according to Cap Gemini/Merrill Lynch Despite the obvious opportunity to delight their older customers, the financial industry […]
Are paper bank statements still needed?

At my local bank recently I remarked to the representative that surely it was time to move on from the old paper bankbook and statements.
Investment gurus predict hot shares for ageing. More of the same old, same old.
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