Senior Services goes Virtual

More and more connections are being made on the World Wide Web. Many successful social networking sites are available for business professionals to connect online. Why? According to ThirdAge.com, a leading website for 50+ says this group is the fastest-growing market online. Between 2000 and 2007 alone, the online population of those over 50 is projected to increase from 17.7 to 35.4 million; that's a 100% increase. Every 7.7 seconds someone turns 50 and over the next 15 years, 50+ audience will grow by more than 50%, while the 18 to 40 age group will grow a mere 3%!

Senior Services Network's goal is to have access to more of these online visitors. Period. And if we continue networking face-to-face, think about how many contacts we lose. This trend is carrying over to the business world too. Did you know that in 2001 about 50% of business meetings were face-to-face? In 2004 it was little over 40%? The thought of high speed Internet connection is the driving factor behind more businss being done online.

We know the power of online dating! For myself, that's where I met my partner. An online dating service local to Austin, Texas. Online dating is often considered to be the preferred way to meet when looking for love. It's the looking for love in the right places! Many people use online dating because it's easy, efficient, safe, and confidential.

I believe business is going in that direction too for exactly those reasons. And I must admit... my schedule is filled and the thought of going to luncheons and face-to-face meetings, well, makes me quite anxious. However, I do enjoy meeting someone in person so that we put a face to a name. But that's not possible when I live in Texas and connect with someone in NYC or Dallas! I have confidence since my personal relationship with my partner was built online (initially), I believe the needed rapport and trust can be built for business relationships too.

What we hope to accomplish by building this virtual networking world is to put information about other Senior Service providers at your fingertips. You can choose to interact with them if you want, especially if you need their help or your client needs their assistance. And you aren't tied to a specific geography.

I've been working with a couple of applications in the last few weeks and determining which is best to use for our virtual group. When the time comes, I hope you join us in sharing leads and partnering with professionals across the U.S. to help your business grow and ultimately, help seniors and the family who cares for them.

In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to several of our Austin and Texas providers that's now listed in our Texas Elder Care Directory/Senior Services Network:

John Berlet, CEO, MBA Finance & Member Financial Planners Association. His company, a Registered Investment Adviser Firm, based in Austin, Texas serves clients in Texas, Colorado, California, Ohio and New Jersey. They specialize in tax and retirement income planning as well as portfolio management. Licensed to provide investment advisory services in Texas only, licensed to provide insurance services in those other states in which we are licensed .We understand the needs of Baby Boomers and work exclusively with individuals in the retirement RED ZONE. We design, implement, and service custom plans for our clients in areas of accumulation and preservation with focus on distribution income planning. For clients seeking fee based managed accounts our BD affiliate is Shareholder Services and managed strategies are performed by Gradient Investment Group. Other asset classes available, including Life Settlements and Private placement Real Estate. Certified Senior Advisors (CSA) have supplemented their individual professional licenses, credentials and education with knowledge about aging and working with seniors. Know what those licenses, credentials and education signify. The CSA designation alone does not imply expertise in financial, health or social matters.
www.boomersag.com
(512) 345-6400
john@boomersag.com

Learn more about John Berlet when listening to his podcast in the Texas Elder Care Directory by selecting Financial Services and Money Matters. Or visit http://workingcaregiver.blogspot.com/ - scroll down till you come to his profile under Boomers Advisory Group. I like doing business with John because he follows through in what he says he'll do for me. And John doesn't try to "sell" me on an investment - I trust he's looking out for my financial goals.

Contact John Berlet now and starting building your own virtual networking group ~ but soon, we will have a venue for business profiles with capability to partner and share information.

Wishing you the best,
Carol Marak at Workingcaregiver.com