AARP Holds Business & Policy Forum on Age 50-Plus Consumers in the Marketplace Featuring First Public Release of New National Research

5/5/2004

From: Chryste Hall of AARP Massachusetts, 617-305-0515 or 617-852-3710 (cell)

News Advisory:

Consumers age 50-plus now hold 50 percent of the market for major sectors of the economy. Yet, they face significant challenges as buyers and money managers -- due in part to low levels of financial literacy and overwhelming amounts of consumer information. On Thursday, May 6 from 8 - 10 a.m. at the Omni Parker House, Rooftop Ballroom in Boston, AARP Massachusetts will hold a business and policy forum on the impact of this growing market segment. AARP presents this forum in collaboration with WBZ NewsRadio, the Federal Trade Commission Northeast Region and the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

During the business and policy forum, AARP will release new national research, Beyond 50.04: A Report to the Nation on Consumers in the Marketplace, and local experts from business and government will provide commentary on implications for the various sectors.

WHO: Keynote Speaker: AARP / Christine Donohoo, National Chief Communications Officer

Panelists:

-- State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill

-- Fidelity Investments / Thomas Tullis, Senior Vice President, Human Interface Design

-- FTC Northeast Region / Thomas Cohn, Senior Assistant Regional Director

-- Massachusetts Bankers Association / Kevin Kiley, Chief Operating Officer

-- Moderator: Suffolk University / Meera Venkatraman, Chair, Department of Marketing

WHAT: BUSINESS & POLICY FORUM: 50-plus Consumers in the Marketplace

-- Panel discussion will center on AARP's new national research, Beyond 50.04: A Report to the Nation on Consumers in the Marketplace, which receives its first public release during the forum.

-- Experts will focus on implications for business, government and consumers.

WHEN: Thursday, May 6, 2004, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

WHERE: Omni Parker House, Rooftop Ballroom, 60 School Street, Boston

WHY: Consumers age 50 and older control half of the consumer economy. But, they confront obstacles as shoppers and money managers, spurred by too much responsibility, too many decisions and too little time. Many also exhibit low levels of financial literacy. This collision of forces warrants change by business, government and consumers themselves, as this market segment grows to become the dominant consumer group in the future -- both in numbers and dollars spent.