Seniors Get Expert Advice on Living Longer and Better

Lunch with Friends hosted over 160 seniors on April 16 for its Easter Luncheon at the Marco Lutheran Church. Social networking was in full swing, and seasonal friends are saying their goodbyes till the Fall.

The program was presented by Darcie Guerin and Adam English of Guerin and English, Wealth Management of Raymond James. Joining them was Jessica Rigor, a Client Service Associate. Since 2005, Guerin has been with Raymond James, and readers in Marco are very familiar with her popular financial column “Ask the CFP Practitioner” for the Coastal Breeze News. She serves on the NCH Marco Island Advisory Committee, has been a board member of the Marco Island Fire/Rescue Foundation, and was a past president of the Marco Island Historical Society, where she also served on the finance committee. Guerin was named to the Forbes list of Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State in 2024 and 2025.

Adam English, First Vice President Investment for Guerin and English, has been helping clients pursue their meaningful long-term goals since 2005. He formerly served as a board member of the Purdue Alumni Club of SW Florida and also earned his MBA from Purdue University.

The longevity process is not about living longer but also about living better, according to Guerin, English, and Rigor. Their presentation was meant to help the seniors navigate through key lifestyle choices, asking three questions that can help ensure a quality retirement with an integrated and holistic approach.

Who will change my light bulb? An AARP survey found that “while more than three-quarters of adults ages 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, one-third (33%) also report their houses would need modifications to be able to live safely and independently.” 

Housing is the largest expense for those aged 65 and older - about one-third of a budget - and according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average income is $53,149, and the average age is 74. 

How will I get the Ice Cream Cone? What do you like to do? Do you donate your time to local charitable organizations? Are you a member of a local social club? All these activities give you a sense of purpose.

The second largest expense is transportation, tied with medical expenses. Will you have transportation to go where you want to go? According to English, as you get older, the number of men who have cars becomes more important, especially when driving at night. Women will be looking more for the guy with a car! This got big chuckles from the mostly women audience.

Technology can also provide you with service at your fingertips and stay engaged, active, and have fun! Do you have the UBER app on your smartphone? 

Who will I have lunch with? On Marco, we have so many organizations that will give you that sense of purpose. A person has to have a reason to get up in the morning, and according to Guerin, English, and Rigor, “Women are very good at building social networks, which is key to your physical and emotional well-being.” And as for men, there’s always ROMEO (and that’s not the Shakespeare play). It means Retired Old Men Eating Out!

According to “The Aging of the Baby Boomer and the Growing Care Giver Gap,” in 2010, the number of potential caregivers per care recipient was seven for each adult aged over 80. In 2050, it is projected to be less than three! The reason for the decline is that Baby Boomers’ parents had more children; Baby Boomers only had about 1.9 children, and the birth rate has been declining since 1971. So now, caregiving has to be thought of in a different format, such as local churches, civic communities, friends, and neighbors.

Al’s Pals, Marco Lutheran Church, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, and the YMCA were this month’s Lunch with Friends sponsors, with lunch provided by Al’s Pals.