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Page 6 October 5, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Finance Seniors
Smartphone Market
Responds To Senior Users
(BPT) - Smartphone technology may seem
complicated and flashy, but don’t believe anyone
who says it’s only for the young. In fact,
73 percent of those 50 to 59 years old now own
a smartphone, according to a 2016 survey from
AARP. Going one step further, a recent study
of smartphone user habits by the Pew Research
Center concludes that 92 percent of those aged
50 and above now use text messaging, 80 percent
use their phones to access the internet and 87
percent use them to send and receive email.
Still, a significant smartphone generation
gap exists within the baby boomer set. While
smartphone owners 50 to 59 regularly perform
common daily tasks and even occasionally
play a game on their smartphones, AARP’s
study noted adults 60 to 69 are far more likely
to rely on a laptop or desktop computer for
email or internet use, and tend to avoid apps
and games altogether.
It’s no great mystery why certain baby
boomers have been hesitant to fully embrace
smartphone technology. Traditionally, mobile
phones have simply not been designed with
seniors in mind. Rather, they are designed for
the larger share of the market represented by
younger users, who grew up playing high-tech
games, surfing the web and using touchscreens.
Software interfaces are often not particularly
senior friendly. Small content size and busy
screens can be difficult to read and comprehend.
The challenge of navigating multiple menu levels
is simply not intuitive for many older users.
The small physical size of many devices, and
the even smaller size of things like number keys
and icons, present challenges that can make
smartphones frustrating for seniors to use, and
sometimes even seem a little intimidating.
Fortunately, the wireless industry has responded,
and the gap is quickly being filled. Savvy
manufacturers and specialized carriers have
recognized the potential of the senior market,
resulting in more and better choices than ever.
Samsung’s Android smartphones, for instance,
include a simplified version of its operating
software designed to make navigation more
convenient. Called “Easy Mode,” this optional
setting is found in nearly every modern Samsung
device.
Most Android and iPhone models also offer
options within the Settings menu that allow
users to adjust things like font size and screen
brightness to tailor the user experience to their
specific needs. With any Android smartphone,
users also have the option of downloading a
third-party launcher from the Google Play
Store, which provides big pictures and text
to simplify navigation.
There’s even a growing segment of the carrier
market focusing on seniors. Known for its
affordable rates and excellent customer service,
Consumer Cellular is a full-service, no-contract
carrier that offers a range of specifically seniorfriendly
smartphones for any skill level. Other
carriers have gained popularity among older
users by offering simplified smartphones with
convenient emergency calling features.
Beyond a slight learning curve, there’s no longer
any reason for seniors to feel left out, or even
limited, by smartphone technology. By integrating
new, senior-oriented designs and features,
today’s smartphone experience can be as simple
and user-friendly as they need it to be.
The Pew study reveals just how integral
smartphones have become to the lives of users
over 50. Going beyond standard uses, 39
percent in this age bracket also use their phones
to access information about health conditions;
34 percent use them to do online banking.
Fifty-five percent use smartphones for social
networking, and another 55 percent use their
phone’s features for entertainment.
There are truly almost no limits on what
can be done with a smartphone. No longer a
mere toy or gadget, it has evolved to become
an indispensable modern tool. The good news
for older users is that it is also now more accessible
than ever. •
Credit Union Or Bank:
What’s Right For You?
(BPT) - The banking and credit union worlds
are as much the same as they are different.
Both are eager to earn your business and to
provide you with loans, mortgages, savings
and checking accounts. With that said, there
are some significant differences between the
two financial institutions.
The primary difference between a credit
union and a bank is that a credit union is a
not-for-profit cooperative, meaning it’s owned
by its members or customers. Profits made by
credit unions are returned back to members in
the form of reduced fees, higher savings rates
and lower loan rates. A bank, on the other
hand, is for-profit, owned by shareholders and
focused on its stock value.
Joining a credit union is fairly simple, and
membership is inexpensive - typically a one-time
fee of between $5 and $25. Depending on where
you live, many credit unions serve a geographic
area, such as a state or metropolitan area, and
are open to anyone who lives in that area.
There is no membership fee to “join” a bank.
All you need to provide is some money to open
a checking or savings account, a governmentissued
ID card, and some personal information
(address, Social Security number, etc.).
Credit unions, by and large, are able to provide
better rates to their members. Unlike a for-profit
bank, credit unions return their “profits” to
members in the form of lower rates on loans,
higher interest on deposits and more personalized
services. Other advantages of a credit union are
that they tend to have lower fees on checks,
withdrawals and electronic transactions, and
many offer checking accounts with no minimum
balance and without a monthly service charge.
Finally, because credit unions are smaller and
have a focus on member service, they may be
more flexible when it comes to working with
someone with financial challenges.
Banks, because of their size and scale, tend
to offer more financial products than credit
unions. For example, a credit union may have
two or three different types of checking and
savings accounts, whereas a bank may have
dozens to choose from.
Depending on where you live, you may have
numerous options for selecting a credit union.
Some credit unions may have only one location
and offer basic financial services like auto
loans, checking and savings accounts. Most
offer free, nationwide ATM access, and since
many credit unions belong to cooperatives,
members can access accounts across the country
through other credit union branches. Bellco,
for example, offers a full range of financial
products and services, including mortgages,
auto loans and checking accounts. Today,
Bellco has more than 300,000 members who
benefit from the advantages of a credit union,
including lower interest rates on loans, higher
yields on savings and access to thousands of
ATMs nationwide.
Services: Compare the basic banking services
and access to specialized financial products,
including advanced online services and mobile
banking.
Rates and incentives: Look at the current
rates, fees, and incentives - as well as overall
benefits to being a customer or a member of
the bank or credit union.
Finally, it’s important to note that both
banks and credit unions insure your money
up to $250,000 per person, across a group of
accounts (checking, savings, and CDs would
be considered one group). The Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures banks,
and credit unions are backed by the National
Credit Union Administration (NCUA). •
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