Ken Dychtwald

Biography

Over the past 35+ years, Dr. Ken Dychtwald has emerged as North America`s foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing, healthcare and workforce implications of the age wave. He is a psychologist, gerontologist, documentary filmmaker, entrepreneur and best-sellingauthor of sixteen books on aging-related issues, including Bodymind, Age Wave: The Challenges and Opportunities of an Aging Society, Age Power, The Power Years: A User`s Guide to the Rest of Your Life, Workforce Crisis: How to Beat the Coming Shortage of Skills and Talent and a children`s book Gideon`s Dream: A Tale of New Beginnings. His most recent book is entitled A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement and Success. In 2007, he had his debut as a documentary filmmaker and host with the highly rated PBS special "The Boomer Century." His most recent PBS special "With Purpose" aired nationwide in 2009 to coincide with the book release.

In 1986, Ken became the founding President and CEO of Age Wave, a firm created to guide Fortune 500 companies and government groups in product/service development for boomers and mature adults. His client list has included more than half of the Fortune 500. His explorations and innovative solutions have fertilized and catalyzed a broad spectrum of industry sectors-from vitamins and cookies to automotive design and retail merchandising to mutual funds and health insurance.

During his career, Dr. Dychtwald has addressed more than two million people worldwide in his speeches to corporate, association, social service, and government groups. His strikingly accurate predictions and innovative ideas are regularly featured in leading print and electronic media worldwide, including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Financial Times, Fortune, Time, Newsweek, Business Week, Inc., U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, Hong Kong Daily News, South China Morning Post, The Standard, The Straits Times, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, PBS, NPR and BBC.

He is the recipient of the distinguished American Society on Aging Award for outstanding national leadership in the field of aging. American Demographics Magazine honored him as the single most influential marketer to baby boomers over the past quarter century. His article in The Harvard Business Review, "It`s Time to Retire Retirement," was awarded the prestigious McKinsey Award, tying for first place with the legendary Peter Drucker. Through his highly acclaimed presentations, his breakthrough research and consulting initiatives, and his leadership within both the social science and business communities, Ken Dychtwald has dedicated his life to battling ageist stereotypes while promoting a new and vital image of maturity.

Publications

A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement, and Success

"Happiness in life is about more than what`s in your bank account or stock portfolio. Success is more than achieving power and respect. Each one of us has a responsibility for changing the world in a positive, significant, and enduring way -- and the challenge is less daunting than you might think.

In this hopeful and motivating book, author Ken Dychtwald shares inspiring stories of people who have made a difference and points us to resources that will enable us to do the same. All it takes is an investment in head, heart, and spirit. For those of us who find ourselves asking, "Now what?" A New Purpose has the answers.

A New Purpose challenges readers with a paradigm shifting view of what matters most in the second half of life, redefining the way America views success, employment, retirement, and living a significant life.

Success can be looked at in different ways from different points in your life. As a child, it was pleasing your parents; in high school, it may have been about academic achievement and popularity; as a working adult, success is often represented by earning a good salary and the respect of others. But what about in the years after your initial goals have been pursued? What constitutes success then? Leisure or legacy?

For more and more people, it`s about making things better and about improving the world-large or small-in a lasting way. It`s about changing the community, the nation, the political landscape, and the environment. A New Purpose focuses on why readers should commit to having a lasting impact on the world and how they can do it. Ken Dychtwald addresses finances, locations, and realities of life, and includes inspiring stories of people who have made a difference while providing the resources to enable the reader to do the same. Men and women will identify their strengths, become inspired, and find themselves galvanized into action."

Titles

How the Age Wave Will Transform the Marketplace and Our Lives

Re-Visioning Retirement: New Timing, New Purpose, New Planning, New Funding

The Cure for Our Aging Healthcare System

A New Agenda for 21st Century Aging: Seven Critical Course Corrections Needed for a Century of Successful Aging

Optimizing Generational Diversity: Four Cohorts Rethink Work, Money, Family, Retirement and Success