BBC 4: Your Money and Your Life, Generational Changes

An alarming radio programme! "Sixties and Beyond"

In a four-part series, Louise Cooper considers the financial and emotional dimensions to the most important decisions we make in our lives.

Life expectancy at birth and at age 65 has been increasing steadily for the past four decades.

This demographic success story brings its dilemmas for today's retirees: how to plan for a retirement that could easily last 20 years, and how to find enough money for expensive care fees.

Louise talks to some of today's over-60s about the pressures and uncertainties of planning for retirement.

Presenter:Louise Cooper
Producer: Ruth Alexander
Editor:Andrew Smith.

"Forty and Fifty-Somethings"

In a four-part series, Louise Cooper considers the financial and emotional dimensions to the most important decisions we make in our lives.

For many, the forties and fifties is a time when you have the greatest number of financial responsibilities, as you're supporting your children and often these days, your ageing parents. The trend has given this generation a new nickname, 'the sandwich generation'.

And that's the simple model. It's in these two decades, that an increasing number of people are starting new relationships, giving rise to another new term, the 'blended family' which brings the complexities of managing money and relationships into sharp focus.

In this episode, Louise speaks to families and experts about the pressure of caring for children and parents, and the delicate balance of blended family finances.

Presenter:Louise Cooper
Producer: Ben Carter
Editor:Andrew Smith.