A recent survey by the AARP Investment Program from Scudder and Scudder Investments shows that 61% of Americans between the ages of 53 and 65 are confused by the saving/investing options available to them. Some 63% of Americans over age 66 say the same.

The AARP Investment Program from Scudder has created a library of free investment guides geared to investors age 50 and over.

Each four-to-six page library title-including "Investing in Your 50s," "How Do I Choose the IRA that's Right for Me?" "Seven Steps Toward Planning for Retirement," "Getting Married After 50,"and "When Your Spouse Enters a Long-Term Care Facility" - focuses on a life event or a financial situation that investors age 50 and over typically face. "Investing in Your 70s," for example, offers practical information on such milestones as taking mandatory minimum distributions from a traditional IRA and on relocating or selling a primary residence.

According to research conducted with the cooperation of AARP Investment Program shareholders, investors 50 and over:

-- Make one or two financial decisions at a time,
-- Seek out investment and financial information on specific questions,
often in anticipation of major life events, such as retirement or the death of a spouse,
-- Prefer investment information that comes in an unbiased and easy-to-read format,
-- Are put off by long, technical explanations.

"Until now, most mutual fund education programs don't give investment guidance in the format and style that investors 50 and over prefer," said Jim Thompson of the AARP Investment Program from Scudder. "Most information is written in a "one size fits all" format, and the information needs for people in their 20's is very different from the needs of people in their 60's. The Financial Library was created in response to what our shareholders overwhelmingly told us: they want clear, easy-to-digest information on one financial issue at a time."

In a series of focus groups conducted to gather feedback on several possible publication designs, shareholders strongly preferred the format dubbed "Joe Friday" for its simple graphics and matter-of-fact tone. "Joe Friday" became the model for the final design, which features large type, straightforward language, an easy-to-read design with ample white space, and clear action steps.

Other key tools in this educational initiative include the recently re- launched Web site, aarp.scudder.com, an investment site designed expressly for investors age 50 and over. Site visitors can use the site's "financial concierge service" to do a natural language search, perform financial calculations with customized tools and create a personalized home page.  

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