More Americans in their 50s, 60s, and beyond are starting businesses than ever before—but they’re also facing new, mounting challenges. In this episode of Friends Talk Money, we unpack what’s fueling this surge in encore entrepreneurship and how recent policy shifts—especially cuts to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and new trade barriers—are making it harder for older founders to succeed. Special guest Hedy Ratner, co-founder of the Women’s Business Development Center, joins us to discuss how older entrepreneurs, particularly women and minorities, are being affected. We cover:
- Why older Americans are launching businesses in record numbers
- How Trump-era policy changes are shrinking access to critical SBA support
- Why tariffs and trade policy shifts are squeezing small business margins
- What this means for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses
- What encore entrepreneurs need to do now to protect and grow their ventures
If you’re starting or running a small business later in life, you’ll want to hear what’s changing—and what resources are still out there to help you thrive. Links:
Pam Krueger is an investor advocate, personal finance journalist, and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. Pam created and co-hosted the award-winning investor education TV series, MoneyTrack, seen on 250+ public stations on PBS. With over 25 years in the industry, Pam is one of the leading voices on financial literacy and financial empowerment. When she’s not writing about financial planning for Worth, she’s talking about investing strategies on her podcast, Friends Talk Money.
