BHG founder Jim Cobb participated in the organization’s invitation-only event celebrating the “New Longevity” and advocating for cultural shifts around aging.
”Age is more than a number.” The saying has been around for decades, but at the recent ROAR Summit in New York City, the focus was on data-driven insights about the current realities and future of aging.
Created by Michael Clinton, former president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, the ROAR organization is aimed at individuals 50+ who are interested in redefining and reimagining the second half of their lives.
The 2025 ROAR Summit provided a platform for wide-ranging discussions led by leading longevity experts in science, psychology, higher education, nutrition, skin science, finance and more. Notable topics included how different generations view value (Gen Z = convenience, Millennials = cost-effectiveness, Boomers = trust and quality) and “ROAR Conversations,” interviews on reimagining 
aging with celebrities such as NBC TODAY Show co-host Al Roker, ABC News Correspondent Debra Roberts and supermodel, actress and entrepreneur Christie Brinkley, led by high-profile interviewers Gayle King, Paula Zahn and others.
Among the other more than two dozen speakers and panelists were Dr. Mark Lachs, Co-director, Center for Aging Research and Clinical Care, Weill Cornell Medicine; Jean Chatzky, founder and CEO, HerMoney; and Patrick Kullenberg, Chief Innovation Officer, L’Oréal Groupe.
Key takeaways from experts at the event included:
- Positive emotions at age 50 serve as “biological assets,” with optimism alone reducing cardiovascular risk by 13% to 35%.
- Unlocking the potential of older adults who want to continue working could add $6.2 trillion to global GDP.
- Many 50+ individuals are outliving their savings, leading to a trend of returning to work after initial retirement.
ROAR Forward also unveiled its annual list of advertising that best shattered 50+ stereotypes, headed by Estée Lauder’s “Because of My Age” campaign featuring 60-year-old supermodel Paulina Porizkova.
For more information on the ROAR Summit and to discuss how the ROAR Forward movement might benefit your brand, contact Jim Cobb at jcobb@bloodhoundbranding.com.