Locals sound off on their hopes and concerns about reaching their third decade of life

To some people, turning 30 could be a convenient excuse for a life crisis, but young adults said it actually provided an opportunity for reflection.

Career

What 30-year-olds think:

"You look back, and you think, 'Wow, I'm 30. Where am I now versus where I thought I would be when I was 12 or 13 and thinking 30 was old?' I'm not a fireman or an astronaut ... but I figured out what I'm good at and I really enjoy it." -- Mark McKnight, 28, marketing director at Rock/Creek Outfitters.

"In your 20s, when I was working with people in their 40s and 50s, I thought saying I was 30-something would make them believe me a little more when I was talking. I felt that turning 30 would give me more credibility." -- Tahnika Rodriguez, 33, senior program manager at TVA.

Experts suggest:

Thanks to economic instability, establishing a career by 30 is not a given, but developing a "professional brand" within a field as early as possible is crucial, said Ruth Robbins, a career coach at the New York-based Five O'Clock Club Guild of Coaches.

"If whatever happens on the early end after college graduation is not happening the way it should, then 30 as a benchmark becomes not as hard and firm," Mrs. Robbins said. "People do change careers, tweak careers. They're more flexible than ever; they have to be."

Personal finance

What 30-year-olds think:

"I read something the other day in a magazine that was like, 'Is $1 million really enough for retirement these days?' It's like, "$1 million? Oh my gosh, I need to get started.' " -- Wendy Buckner, 30, owner of The Hot Chocolatier.

"My best friend is of a financial mind, so when I had my first real job out of college, he was on me ... saying that I needed to set up an IRA (individual retirement account). That was something that, thanks to him, I was thinking about at 22." -- John Sweet, 32, owner of Niedlov's Breadworks.

Experts suggest:

If you're not doing so already, purchase disability income insurance and commit to consistently saving 10 percent to 15 percent of gross income. Set aside a permanent fund that won't be used to pay for intermediate expenses like a car or vacation, said Paul Fitzgerald, managing director at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

"The key elements to saving is not about where you save it. That's almost irrelevant," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "It's about how long you save, how early you start and how much you save."

Health

What 30-year-olds think:

"I think 30 is a mile marker when the first stuff starts breaking. You become very aware that you've got one body you get for the course of this lifetime, so you need to treat it as a precious commodity." -- Josh McManus, 32, creative strategist at CreateHere.

"I definitely don't buy all-natural and whole wheat and everything, but I try to eat healthy and drink lots of water. We've talked about having another child, so I don't smoke, drink, do any drugs or anything like that." -- Beka Vonnoh, 29, case manager at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.

Experts suggest:

At 30, it's important to pay attention to hereditary risks for those with a family history of cancers, coronary artery disease and diabetes. Metabolism also starts to slow around age 30. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight becomes more important because losing weight becomes harder after 35, said Dr. Richard Moody of Chattanooga Family Practice Associates.

"That's why I sit down with people and tell them to focus on good nutrition," he said. "That's where you're going to get the most bang for your buck."

Starting a family

What 30-year-olds think:

"As a female, you always have in the back of your mind that you want to be married by 30 and that your fertility time clock is ticking. I'm more career-oriented, but I knew that, at some point in my life, I wanted a family. I wanted it to be sooner rather than later." -- Jami Hall, 30, director of student activities at Dalton State College.

"Professionally and career-wise, we've decided that there are some things we want to get mapped out (before having children). We're more comfortable having some certainty ... before we start bringing children into it." -- Aaron Deimling, 29, financial representative at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

Experts suggest:

Women who want multiple children should consider starting by age 30, but a woman's fertility doesn't significantly decrease until 33 or 34. Men remain fertile well into their 80s, but physicians consider 35 the threshold of advanced maternal age in women. Regardless of age, overall health remains important, said Dr. Kirk Brody, an OB/GYN with the OB/GYN Centre of Excellence on McCallie Avenue.

"I will take a healthy 30- or 35-year-old over an unhealthy 25-year-old any day," Dr. Brody said.