>> MAKE OVER YOUR . . .

. . . smile

To make your teeth look whiter, wear a darker blouse or shirt. For women, the darker the lipstick, the more vibrant the teeth will look.

 — PAUL VANKEVICH, assistant clinical professor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

. . . get-togethers

Music is what really sets the tone for a party. Choose music that reflects the energy and rhythm you want to create. For cocktails, start with lounge music. For dinner, maybe Ella Fitzgerald; end with a DJ to get guests dancing.

 — BRYAN RAFANELLI, president and CEO of Rafanelli Events  

. . . people skills

To be more charismatic, listen, maintain eye contact, and remember someone’s name and something about them — even if it means jotting it down right after you meet them.

 — ANGELA HOSEK, director of the public speaking program, Emerson College

 . . . social media profiles

Rather than having 20 mediocre social media accounts, have three or four robust profiles that really show you in your best light. Look at them as a public snapshot: Do you want people to see you wearing a nice suit, or a nightgown and curlers in your hair?

 — FRANCIS SKIPPER, vice president of digital marketing, 451 Marketing 

. . . halfhearted apologies

Don’t use qualifiers: “I’m sorry, but . . .” Whatever comes after the “but” is your excuse.

 — JUSTINE GRIFFIN, senior vice president for crisis communications and reputation management, Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communication

. . . lackluster marriage

Don’t get complacent or take each other for granted. Continue to flirt and seduce, impress, and entice each other. Too often the chase stops at “I do,” and that’s when it should really begin.

 — DANA ADAM SHAPIRO, who interviewed hundreds of divorced people for his forthcoming You Can Be Right (or You Can Be Married)

. . . savings account

First, save a couple hundred dollars a month just by scaling back a bit; two or three dinners in Boston equal $250. Second, show some initiative. There are lots of ways to make a few dollars here and there, and that pocket money will go a long way, especially if you put it into your savings.

 — JOEL SHULMAN, associate professor of entrepreneurship, Babson College

. . . retirement account

Mutual funds involve a manager picking stocks, and more than half of managers don’t beat the market. It’s better to buy a low-cost index fund. It has no brains in it but performs at the same rate of return as, say, the S&P, and for a very low fee — usually less than 1 percent [of assets].

 — PETER COHAN, adjunct lecturer, Babson College

. . . negative attitude

Research shows that aerobic exercise — walking, dancing, whatever works for you — three times a week for 30 minutes each time is equivalent to our most powerful psychiatric medications in dealing with depression.

 — TAL BEN-SHAHAR, author of Being Happy

. . . Boston accent

Don’t leave out r’s when they appear in a word, and don’t add r’s when they don’t appear. “My sistuh lives in Florider.”

 — JANELLE WINSTON, owner, SpeechCoach Company

. . . vehicle’s resale value

Always go with the leather option — leather will always look better than cloth as the years go on — and get the latest and greatest electronics, because that’s where the resale value is.  

— ERNIE BOCH JR., president and CEO, Boch Automotive

. . . golf swing

To use a baseball analogy, point your feet toward the shortstop and swing toward the second baseman. The natural rotation of your body will square the club.

 — GARY PARKER, PGA head professional and owner, CityGolf Boston

 . . . helicopter parenting

Many kids no longer know how to make independent decisions without their parents’ input, but their futures are filled with unpredictable events they’ll need to handle on their own. Today’s kids can’t deal with a bad grade, much less a bully. Everybody gets hysterical about this stuff. It sensitizes the child and childhood becomes a drama, with parents as the executive producers.

 — JOHN ROSEMOND, author of the forthcoming Parent-Babble

. . . love life

Take more chances. It is a numbers game, so if you’re looking for a date, don’t be shy about approaching someone you’re attracted to. Nowadays everyone’s like “Try online dating!” but people just stand there like idiots when they’re not online.

 — JANINE BUSH, owner, J. Allen Matchmaking

 . . . friend’s love life