Retirement firm

Retirement Firm - Review our investment articles, try our retirement calculators, connect online with top ranking advisors to begin planning your financial future.

Retirement Calculator, Inc. Do you believe that your retirement firm is doing all that they can to ensure that your retirement is all that you hope it will be? ...

As one of the earliest active retirement firms in Virginia, Benefit Strategies has provided customized retirement solutions for employers of all ...

Received a retirement payout in 2006 when leaving my old job which has now been rolled into another IRA. I just got a notice from the firm saying an "administrative error occurred" and they incorrectly calculated my payout- over paying me and that I owe them $1300.00. They want the money back. Do they have grounds on which to ask for this money back?

My Dad is trying to do his taxes for 2009. One of the things he is looking over and trying to figure is the following: He bought 200 shares of General Motors(Symbol GM) on 4-1-05 at $28.50/share($5,700). He sold the stock June 8th 2009 while it was in bankruptcy(the 200 shares) at .92/share(Symbol: GMGMQ) and received a total of $183.63. I read in the following article that you can get a tax break on the old GM stock if you unloaded it. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102110626 Specifically: Tax tips if you've sold stock • File Form 1040 Schedule D. • Brokerage statements can help you calculate your cost -- and reduce the taxable gains on a stock once it is sold. Talk to your broker, but it is possible that your broker may not have all these records -- especially if accounts were moved to different firms, said George W. Smith IV, certified public accountant at George W. Smith & Co. in Southfield. • If you know when you bought the shares, you can get historic prices at Google Finance or www.bigcharts.com. For GM, you need to enter MTLQQ in the search box. • Investors can research some GM stock prices at www.motorsliquidation.com -- click on Investor Information. The site has a list of GM closing stock prices from May 31, 1989, through May 29, 2009. It also has a section listing common stock splits for GM, spinoffs and dividends from 1950. • You have a capital gain if you sell the asset for more than your cost basis. You have a capital loss if you sell the asset for less than your basis. Losses from the sale of personal-use property, such as your home or car, are not deductible. But losses from the sale of a stock are deductible. • If you hold the asset for more than one year before you sell it, your capital gain or loss is long-term. If you hold it one year or less, your capital gain or loss is short-term. • If your capital losses exceed your capital gains, the amount of the excess loss that can be claimed is the lesser of $3,000 ($1,500 if you are married filing separately) or your total net loss as shown on line 16 of the Form 1040 Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses. If your net capital loss is more than this limit, you can carry the loss forward to later years. Carefully follow the Capital Loss Carryover Worksheet in Publication 550 to figure the amount carried forward. One point that is made in the main article is this: When any shares outside of a retirement account are sold, though, the loss or gain would be taken in the tax year when they're sold -- and if necessary, some of the loss would be carried forward into future years as well. Given the above information, can my dad actually do the above on his schedule D? He was questioning this because of a letter that was sent out to GM stockholders when bankruptcy was declared indicating the following: (ii) finding that trading in GM common stock(the "GM Stock") could severely limit the Debtors' ability to use the Tax Attributes for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended(the "Tax Code"); and 105(a) and 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code retroactively effective as of the Commencement Date(the "Final Order"). If you are a CPA, or can answer this question, any help would be appreciated. Thank You.

I'm 57 years old and was recently laid off from my previous job as a tax accountant at a big firm. I was making quite a good salary but was released after the department was trying to clean out. Now I'm left without a job and worried. My severance pay is running out and I don't want to get into the retirement age with no money. I have a degree in math and finance. Any jobs? P.S. I'm using my son's accountant so this isn't the usual "Chicken Tenders"

Several years ago, Cliff began investing in stocks and bonds. He made his selections on the basis of articles he read describing good investment opportunities. Some have worked well for Cliff, but others have not. Cliff has never taken the time to evaluate his portfolio performance, but he feels it isn't very good. Cliff currently has about $90,000 invested. He has been dating a woman lately and hopes to marry her in three years, at which time he will need $20,000 for marriage expenses and a honeymoon. Cliff's only other objective is to accumulate funds for retirement, but he does not have a specific dollar target for this goal. Cliff feels that he has a moderate risk-tolerance level. 1. Explain some disadvantages of Cliff's current investment approach. 2. Construct a portfolio for Cliff, limiting your selections to 5 mutual funds (assume that he sells his current stock and bond holdings). Make sure your plan indicates specific dollar amounts for each portfolio component. Make sure your plan also explains your selections for each portfolio component. Visit an investment firm that deals in mutual funds, such as, Vanguard.com, AmericanCentury.com, Fidelity.com, etc. and select 5 mutual funds that will diversify Cliff’s portfolio. Record the fund name, ticker symbol, 5 year average annual returns (can use 3 year if 5 year is unavailable), the amount to be invested in each fund, and the amount returned in 3 years using the 5 years average annual return for the wedding. 3. Explain how Cliff should periodically rebalance his portfolio, indicating how frequently rebalancing should be done.

I have 2 adult step children living at home (one of which just moved back in) and both working full time. We have a verbal agreement that they would pay rent. Now don’t get me wrong, this is not a huge amount of rent, this goes to the extra food and utilities expenses. I am a firm believer that while kids are in school, college or university they can live at home and never pay anything. This is also true while they look for a job. Neither one of the kids help out around the house very much, we seem to always have to clean up after them, not very often after a big dinner do they stick around and help clean up, when we ask to have something done we have to wait and many times it does not get done. It’s not that I am looking for them to do this all the time, but it would be nice sometimes. I only have a few rules, such as clean up after you and turn the lights off. They never turn off the lights and we still have to clean up after them! Not only this, but they never seem to pay us on time and I always have to ask for the money. And it now has gone over 2 months past due for both of them. My stepson has been working extra hours and keeps telling us how much extra he is making to which makes this more annoying. I should also mention that my wife is out of work for the next 12 weeks while she recovers from surgery so our income is less. I’m at the age where I am trying to save for my retirement, but I just can’t save any money at all. I’ve talked to my wife and she agrees. She has talked to them. It changes for a little while and then it goes back to the same routine. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Ford and GM are publicly traded companies and their stock is subject to impact average Americans and their retirement plans. I don't agree with a bail out, but I see why they are at the table begging. I can't believe no Senator or Representative in either of these trips to Washington asked Chrysler why they were there also. They are a private firm held by a private company that has plenty of money. If they need money shouldn't they just ask the parent company for it? Are we really going to give a few billion dollars to a hand full of guys that already have a few billion dollars in the bank?

I have some money to invest but am overwhelmed by the number of companies out there you can use. I am a Chase member, and it would be much more convenient to just use their services to buy an IRA and a target-date-retirement fund, as opposed to setting something up with one of these other companies I always hear about. Does it matter if I use my own bank, or do I really need one of these other brokerage firms???????

I converted the 401k to an IRA, with the advice of our investment firm, so I am able to make monthly withdrawals to pay my bills. However, I think I am subject to a 20 percent tax penalty and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. I am 55, does the government have any kind of hardship law to keep me from paying such high penalties for withdrawals? I am wondering if I should I convert it back to a 401k and borrow against it to avoid the steep penalties and taxes. Could you advise me how I can avoid the high penalties and interest to help get me through until I can get another job?

Which of the following makes someone and entrepreneur a. earning a lot of money as a computer programmer b. becoming a highly paid dancer c. running a service that hires people to install sprinkler systems in lawns d. inventing and selling the rights to manufacture a computer game which of the following is a private organization that attempts to influence public officials to act or vote in ways that will benefit the groups members? a. market research group b. free enterprise group s. public policy group d. interest group which of the following is a critical rule for determining where something is a public good/ a. the benefit to each individual who uses the facility is greater than the cost b. the benefits of the facility are greater for the society than for the individuals using it c. the total benefits to society are greater than the total cost d. the total cost is small for each individual tax payer How do consumers make their desires known to businesses most effectively? (I think its C or D, just trying to be sure) a. through buying products b. by protesting and boycotting products c. through mail and phone surveys d. by hiring lobbyists and joining consumer groups What is one benefit provided by Social Security? a. medical care for the indigent b. cash transfers to workers injured on the job c. compensation for all who lose jobs d. retirement income for the elderly what kind of system is the united states economy based on? a. cause and effect b. centralized c. market d. production A shift in the demand curve means which of the following? a. a change in demand at every price b. a rise in prices c. a decrease in both price and quantity demanded d. a change in consumer income When prices rise, which of the following happens to income? a. it goes down b. it buys less c. it rises to meet prices d. it is used to buy different things Which or the following is the best example of the law of supply a. a sandwich shop increases the number of sandwiches they supply everyday when the price is increased b. a food producer increases the number of acres of wheat he grows to supply a milling company c. a catering company buys a new dishwasher to make their work easier d. a milling company builds a new factory to process flour export Which of the following is a fixed cost for a store? a. short term workers b. rent c. advertising d. inventory What is one kind of monopoly that the U.S goverment generally permits? a. the telephone company b. professional sport leagues c. low-price gasoline d. certain kinds of medications When the government deregulates a product or service, what happens to it? a. the product or service is available to more people b the product or service becomes cheaper c. some government regulations over the industry are eliminated d. government control over the industry is stopped How does a natural monopoly function a. a few firms are in perfect condition b. imperfect competition makes it difficult for firms to do in business c. a single firm supplies all the output d. the government supplies all buyers with the product Which of the following is an advantage of a sole proprietorship? a. no one is responsible if it fails b. it is the least regulated form of business organization c. it is an easy way to make a lot of money d. it is easy to get financing to start one

Hey everyone, I was laid off from my job with AT&T in August 08. Since losing my job and most of my life with it I've resorted to moving out of my home state (Michigan) to Arizona to stay with family. It's been a year now and I've only managed to find a part time retail job. I'm on my last extension of unemployment benefits. I want to look for work in another state. I've been told by a few contracting/temping firms outside Arizona that if I were local they might be able to help me out (I've had no luck or responses from Phoenix in this area which I don't understand but then again we are now just behind Michigan in job shedding). In order for me to do something like this I would have to quit my retail job and use some IRA funds to try and temp-relocate. Unemployment asks you if you've been fired or quit any type of work when you certify and you are barred from using any retirement funds while receiving benefits. I've asked my Unemployment office about this and they offer no advice beyond admitting I'm in a catch 22. I don't want to tap my IRA but either way in a few months I'm probably going to be forced to. Has anyone out there been in a similar situation and can possibly offer some advice? I feel like just stopping my unemployment now and moving forward using my IRA funds. I'm very aware of the downside of this but I'm not seeing any other options. In over a year I've had four interviews three of which I was told I was over qualified for. I also fully admit that's hard to keep up hope after being in this position for so long but I also know my situation can't be that uncommon. I also know others are struggling worse than me and I feel for those people. I just don't know anymore.

In india most government and private firms has 60yrs as a retirement age where the employee discontinues .

Hello everyone, I'm Mike - I'm 20 years old. I am setting up a personal budget worksheet but need some help with itemizing my savings to be a reasonable amount. I currently bring in $34,155 a year gross -- and $2,469.25 a month NET. My current monthly expenses are shown below and I need some help filling in the blanks... Thanks Rent - $750/month Water - $30/month Light - $60/month Food - $200/month Directv - $80/month Renters Ins. - $30/month Clothes - $100/month I have $1,219.25 at the end of each month left over after general expenses -- you will see I don't have cell phone, telephone, car insurance, and fuel.. that's one benefit, company vehicle etc etc. General Savings - $XXX.XX/month House Savings - $XXX.XX/month (plan to buy a house in 5 years.. thinking $375-$500) IRA/401k/Retirement - $XXX.XX/month (I do plan to retire and pass my business down some day :) ) Savings for school - $XXX.XX/month (Since high school graduation I have been focusing on the growth of my company, but taking classes that are pertinent to my business, obtaining all certifications, licenses, attending many training seminars, studying to become a state certified horticulturist etc etc. since there is not a school locally for a horticulture degree, I have researched and found a very well known school's curriculum and I have purchased the books off of amazon.com for a very good price, so I have been studying that for the knowledge..... my plan is in approximately a year to pursue a degree in business on top of working...ughh) Vacation - $XXX.XX (thinking $100??) Now ofcourse I expect in 2-3 years to be bringing in approximately 40-50k a year and can then be a lot more flexible with spending, but I am a firm believer in starting early especially with saving.

Accounting Not everyone knows what career choice they would like when they are young. I on the other hand, am pretty sure I know. I want to be an accountant. To many people, this job may be the most tedious ever, but to me it is interesting. There are a lot of jobs out there that are target to help a certain group of people. Accounting is not just targeted at one group, but is capable of helping the entire world. Planning ahead is very important to me. I grew up in house where both of my parents were not very successful. My dad went into the army after he finished high school. My mom did not finish high school and is now taking care of old ladies. They tell me and my siblings to go to college so we can get a good job, settle into a house and then make a family. As I was growing up my interests became different all the time, I finally realized that through everything I have always been good at math and it is quite interesting to me, and accounting fits my interests so it is the perfect job for me. Body paragraph 1 I believe that accounting as a good career choice for me because the basic qualifictations that are required to be an accountant I have. Such as doing basic math like, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and possibly division. To do this job I should also have a good memory, which I have. The reason I would need a good memory is because I need to remember what accounts increase on the debit side, and what accounts decrease on the credit side. I also need to be able to take full responsibility of everything I do. Why? Well because in accounting there are certain steps that I have to take in order to reach the end and If I do not do them in the order they belong then others are going to have a difficult time doing their job. I am learning in my accounting class that in accounting I have to start from the beginning and work till the end. body paragraph 2 In order to be an accountant I need to get atleast a bachelor’s degree either in accounting or a related field such as: a certified public accountant, a system accountant, or a tax accountant. Some jobs may require a master’s degree in business administration. Having the certification or license to be an accountant will certainly give you and advantage for obtaining a job. body paragraph 3 body paragraph 4 Body paragraph 5 Accountants have a wide range in salaries because of the size of firms, the location of the firms, and the level of education. If you have up to one year in experience you are able to make any where from $28,250 to $45,000. With one to three years you can make 33,000 to 52,000, senior accountants make anywhere between 40,750 to 69,750. Financial managers are one of the top employees of accounting and they can make anywhere from 48,000 to 90,000 dollars. Finally the top employees of accounting firms make any where from 64,750 to 200,750. Getting my bachelors degree in accounting will start me off with 43,269 a year, and If I were to get my masters degree I could start with 46,251 which is a good start. The benefits that come with this job are amazing, I would most likely get paid vacation, sick leave, health insurance, profit sharing, and retirement plans. If you have any special skiils you can make double or triple the top salary range. body paragraph 6 body paragraph 7 body paragraph 8 conclusion Body paragraph 4 Many of the activities done in accounting firms all across the world probably do most of the same tasks. In the accounting class I am taking right now we are learning exactly what real accountants do. I think that the job is quite simple but many think it is tough. The basics are keeping track of businesses money, writing check, and making sure that everything adds up correctly. It could be really simple or it could be really tough depending on if I am capable of remembering what accounts do what and being able to know how to add and subtract. I would also need to know how to take full responsibility for the things I do, because if I do something wrong my colleagues could be penalized for it. With being an accountant comes the responsibility of making sure that the nation’s firms are being run correctly, making sure that the public records are accurate and kept that way, and that taxes are paid on time. This is a really tough job because a lot of people during this t Body paragraph 4 Many of the activities done in accounting firms all across the world probably do most of the same tasks. In the accounting class I am taking right now we are learning exactly what real accountants do. I think that the job is quite simple but many think it is tough. The basics are keeping track of businesses money, writing check, and making sure that everything adds up correctly. It could be really simple or it could be really tough depending on if I am capable of remembering what accounts do what and being able to know how to add and subtract. I would also need to know how to take full

I have a job interview tomorrow for an internship and I have been reading over this a lot in the past couple of days, I still don't think that I could explain what they do if asked in an interview. Could someone please explain this in terms that a non business major can grasp: "We are a progressive, team- oriented legal/pension consulting firm of 30+ employees. We concentrate in the design and administration of qualified retirement plans for closely held businesses. We are a tax law consulting firm that designs, administers and consults on qualified retirement plans. The firm works with business owners, accountants and investment advisors who want to maximize plan contributions for owners, family members and select employees.We have developed an IRS-approved plan that goes far beyond the traditional 401(k) contribution. The plan is adaptable to business changes and meets all government non-discrimination requirements."

Can the same name of partnership firm can run the same business without the retirement deed and making other deed (by removing two partners from the firm illegally) and opened new bank account in the same name of the firm with two partners.

After 25 years of service, I am being offered an early retirement deal. Other than the usual security guard jobs, I'm a bit stumped regarding those firms that tend to want retired cops. If you have any information , names etc. of those companies that have contracts for higher end security and investigation services, I would greatly appreciate that information.

So a little more than a year ago, my mom left my dad. I am 25 now and haven't lived at home since I was 18 when I moved away to university. I moved to Sweden for a year and it was right before I left, my mom decided to she should let me know her plans before I went. It didn't really bother me none. I stayed in touch, webcam, email, phone when we could (time difference) with both my mom and dad. My dad seemed to take it hard, as he still loves my mom. My mom is busy working and hiking which she loves and we talk about finance and her retirement stuff etc... (my area of expertise) and my dad we talk about hockey and my photography (side passion). My dad, who was raised Jewish and wasn't really ever into it (loves Christmas). We were raised with both Christianity and Judaism. My dad has become "born again" and has really taken to Christianity and God etc... I consider myself non-religious and stand pretty firm. I accept my dad for the path he has taken, there are many worse ways to deal with divorce. He does like talking about God with me, and I take it for what it is. Hell, I even stood in a line for an hour to get a book signed for him by this guy Joel Olsteen? never heard of him til that moment. Oh, I have since moved back from Sweden to New York City. I am originally from San Francisco Bay Area, so still haven't seen my parents since the divorce. Ok, so talking with my sister who is away at College, we were talking about her coming to visit this Spring and the conversation led to our Dad and Mom. We hadn't really talked about it before, but she just vented on me about how she blocked both parents from IM because our Dad doesn't want to hear about her boys and she can't stand listening to his "God talk". She blocked our mom because she can't stand to listen how she feels guilty for breaking up the family or ruining my sister, me, and brothers lives, even though my sister constantly reiterates that she is not ruining anyones life. Personally, I did not know my mom felt that way, nor did I really think my dad's religiousness was a big deal, regardless of my own belief. Like I said there are worse ways to go. He talks about how he met a woman at Church, and he doesn't watch any television anymore, etc...and I think that's good. So if you are still reading this because you love to help people (smiles)....I guess, for my own faults, I never realized how this could be effecting my sister. She is the youngest, but still was already out of the house down in school when parents decided to divorce, so I suppose I never gave it much thought...we're all grown. I want her and my dad and mom to have a good relationship, I said I could talk to dad about easing up on the religious stuff, but she told me to not do anything. What is everyones thoughts. Thanks for your time and appreciation.

Building Customs An Arkansas boy had moved away and made his fortune. When he retired, he returned home to spend the rest of his years hunting and fishing and build his retirement home. For the job he hired a local carpenter. The retiree explained, “I’ve got the plans right here, you can read a blueprint, can’t you?” “Oh, I can read a blueprint,” said the carpenter, unrolling the plans. “And I can see a BIG mistake already. You can’t build this house like this!” “I certainly can,” replied the retiree. “These plans were drawn by the best architectural firm in New York. I want to you follow them exactly or I’ll find myself another contractor.” “Your funeral,” the carpenter shrugged, “but I’m warning you right off - the bathroom is going to end up inside..”. === More You Might Be a Redneck if… Your Momma has ever stomped into the house and announced, “The feud is on!” The antenna on your truck is a danger to low flying airplanes. Your Mother has been involved in a fist fight w/the high school prinicipal. You’ve ever barbecued Spam on the grill. Your Brother-in-law is your Uncle. None of your shirts quite cover your stomach, and it’s not because you are Britney. You consider “Outdoor Life” deep reading. Your mother keeps a spit cup on the ironing board. Your favorite Christmas present was a painting of Elvis on black velvet. Your school fight song was “Dueling Banjos.”

Recently, my wife, who has some mental health issues I've been helping her with for 8 years, decided she needed a month apart to work on her mental health. At the time, I loved her unconditionally and with all of my heart. I figured, sure... why not? It couldn't hurt. Well, after 3 days apart, she stopped taking my calls. She accused me of lying, stealing, etc... (I don't do these things and she knows this) She took me off our joint retirement account and drained the account out and put it into her own personal account she opened to keep the funds from me. We have had shared money since we were dating so many years ago. She vanished for several days. She even went to our storage and tried cleaning out all the valuables she could carry. Next, I get an email saying "I consulted with a lawyer and I want a divorce." That was last week. I got her into counseling (by some miracle) and this week, she wants to be back together. She seems pretty firm in it and I do believe her, but there are now problems. She's broken my trust by trying to leave me with nothing, financially. She tried to leave me with nothing and was planning this big move for over a month, behind my back. I loved this woman unconditionally and would have done anything for her. She's my world, my everything. I want to make my marriage work, but I'm really having problems because I don't feel I can trust her after she did all that stuff to me. Because I don't feel I can trust her, some of my love for her has gone away. Can anyone help me make sense of this situation? Should I keep trying? Am I setting myself up for another big disaster by trusting her after she was so cruel to me? What would you do? (Keeping in mind I've been with my wife for 8 years and would really like to honor my commitment to her and continue to have what was, until 2 weeks ago, a very VERY close and happy marriage) Thanks! Thanks for the advice so far... More about the mental health: She had an unknown mental health / depression disorder when we first met. She was on Celexa. Later, after she went off it, she was diagnosed bipolar. However... during the last visit to the counselors just a week or so ago, they insisted she's NOT bipolar and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder (she had a very bad childhood). So... it's hard for me to separate out the mental health issues from the real her this time. Bipolar would explain a lot of what happened a couple weeks ago. PTSD? Maybe... not sure if that would explain it. Anyway, thanks again for all the advice. I hope there is a lot more of it coming. I'm really stuck here and having a hard time understanding how *I* feel right now, never mind how she feels. I'm lost.

Cliff Swatner is single, 33, and owns a condominium in New York City worth $250,000. Cliff is an attorney and doing well financially. His income last year exceeded $90,000, and he has sufficient liquid assets to supplement his condominium and other tangible assets. Several years ago, Cliff began investing in stocks and bonds. He made his selections on the basis of articles he read describing good investment opportunities. Some have worked well for Cliff, but others have not. Cliff has never taken the time to evaluate his portfolio performance, but he feels it isn't very good. Cliff currently has about $90,000 invested. He has been dating a woman lately and hopes to marry her in three years, at which time he will need $20,000 for marriage expenses and a honeymoon. Cliff's only other objective is to accumulate funds for retirement, but he does not have a specific dollar target for this goal. Cliff feels that he has a moderate risk-tolerance level. 1. Explain some disadvantages of Cliff's current investment approach. 2. Construct a portfolio for Cliff, limiting your selections to 5 mutual funds (assume that he sells his current stock and bond holdings). Make sure your plan indicates specific dollar amounts for each portfolio component. Make sure your plan also explains your selections for each portfolio component. Visit an investment firm that deals in mutual funds, such as, Vanguard.com, AmericanCentury.com, Fidelity.com, etc. and select 5 mutual funds that will diversify Cliff’s portfolio. Record the fund name, ticker symbol, 5 year average annual returns (can use 3 year if 5 year is unavailable), the amount to be invested in each fund, and the amount returned in 3 years using the 5 years average annual return for the wedding. 3. Explain how Cliff should periodically rebalance his portfolio, indicating how frequently re balancing should be done. This is what I have so far but i need help with choosing the 5 mutual funds Can anyone help me out? Some disadvantages of Cliff's current investment approach are that he has not kept track of his investments. Having made the investments Cliff should have kept track of them. He should hold on to the investments that are doing well and sell the ones that are not. Investing without any specific targets or goals, doesn’t help when he is trying to accumulate funds for retirement. Different investments have different risk and should be kept in mind while investing. He has no dollar amount as a target, while investing it is important to have the dollar amount that he wishes to acquire. Based on these and the expected returns, a monthly allotment can be made. Without the target, it is difficult to put aside any amount of money. His portfolio should if possible be a diversified portfolio so that the instability in returns is reduced. This means that he should include some low risk securities such as Treasury Bills. Advantages of Mutual Funds: Professional Management - The primary advantage of mutual funds (at least theoretically) is the professional management of your money. Investors purchase funds because they do not have the time or the expertise to manage their own portfolio. A mutual fund is a relatively inexpensive way for a small investor to get a full-time manager to make and monitor investments. Diversification - By owning shares in a mutual fund instead of owning individual stocks or bonds, your risk is spread out. The idea behind diversification is to invest in a large number of assets so that a loss in any particular investment is minimized by gains in others. In other words, the more stocks and bonds you own, the less any one of them can hurt you. Large mutual funds typically own hundreds of different stocks in many different industries. It wouldn't be possible for an investor to build this kind of a portfolio with a small amount of money. Economies of Scale - Because a mutual fund buys and sells large amounts of securities at a time, its transaction costs are lower than you as an individual would pay. Liquidity - Just like an individual stock, a mutual fund allows you to request that your shares be converted into cash at any time. Simplicity - Buying a mutual fund is easy. Cliff can invest the $90,000 as follows: Asset HoldingsAmountProportion Growth stocks$27,00030% International stocks$18,00020% High quality bonds$22,50025% Zero coupon bonds$13,50015% 3 to 5-year CDs$ 9,00010% Total$90,000100% Rebalancing the portfolio means moving from risky assets to safer assets as you time passes. The logic behind that is that an investor would not like to lose capital as he grows older, since the sources of income would be limited. As people approach retirement, they tend to become more risk averse. Their investment strategy also tends to emphasize capital preservation. This increased conservatism is a very normal response. However, this shift in risk tolerance requires tha

Hi, firstly thanks for reading this! - I was a little disheartened with my SAT 1 results ... as i am not very good at english. I am strong with business/economics subjects that are unfortunately not examined by SAT 2s. I am hoping to come across as a all rounder. Any advice is helpful. I am applying Early Restrictive to Columbia Undergrad. And I am a migrant from China who have been living in Australia for 9 years. I am currently 18. Academics: ranked top 5% from yr 9 to 11 and top 10% in yr 12 (school size 350) State Ranking - Top 1% GPA - b/w 3.9 to 4.0 past 4 yrs SAT 1 - 2080 (640 reading, 640 writing, and 800 math) SAT 2 - 2400 (800 math1, 800 math2, 800 chinese) Awards: - just to describe some 3rd state econ comp 09 2nd state science comp 07 state finalist business comp 08 ranked top 75 - math olympiad national 09 a few mathematics national finalist prizes 07-09 service award - (duke of ed bronze/silver/gold) - national 09 Leadership: President of School Rep Council 09 President of Chess Club 09 President of Charity Org 09 Prefect of Student Government 09 Leader and Translator of China Expedition Group 07 Extra Curricular (school/regional varsity): Debating/public speaking 05-09 Chess 05-09 Choir 08 Art 05-09 Army training 07 Tennis 07 Table Tennis state 07 Work Exp: Law Firm - 100 hrs Travel Firm - 50 hrs Major Strength: Charity - national recognition + helped/organised the raising of $75,000 in total for projects ranging from AIDS in africa, China, Vietnam, Australian Bush Fires, Local Disabled Schools (07-09) + 400 hrs of personal service (china, community, retirement village, music for disabled, blood donation, library) --------- I am unsure whether my scores are high enough as it doesn't even fall in the SAT range of 25 -75 percentile of accepted on Columbia's website. I feel totally insecure. I am better ranked in Australia as a result of my choice to do subjects such as business and economics which contribute significantly to my gpa etc. However, the SAT limits this and makes me look like I am a academically weak applicant. Any comments would be helpful. Much appreciated!! Thank you.

A few years ago I went through a bad time, job change, etc... After I got back on my feet, I settled with all my creditors to stop all the harassing phone calls, etc.. One of the creditors sent me a statement to settle my debt and I paid it. I have the paper and canceled check originals. 6 months later I get a letter from the creditor asking for a larger sum or else. They hire a collection lawyer firm to come after me and when I present the proof, the agengy apologises and kicks it back to the creditor. They state that the settlement amount the creditor sent me was TYPO, but since it was their mistake, they must live with it.A few months later, they actually sell off the debt to another company who again I have to fax the proof to and the original creditor is forced to buy back the debt. Several months later, the original creditor sends me a letter saying they have the debt and are going to start charging interest on the debt? They are refusing to give up or take this off my credit as settled. I live check to check and do not have money for a lawyer. I am still paying on a loan I took out to settle the debt from my retirement plan. What can I do to stop this as it is nothing more than pure harassment from a creditor who refuses to accept their mistake.

Fomenting Financial Disasters When Uncle Sam Sets Wages and Prices, Expect Trouble Kenneth R. Feinberg, the Obama administration's "pay czar," has no clue about how to run a business. And why would he? His professional background is not in business, but as a liberal trial lawyer. His career includes such relevant experience as placing valuations on the Kennedy assassination's Zapruder film and on the lives of those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nothing in his background seems to make him qualified to determine how much firms should compensate executives. But even an extensive business background wouldn't mean that he should set corporate salaries. He has no economic incentive to pick the right salaries. Perhaps he pays a price if the political consequences go south, but not if he simply damages the companies that have fallen under his thumb. Corporations such as Bank of America Corp., who took government bailouts, find that their 25 best-paid executives are now going to be paid about a tenth of what their contracts promised and bonuses and retirement contributions will fall to about half. Incredibly, the Obama administration maintains that the pay czar made these decisions entirely on his own. Legally, the pay czar is limited to determining what executives get paid starting in 2009, but he has found a nifty way around that legal obstacle. For Bank of America's chief executive, Kenneth Lewis, the pay czar simply ordered him to earn a negative salary this year. In other words, Mr. Lewis is paying for the privilege of working 70-hour weeks this year. Not too surprisingly, Mr. Lewis has chosen to leave the company very soon. Proponents claim that cutting salaries will make executives work harder so that they will again be allowed to make more money in the future, government allowing, of course. A more likely outcome is that these executives will leave for greener pastures where the Obama administration does not hold sway. Advocates further argue that since these firms took government bailouts, the government should have the right to determine corporate salaries. But many firms were forced to take bailouts from the federal government, so this makes little moral sense. Banks were brought to the Treasury Department and told that if they didn't agree to take the bailout money, the government would use banking regulations to destroy their companies. The government claimed that it was justified making these threats because if only some banks took the money, those particular banks would be stigmatized. For Bank of America, the government's behavior was quite outrageous. The government asked Bank of America to buy Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. But when Bank of America checked Merrill Lynch's books, they found that firm was actually in much worse shape than the government had originally told Bank of America. And we are not talking small changes, but billions and billions more in losses than the bank had been told about. When Bank of America's chairman and board wanted to inform shareholders that the deal was bad, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke threatened to have the board members fired and replaced with people who would follow their orders. Economists generally believe government regulations caused the financial problems in the first place. But that is ignored while President Obama and his minions demonize the financial sector and push for more regulations and a new regulatory agency. Government micromanagement won't lead to economic growth or healthy businesses. When government starts setting wages and prices, it only leads to more economic problems. Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/26/fomenting-financial-disasters/

Ann is thinking about going out of business and retiring. Her firm has $25,000 in cash, other assets totaling $35,700, and total liabilities of $25,000. The other assets can be sold for an estimated $34,000 cash in a liquation sale. Calculate the amount of cash that would be available upon Ann's retirement if the other assests were sold and the liabilites were paid off

Certificate that is the standard for the industry. This certification can be acquired in many areas, such as master truck mechanic, gasoline engines, drive trains, brakes, suspension and steering, electrical and electronic systems, or preventive maintenance inspection. One last and most important thing a technician needs is tools, lots of them too. Because most employers don’t have tools and mechanic with out tools is worthless because they have no way to get work done on a project. A technician must complete at least one of the A.S.E. exams and prove they have credible work experience of two or more years to receive a certification in a desired are. Credible training or experience can be from 2 years of formal training at school, trade school, or a collage. Technicians also have to pass the test once every five years to ensure there up to date with the constant change in technology (career overview.com/diesel mechanic and technician career overview) Most sops nice places to work depending on how clean, noisy, lighting, ventilation, and many small factors like sometimes you have on the road job where u have to repair a truck on a highway so it can make it to a shop in all seasons. While working you need to be physically fit to lift heavy parts and set them on to jacks and hoists, and may receive small cuts, bruises, burns so proper safety should be taken first. Technicians are always handling greasy tools, parts and also stand or have to lie down on funny positions to get the job done right and fast. Most technicians will work about a forty to fifty hours a week depending on how busy they are and if they have an emergency repair. Many shops have made it to where they may be working on trucks 24 hours a day to help out the customers, with this that makes the job employment ever greater.( careers.stateuniversity.comDiesel-Mechanic) Because many experienced technicians are employed by truck fleet dealers and independent repair shops receive a commission related to the labor costs charged to the customer, weekly earnings depend on the amount of work completed. Beginners usually earn from 50 to 75 percent of the rate of skilled workers and receive increases as they become more skilled. Most technicians are starting to work around the clock because of the demand. There usually working for truck and bus firms and are members of labor unions .The common wages for a diesel truck and bus mechanic, including incentive pay, were $21.20 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $15.73 and $28.13 an hour. The lowest paid where making $11.19, and the highest people paid where getting $30.67 an hour. (Job salaries/collegegrad.com/careers) How did you start? After graduating high school, I spent 4 years as an apprentice, auto mechanic, and then I branched over into heavy equipment and eventually trucks. What are your required to do? A diesel mechanic is expected to diagnose and be able to overhaul a diesel engine top to bottom, refitting new parts where needed. Is it what u expected it would be, or different? You get a lot dirtier working on diesels than other engines and they smell a lot different. What’s the shop environment like? Shops are either very noisy when a few engines are running, or as quiet as a library, when they are being worked on. What wages do you make? Some shops are now paying $30.00 or more per hour for mechanics. When I retired I made $18.00 What’s your favorite part of your job? Every other mechanic I know loves the sound when they start up an engine that they have repaired, it's the biggest thrill. . I enjoyed the work, and it was a great feeling to know you could fix anything that moved, or moved other things with great power. Did u go to school for it, also how did u pay for school? I did not pay for schooling, it was part of the apprenticeship program, but expensive tools must be bought along the way. At retirement, mine had a replacement value of $20,000.00

Ben currently works at the money management firm of Dewey and Louis. His annual salary at the firm is $50,000 per year, and his salary is expected to increase at 3% per year until retirement. He is currently 28 years old and expects to work for 35 more years. His current job includes a fully paid health insurance plan, and his current average tax rate is 26%. Ben has a savings account with enough money to cover the entire cost of his MBA program. The Ritter College of Business at Wilton University is one of the top MBA programs in the country. The MBA degree requires two years of full-time enrollment at the university. The annual tuition is $60,000, payable at the beginning of each school year. Books and other supplies are estimated to cost $2,500 per year. Ben expects that after graduation from Wilton, he will receive a job offer for about $95,000 per year with a $15,000 signing bonus. The salary at this job will increase at 4% per year. Because of the higher salary, his average income tax rate will increase to 31%. What initial salary would Ben need to receive to make him indifferent between attending Wilton University and staying in his current position? How would I set this up. I don't even know where to start with this problem?

Dinner with Obama Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty.. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. "And their grandmother can't stand for long." I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. "Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." I wanted to shout - that was my coat! But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do." My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Eric's and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong? As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said. Wake up, America !

All i know about Florida is it being a popular place for retirement, but can one acually work there ( ie in a good law firm), and build a life there at my age? Thanks!

The division in my company was sold to a capital investment firm so in a way we spun out from our former company. We were told that all employees leaving would keep their years of service, vacation balance and have the option to roll over our 401Ks. We were never told that unvested employees (me) would loose this big. I don't know much about financial retirement laws, etc but common sense tells me that If this was an involuntary termination then my new company should have paid or arranged for my unvested contributions to be rolled over as well??

My father lives in California but owns a vacant house in another state, He's at an age where he doesnt want to deal with said house in any way shape or form. I've been traveling to that house preparing (fixing it up) it for rental. He agreed to power of attorney so I could sign papers on his behalf with a realty firm- so they could manage it as a rental. I'd also like to set up some sort of bank account under his name so the realty firm could deposit $$ from rent. Question (1) Would power of attorney signed in CA be valid in other states? (2) Is there a way to set up a bank account (in his name) to where he couldnt touch the funds?He's working and has some money but I'd like him to have better retirement funds I did look on legalzoom but there arent any answers. -Thanks

Inspirational Messages Not Heard At Work 17. There is no "I" in "teamwork." But there is in "management kiss-up." 16. If you do a good job and work hard, you may get a job with a better company someday. 15. The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts. 14. Doing a job RIGHT the first time gets the job done. Doing the job WRONG 14 times gives you job security. 13. If you think we're a bad company, you should see the competition. 12. Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings--they did it by killing all those who oppose them. 11. We put the "k" in "kwality." 10. 2 days without a human rights violation. 9. Your job is STILL better than asking, "You want fries with that?" 8. We build great products when we feel like it and don't have any reason to call in sick. 7. If at first you don't succeed, try management. 6. Teamwork means never having to take all the blame yourself. 5. The beatings will continue until morale improves. 4. Pride, Commitment, Teamwork. Words we use to get you to work for free. 3. If at first you don't succeed, delegate it. 2. Plagiarism saves time. 1. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. -- The Handyman man walks into a building site's foreman's office. He says "The sign outside says you need a handyman." "That's right," says the foreman. "Can you lay bricks?" "No, I can't do that." "Can you mix concrete?" "No, never done that." "Know any plumbing?" "Not really." "Are you an electrician?" "No." "Well," says the puzzled foreman. "You can't do much, so what makes you so damned handy then?" "I only live around the corner." -- The Test oung man Murphy applied for an engineering position at an Irish firm based in Dublin. An American applied for the same job and both applicants having the same qualifications were asked to take a test by the Department manager. Upon completion of the test both men only missed one of the questions. The manager went to Murphy and said, "Thank you for your interest, but we've decided to give the American the job." Murphy: "And why would you be doing that? We both got 9 questions correct. This being Ireland and me being Irish I should get the job!" Manager: "We have made our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you missed." Murphy: "And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?" Manager: "Simple. The American put down on question # 5, 'I don't know.' You put down 'Neither do I.'" --- eaching the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked the hot-shot young engineer, fresh out of MIT, "And what starting salary were you looking for?" The engineer coolly said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years - for starters, say, a red Corvette?" The engineer tried to control his excitement, but sat straight up and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?" "Yeah," the interviewer shrugged, "But you started it.

Which is more highly respected and makes better money. Retirement and those kind of things. Corporate Lawyer in a law firm and a obstetrician in a general hospital.

Does anyone know (in the UK) whether there's a lower age limit on moving into a retirement / residential care home? More importantly, would it be possible to move into one on a permanent basis even if one was otherwise mentally, medically and physically healthy (assuming, of course, that one had the means to pay for it!). FYI (1) I am many years off retiring yet; just considering what might possibly happen or what I might plan for in the distant future, (2), I have no wish to live independently following retirement, but at this point would prefer to sell up and move into a residential home to draw a firm line under my working life, (3) I personally would find all the necessary restrictions on lifestyle that would come with living in a retirement home (communal living, minimal personal possessions, limited freedoms, etc.) to be highly attractive in return for liberation from the grind, stresses and financial worries of day-to-day life, and (4) Accepting of course that this would be a one-way move, and that I might live for a long time thereafter, I would intend to keep mentally and physically fit for as long as possible, say by doing voluntary work within the confines of the home.

Dinner with Obama........... Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty." said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. And their grandmother can't stand for long." I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. "Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." I wanted to shout, “that was my coat!” But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do." My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak , and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong? As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said. WAKE UP AMERICA !!!

He is clearly a fascist and fascists hate communism. Obammy compared himself to FDR “I would put these first four months up against any prior administration since FDR," Obama said. "We didn't ask for the challenges that we face, but we don't shrink from them either." “ When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose: Yes we can.” Obama Presidential Victory Speech FDR was regarded by the father of Fascism, Mussolini, as a great example of his movement “President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal was directly influenced by fascist economic policies. Mussolini praised the New Deal as “boldly . . . interventionist in the field of economics,” and Roosevelt complimented Mussolini for his “honest purpose of restoring Italy” and acknowledged that he kept “in fairly close touch with that admirable Italian gentleman.” Also, Hugh Johnson, head of the National Recovery Administration, was known to carry a copy of Raffaello Viglione’s pro-Mussolini book, The Corporate State, with him, presented a copy to Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, and, on retirement, paid tribute to the Italian dictator.” This is fascism: “Under fascism, the state, through official CARTELS, controlled all aspects of manufacturing, commerce, finance, and agriculture. Planning boards set product lines, production levels, prices, wages, working conditions, and the size of firms. Licensing was ubiquitous; no economic activity could be undertaken without government permission. Levels of consumption were dictated by the state, and “excess” incomes had to be surrendered as taxes or “loans.”” Auto industry, Energy industry, health etc. “The citizen in the Fascist State is no longer a selfish individual who has the anti-social right of rebelling against any law of the Collectivity. The Fascist State with its corporative conception puts men and their possibilities into productive work and interprets for them the duties they have to fulfill.” Benito Mussolini “This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many.” Barack Obama STOP CALLING HIM A COMMUNIST! HEIL OBAMMY. how_would. Fail. Nazism is a form of fascism characterized by extreme nationalism and racism.

This question has reallly caused a problem trying to get a firm answer,I have been told the answer is yes,but when digging deeper into it,I cant find anything in black and white. I have tried to contact the u.i. office over and over and cant get them to pick up there phone!. Please understand this concerns social security RETIREMENT not disability. One person responded yesterday saying he found the answer on the EDD web site,but gave no link,I cant find it, any help out there?!!. Thank you, Gary E.

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I’ve broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty." said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. "And their grandmother can't stand for long." I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for20my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. "Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." I wanted to shout, “That was my coat!” But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do." My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak , and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Eric’s and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong? As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said. WAKE UP AMERICA !!!

Cliff Swatner is single, 33, and owns a condominium in New York City worth $250,000. Cliff is an attorney and doing well financially. His income last year exceeded $90,000, and he has sufficient liquid assets to supplement his condominium and other tangible assets. Several years ago, Cliff began investing in stocks and bonds. He made his selections on the basis of articles he read describing good investment opportunities. Some have worked well for Cliff, but others have not. Cliff has never taken the time to evaluate his portfolio performance, but he feels it isn't very good. Cliff currently has about $90,000 invested. He has been dating a woman lately and hopes to marry her in three years, at which time he will need $20,000 for marriage expenses and a honeymoon. Cliff's only other objective is to accumulate funds for retirement, but he does not have a specific dollar target for this goal. Cliff feels that he has a moderate risk-tolerance level. 1) Explain some disadvantages of Cliff's current investment approach? 2) Construct a portfolio for Cliff, limiting your selections to 5 mutual funds (assume that he sells his current stock and bond holdings). Make sure your plan indicates specific dollar amounts for each portfolio component. Make sure your plan also explains your selections for each portfolio component. Visit an investment firm that deals in mutual funds, such as, Vanguard.com, AmericanCentury.com, Fidelity.com, etc. and select 5 mutual funds that will diversify Cliff’s portfolio. Record the fund name, ticker symbol, 5 year average annual returns (can use 3 year if 5 year is unavailable), the amount to be invested in each fund, and the amount returned in 3 years using the 5 years average annual return for the wedding? 3) Explain how Cliff should periodically rebalance his portfolio, indicating how frequently rebalancing should be done. SHOW ALL WORK FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT AND EXPLAIN EACH STEP CAREFULLY.

A Parable Dinner with Obama, a parable Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. "And their grandmother can't stand for long." I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. "Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." I wanted to shout- that was my coat! But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do." My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his creme brulee. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong? As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said hey will ..copy and paste doesnt take much of my time ..it just saw it in the newspaper and figured it might be liked by others .. and also will ..i almost wish i was living in my parents basement instead of hating the idea that i will be taxed higher so that some crack addicted hood rat will spend my money to try and stay healthy didnt say it was word for word true but it is a baseline trickle down economy at work

any one out of this 3? 1.Write a memo to your employees advising them of a free seminar given by a noted financial on retirement planning. 2.Write a memo to your boss informing him/her that one of your major clients is taking its business to a different accounting firm. 3.Write a memo to your employees explainging why, on a certain date, the co-payment for prescription drugs will increase from $ 5 - $ 10 per item. 4.Write a memo to an account manager who has been charging personal expenses to the company charge card, stating the company policy and explaining that the firm takes the card away from any employees who misuse it.

My wife wants to quit her job in a private investment brokers firm, can she take a profit sharing 401k that is contributed to by the company but is not deducted from her pay? She has a sizable account after 10 years and needs to leave due to personality conflicts and a relatively inhospitable environment. We're trying to find out if she can keep her retirement funds by either cashing out with the penalty or rolling it to a new account. We're afraid that the owner may be hostile with the situation.

The problem is, we've all been invited to dinner!! Dinner with Obama, a parable: Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. 0A "And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. "And their grandmother can't stand for long." I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. "Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." I wanted to shout - that was my coat! But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been=2 0thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a sub-prime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do." My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Eric's and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème brulee. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong? As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said. Ken, I really didn't read anything hateful in this message. Mark M; Little men have little minds, I'm surprised you could spell idiot.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night that Rattner was involved with payments at the center of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme at New York state's pension fund. Sourcing their information to a "person familiar with the matter," Journal reporters Craig Karmin and Peter Lattman reported that Rattner, who was then an executive at Quadrangle Group, an investment firm he co-founded, met with a "politically connected" consultant to discuss a finder's fee. Quadrangle later paid a $1.1 million fee, and received a $100 million investment from the New York State Common Retirement Fund. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21348.html "An administration official said Rattner was leaving on his own." Yeah, before they frog walk him out of his office in chains. “He determined that this was the right decision for him and his family at this time,” said the administration official." What a guy huh? http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24876.html Whoops another corrupt Democrat on the Obama team has bit the dust, to be replaced by yet another dunce with ZERO experience, fits right in with the Dumb and Dumber, Obama and Biden, gotta love it, now with Franken the burned out comedian, the entire Democrat comedy is complete, including the three stooges Biden Pelosi and Reid

I have to move my SEP account from a managed service (Merrill Lynch) because my spouse works for a CPA firm that prohibits professionally managed funds). I don't know where to put the money.

After reading this parable, I couldn't help but feeling as though I could totally identify with this man. How do you feel about it? What do you think? > Dinner with Obama, a parable > > Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner > with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor. > > I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner. > > The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. > > "Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry." > > "I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. > > "And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President. > > I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind. > > My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. > > "Eric's children are also quite hungry." With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. > > "And their grandmother can't stand for long." > > I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously, I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President. > > Their grandfather doesn't like the cold." > > I wanted to shout that was my coat! But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him. > > "Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a sub prime mortgage and they need the house more than you. > > > My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops. > > "By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars." > > I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his Creme Brulee. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. > > What had I done wrong? > > As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. > > "You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

I've never been given a title at my job. I work for a small corporation and I'd like to think of a job title that fits, usually when people ask what my job title is I just say "accounting". My duties: -Job Costing: everything I enter in the computer is generally assigned to a job. -Accounts Payable: post bills, pay bills, deal with collectors -Accounts Receiveable: I normally don't create the invoices (the sales administrator does), but I e-mail customers about payment, post payments. -Payroll: enter timesheets. process payroll with quickbooks assisted payroll. -Bank Reconcillations: several bank accounts and credit cards -Health Benefits: Administer medical & dental benefits for employees -Retirement Plan: Administer company 401k (I setup this up in May) -Workers Comp, Auto, & Liability Insur: submit claims, send over copies of drivers licenses, etc. -Notary: became notary for company -Phone: I am a backup for the lady at the front desk. If she doesn't pick up the line right away I answer. -Inventory: Enter batch tickets into the computer to convert raw materials into finished goods. -Licensing: research state licenses and apply where they are needed. Even went and took a contractors licensing test for one of the states when no one else was available to go. Filing- I do all the filing Reports- I run all the accounting reports Other- plenty of other things I can't think of right now! I do NOT do: -Income tax: we have a CPA firm that does -Depreciation: CPA does but I will probably be taking this over soon. So help me out, is there a job title that fits what I do for the company? Also... Help with legal issues, like putting a lien on a building of a non-paying customer. I have an associates in accounting.

During the campaign, Obama said, “I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” The last 5 words of his statement "NOT ANY OF YOUR TAXES." Yet I have seen an tax increase on Tobacco (over 85% of tobacco users make less then $250k) Tax increase on energy (dont 99% of all Americans use energy of some sort?) Proposed tax increase on Sugars and Sweeteners (I am sure 99% of Americans use these on a daily basis) Proposed Tax Increase on Capitol Gains (401k's ... There are retirements for those who make less then $250K) Tax after tax, after tax .... Does it stop. When? Am I going to get an interperatation on what he "really meant to say" or can we blame Bush for raising these taxes somehow? So Jared.... Its a Compromise? Not a LIE or a TRUTH? There IS NO MIDDLE GROUND!! If its NOT TRUE its a LIE, no COMPROMISE. And the cigareete tax only effects those who CHOOSE to smoke? So when he raises income tax, its no big deal... cause it will only effect those who CHOOSE TO WORK? How blind are you? Coleen, how in the dark and blinded by Obama are you? Obama inacted the Cigarette tax on May 1st .... 400% increase on tax. Who are 401K's made for? 401K's are FOR the middle class, as a form of retirement. They are NOT put there for those making more then $250k a year. Do you blindly follow him, or just dont educate yourself about anything?

as the manager responsible for staffing at XYZ manufacturing, you face a major challenge over the next five years. According to employment records, approximately 40 of the 200 production employees will be entering their 60s. Although is no formal retirement age in this firm, production staff usually retire before age 65 because they are eligible for full retirement pensions by them. Furthermore, you have noticed that local colleges are graduating fewer tradespoeple in these jobs than they did a decade ago. What can you do to resolve this problem?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8066968.stm "The chairman of the drinks firm, AG Barr, is finally standing down after more than 48 years with the company. Robin Barr, 71, will formally announce his retirement at the company's AGM. Mr Barr is one of only two people in the world who knows the secret recipe for the best-selling Irn Bru drink and the two never travel on the same plane. Once a month the essences for the drink are personally mixed by Robin Barr in a sealed room at the company's headquarters in Cumbernauld. The 32 different ingredients are combined in a huge vat, which mixes 8,000 litres at a time. The recipe was discovered by Robin Barr's great grandfather in 1901 and has not changed in 108 years. Only one other unnamed person shares the secret but the formula has been written down and is stored in a bank vault somewhere in Scotland. " EB. I'm pretty certain that they are allowed to just put "natural flavours" or some such words. Vince. Maybe.

"Best wishes" is a bit cold. I am not close friends with her more like acquaintances in a small firm. Help!!