http://bit.ly/ub0WrH Three-fourths of CEOs running small and mid-size businesses reported in March 2011 that they were anticipating higher revenues in the year ahead, and nearly 60% expected rising profits. Among those who expressed confidence in their futures, 54% expected to hire more employees and 50% were planning to invest in their facilities.



Growth is often accompanied by change. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration has found that increased employment and faster growth are factors that often lead businesses to change their legal form of organization. http://amplify.com/u/a1kejd

http://bit.ly/uBByd3 On October 12, in a demonstration of bipartisan cooperation, Congress passed three separate trade agreements — with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. They are the first trade agreements in four years. In terms of potential impact, the trade pact with South Korea is the most significant since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada in 1994. http://amplify.com/u/a1kejb

In the first half of 2011, spikes in food and gasoline prices strained the budgets of many Americans and sparked fears of more persistent inflation. http://bit.ly/rVDzzU



Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve expected such price spikes to be temporary and forecasted the overall inflation rate to stay in the neighborhood of 2.5% in 2011, with the core consumer price index (which strips out food and energy) to grow in the range of 1.5% to 1.8%.1 http://amplify.com/u/a1kej9

Retirement savers are generally wise to take full advantage of the tax benefits that apply to employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. http://bit.ly/tfv3PT. However, because these tax-deferred plans are subject to strict annual contribution limits, many higher-income individuals may not be able to set aside enough money in them to pursue a comfortable retirement lifestyle.



Because a variable annuity is not subject to federal contribution limits, it enables investors to invest more after-tax dollars to supplement the income they could receive from other plans. Taxes on earnings are deferred until withdrawn. http://amplify.com/u/a1keif

One of the recommendations from the White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families was for retirees to purchase annuities to help reduce the risks of outliving their savings or experiencing lower living standards because of inflation and investment losses.



The White House is not a common source of retirement information, but its recommendation addressed a common concern: running out of money in retirement. Although the task force wasn’t talking about variable annuities in particular, one of the benefits offered by variable annuities is the potential for a guaranteed lifetime income.



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Three-fourths of CEOs running small and mid-size businesses reported in March 2011 that they were anticipating higher revenues in the year ahead, and nearly 60% expected rising profits. Among those who expressed confidence in their futures, 54% expected to hire more employees and 50% were planning to invest in their facilities.



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The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a common measure of inflation, grew at a 3.2% annual rate in April, the fastest rate since October 2008.1 For more than two years, the U.S. economy has experienced relatively low inflation, and the current rate remains below the 50-year average.2 Yet anyone who has been to a gas station or a grocery store recently may feel that prices are going up faster than the CPI suggests.



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There are a variety of retirement planning options that can meet your needs. Your employer funds some; you fund some. Bear in mind that in most cases, withdrawals made before age 59½ are subject to a 10 percent penalty, and withdrawals usually must begin by April 1 of the year after you turn age70½. Income taxes are also due upon withdrawal in most cases. This list describes 10 of the most common options.



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Recently, fixed mortgages were near their lowest rates in almost 30 years. And if you are one of the many people who took out mortgages in the few years prior to that, you may be wondering if you should look into refinancing.



If your mortgage was taken out within the past five years, it may be worthwhile to refinance if you can get financing that is at least one to two points lower than your current interest rate. You should plan on staying in the house long enough to pay off the loan transaction charges (points, title insurance, attorney’s fees, etc.).



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Your business may be running smoothly. You could be making money hand over fist. But don’t be lulled into thinking that a catastrophe could never hit your business. Disasters can strike in many ways; even a minor one could wipe out a lifetime of hard work. Fortunately, the appropriate business owner’s insurance policy, sometimes called a BOP, can help protect your company in the event of property damage, business interruption, or legal troubles.



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Grow & Protect Your Money WITHOUT Market RISK http://webprez.com/4150/4 http://amplify.com/u/a1fnbj

In a 2011 study by the National Institute on Retirement Security, 84% of respondents expressed concern that current economic conditions could affect their ability to retire comfortably, and 73% said stock market volatility makes it difficult to predict how much they could save by retirement.1 Clearly, uneven market performance has increased anxiety about having an adequate retirement income.



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The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act — signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010 — will likely revolutionize the country’s financial system. The sweeping legislation is the most far-reaching financial reform since the Great Depression, touching virtually every corner of the financial world.

The new law is designed to help shield consumers from abusive financial practices, protect taxpayers from funding bailouts for institutions considered “too big to fail,” and improve accountability and transparency in the financial system.



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The federal estate tax was repealed in 2010, then reinstated by the 2010 Tax Relief Act with new provisions for 2011 and 2012. These provisions include a higher exemption amount and a lower tax rate that could ease or eliminate the tax burden on many estates.



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Research across the board shows that seniors with close friends and families live longer happier lives. Whether you live on your own or in an assisted living community, active participation in social events lends itself to a better lifestyle. Recent research into the ability of seniors to grasp modern technology shows that comprehension of social media websites comes easily but not quite as quick as it is for youngsters.



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Planning for retirement is stressful for most people because they aren’t sure what to expect. The plans that a retiree sets in place now actually affect those they love for years to come after their passing. That is why it is important to prioritize and be prepared by answering some important questions. How much will you need to retire? There are many factors that affect this such as the quality of one’s health, the amount of debt one has, the size of one’s house and its upkeep and inflation. If you don’t have enough, it’s probably not a good idea to retire. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.\\



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The amount of money you will need for retirement is essentially the same amount that you need right now less the expenses that you will no longer have by the time you retire. Most of the time these are long-term expenses such as mortgages, money you’re saving for retirement, etc. This may change as you could decide that you would like to help put the grandkids through college or have another long-term expense that comes up during retirement.



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Pickleball is a court sport best described as half way between tennis and ping-pong. The court is 44' x 20' and divided in two courts by a 36" high net. It is played as a singles game with one person/side or as a doubles game with 2 people on each side of the net. Each player has a paddle (total length plus width of the paddle cannot excede 23 3/4" or 60.3 cm.) The object of the game is to score points by successfully hitting a 3" diameter plastic ball (that is perforated with holes (commonly known as a whiffle-ball) across the net without it being successfully returned by the opponent(s).



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As tax laws change, college investment planning becomes increasingly complex. The most beneficial strategies for creating a college fund are quite similar to other investment tactics. Investment products that are tax deferred, tax exempt, or transferable without tax consequences can be especially advantageous.

This could be even more effective if you do your planning early.

One important aspect of an investment is its balance of yield and risk. Determine the amount of risk you can tolerate, given the amount of time you have to recover from any potential losses.



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What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½?

Withdrawing funds from a tax-deferred retirement account before the age of 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty; all distributions are subject to ordinary income tax. However, there are certain situations in which you are allowed to make early withdrawals from a retirement account and avoid the tax penalty.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans have different exceptions, although the regulations are similar.



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