Fort Myers and the Caloosahatchee River in Florida.

If warm weather, easy access to the beach and an affordable price tag sound like your dream retirement, this town might be for you.

U.S. News & World Report recently released its list of the best places to retire, and Fort Myers a midsize riverfront city in southwest Florida just a stones throw from Gulf of Mexico beaches topped the list. Whats more, Kiplingers called out Fort Myers on its list of 50 best places to retire this year, noting that it was yet another great place to consider for your retirement.)

So what makes Fort Myers special? U.S. News writes that the city has retained its small-town heritage with a charming downtown lined with shops and restaurants, many of which are dog-friendly adding that museums, parades, festivals, theaters, parks, historical sites and art galleries pepper the metro area and its social calendar. And for those who love the beach, just a few miles away, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Sanibel Island are popular among boaters, kayakers, sailors and anglers.

Perhaps best of all, its pretty affordable, with a cost of living thats just a bit above average and a median home priced at just a little over $200,000, according to Sperlings Best Places. Plus, Florida doesnt have a state income tax, so your 401(k), IRA or pension withdrawals wont be taxed by the state, nor will your Social Security.

Of course, Fort Meyers has some big downsides, which include muggy, hot summers and the fact that the area can sometimes feel overrun with tourists.

The towns that rounded out the top five on the U.S. News list were Sarasota, Fla.; Lancaster, Pa.; Asheville, N.C.; and Port St. Lucie, Fla. U.S. News looked at the 125 largest metro areas and graded them on happiness, housing affordability, health-care quality, desirability, retiree taxes and job-market ratings.

Should Fort Meyers not be your thing, and youre still looking for an affordable spot to retire near the beach, youre in luck: MarketWatch recently created its own list of the best beach towns where you can retire comfortably on about $40,000 a year. These include Pensacola, Fla.; Bay St. Louis, Miss.; and Corpus Christi, Texas.

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This waterfront city is the No. 1 place in America to retire - MarketWatch

If someone told you there was an easy way to retire with hundreds of thousands of dollars more in savings, you'd likely take advantage of it in a heartbeat. Yet nearly half of Americans are missing out on the opportunity to grow their wealth, a survey shows.

Only 55% of workers say they're investing in the stock market, either with individual stocks or mutual funds or stashing their money in a retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA, a recent Gallup Poll found.

It's understandable why some people may not want to invest in the stock market. It does involve a certain amount of risk, and if you've been burned by it in the past, you may not want to lose any more money. But it's one of the best (and easiest) ways to build a healthy and robust nest egg, and there are ways to invest safely while still reaping the rewards.

Image source: Getty Images.

Investing in the stock market may sound intimidating, with images of stockbrokers on Wall Street scurrying around the trading floor. In reality, though, you can start investing easily from the comfort of your couch.

If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, that's one of the best places to start. Investing in a 401(k) is simple, and oftentimes your employer can automatically transfer a portion of every paycheck directly into your retirement account. That can make it much easier to save, partly because you no longer have to remember to set money aside each month and partly because you don't have a chance to spend it before you stash it away.

Another perk to investing in your 401(k) is that your employer may offer matching contributions up to a certain percentage of your salary. These contributions are basically free money, so you'd be wise to take full advantage of them.

One downside to 401(k) plans, though, is that you often won't have many investment options. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because it can make it much less overwhelming to decide where to put your money when you only have a few choices. But if all your investment options charge high fees or if you'd rather take a more customized, hands-on approach, an IRA might be a better option.

IRAs -- both traditional and Roth varieties -- offer a wealth of investment options, so you can customize your investments to your heart's delight. If you go with this option, just keep in mind that it might be wise to also find a financial adviser who can help ensure your investments align with your long-term goals.

Of course, investing every dollar to your name in an up-and-coming tech stock you think will make you a billionaire is risky. But even your 401(k) or IRA carries some risk, because investing in the stock market to any degree involves depending on the market's performance -- which is out of your control. Still, there are ways to limit your risk as much as possible.

One option is to invest in a target-date fund. These automatically balance your investments depending on the year you plan to retire -- or your target date. So if you're in your 20s with several decades left to save, your fund will invest your cash more aggressively. You'll likely see higher rewards, but if the market takes a dip, you have more time to make up the losses. Then, as you get older and closer to retirement age, your portfolio will shift to more-conservative investments like bonds, which typically see lower returns but less risk.

Another option to keep your money as safe as possible in the stock market is to invest in index funds. Index and mutual funds are similar in that they're large collections of stocks and other assets, and by investing in these types of funds, you're essentially investing in dozens or even hundreds of stocks at the same time. That makes them inherently less risky than investing in a single stock, because if one stock in the fund loses value, it won't have a significant effect on your total investments.

One major difference between index and mutual funds is that mutual funds are actively managed by a portfolio manager -- someone who chooses what should go into each fund. Index funds are passively managed funds that are based on certain stock indexes, like the S&P 500. That means you'll pay higher fees to invest in a mutual fund, because there's a person behind it trying to invest in ways to beat the market. That might make it seem like mutual funds are the better investment choice, but in reality, index funds typically outperform mutual funds over time.

If you're feeling a little overwhelmed by all your choices, keep in mind you don't have to choose just one investment option. Your 401(k) or IRA will likely offer a variety of mutual funds and index funds, and spreading your money across multiple funds can help diversify your investments and limit your risk even more.

Investing in the stock market is not as scary as it might appear. It's easy to save in a 401(k) or IRA, and simply getting started is half the battle. Once you start regularly contributing to your retirement account, you can build wealth and see your savings skyrocket over time.

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Half of Americans Are Missing the Chance to Retire Wealthier, a Poll Shows - The Motley Fool

You've likely heard by now that Rob Gronkowski is retired from football.

All sarcasm aside, though, it's the possibility of his return to the New England Patriots that's prevailed the last several months, and mostly fueled by his own ambiguous comments when asked about it. His continued comments stating he's "open to" the idea have led to the eyeballing of certain dates on the NFL calendar -- ahem, December -- and an incessant number of questions aimed at the organization to determine if the future Hall of Famer will indeed return, and owner Robert Kraft recently made no bones about being hopeful Gronkowski decides to again suit up for the Patriots.

"We all love Gronk and I think the bottom line is he hasn't put his retirement papers in," Kraft said. "So we can always pray and hope. ... That's a good academic argument that there is hope for us still with Gronk."

That hope has now been buried by Gronkowski, unequivocally. Speaking with WEEI 97.3FM in Boston on Tuesday morning, less than a week after Kraft's hope-filled statement, the 30-year-old slammed the door shut on any and all speculation of a possible return.

"When I retired, I retired for a reason," he said, via CBS Boston. "It would be a no. There it is."

He then explained why he hadn't simply shut the rumors down before, instead feeding them, incidentally.

"I never say no, because I said no and everyone said 'he's kidding,'" Gronkowski admitted, before welding the slammed door shut once and for all. "It's a no. In my mind, that's how it is, a no."

For one of the most talented tight ends in the history of the game, his final decision comes attached to concerns for his mental and physical well-being. Gronkowski recently admitted he suffered upwards of 20 concussions in his football career, including five that made him black out. This was in addition to having a pint of blood drained from his leg once following a Super Bowl, and then there's the issue of his elbow -- surgically repaired on more than one occasion.

Even more disturbing were the details of his head injuries, as described in his words this August.

"No lie, I felt my head, I used to have liquid," he toldNBC News. "It used to be thick, like, my head used to be thicker, like a centimeter of liquid in some spots, and you feel it. I'd be like, 'What the heck?' You could put indents in my head, but now, finally, I'm getting the right treatments and doing the right things."

Needless to say, Gronkowski is apt to stay where he is -- the newest addition to Fox Sports -- and doesn't have the "itch" to return to the NFL. And if/when he does get one, it'll have to be consistent and one so deep only a Patriots uniform can scratch it.

Otherwise, his answer remains a firm no.

"I'm enjoying myself right now," Gronkowski said on Tuesday. "I don't have that itch, and if I had that itch I'd go back. It would have to be a continuous itch. I see Tom [Brady] throw a nice touchdown pass, I'm like "I wish that was me'. But that's five seconds [and it's gone]."

Speaking of Brady, don't expect him to take up Kraft's stance and attempt to lobby his longtime teammate back to the field.

"Look, I love that guy," Brady told WEEI on Monday. "I am so happy that he's enjoying his time. I am happy that he's enjoying his life. He seems to really be doing a lot of great things.

"He knows how I feel about him. I want what is best for him."

To that point, Gronkowski has officially decided what's best for him is staying retired and enjoying life after football, as he awaits his gold jacket and bust in Canton. There will be no comeback story in 2019, or ever again, because the fleeting itch isn't worth everything that comes with scratching it.

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Rob Gronkowski ends all speculation of possible return from retirement: 'It would be a no. There it is.' - CBS Sports

Just because youve stopped working doesnt mean youre done paying taxes.

Much of the income you receive in retirement, even if its not directly from employment, can still be taxable. But not all of it is subject to federal taxes especially if you play your cards right.

You can or might be able to avoid paying federal income taxes on the following types of retirement income.

The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need gives you the knowledge you need to retire on your own terms. Sure, you can pay a financial adviser, but this online course gives you total control to create a custom retirement plan around the things that make you happy.

You're going to get expert, personalized advice. You'll have access to the latest tools. And when it's complete, you'll be able to approach your retirement confidently and with peace of mind.

It's time to plan the best years of your life. Let's get started.

It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter.

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9 Types of Retirement Income That Are Not Taxable - msnNOW

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A new Palm Springs senior living community that will cater to the LGBTQ community is aiming to create an inclusive, resort-style environment where residents wont have to carry the burden of hiding their true selves.

Living Out is the vision of Los Angeles-based developersLoren S. OstrowandPaul Alanis of KOAR International, who have a history of hotel and casino projects. They're joined by LuAnn Boylan, who with Ostrow sits on the board of directors of the LA LGBT Center and will head up sales and marketing efforts.

Construction will begin in January with the aim of a summer 2021 opening. The project sits on about 9 acres along East Tahquitz Canyon Way between South Avenida Caballeros and South Hermosa Drive, and will include 105 condos with either one or two bedrooms.

While there are plenty of retirement communities in the Palm Springs area, LGBTQ seniors nationwide can face discrimination that makes applying for and securing safe housing difficult and there arent federal housing protections based on sexual identity and gender identity.

"We hear stories all the time about people who get ostracized from the communities they're in," Boylan said. "They find themselves having to hide pictures in their own homes, so that somebody doesn't walk in and see that they'rein a same-sex relationship."

LGBTQ seniorsmight also lack family or social support torely on as they age; the AARP found in a2018 survey that 76% of LGBTQ adults age 45 and older worry about having a solid support system to fall back on.

While many strides have been made toward equality, Boylan said there can be a generational gap of straight people who are less tolerant or informed.That can cause LGBTQ seniors living in retirement communities to hide their true selves, decades after they were the first generation to come out.

"If I'm in a typical resort community and my partner and I are at the pool, we're going to have to think twice about whether we could hold hands, whether we could talk about our lives openly, because other people are sitting around us, Boylan said. If it's our community and our pool, that whole restriction disappears. So now you're just free to be who you are."

Living Out will have two pools, including a resort-style swimming pool surrounded by cabanas plus a lap pool for fitness usage.(Photo: Living Out)

Ostrow, who has a home in Palm Springs, said while this area is particularly welcoming to LGBTQ people, the 55+ population still may struggle to find community.

It's that sense of isolation as you get older, even if you're in a great accepting community, you're still kind of like stuck in your house, he said.

Renderings show a property that invites spending time outdoors, mid-century-inspired design, plus lush landscaping against mountain views.On-site dining amenities will include casual dining, plusa lounge with a coffee bar, yogurt barand prepared foods.

The community will emphasize outdoor activities,includea resort-style swimming pool, a lap pool and spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a putting green, bocce ball courts, pickleball courts, an event lawn, barbecue and entertainment areas, and a dog park.

Other on-site amenities include:

The communityalso will help residents who want assisted living-style services connect with in-home care companies that are vetted forLGBTQ cultural competency.Ostrow said theyve talked to the Desert AIDS Project to connect with trained providers.

Mike Thompson, the CEO of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, said he thinks Living Out is a welcome addition to Palm Springs and will encourage residents to live authentically.

Its not uncommon for LGBTQ people to have a lived experience of being excluded, especially those who come from more conservative parts of our country, he said.

Living Out will include an on-site dog park plus a commercial space for grooming, supplies, and pet hotel services.(Photo: Living Out)

Condo prices begin at $699,000. For Palm Springs, thats a higher-end property, as September housing figures from the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors and the California Desert Association of Realtors say that attached homes go for a median price of $249,000 as of August.

It's not the first development to seek to address the housing issues facing LGBTQ seniors. Palm Springs' Stonewall Gardens is a 24-unit assisted living senior facilitythat has an on-site nurse and staff to assist with medications, dressing, grooming, and personal care.

Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton welcomes the addition of more housing forLGBTQ seniors, citing concerns aboutsocial isolation, culturally competent health care, and a lack of affordable housing. And sheexpressed confidence in the backers of Living Out to carry out the project.

This has been, for Loren, a dream to build something like this, and Im so glad that he chose Palm Springs as a place to build it, she said. Everything that I have seen to date causes me to believe this is a very well-financed project, and it is being administered by individuals that are absolutely committed to completion.

Ostrow said the goal of Living Outis to create a community of like-minded people; the inclusion of a piano bar and pet services specifically speak to interests of potential residents.

Despite the prevalence of other retirement communities in the Palm Springs area, Ostrow is bullish about the demand for Living Out; theyve already fielded more than 100 conversations with potential buyers.

Hes also not worried about competition from a similar facility.

There are an estimated 3 million LGBTQ Americans age 50 and older, according to the AARP. That figure is expected to reach 7 million by 2030. And while Ostrow wants to see Living Out expand to other cities where there are LGBT communities, he sees the need outpacing the supply that they could provide.

I'd be delighted because there is so much need in the gay community for safety and security as people get older, Ostrow said. That would be wonderful, to have lots of choices.

Melissa Daniels covers business and real estate in the Coachella Valley. She can be reached at (760)-567-8458 or melissa.daniels@desertsun.com. Follow Melissa on Twitter @melissamdaniels

Read or Share this story: https://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/2019/10/15/living-out-retirement-community-palm-springs-cater-lgbtq-seniors/3978191002/

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A new resort-style retirement community in Palm Springs will cater to LGBTQ seniors - Desert Sun

Adam Spencer | 18 hours ago

Theres been a lot of speculation lately that the Dallas Cowboys should offer Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley whatever he wants to make the move south to Dallas next season.

However, it remains to be seen if Riley even wants to leave Norman, or the college ranks in general.

On Friday, though, former Ohio State and Florida coach Urban Meyer joined The Herd with Colin Cowherd and said if he was offered the Cowboys job, hed take it:

Thats New York Yankees, thats the Dallas Cowboys, Meyer said. Thats the one. Great city. They got Dak Prescott, you got Zeke Elliott. You got a loaded team. And I cant speak for him obviously, I hate to even speculate because I dont know him, thats really not fair, but to me, thats the one job in professional football that you kinda say, I got to go do that.'

Meyer then says he hasnt been contacted by the Cowboys, but when Cowherd asks if he would listen should Dallas come calling, he said:

Sure. Absolutely. Absolutely. That one? Yes.

Your move, Jerry Jones.

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Urban Meyer names a job he would absolutely come out of retirement for - Saturday Down South

SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Allen makes five declaration he believes will come true for the NHL season. USA TODAY

With coach Ralph Kruegers Buffalo Sabres (6-1-1) leading the Atlantic Division and Dave Tippetts Edmonton Oilers sitting atop the Pacific Division, offseason coaching changes are an important storyline in the NHLs early going.

But this is an old story, not a fresh approach

Last year, new coach Rod BrindAmour took the Carolina Hurricanes to their first playoff appearance in a decade andmade it to the Eastern Conference Final before bowing out. Coach Craig Berube, an in-season coaching arrival, guided theSt. Louis Blues to the first Stanley Cup infranchise history.

When you bring in a new coach, I truly believe you get the best from all guys, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. As a player, you get a chance to showcase what you are all about.

Historically, coaching changes often give NHL teams an initial boost, whether it is at the start of a season or in-season. In 2015-16, the Penguins fired Mike Johnston after 28 games and Mike Sullivan took them to a championship. That was six years after coach Dan Bylsma took over in-season for the Penguins and won the 2009 Stanley Cup.

Veteran coach Darryl Sutter took over the Los Angeles Kings in 2011-12 and won a Stanley Cup. Before his arrival, the Kings last won a playoff series in 2001.

I see in other sports (a coaching move)is not as big of a change, Waddell said. But I see in our sport, because we do roll 18 players on nightly basis, where a guyfeels its a fresh start and an opportunity to prove he deserves more ice time.

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel talks with head coach Ralph Krueger during the first period of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.(Photo: Gene J. Puskar, AP)

The ice time reshufflehas long been thought to be a primary reason for the team improvement.In life, everyone always tries harder to impress the new boss.

Plus, new coaches often concentrate on improving the teams defensive play because thats the area where they can have instantimpact. You can teach a player to be moredefensivebut you cant transform a 20-goal scorer into a 40-goal scorer. Defensive improvement alwaysimpact the standings.

Teams that made off-season coaching switches:

Sabres (Krueger): No one in Buffalo istoo excited about the teams strong start because everyone remembers last seasons collapse after winning 10 in a row.

But Kruegers professorial style fits well withthis team, whichrelies heavily on young stars Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin andSam Reinhart.

Canadian Krueger, the son of German immigrants, previously coached the Edmonton Oilers. But he was recently chairman of the Southampton soccer club and a well-respected motivational speaker. He once wrote a book, in German, called "Team Life: Beyond Setbacks to Success."

At heart, hes a kid from Manitoba who loves coaching hockey, said Sabres general manager Jason Botterill. He enjoyed his experience at Southampton, but he is fired up and excited to be back behind the bench. Our players are feeding off that. They understand the passion hes bringing.

Krueger, well-accomplished in international hockey, has always had the ability to instantly connect with players he coached. Botterill said he senses that Krueger always knows what to say in every situation.

When you sit down with Ralph, his entire focus is on you, Botterill said. You feel hes gone through a lot of experiences and hes pulled down a lot of knowledge from those experiences.

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Oilers (Tippett): With GM Ken Holland also in place, the Oilers seem to have a fresh,upbeat attitude. Tippett will make this team better defensively. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl cando the rest.

Anaheim Ducks (Dallas Eakins): Its not just goalie John Gibson getting it done, although he has been a big part of their strong start. Eakins has the team playing more up-tempo than they have in the past. Players seem to be buying what hes selling.

Philadelphia Flyers (Alain Vigneault): Vigneault has a long history of success at the NHL level, but will be judged by his ability to transform the Flyers into a consistent playoff team. Too early to determinewhat his impact will be.

Florida Panthers (Joel Quenneville): Quenneville'simpact is expected to be significant. However, the Panthers have been sluggish out of the gate.Players may need time to adjust to Quenneville, who won three Stanley Cups in Chicago. Sergei Bobrovskys .870 save percentage hasnt helped.

Ottawa Senators (D.J. Smith):The Senators are expected to be the NHLs worst team and theres notmuch Smith can do about that. But they seem improved.

Los Angeles Kings (Todd McLellan): McLellan is a respected coach, but the Kings management may be looking to the future, not this season.They may be looking forward to another top-five draft pick.

Follow Allen on Twitter@ByKevinAllen.

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Early NHL standings show coaching changes work: Sabres and Oilers leading their division - USA TODAY

Mike Turo could have been in the Yankees dugout this week. Or maybe coaching down one of the baselines during the American League Championship Series. Somewhere in the big leagues.

He stretches

out in his chair in his office at James Monroe High School and allows his mind to wander for just a second. He had turned down opportunities in the past to coach baseball in college or the minor leagues.

I was born and brought up here and I had a lot of friends here, and they chose different directions, Turo said. They went their way after a while and I followed my dream.

All around his office in The Bronx are tokens of that journey.

City and division championship trophies and honors that the PSALs all-time winningest coach has earned in his 42 years at the helm. Scorebooks are stored in the cabinets going back to 1978, the first year the 64-year-old coached at Monroe.

On the walls are photos of past and current players. All of that winning pales in comparison to what truly defines Turos legacy. What matters most is giving his players a chance in life in the borough he grew up in.

I feel to me its a greater honor helping the kids here who really need you, said Turo, who grew up in Pelham Parkway. And then over the years, all the kids come back here and say you helped save my life and I know now how many kids Ive touched.

Turo has been a teacher, coach and athletic director at Monroe. His players come from different types of home environments. Many arrive as first-generation immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela or other Spanish-speaking countries. Turos philosophy is to treat each kid uniquely and work around any potential issues to make them as strong a student-athlete as possible.

Hes a baseball guy, one. Two, hes a fatherly figure, said Jose Bautista, one of Turos former players and current Monroe assistant coach. Some of them are not used to being around [a] father, but he just gives off that vibe that encouragement that you can do it.

Its part of fulfilling his dream to be a teacher on and off the field. Growing up, baseball was always in his blood as he played at Mount St. Michael High School before going to Fordham University and finishing at Lehman College.

A week removed from earning that college degree in December 1977, he interviewed to be the varsity baseball coach and a physical education teacher at Monroe. Outgoing baseball coach Joe Consagra was a business partner at a day camp with Turos father. He gave Turo a high recommendation to the administration, and he was on his way. He has earned 1,369 wins, lost only 227 times and claimed six PSAL city championships. There have been numerous Bronx division titles along the way, and for his efforts, the school named the field after him last year.

His rules about conduct on the field havent changed since the first day.

My philosophy is to always hustle, Turo said. If you dont hustle, you are not playing for me. I want people to understand and say thats a good kid.

These kids are well-disciplined, and its going to give them an edge when it is time to graduate.

Turo retired as a teacher three years ago and says he will continue to coach as long as the passion is there and he feels in good shape. He says he hasnt put too much pressure on himself to stick around to break the all-time city baseball wins record held by legendary Archbishop Molloy coach Jack Curran, who compiled 1,708 wins before his death in 2013. Turo considered Curran a mentor and a good friend.

It all can be taxing at times for Turo, who drives two hours each way from Suffolk County. He credits his success to his wife for 30 years, Teresalyn, and his two children, Michael Jr. and Danielle.

And that success, that development of players for 42 years, is all part of living his dream.

I always loved The Bronx, he said.

Read more:
Monroe coach Mike Turo is still changing lives with baseball after 42 years - New York Post

There are some who have gone underground or changed their names.

But at least one Nxivm follower of Keith Alan Raniere is proud enough of her mentor to boldly proclaim she is available for life coaching and her technique is Ranieres own Rational Inquiry.

Bravo, Siobhan Hotaling.

Readers may recall Siobhan one of Allison Macks slaves an openly gay follower of Nxivm and lover of the concepts of DOS who was a coach, therapist and salesperson for Nxivm. She also was a lead singer in Ranieres a Capella singing group Simply Human.

Raniere told her that one day she would eclipse Beyonce in fame and musical accolades.

While many scattered after the Vanguards arrest and went underground while others left the noble Vanguard even some of his longtime followers Hotaling is true blue and is even searching for new recruits by advertising on her website http://www.siobahnhotaling.com/ that she is available for life coaching and consulting.

Here is what she writes about herself she was:

She also writes about her important role in Nxivm saying that she was:

Member of the team that ran the New York City branch of the company; oversaw and mentored several groups of apprentice coaches, running multiple committees, teaching and overseeing ongoing classes

Worked with clients from all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe on a weekly basis to move them on their personal and professional goals; one of the top practitioners in Rational Inquiry, a process to help people resolve inconsistencies in their thought and belief process.

My primary fields of expertise are the following:

Shes a gal that has it all.

But her specialty is teaching the tech that Raniere invented.

She writes she was in the past a:

Executive Success ProgramsFeb 2006 June 2011

Taught intensive trainings across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Responsible for managing staff of up to 15 team members, created feasibility reports and budgets, coordinated all necessary components to run trainings, presented to and led groups of up to 40 students.

But happily, she is still teaching Ratinal Inquiry even though Nxivm and Executive Success Programs have suspended their classes.

Hotaling is one of the true diehards of Nxivm a long-time recruiter, teacher and she helped get women into slavery under Keith Alan Raniere for their empowerment, she said.

She has also been alleged to have been one of Nxivms money mules who helped bring cash across the border as part of the Nxivm enterprise to help fund the worldwide mission outside the oppressive hand of government.

In addition to her coaching entire groups, Hotaling was one of the leading Exploration of Meaning therapists in all of Nxivm from which she derived a significant part of her income. She charged upwards of $100 per hour to sit one-on-one while her clients explored their deep past and Hotaling made notes to consult with Raniere over.

Often is the time, Hotaling told Raniere some interesting detail of some young and attractive slender Nxivm woman solely for Raniere to have some insights on how he could mentor her better.

Filled with vivacity and verve, here is what one friend said about her Never have I heard anyone describe you as less than amazing. You were always fun, insightful and confident. You did your thing and your thing is amazing. You were born amazing, you are still amazing. You dont need anyones guidance. Follow your moral compass!

You can hear her music here:

Siobhan also helped Dr. Danielle Roberts, the famed branding doctor of DOS, run a yoga-type Raniere group [meant to lure in women who liked yoga] named Exo/eso.Siobhan helped ensure that any woman who took the course who seemed suitably slender and pliable was introduced to Raniere for higher teachings.

She recruited yoga teachers.

And here is where Clare Bronfman helped out before a woman first took the exo/eso course which has elements of Hatha yoga [postures and breathing exercises- that are thousands of years old and have been available in written form since the Hatha Yoga Pradpika ca 1650], they had to sign confidentiality agreements.

When women came to misunderstand that exo/eso classes were just overpriced yoga classes [the course costs thousands yoga classes, if there is a charge at all are in the $20 range] and failed to appreciate the Raniere special teachings including that Raniere should be the ultimate guru -and they quit the women were often confronted with a serious problem.

Clare and Siobhan told them that they cant teach yoga anymore because they stole it from exo/eso and they signed confidentiality agreements that forbid it.

Clare actually stopped one young lady from Canada who I interviewed a yoga teacher form earning a living by threatening that her that the [ancient] yoga practices she was going to teach were derived from Keith Ranieres tech as taught to her in exo/eso.

When she tried to argue that she had been teaching yoga for years before she took exo/eso and that she was only teaching the same thing she taught before, Clare told her that litigation is meant for those who try to steal Ranieres tech.

She backed down and called me. Despite my assurances that Raniere did not invent the shoulder stand, she was too frightened to pursue it and chose not to teach.

In this way, Hotaling helped Raniere get a foothold in the world of yoga.

Ah, but such is the world of life coaching and enlightenment as taught by Raniere and his followers Raniere is in prison and exo/eso is basically stalled and, funny enough, yoga whether inspired by Raniere or by its ancient roots continues to be taught in nearly every city in America.

She sang at Raniere-events such as Vanguard Week before the event was canceled due to Ranieres imprisonment.

Here is a description, I wrote, pre-Vanguard arrest, of one of her singing events at Vanguard Week:

Miss Hotaling, scheduled to play on stage at Vanguard Week. Everybody is waiting. Raniere is an hour late. He comes out of his cottage, with some woman. The smell of mentoring that woman is on his face and a hastily eaten hamburger on his breath. He is surrounded by more women who study his technology pressing near him as he strolls into the auditorium.

He is satiated and rests in his seat. His followers who waited for him to come in, also come in and sit down.

The concert starts an hour late. Miss Hotaling goes on stage and picks up her guitar. She is an old lady. She sings. Mr. Raniere is not listening. He is surrounded by adoring women waiting for a look or a gesture from him so they can squeal with inner delight.

Miss Hotaling finishes a song and it takes the audience a few seconds to realize its over. They were not listening. The silence awakes them. Then they dutifully applaud.

She starts her next song. Everyone is bored except Miss Hotaling. She is in love with the sound of her own voice.

If Keith Raniere is not laughing inside at the fools that he despises, he may have a kindly lesson: Dont be Miss Hotaling

In between posting songs on the internet that nobody will listen to, Hotaling is out selling this hot new yoga technology created by Keith Raniere.

A joke is told in Raniere village: Keiths new yoga technology is hot. Not like Hot Yoga. Hotter. So hot, it should be branded.

No story about Hotaling could be complete without telling the story of her ethical breach.

Evidently, she and her gal pal wanted to have a child and Raniere offered his sperm inserted personally by his wondrous member.

Hotaling did not immediately opt for the golden ones seed at least the way it was offered, according to the oft-told story and confirmed at the trial of Ranier.

Without telling anyone the reason why, Raniere declared she had an ethical breach. Hotaling was not allowed to tell the reason she had committed her breach.

It is also reported that he was not really planning on getting her pregnant he simply wanted to fuck a gay woman.

If you are thinking of a life coach that could help you become a lifelong slave this is the woman for you.

You may contact her through her website http://www.siobahnhotaling.com/

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The rest is here:
Siobhan Hotaling Is Alive and Well and Teaching Nxivm Tech - Frank Report

Photo: Contributed Photo/Kate Howe

Contacting the dead with the CT Medium

To Kate Howe, the proclaimed CT Medium, anyone can be a medium.

Anyone who has intuition is a psychic, said Howe. You have to acknowledge your psychic abilities in order to become a medium because youre completely reliant on that intuition when youre sitting down with someone.

Howe knew she was called to be a medium ever since she was a kid, however, it was not until 2006 when Howe pursued her mission in helping those on Earth connect with their loved ones who have passed. Consequently, Howe had to channel her own guides and loved ones in order to steer her in the right direction of helping others with her gifts.

I connect with my own guides; my own loved ones who have passed, said Howe. My mother, who passed away when I was 21, was the one who came to me and told me that I had to help other people with their grief.

Stationed at her office in Unionville, Conn., Howe stated that she has read over 1,000 people within the past four years. There, she holds gallery readings for large groups as well as spiritual life coaching for those who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives.

Howe says that she is able to connect with peoples intuition, however, she is able to use this intuition to go deeper than just the validation of a connection with a loved one.

I have more of an ability to connect with peoples intuition, or their soulful voice, said Howe. Ill be able to sit with somebody during a session, and validate if one of their loved ones are around, but I always tend to go deeper than just validation about their loved ones.

When connecting with loved ones, Howe says that it is possible to connect with beings that arent necessarily human, including angels, and even pets.

I believe its just a beautiful expression of unconditional love thats human that they can tap into, said Howe. Its almost easier to connect with some pets because there is no ego getting in the way of their connection.

Despite the tranquility often associated with connecting with a loved one who has passed, Howe admits there are often times where negative energy is involved, especially when there was a troubled relationship between the two connecting parties.

There was this one time that I was reading this woman, and my whole body was filled with chills. I started to feel almost afraid, said Howe. I said who is this terrible male energy that is trying to connect with you?, and she said oh, I dont want to connect with him.

That terrible, negative male energy happened to be the womans father who had previously abused her. Though, despite encounters such as these, Howe describes that this negative energy does not occur naturally. Negative energy, she says, stems from fear and is a result of how we project our energy through that fear.

In order to block out negative energy, Howe says she builds a barrier around her energy so that negative energy does not permeate through during her readings.

When describing where energy comes from, Howe said that energy is all around us and stems from everything, including inanimate objects.

Energy is just something innate in our world. Everything around us emits energy; that includes humans, objects, chairs, and cars, said Howe.

Energy also serves as an intersection between the art of being a medium, and the realm of spirituality and religion. Howe, who grew up Episcopalian, believes that spirituality is central to being a medium, however, the basis of spirituality in the field is complex.

I believe the basis of spirituality goes a little bit further than religion. I think with religion, we are reminded of certain aspects [of spirituality.], said Howe. If youre a religious person, you are familiar with prayer, or meditation, and that connects with the spiritual world [but] my belief is that all of those beings are in the same circle of spirit.

Considering a career as a medium?

Howe said the first step is to trust in your intuition, which is the way to connect with others, however, that validation has to be internal.

If you feel called to the profession, and hone your confidence, perhaps you too can connect people on Earth with those who have passed.

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Contacting the dead with the CT Medium - CT Post