The role of private savings and how Kiwi women will fare when it comes to retirement income are among the terms of reference for the latest Review of Retirement Income Policy released publicly today.

Every three years, the Retirement Commissioner examines retirement income policies and practices to assess their effectiveness and identify future issues. The resulting Review of Retirement Income Policy will be presented to Government in late 2013.

Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan says the review is an important tool for ensuring the Government is aware of the facts, any emerging trends, and new developments that could affect the long-term future of retirement income policy.

"The decisions we make now about retirement income potentially have consequences for generations to come. We need to regularly review and assess where we are to ensure universal New Zealand Superannuation is available for Kiwis who are currently in their 30s and 40s.

"Our ageing population and the global financial crisis of recent years make these issues more relevant than ever," she says.

The findings of the review will help provide policy stability and inform policy development. The terms of reference for the review will cover five main topics. They are:

1. An update of, and commentary on, the developments and emerging trends in retirement income provision since the 2010 review, both within New Zealand and internationally.

2. A discussion of the intergenerational impacts of New Zealands retirement income policy, with due consideration given to:

a). the effects of increased longevity on present retirement savings schemes;

b). alternative retirement savings approaches; and

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Focus for retirement policy review released

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Wealth Enhancement Group, is pleased to announce that Joe Brummel, Director of Retirement Plan Consulting, along with industry leaders, today unveiled iJoinTM, a web-based software delivered through mobile technology that helps Americans prepare for retirement. iJoin addresses a critical need in the market for engaging, interactive retirement-planning solutions that educate and, more importantly, change behavior.

Fully 70 percent of American workers say they are not where they need to be with their retirement savings, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institutes 2011 Retirement Confidence Survey. These types of statistics are staggering and call for solutions, said Joe Brummel, AIF. When we set out to develop a solution to this growing problem, we knew we had to apply behavioral finance to technology.

iJoin leads users through an interactive decision-making process to determine:

In an iJoin pilot program in which nearly 500 workers across a variety of industries participated:

Experience iJoin for yourself by visiting http://www.ijoinsolutions.com for a video tutorial.

Joe Brummel is a 16-year industry leader in the retirement planning community. Brummel has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) professional designation from Fiduciary 360, which trains and certifies advisors in investment fiduciary responsibility. He is also a Founding Lecturer of The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU) at UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education.

For more information about Joe Brummel and Wealth Enhancement Group on the services they provide, visit http://www.wealthenhancement.com/RPC.

Securities are offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Photos/MultimediaGallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50429484&lang=en

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New Web-based Technology Improves Retirement Readiness

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- The quiet of Rasheed Wallace's retirement in North Carolina was interrupted last spring by a call from an old coach.

''Out of the blue, coach Woody called me like, 'Young fella, what are you doing?''' Wallace said of Mike Woodson.

''I'm like, 'Uh, you know, just down here enjoying life, enjoying the summer, down here with my mom, taking it easy,''' Wallace recalled. ''That's all I was doing pretty much.''

Woodson had something else in mind.

The Knicks coach wanted depth in his frontcourt and remembered the success he and Wallace had in Detroit on Larry Brown's 2004 NBA championship team. So they were back together Wednesday - an older, mellowed Wallace ending a two-year retirement to sign with the Knicks.

''We have a good history coming from Detroit,'' Wallace said. ''We won one together, so he asked me if I still want to play. I said, 'I'll come up there and see what I can do for you.'''

Woodson isn't sure what that might be, using the term ''only time will tell'' at least three times when asked about Wallace's potential. But the Knicks were young and thin in the frontcourt last season, so he figures it's wise to give the four-time All-Star a shot.

''The fact that he's asked to come out of retirement and play, for me it's great to give him a shot because I remember the good times,'' Woodson said. ''I don't know if he still has it yet until he gets out here and he starts working and playing, but only time will tell.''

Wallace said he decided in late August after a few conversations with Woodson to attempt the comeback. He cited his respect for the laid-back Woodson, an assistant under Brown whom Wallace credited with calming down the player who once racked up 40 technical fouls in a season.

The 38-year-old Wallace last played for the Boston Celtics in the 2009-10 season. Terms of his contract were not announced, but the Knicks could offer only the veteran's minimum of about $1.7 million.

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Rasheed Wallace ends retirement to join Knicks

You've probably heard many of these common pieces of retirement advice before, but they're worth repeating, if only to remind you to take action. After all, the key to a comfortable retirement is not to know every possible secret to build wealth, but to simply act on the knowledge you already have. Here are the most important actions you must take in order to reach a worry-free retirement:

Take steps to live below your means. You can be an investment genius, but still not be able to amass a sizable nest egg unless you have a solid base to compound your returns. For most people, the biggest determinant of how much money you can accumulate is how much you save. The more you can save each month, the more you have for the future. It's that simple. And the best part about not worrying about the Joneses is that eventually, you will actually be the Joneses.

Determine an appropriate asset allocation mix for your circumstances. The biggest benefit of coming up with a well thought out strategy is being able to stay the course when your investments do not perform well. "Buy low and sell high" is easy to say, but too many people will find it impossible to execute in the heat of the moment unless they truly understand their asset allocation strategy and how different investments are interconnected.

Ignore short-term market fluctuations. Any investment can be volatile in the short run, but most investments tend to increase in value over the long haul. Your investment in stocks, for example, will be worth more as the underlying companies make more money and throw off dividends. Your bond allocation, on the other hand, will throw off coupon payments to honor debt obligations. By investing as early as possible, you are allowing the forces of investing to work in your favor. Of course, compound interest won't hurt either.

Realize that money is just a tool. Many people in modern society are trained to think that more is always better. The result is a world with too many people who are willing to trade a great deal for more money. They work for too long, and often at jobs they absolutely hate. They spend too much time thinking about their assets, and not enough time building relationships with their friends and family. At the end of the day, your non-financial assets are at least as important as your financial ones. Don't let money concerns dictate your life and drive all your decisions. More money isn't always better. Sometimes, you need to decide that enough is enough.

Surround yourself with people who share the same values. The road to financial independence will be next to impossible unless you find others who also believe in marching toward the same path. Find a significant other who won't sabotage your efforts to prepare for a better life, and find friends who can be supportive of your ideals. They are out there, and chances are good that they are looking for you too.

None of these financial tips should be surprising. The important part is to begin to implement them as early as possible in your career.

David Ning runs MoneyNing, a personal finance site that shares money moves you can make to significantly increase your chances of having a comfortable retirement. He likes to share simple changes that anyone can make, such as picking the best online savings account and figuring out whether a 0 percent balance transfer credit card makes sense.

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5 Retirement Tips You Must Follow

(MoneyWatch) Are you ever in a professional or personal setting where you feel intimidated, unsure of your abilities, nervous, awkward or downright scared? No more.

What would your life look like if you had more confidence and felt more powerful? Would you perform better at work, during a job interview or while giving a presentation? Would you be able to engage with members of the opposite sex more freely and have a little more swag in your step? Get ready to learn a simple and proven technique to boost your confidence instantly. It's a big promise to be sure and not one I make lightly. I really hate hyperbole and promises of quick fixes and easy solutions, but once in a while I come across something that really has the power to change lives. This is one of those times.

So what's the secret to a powerful performance? Preparation for sure, but don't make the mistake of thinking all you need is to be prepared. Even if you know your stuff inside and out, if you aren't confident you will fail to perform. You've seen this a thousand times -- the presentation where you focus more on the timid and awkward delivery than the message. There is no worse feeling than knowing you could have killed it if it hadn't been for your nerves, self-doubt or hesitation. When you get your shot, you have to be more than prepared.

The real "X" factor that determines who gets the job, the promotion and other rewards in life is confidence. Since confidence is the magical pixie dust that can mean the difference between success and failure, you should spend just as much time on your mental game as you do on your work. But if you're in a pressure situation and you don't have your sports psychologist on speed dial, there is another option that research shows can immediately boost your confidence.

It turns out mom was right. When she told you to stand up straight, she instinctively knew that how others view you can influence their perception of you. But what she didn't know is that when we stand up straight we not only influence how others perceive us, but how we see ourselves.As an executive coach working with individuals who need to perform at peak performance, I've long known that how clients' move their bodies can influence their confidence, outlook and performance. Now it turns out we have some research to back this up.

Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy has shown that even if we "fake" body postures that convey confidence and power -- what she calls "power posing" -- even for as little as two minutes, it "changes our testosterone and cortisol levels, increases our appetite for risk, causes us to perform better in job interviews and generally configures our brains to cope well in stressful situations."

Building on such research, ere is how you can immediately boost your confidence:

1. Preparation: Get big for two minutes. If you want confidence, it's all about becoming big. Before the presentation or job interview (or frankly anytime you want to have more confidence), move and expand your body. Stretch your arms outward or to the ceiling. Exaggerate your movements. Put your hands behind your back and your feet up on the desk. Do whatever you can to become as physically big as possible. The research shows that all it takes is just two minutes of this kind of movement in order to increase your confidence.

2. Performance: Fill the space. Now that it's game time, you don't want to make such exaggerated movements and you don't want to try to overpower someone who is naturally in a more powerful role, like someone interviewing you for a job. Nor do you want to shrink into a passive position like so many others do. You need to walk a fine line between being too much and too little. Cuddy's advice is to be as "big" as you can comfortably be by standing tall, keeping your shoulders back and having your feet apart. If you are sitting, don't sink into your chair. Sit up straight and keep your arms loose and on the armrests of the chair. Resist the natural tendency to shrink in this situations by doing what you can to "fill the room."

Success is about dreaming big, playing big and now, it seems, becoming big. Just remember to expand your body to expand your confidence.

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How to boost your confidence in 2 minutes

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Oct 3, 2012) - New research from SilkRoad Technology reveals that even in organizations that don't restrict access, the vast majority of employees use their mobile devices to check social media websites on a daily basis.Released today, SilkRoad's "Social Media and Workplace 2012 Report" surveyed more than 1,100 employees in North America to understand how people are using social media at work to communicate and collaborate with co-workers, customers, partners and acquaintances.A copy of the full report can be found here.

To tweet this report, simply click here: http://clicktotweet.me/d1E5gfp9

"Employees will use social media during the workday.These findings make it clear: companies can either find ways to use social media to achieve measureable business results, or they can ignore it at their own peril," said Flip Filipowski, CEO, SilkRoad Technology."There is a common misperception that people only use social media for personal reasons.This research proves that people are looking to social media to help them be better at their jobs -- including connecting with co-workers and customers."

The survey revealed attitudes and common practices from all three generations currently in the workforce, including Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials.Notable findings include:

The Social Media and Workplace 2012 Report was conducted from July-August 2012 through an online survey amongst a sample of 1,105 employees of corporations and not-for-profit organizations across the United States.Of the respondents, 33 percent came from organizations having more than 1,000 employees, 44 percent were from Generation X, 44 percent were Millennials and 12 percent were Baby Boomers.

About SilkRoad Technology SilkRoad is a leading global provider of cloud-based social talent management software.Their passion for creating the finest employee experience drives everything they do.The award-winning SilkRoad Life Suite is an integrated set of employer-branded TM/HCM solutions that power businesses with the latest Web 2.0 and social media innovations: OpenHire for recruiting, RedCarpet for onboarding and life events, WingSpan for performance management, GreenLight for learning management, Point and Eprise for Social Collaboration and Content, and HeartBeat for trusted HRMS.The Life Suite is ideally suited for businesses of every size because of its unique and open "start anywhere" architecture -- implement the complete suite or begin with one solution and add functionality as you need it.Either way, it's the fastest path to develop more productive and empowered employees who can rapidly boost business performance.Visit http://www.silkroad.com, follow them on Twitter @SilkRoadTweetsor call 866-329-3363 (U.S. toll free) or +1-336-201-5100.

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75 Percent of Employees Access Social Media From Personal Mobile Devices at Work According to Research From SilkRoad

Mark Winterbottom ahead of the Bathurst 1000. Photo: Getty Images

V8 Supercars championship challenger Mark Winterbottom has dismissed a vicious personal attack by the team boss of his title arch-rival Jamie Whincup, vowing to answer the criticism on the track at Bathurst this weekend.

A one-sided war of words erupted after Ford Performance Racing's Winterbottom snatched second place in the closing stages of last month's Sandown 500, by bumping Whincup's Triple Eight Holden aside.

Although the move was cleared by race officials, Triple Eight chief Roland Dane denounced the aggressive overtake as a B-grade move from a so-called professional driver and branded Winterbottom as being about as popular as a turd in a swimming pool.

But Winterbottom, who is dogging defending V8 champion Whincup in this year's points race, has shrugged off Dane's outbursts on the eve of the Bathurst 1000, declaring that he'll do his talking on the track.

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He came out with a personal attack on me, Winterbottom told Fairfax Media. I just use that as motivation because I've obviously got to him a little bit. We'll see what happens this weekend.

It'd make me feel pretty good if I can beat them and hold the trophy up.

Nicknamed "Frosty", the 31-year-old front-runner has been backed by hard-driving veteran Russell Ingall, who disagreed with Dane and questioned the team boss's tactic of making his criticism public and personal.

The officials ruled his move was acceptable, in which case, I reckon what Roland said was out of line, Ingall said. I wouldn't have said anything about it. What I would have done was shut up and next time the opportunity arose - payback time.

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Sideswiped: attack on Winterbottom gets personal

CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - Cheer Sport Sharks, owned and managed by Alison Moffat and Alana Potter, has brought Canadian Cheerleading to new heights over the past 10 years.Their success has led to a revolution in the sport of competitive cheerleading.

Ten years ago, Cheer Sport Sharks Competitive Cheerleading started with a small group of 35 athletes meeting once a week.Within 5 years they had relocated three times to expand their cheer gym size, in order to accommodate the constantly increasing number of athletes within the organization.Training once a week soon turned into a 7-days a week operation, attracting 550 Cheer Sport Sharks cheerleaders who trained to an award winning competitive level.

Today Cheer Sport Sharks has reached a milestone.After 10 years of dedication and hard work, Cheer Sport Sharks has surpassed many expectations.Currently, there are 3 cheer gyms that reach out to many communities, including their recently opened Cambridge Cheer Gym Facility.Many competitive cheerleading athletes dream of being part of the Cheer Sport Sharks and by expanding in Cambridge, Ancaster, and Ottawa these dreams have come true.

All Star Competitive Cheerleading

Success for the Sharks has not come easy.Canadian competitive cheerleading has become a world-renowned sport and with each year that passes the standard of skill is raised.Coaches and cheerleaders must work harder each year to stay on top.Alana Potter, co-owner of Cheer Sport Sharks, states, "Every year our teams are better and stronger. Each year we are setting a new standard of what competitive cheerleading is all about."

The greatest asset Cheer Sport Sharks has is the passion and commitment the Cheer Sport Sharks cheerleading coaches and athletes have for the sport. Each day athletes show up at the gym ready and motivated to work towards achieving personal and team goals. To be on a team with up to 30 other athletes and grow with them through every heartbreak and success creates a special bond.With that bond and the love for cheerleading, together they shine as one.

The Road of Success for Recreational and Competitive Cheerleading

What is in the future for the Sharks?Cheer Sport Sharks will continue to strive to meet the needs of all recreational and competitive cheerleading athletes.Not only will they remain dedicated to supporting cheer teams and communities, they will continue to work to seek innovative ideas and offer the ultimate cheer experience for all athletes.Cheer Sport Sharks has provided and will continue to provide state-of-the-art cheer gym facilities with premier fun and competitive cheerleading classes and training to cheerleader athletes.Cheer Sport Sharks will continue to work hard to remain the top cheer gym in all of Canada.If you are interested in joining the Cheer Sport Sharks community, locations across Ontario are currently accepting all skill levels. Become a Cheer Sport Cheerleader today!

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Cheer Sport Sharks "Destined for Success"

PHILADELPHIA, October 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Interactive, online curriculumfor learners who provide care that promotes independent living for peoplewith physical disabilities and older adults

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced that Elsevier's DirectCourse has expanded, adding a new curriculum, College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC). This interactive, web-based curriculum is designed to train and educate personal care assistants, home care providers and family caregivers caring for people with physical disabilities and older adults to live independently in their communities. A pilot program has been launched in several states, including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

CPAC was created by the Center for Personal Assistance Services at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in collaboration with the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living and Elsevier. The curriculum, that currently includes more than 20 lessons, empowers organizations to provide their home care providers with a career path, increase their job satisfaction, and reduce turnover in the field.

Core lessons in the curriculum include:

"The inclusion of the CPAC curriculum in DirectCourse provides an unprecedented knowledge base for personal care assistance professionals," said Bill Tapp, Elsevier's DirectCourse Vice President. "This new curriculum offers organizations relevant tools and interactive capabilities required for advancement in today's workforce. Most importantly, CPAC provides a learning gateway for families, workers, and those who assist individuals with physical disabilities and older adults, enabling them to live independently in the community."

CPAC courses were created for consumers who are self-directing and are delivered and administered by Elsevier's industry-leading learning management system, Elsevier Performance Manager: Core Development. This makes it easy for administrators and supervisors to track progress, measure effectiveness, assign lessons and even create customized content.

"Building on the continued success of DirectCourse's online curricula, Elsevier is committed to advancing knowledge and skills in a growing number of working professionals in the best way possible," said John Schrefer, President of Elsevier's MC Strategies. "CPAC provides a robust, comprehensive knowledge base and will complement Elsevier's proven platform for educational and professional development."

About DirectCourse

DirectCourse is Elsevier's expansive suite of online curricula to train professionals who support people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, as well as older adults. DirectCourse is anchored by the College of Direct Support, an online curriculum for direct support professionals managed in collaboration with Elsevier/MC Strategies and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living. In addition, DirectCourse contains the College of Employment Services, a new online training curriculum developed by the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. http://directcourseonline.com/

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Elsevier Adds the College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving to Expand DirectCourse's Web-based Learning Curricula

Virtual public schools, which allow students to take all their classes online, have exploded in popularity across the United States, offering what supporters view as innovative and affordable alternatives to the conventional classroom.

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Now a backlash is building among public officials and educators who question whether the cyber-schools are truly making the grade.

In Maine, New Jersey and North Carolina, officials have refused to allow new cyber-schools to open this year, citing concerns about poor academic performance, high rates of student turnover and funding models that appear to put private-sector profits ahead of student achievement.

In Pennsylvania, the auditor general has issued a scathing report calling for revamping a funding formula that he said overpays online schools by at least $105 million a year. In Tennessee, the commissioner of education called test scores at the new Tennessee Virtual Academy "unacceptable."

And in Florida, state education officials are investigating a virtual school after it was accused of hiring uncertified teachers; in the past two weeks two local school boards in the state have rejected proposals for virtual schools.

Some states, including Michigan, Indiana and Louisiana, are still moving aggressively to embrace online schools. But the anger and skepticism elsewhere is striking, in part because some of it comes from people who have ardently supported opening the public school system to competition.

"There's a sense that [online education] is a lot more mainstream now and we need to take a closer look at it," said Michael Horn, an advocate of digital learning at Innosight Institute, a think tank focused on education policy. "I don't think we need to put the brakes on completely, but we need tweaks to accountability models, which will slow growth."

Charter school movement Online courses first appeared in public high schools in the early 1990s. They were promoted as a way for students in isolated rural schools to tap into advanced classes not offered in their towns, or for students at risk of dropping out to make up credits.

By the early 2000s entrepreneurs were pitching full-time online schools - perfect, they said, for athletes with heavy travel schedules, children with medical conditions that confined them at home, or almost anyone who found the hustle and bustle of neighborhood schools uncomfortable.

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Online schools face backlash