As we get closer to an election that is "all about the economy," polls show that maybe that's not so true. Americans think the economy is getting better. Consumer confidence, the stock market, and home values are all up. Credit and debt problems are down. Unemployment remains unacceptably high but there are more jobs today than when President Obama took office.

Perhaps it's more accurate to say that this election is all about the government and how it deals with the economy. Neither political party has distinguished itself here, but at least voters will be provided with clear differences. Of course, these differences have produced mostly gridlock in recent years, and even the approaching fiscal cliff may not bring Congress to its senses.

[See Obama or Romney: Who's Better for Your Portfolio?]

With so much uncertainty in the short run, it's more important than ever for retirement plans to be based on longer-term trends. Many of these trends are cautionary, if not downright negative. But ignoring them or wishing things were different is a strategy only an ostrich could love. Here are eight key trends for people in or nearing retirement:

1. Real investment returns are staying low. The American consumer will not resume being the engine of growth for the domestic economy. There simply won't be enough people in their prime consumption years--their 30s to 50s--to buy enough material goods to provide us sustained annual growth rates of 4 to 5 percent. On the financial side, interest rates are not likely to rise for some time, and yield-sensitive investments will be hurt by low rates. So don't count on sizable investment gains to make your retirement dreams come true. Assume real returns of 1 or 2 percent and adjust your spending plans accordingly.

2. The public pension system is broken. If you work for state or local government, your pension will face growing pressures. Governments simply cannot deliver on the pension promises they have made to employees. Expect to see more multiple-tier plans as governments try to protect the pensions of existing employees by trimming plans for newly hired workers. This will not be enough to protect employees in many states, and their benefits will be under attack. So will retiree health benefits. If your employer retirement benefits were cut by 10 or 20 percent, how would you adjust?

[See 10 Essential Sources of Retirement Income.]

3. Governments have no money. In the short run, economic weakness and powerful anti-tax sentiments may extend the life of the Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year. If tax rates stay low (and they are very low today in historical terms), they will be credited for any improvement in the economy. But make no mistake, there are not enough eggs left in the golden goose to close the country's enormous budget gap. Some combination of spending cuts and tax increases is in the cards. Seniors may be spared the brunt of any cuts, but they are likely to face at least a flattening in future benefits.

4. You will live longer and longer. The biggest money story for many seniors will be just how long their nest eggs need to last. If you're healthy and 65, you should plan on living another 30 years. That's 10 to 12 years longer than the average life span. But if you take care of yourself, that shouldn't be a surprising outcome. This raises the possibility that you would need to live more frugally than you'd like for a long time. One tool worth considering is longevity insurance--an annuity that doesn't begin payments until you're 85. Because the odds favor you dying before then, you can get attractive terms from insurance companies selling these products. With such an annuity, you can spend down your nest egg by the time you reach 85, and then the annuity payments will begin. You can live better now and, if you're lucky, continue living better when you're 85.

5. You will work longer and longer. Because of poor retirement planning and longer life spans, millions of us will need to find encore careers. Each year we delay retirement can increase the size of our investment savings, raise our Social Security benefits, and shave a year off the funding workload of our nest eggs. For many baby boomers, continuing to work will also be a preferred lifestyle.

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8 Long-Term Retirement Planning Realities

COLUMBIA, MD--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - Sourcefire, Inc. ( NASDAQ : FIRE ), a leader in intelligent cybersecurity solutions, today announced the retirement of the Company's chief executive officer John C. Burris, effective immediately. Mr. Burris had been on medical leave from the Company. Martin F. Roesch, founder, chief technology officer and member of the Board of Directors, will continue to serve as the interim chief executive officer while the Board of Directors conducts a search for Mr. Burris' successor. Mr. Burris remains a member of the Board of Directors and will participate as his health permits.

Lt. Gen. Steven R. Polk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, commented, "John is a great leader and friend, and we are sad to see him retire from his day-to-day responsibilities at Sourcefire. We wish him the best as he continues to focus on his health.

"Upon becoming CEO in 2008, John laid out a clear vision for Sourcefire's next phase of development and during his tenure Sourcefire has achieved sustained profitability, expanded its relationship with the indirect sales channel to increase reach and drive revenue growth and become a multi-product company. These initiatives have positioned Sourcefire for sustained long-term growth and we are confident in the foundation and team John helped to build," continued Lt. Gen. Polk.

John Burris, retiring Chief Executive Officer, stated, "While I am sad to announce my retirement, I am excited and confident about the Company's Agile Security vision and the strong team we have assembled to execute on the growing opportunity in front of Sourcefire. I feel that a dynamic company like Sourcefire deserves a CEO that can solely dedicate his or her efforts to the future of the company and therefore, I believe my retirement at this time is in the best interest of our shareholders, customers and employees."

The Board has retained Chartwell Partners to assist in the search for Mr. Burris' successor.

The Company today also announced preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. The Company currently expects revenue and adjusted net income per share to be slightly above the high end of the guidance ranges given on July 31, 2012. These financial results are preliminary in nature, are subject to the Company completing its third quarter review process, and are subject to change. The Company expects to release its third quarter 2012 financial results after the market closes on October 30, 2012.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties.

Management cautions the reader that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to a number of both known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance, and/or achievements of Sourcefire, Inc. may differ materially from the future results, performance, and/or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. These factors include, that the preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 are subject to the Company completing its third quarter review process and may be revised, that expectations of future growth could change, and also include, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the reports filed by Sourcefire, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Sourcefire, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Sourcefire

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Sourcefire Announces Retirement of CEO John Burris

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZlDpLJmFwc

02-10-2012 10:40 see more at: That's I started by doing all the silly things and I'm afraid if I lead them go somebody else before long your gonna realize that one of these little competitors have right now is now big competitor, delegate maybe. There is no such thing as competition but he's talking right here is a fear, it's a fear, don't even do it your not making any money on it anyway don't even do it. Chop up the twenty percent, yes where you started. But I'm afraid that it could be somebody else, how big where you when you were born what did you weigh? You grew; do you ever wanna go back down in seven pounds? No, seven pounds you'll be pretty slinky if you would back down in seven pounds, you'll be dead. "Professional Business Coaching" "Professional Coaching" "business coaching""Performance Coaching" "Personal Performance Coaching"

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Professional Business Coaching: Don't even do it! - Video

By BEN HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune Published: October 03, 2012 Updated: October 03, 2012 - 12:00 AM

The High School Newsome girls swim team has gotten off to a great start this year winning the City Relays meet and meets against Academy of the Holy Names and Plant, two of the county's top teams.

First-year head coach Erin Yonkee has relied on the success of senior Barbara Caraballo, junior Merrill Wilson and sophomore Maddie Hess to lead the way for the Wolves.

"Without those girls, we wouldn't have the strength to win some of these meets," Yonkee said.

The life of a competitive swimmer requires long hours and personal sacrifice. Like many swimmers, these three are in the pool grinding out laps every morning, sometimes as early as 4:45 a.m. After a full day of classes, they return to the pool for an afternoon session.

"It's tiring, but you get used to it," said Hess, 15.

Hess and Caraballo started swimming when they were 5 years old; Wilson started when she was 7. Caraballo got into it to burn off excess energy.

"My mom says it was because of ADHD. I had trouble being still in the blocks," said Caraballo, 16.

The swimmers' hard work paid off this summer when both Caraballo and Hess qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

"It was incredible to be racing," said Hess, who qualified for the meet in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. "I don't think there will be any meets like that."

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Swim trio powers Newsome to success in meet after meet

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Vivint, the largest home automation services company in North America, is celebrating superior customer service during National Customer Service Week Oct. 1-5.

Customer service professionals answer calls, tackle problems, manage teams, and are the frontline responders in making someones day a little easier, said Steve Dixon, Vivints vice president of operations. You can have world-class products and attractive pricing, but if you dont back that up with professional, friendly and effective customer service you wont succeed.

Tina Brewer, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, recalls a personal experience when Vivints customer service representatives offered timely and effective advice.

"I came home from work and attempted to enter my passcode, Brewer said. I received a message that it was an invalid code and attempted to re-enter the code. However, when I started to do so, a loud alarm sounded. I was startled and unsure what to do. The voice of Vivint's support staff came on the speaker and walked me through the necessary steps to stop the alarm.

Brewer was also connected to Vivints technical support team who taught her how to properly use her keyless entry. Vivints support staff was so kind and so helpful. I was completely overwhelmed, Brewer added. They were helpful and supportive. I know that if I were in an unsafe situation, having their support would come as a great comfort.

Vivint has won numerous awards for its customer service. It was honored as the gold winner of Customer Service Department of the Year at the 2012 American Business Awards, a top annual business recognition program. Vivint also earned gold medal honors from Contact Center World. In addition, Vivint received top honors from the Central Station Alarm Association for its exceptional service to customers and community.

At Vivint, outstanding customer service extends beyond the initial sign-up of a customer. Damien Seabrook, of North Charleston, N.C., was surprised at the fast and friendly manner of Vivints installation technicians, who arrived at his home in less than 15 minutes after he verified his account.

I was blown away by the quick response and have never had that happen in my life, Seabrook said. Once the technician verified what package I was getting he got right to work. In 45 minutes I had a new system and he even took the time to show me how to work everything. The great part about it is he even downloaded the app to my phone.

Vivints professionally trained staff offer unsurpassed monitoring and quick response time. When Steven Bennett, of Charleston, Tenn., accidentally set off his alarm system, a Vivint representative called him through the panel in less than 30 seconds. That was the quickest response I've ever had from any alarm service I've used, Bennett said. It would usually take about two to three minutes for a response from my previous service provider sometimes even longer. Vivint gives my family the peace of mind that we are well protected. I'm tickled to death with my new system. Thanks, Vivint."

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Vivint Recognizes Outstanding Customer Service as Key to Success

If you have a hard time stepping away from your computer screen, but want to get a workout, a new website called Wello will help make that possible. Wello offers personal trainers via video chat.

I read about Wello and thought it sounded intriguing -- get an affordable personal trainer without leaving your home, and schedule a session at a time that's convenient for you. Personal trainers at gyms and private studios typically cost a minimum of $75 per hour, plus to get to them can sometimes be a hassle. Initially, I was skeptical about the video aspect of Wello -- can a personal training session be successfully accomplished through video chat? But for about $20 a session, I was eager to find out.

[More from Mashable: Olympic Gold Medalist to Speak at the Social Good Summit]

I had a total of three 25 minute sessions with trainers at different levels of experience (and corresponding prices) -- one with a newer trainer, one with a celebrity yoga instructor and the third with a moderately priced trainer. Wello says some 25 minute sessions will be as low as $5, although the lowest price for a 25 minute session I found was $15. Cofounder Leslie Silverglide said Wello may eventually price trainers based on user reviews rather than that trainer's experience (a smart idea).

[More from Mashable: Dr. Drews Greenroom Startup Lets Celebrities Auction Video Chats]

Trainers can view your private profile -- which you create when you sign-up for the site. This is where you write your height, weight and fitness goals (don't worry, this is for their eyes only). This really helps them customize your workout to align with your workout goals and current fitness level.

The training sessions are largely dependent on your Internet connections. My second session had to be cancelled because of the trainer's poor Internet connection. We re-scheduled for later that day but were only able to get through 10 minutes of yoga until it began cutting in-and-out again. The other sessions went well; although I think cardio workouts are best on video chat because when and if you have to adjust the screen, you're already moving so it doesn't disrupt your workout too much. Despite the connection issues, I was able to get some great at-home workouts that were affordable, convenient and tailored to my specific needs, unlike the workouts I get from DVD's.

This is what it looks like:

Of course, virtual personal trainers cannot touch you to correct your form but I found out that if they're vocal and can give good directions, perfecting your form with the help of a trainer is not any more difficult virtually than it is in real life. The gym equipment is what you may be lacking at home, but that's no problem. When you buy your session, you fill out a form indicating what equipment you have at home (in my case, nothing but a yoga mat). The trainers prepare their workouts according to what you have at home.

After you sign-up for a Wello account by entering your name and credit card information, there is some setup involved to make sure your experience goes smoothly: Make sure your screensaver is set to a time longer than your session. Before scheduling a session, check that you're in the correct timezone since trainers are located across the U.S. You can do this by looking under "account settings."

Originally posted here:
Wello: Affordable, Personal Training Using Video Chat [REVIEW]

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - An Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) publication has been singled out for a national marketing award, as one of 160 submissions and earning recognition for EEDC''s work in generating awareness of Alberta''s capital city.

The economic development attraction brochure won in the Economic Developers Association of Canada''s 2012 Marketing Canada Awards program''s single publication category. Created in 1968, the national association of economic developers offers its members professional development, networking and resources.

"EEDC uses various tools to attract people considering relocation and this lure brochure highlights the opportunities in the region and our vibrant quality of life. We have a culturally diverse city and lead the world in innovation, education and medical research," says Jenifer Christenson, executive director of external relations. Included are Edmonton''s many festivals, world-class medical facilities, family-friendly neighbourhoods, strong education system, and arts and culture scene. "The brochure''s concise nature delivers critical information in a format that is direct and engaging," says Christenson. "Including testimonials from newcomers to the city lends a personal connection to the reader."

The brochure''s underlying message is that working, living or visiting Canada''s festival city is a positive experience- bringing to the surface Edmonton''s strong workforce, advanced education and vibrant arts and culture scene, upon which the city is built.

Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) provides leadership in economic development, markets Edmonton as a must-see destination, manages the Shaw Conference Centre and Edmonton Research Park, and acts as a stakeholder in TEC Edmonton, a joint venture with the University of Alberta.For more information, visit http://www.edmonton.com Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who''ve experienced it at http://www.edmontonstories.ca

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Edmonton Economic Development Corporation: Edmonton Publication Garners National Marketing Award

CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Insurance Noodle, part of Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings plc (WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced the availability of its immediate personal lines quoting hub. Expanding on the functionality of the company's commercial lines quoting hub, the offering allows insurance agents to login and complete an online application to get real-time quotes for home and auto risks in 38 states. The quoting hub connects member agents to products from highly rated personal lines carriers. Currently, five industry leading insurance carriers offer quotes via the hub, and the platform will feature additional carriers in the next few months.

Insurance Noodle is the distribution vehicle for the Willis Commercial Network North America, which provides products and services to small insurance agents and brokers nationwide.

"The release of Insurance Noodle Personal Lines means Willis Commercial Network (WCN) now offers agents a complete solution for their customers' property and casualty insurance needs whether home or business, personal or commercial," said Ralph Blust, Executive Vice President of Willis Commercial Network. "Our platform connects agents to standard personal lines carriers plus both the admitted and non-admitted commercial lines marketplaces. WCN delivers total access for the small agency from a single resource, saving significant time and effort while expanding their ability to write more business," he added.

The personal lines automated quoting platform has been pilot tested by existing members since July, with nearly 1,000 members adopting the platform within the first month. It is now being offered for widespread distribution to small agencies across the country. While available carriers vary by state, the platform delivers at least two options (on personal lines) for most locations.

Along with carrier access and fast quotes, the Insurance Noodle platform provides agents with an efficient means of accessing their Insurance Noodle book of business. All client records, quotes and policies from all carriers are stored in the member's profile on the Insurance Noodle website. Agents can quickly quote, bind, service, and renew business, all online. More enhancements to the network are in development. Agencies interested in signing up for Insurance Noodle Membership can visit http://www.insurancenoodle.com, call 888-466-8868 or email membership(at)insurancenoodle(dot)com.

About Willis Group Holdings

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global insurance broker. Through its subsidiaries, Willis develops and delivers professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and institutions around the world. Willis has more than 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team of approximately 17,000 employees serving clients in virtually every part of the world. Additional information on Willis may be found at http://www.willis.com. For more information about Insurance Noodle, visit http://www.insurancenoodle.com or call 888-466-8868.

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/10/prweb9968621.htm

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Willis' Insurance Noodle Expands Online Quoting Platform for Personal Lines Business: Online Hub Offers Real-Time ...

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Personal (www.personal.com), a web and mobile application for individuals to store and share their most valuable information, today launched the Personal Platform, a collection of developer tools and APIs that enable developers to build web and mobile applications that responsibly and securely collect, store and share highly sensitive user information. This information includes personally identifiable information (pii), as well as thousands of fields of data that are less sensitive. Announced at Masherys Sixth Annual Business of APIs (BAPI) Conference in San Francisco, the DC-based company also revealed that more than 150 developers have already signed up for the API at http://developer.personal.com/.

The Personal Platform includes several privacy and security enhancing features. Now, with just a few lines of code, developers can better protect themselves by using Personal to store and share sensitive information as well as increase their access to better customer data by encouraging users to manage their own information. These features include:

From the BAPI stage in San Francisco, Personals co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Tarik Kurspahic announced that the Personal Platform is already yielding results with several third-party applications ready to launch including:

All apps are better with access to great data. Personal Platform makes it easier, safer and cheaper for developers to follow best practices around privacy and security while building apps that leverage data responsibly, said Shane Green, co-founder and CEO of Personal. Developers can now give users clearer and more granular control over their information, which will help create a more robust and transparent personal data ecosystem that benefits both users and developers.

Today, Personal joined the ranks of companies that are realizing the vision of APIs to fuel competitive edge and growth, said Oren Michels, CEO of Mashery. Consumers in the post-website era can more easily work with businesses that leverage APIs like Personals, so that apps grant wishes for their customers.

About Personal

Personal (www.personal.com) gives individuals a web and mobile vault for securely sharing and storing data, notes and files so they can better manage their lives at home and work. Built on a privacy- and security-by-design platform, Personal helps individuals to properly leverage their data so they can realize the most value from it -- all with the peace of mind that the data in their vault remains legally theirs, they always know who can access it, and it can't be shared without their permission. http://www.twitter.com/personal.

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Personal Launches ‘Personal Platform’ at Business of APIs Conference, Opening APIs for Developers

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health and wellness, leadership, and personal development take center stage at the ninth Pennsylvania Conference for Women sponsored by Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and held today at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia. At the annual women-to-women event, IBC leaders Kimberly Eberbach and Lorina Marshall-Blake will share their knowledge, experience, and insight with conference attendees and the company will host an exhibitor's booth in the Health and Wellness Pavilion.

Kimberly Eberbach, IBC vice president of wellness and community health, kicks off a series of presentations at 11:05 a.m. in the Health and Wellness Pavilion with a discussion about technology's role in our personal and professional lives. Her segment, "Tech Savvy Healthy Living," looks at web-based, texting-based, and telephonic tools, such as IBX Mobile and IBX Healthy Steps, which engage users in healthier living.

Eberbach will also host an important and relevant panel discussion about the physical and emotional aspects of dealing with aging. "Embracing Our Ever-Changing Body" will help attendees manage all aspects of the aging process from weight and nutrition to skincare and attire, while identifying how to make effective health decisions.

Lorina Marshall-Blake, IBC vice president of community affairs and president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, joins other corporate, community, and civic leaders in the Career Pavilion for a Local Leader Meet Up session at 11 a.m. During her 30-minute Meet Up session, Marshall-Blake will answer questions related to career and personal development. Local Leader Meet Ups are designed to give attendees access to leaders with whom they would not typically have an opportunity to talk and exchange ideas.

Throughout the day, IBC will offer giveaways, free body mass index screenings, strength testing, and an exciting chance to win box tickets for a Philadelphia Union game and an iPad4 for conference attendees who visit the IBC booth in the Health and Wellness Pavilion. Guests of the conference are encouraged to stop by the booth to talk about their health insurance needs, and to learn more about how IBC is changing the game. The pavilion opens at 7:30 a.m. and remains open until the conference closes at 5 p.m.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we have 3.1 million members nationwide. For nearly 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit http://www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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Independence Blue Cross Sponsors State's Largest Women's Conference