Retirement Tax Issues You Could Face In Retirement

Does your retirement plan consider tax issues? It should -- or it could cost you valuable post-work money.

Taxes don't end when you stop working. Federal and state tax issues come into play in several retirement income areas.

The key focus of all retirement plans is ensuring you have enough money to live the retirement lifestyle you want. While you were working, you took advantage of workplace savings accounts such as 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts.

If your IRA is a Roth account, you don't have to worry about tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service. You paid taxes on the money before you put it into your Roth IRA, and its earnings have grown tax-free. That means you don't owe the IRS anything on your withdrawals once you retire.

But if you're depending on traditional IRA or 401(k) funds, you will owe taxes. You never paid income taxes on the workplace plan or deductible IRA contributions. Plus, the earnings of these accounts are tax-deferred, meaning you owe tax at your ordinary income tax rate on money you take out in retirement.

And if you've delayed distributions so as to postpone those taxes for as long as possible, remember that the required minimum distribution, or RMD, rules compel you to withdraw certain amounts when you turn 70 . The IRS has life-expectancy charts, the most common one being the Uniform Lifetime Table, that help you calculate how much to withdraw.

Your private retirement accounts are designed to supplement your Social Security benefits.

But your added retirement income, whether from an IRA or pension plan, investment income or a job (including self-employment), could lead to taxes on at least part of your government benefits.

Retirees could pay taxes on up to 85 percent of Social Security benefits, says Mike Piershale, a Chartered Financial Consultant and president of Piershale Financial Group in Crystal Lake, Ill.

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Don't fall into these retirement tax traps

HOUSTON, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: "KRA"), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs," announces plans to showcase its latest advancements in adhesives and sealants at the 2012 ASC Adhesive & Sealant Council Fall Conference & Expo from October 21-23, 2012. The company is also scheduled to present a paper on new HSBC technology on Oct. 22, 2012 from 11:15 a.m. noon.

Kraton Polymers product experts from the Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings business will be at the ASC Expo in Booth 401 to answer questions about the company's product offerings in hot melt adhesives, PSAs for tapes and labels, protective films, oil gels, and any other products of interest. Kraton polymers offer many features and benefits for adhesives and sealant applications. They include superior adhesion, clarity, cohesive strength, wide application temperature range, and moisture resistance. Kraton polymers are engineered to meet specific processing and application requirements such as shear performance, melt and solution viscosity, and adhesion and tack properties. Please visit Kraton representatives in Booth #401 to learn more.

In addition to the product showcase, Dr. Donn Dubois, a senior research chemist at Kraton Polymers, will speak on the topic of "New HSBC Technology for Modification of Amorphous Polyolefins - Cost Effective and More Sustainable Alternatives for Hygiene Hot Melt Adhesives." Dr. Dubois will discuss Kraton's development of high melt flow HSBC structures that are compatible with amorphous polyolefins. He will also explain how formulations that are significantly lower in hydrocarbon resin can be prepared, which can help drive sustainability for this type of application.

Kraton invites all interested parties to attend Dr. Dubois' presentation on Monday, October 22, 2012 from 11:15 a.m. noon. To register for the expo and to attend the presentation, please visit the conference website for details. Additional information on Kraton Performance Polymers can be obtained at http://www.kraton.com or by calling 1-800-4-572866.

For media inquiries, please contact Marcie Coronado, Marketing Communications Manager, at 281-504-4975, or Marcie.coronado@kraton.com.

About Kraton Polymers

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and styrenic block copolymers ("SBCs"), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBCs are highly-engineered thermoplastic elastomers, which enhance the performance of numerous products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability. Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. We currently offer approximately 800 products to more than 700 customers in over 60 countries worldwide, and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in Japan.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, anticipated performance, plans or intentions, including statements of anticipated product performance. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We hereby make reference to all such filings for all purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, Cariflex, Nexar and the "Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

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Kraton Performance Polymers Publicizes Latest Advancements in New HSBC Technology for Adhesives and Sealants

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has revealed that Ashley Cole apologised to him personally last night over his offensive Twitter message.

Bernstein also stressed that England manager Roy Hodgson will decide whether the Chelsea full-back plays against San Marino in Friday's World Cup qualifier.

Cole was yesterday charged with misconduct by the FA over his Twitter outburst on Friday when he referred to the governing body as a "bunch of t****" in response to the independent regulatory commission's damning judgement on his evidence in the John Terry racial abuse verdict.

Bernstein, speaking to Radio 5 Live ahead of today's official opening of the National Football Centre at St George's Park in Burton, revealed that Cole had followed up his apology to the FA on Friday with a personal apology last night.

"He apologised immediately on Friday and he came to see me last night and apologised to me personally," said Bernstein.

"He showed real contrition. He said he was really sorry.

"He is free to play for England over the coming matches. It is up to the manager to decide whether he plays or not."

Cole was given until 4pm on Thursday to respond to yesterday's FA charge. the timing far from ideal given the deadline is barely 24 hours before England face San Marino at Wembley.

With Bernstein confirming it is up to Hodgson to decide whether or not to play Cole, the only threat to his chances of winning a 99th cap would appear to be if the England manager opts to rest him ahead of the crucial trip to Poland four days later.

Bernstein was convinced Cole's apology was heart-felt.

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Ashley Cole makes personal apology to FA chairman David Bernstein

A new study from Harvard Business School affirms how trusted leaders empower the success of their organisations through direct, personal and face-to-face conversations. According to The Coaching Institute, the studys impact is encouraging more and more business executives to sharpen their personal communications skills, with neuro-linguistic programming training courses emerging as a top choice.

Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

The leaning towards sharpening interpersonal communication skills is said to have sparked off from an acclaimed study from Harvard Business School affirming the value of face-to-face conversations in ensuring the success of an organisation.

In the book Talk, Inc.: How Trusted Leaders Use Conversation to Power Their Organizations, the authors presented a revolutionary business model they branded as organisational conversation as a new way to steer a commercial venture to sure-fire success. Compared to traditional business models that view employee communication as merely an avenue for issuing orders and instructions, organisational conversation encourages leaders to utilise communication as an opportunity to build trust and make everyone look in the same direction.

The altruistic-sounding communication approach is in fact a highly technical one that needs strategic planning and a highly developed set of communication skills. The more forward-looking business leaders have turned to personal development courses, the most in-demand of which today are the training in NLP courses.

Its a tall order for almost all sides of the business spectrum, says Pearson. For old-timers, the approach needs them to bend their age-old ways of top-down communications; for younger generations of start-ups, it means veering away from technology-driven and multi-tasking exchanges into making connections more people oriented. NLP training shows you the right direction into revolutionizing the way you think, the way you express yourself, and therefore the way you lead.

The Coaching Institute offers a holistic approach that allows learners to acquire the habits and perspective of an NLP trainer which they need for personal growth, and for leading their business organisation to success. The NLP Certification Training course is also essentially a leadership course. Aside from helping participants become accredited trainers, the curriculum also provides essential skills for heading an organisation: creating group rapport, moving an audience, selling complex ideas, and cultivating a confident, passionate public persona.

Enumerates Pearson: Aside from developing intuitive and strategic communication skills, the training course also helps individuals to eliminate fears and uncertainty, enjoy psychological and emotional balance, pursue their dreams and vision with confidence, and touch the lives of others by helping them achieve their dream life, toowhich is basically, the true hallmark of a great leader.

Carmen Daley The Coaching Institute +1 800 094 927 Email Information

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As “Organisational Conversation” Becomes New Leadership Buzzword, More Top Executives Sign Up For NLP Training at The ...

By Michelle C. Brooks

Ian Tolman, 46, of Hiram Ga., lost 95 pounds

Former weight: 270 pounds

Current weight: 175 pounds

Pounds lost: 95 pounds

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

Age: 46 years

How long hes kept it off: In 2008, Tolman started Weight Watchers, lost sixty pounds, joined a gym and has maintained his current weight for three years.

Personal life: I am married for twenty-two years to the best woman, wife and mother I guy could ask for, says Tolman. We have two beautiful daughters and a son we adopted in 2008. For nineteen years, he has worked as a crime scene technician with the Cobb County Sheriffs Office. He and his family live in Hiram.

Turning point: I reached my all time high of 270 pounds in September of 2008 and was disgusted with myself, he says. I had thoughts of how could I do this to my wife and kids? I probably wont live long enough to walk my kids down the aisle. I was going to give it my all to be there for myself and my family I had [yo-yo dieted] my entire life and I needed to also be an example for my kids so they could live a healthy lifestyle.

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SUCCESS STORY / Ian Tolman, 46: From 270 pounds to 175 pounds

London, 9 October 2012, at noon

Solvay and SIBUR form a joint venture to produce surfactants and oilfield process chemicals

New production plant to meet region`s growing demand for surfactants in the home & personal care and oil & gas markets

Solvay and Russian petrochemical company SIBUR have signed an agreement to establish Ruspav, a 50/50 joint venture for the production of surfactants and oilfield process chemicals in Dzerzhinsk, Russia. The agreement was signed in presence of the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Alexander Novak, during the 26th Gastech Conference in London today by Dmitry Konov, CEO of SIBUR, and Emmanuel Butstraen, Head of Solvay`s Global Business Unit Novecare.

Ruspav will be located near SIBUR`s petrochemicals operations, 400km east of Moscow, and is expected to be operational in 2015. Demand for surfactants in the CIS is growing at more than six percent annually. The surfactants are used mainly in home & personal care products, oil & gas as well as in other industries.

SIBUR will contribute its raw materials, production and logistics capabilities to the joint venture. It will also, given its longstanding experience of the Russian petrochemicals market, support the development of the surfactants business in oil and gas markets in Russia and the CIS. Solvay`s Novecare, a worldwide leader in surfactants, will provide its expertise in surfactant technologies, its knowledge of formulations and market applications and its customer network, particularly in the home & personal care and oil & gas markets, including global key accounts with a strong presence in the region.

"Solvay`s strong experience in the surfactants business combined with SIBUR`s unique raw materials base and market knowledge will enable us to strengthen our leading positions in the CIS market," said Dmitry Konov, SIBUR`s CEO. "Thanks to this venture with our longtime and well-established Russian partner SIBUR, we can bring our experience and technology to this dynamic region and help our customers tackle the challenge of developing performance products for the Oil & Gas and Home & Personal Care markets," explained Emmanuel Butstraen, Head of Solvay`s Novecare.

"This joint venture supports SIBUR`s ambition to expand commercialization of its core products into carefully selected fast growing markets. We look forward to deliver value added products to our future customers," commented Valery Andosov, Director of SIBUR`s Plastics and Organic Synthesis Division. "Novecare is now able to support its key customers in all fast growing countries," concluded Emmanuel Butstraen.

SIBUR is the largest integrated petrochemical company in Russia, in the CIS, Central and Eastern Europe by revenues. The company purchases associated petroleum gas and liquid hydrocarbon feedstock from major Russian oil and gas companies and processes them into energy products, including liquefied petroleum gases, natural gas, and naphtha, and further into various petrochemical products, including basic polymers, synthetic rubbers, plastics, products of organic synthesis, intermediates, and other chemicals. SIBUR sells to more than 2,000 customers in the energy, automotive, construction, retail, and other industries in more than 60 countries. As at 31 December 2011, SIBUR owned and operated 22 production sites across Russia and employed 30,453 people. Since September 2011, Leonid Mikhelson, CEO and founder of NOVATEK, has been the ultimate controlling shareholder of the Group. 100% of the share capital of OAO SIBUR Holding is owned by Sibur Limited. Novecare, one of the major Global Business Units of Solvay, provides high-performance products and solutions to a wide range of industries including cosmetics, detergents, agrochemicals, oil & gas, coatings and industrial applications. Thanks to its worldwide industrial presence and a global R&D and tech-support network, Novecare holds front-ranking positions in surfactants, amines, phosphorus derivatives, natural & synthetic polymers and monomers technologies, and eco-friendly solvents-based formulations. Thanks to its expertise in protection, surface modification, rheology, and active delivery, Novecare provides its customers with solutions enabling them to improve their formulations and processes and to protect human health and the environment.

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Solvay and SIBUR form a joint venture to produce surfactants and oilfield process chemicals

STUART, FL--(Marketwire - Oct 8, 2012) - Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : CTYX ), http://www.connectyx.com, a Healthcare BPO that provides unique products for the healthcare market including MedFlash, the electronic Personal Health Manager (ePHM), Medical Transcription, Disease Management, Revenue Cycle Management, and Medical Consulting - Billing and LifeControl in the Personal Emergency Response Systems/Services (PERS) market, announced the signing of the company's first Business Process Outsourcing contract. Connectyx will be coordinating the project with an offshore call center to screen diabetic patient leads through a BPO program with CallCenterTeam.com. The campaign will include three to ten call center agents with a goal of twenty-five (25) agent seats for the initial project with projected revenue of approximately $65,000 monthly assuming 1.5 sales per hour (SPR). The company is launching the initial test within the next two weeks. Upon reaching the goal of at least 1.5 sales per hour (SPR) being reached, the client will expand to the full twenty-five agent headcount.

Ronn Schuman, CEO of Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc., said, "We are excited about signing our first BRO contracta mere three weeks after signing a contract with CallCenterTeam.com.With the multi-billion dollar Healthcare BPO market growing at an annual rate of 20%, we are very confident in establishing a market presence that will contribute to our profitability."

Kenneth Schwartz, CEO of CallCenterTeam.com, said, "This is our first joint contract with Connectyx Technologies by tapping into our existing BPO relationships. We fully expect that total revenues from our contract with Connectyx are projected to generate Health Care BPO revenues of a minimum of $3 Million in 2013 for Connectyx."Mr. Schwartz is a Senior CRM/BPO New Business Development & Sales executive having an extensive background in on-shore, near-shore and off-shore contact center services, Healthcare Payer, Healthcare Solutions, Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals and Strategic Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) with a successful track record of success for over 20 years.

Interested investors and shareholders are invited to be added to the corporate e-mail database for future corporate press releases and industry updates by sending an e-mail to investorrelations@connectyx.com. For more information please visit our website at http://www.connectyx.com.

About Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc. Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc. is a Healthcare BPO that provides unique products for the healthcare market including MedFlash, the electronic Personal Health Manager (ePHM),LifeControl, a Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS) product and Medical Transcription, Disease Management, Revenue Cycle Management and Medical Consulting - Billing. Connectyx's consumer product, MedFlash PHM, is an easy to use Personal Health and Lifestyle Manager that is accessible using a powerful web portal suite. The MedFlash PHM provides member benefits including instant access to members' Emergency Medical Profile and Personal Health Record in the event of an accident or a medical emergency. MedFlash also offers lifestyle and wellness features that provide significant health benefits to members and risk mitigation for employers and insurers alike. LifeControl, a Personal Emergency Response Services product for patients and senior citizens who want to live independently, but are concerned about falling and staying in communication with family members or emergency services, if necessary. For more information, please visit our websites at: http://www.connectyx.com, http://www.lifecontrolusa.com, http://www.phrtoday.com and http://www.medflash.com.

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Connectyx Technologies Signs Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Contract

AvantiKumar | Oct. 10, 2012

Included in the new portfolio of seven printers is the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage high capacity series, which prints up to 1,500 pages at about US$12 a cartridge.

PHOTO - Launch of Ink Advantage portfolio in Malaysia (from left) flanked by models, Wong Yuen Lai, market development manager, Inkjet Supplies, Printing and Personal Systems Group, HP Malaysia; P. V. Viswanath, director, Channel Sales Organization, Printing and Personal Systems, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong; artist 'Red' Hong Yi; and Martin Tan, market development manager, Inkjet Web Solutions Hardware, Printing and Personal Systems Group, HP Malaysia. The backdrop shows Red's artwork called Feathers, which was created with HP printer and basic office supplies.

A new portfolio of seven printers in technology giant HP's Ink Advantage range is the result of the company's R&D team, which responded to quality and reliability needs expressed by home and small business users in Malaysia. One of the new features is the ability to print up to 1,500 pages at RM37 [US$12] a cartridge, said HP Malaysia.

Speaking on 4 October 2012, HP director, channel sales organisation, printing and personal systems, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, P. V. Viswanath said the company asked analyst firm IDC to identify printer issues in Malaysia.

"The IDC [2012] study showed that Malaysian home users and businesses were seriously concerned that using alternatives such as Continuous Ink Supplies Systems (CISS) may lead to warranty voids, printer breakdowns, increased cost of printer replacement, messy ink leaks and the hassle of having to deal with regular machine failures and maintenance," said Viswanath.

"The realities that consumers face include low quality ink tanks, risked warranties, frequent machine failures," he said. "The study shows that 32 percent of modified printers, using ink feed attachments, broke down. The same research showed a greater frequency of printer refreshes."

Viswanath said HP was the first to introduce the Ink Advantage series that allow users to enjoy high-quality printing at very low running costs and offers the most extensive line-up in Malaysia. "The new portfolio of printers is the result of HP's San Diego research and development team's visit to Malaysia."

The launch also featured Malaysian mixed media artist 'Red' Hong Yi's unveiling of Feather (see photo), an artwork that used 1500 sheets of A4-size paper from one cartridge costing RM37 (US$12) on one of the new HP Ink Advantage printers - 2520hc. Measuring 6.3 metres (W) x 14.7 metres (H), Hong Yi also used office stationery such as 30 binder clips, 300 paper clips, 30 file rings, and 10 rolls of adhesive tape.

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HP R&D team design new range of printers for Malaysia

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO--(Marketwire - Oct 9, 2012) - As the presidential election in the United States nears, many Americans remain focused on the rising costs and debt incurred by higher education expenses. While these concerns may impact voter decisions, others are embracing the more affordable option that online education provides. According to a recent NPR article, major universities, such as Stanford and MIT, are raising awareness about the potential this form of learning can offer, by developing free online courses students all across the world can benefit from. Almeda University is an online educator that has worked in this field since its establishment in 1997; the school is proud that online learning has evolved and become more accepted in recent years. The organization continues to strive for further development in the industry, such as by offering life experience degrees to its students.

While many may not be aware, the article notes that online education has existed since the 1990s, as Almeda University demonstrates. However, the learning model has dramatically changed over the years. According to the article, while some universities are experimenting with this model by offering free courses to students all over the globe, some are looking at the industry as a potential area for profit. Still, many raise questions about the effectiveness of this teaching method. Skeptics note that the face-to-face interaction of traditional schools is not found in online courses and there are limited forms of testing which ensure students have grasped material.

Almeda University CEO Richard Smith responds to such concerns, "It is understandable that many may have doubts regarding online education. However, Almeda University is one of many online schools that have been providing quality academics for over a decade. The fact that more students and schools are embracing web-based learning only goes to show that these models will continue to grow."

Smith adds that expressed concerns will dwindle as the applied technology allows for a more integrated platform of education. For example, online video, chat and message board functions allow students to interact and stay on track at their own pace. Although widespread online education models continue to change, the NPR article suggests that they are here to stay. In the article, online professor Michael Kearns of the University of Pennsylvania states, "that it's unlikely that places like Stanford, Penn or MIT won't exist in another 10 to 20 years because of online content and education." Following a similar sentiment, Almeda University continues to offer diverse curricula that can help many students advance academically and professionally at an affordable rate. The institution also offers courses that allow students to translate their personal experiences into academic recognition through life experience degrees.

ABOUT:

Founded in 1997, Almeda University is a web-based institution that has been teaching students from all across the globe. Students participate in a variety of classes, including mathematics, arts and sciences and religious studies, to earn a wide selection of degrees. The virtual school also offers professional development courses through its stay-at-home e-Learning channel for students that are not seeking academic degrees. The professional development courses range from Web development to health insurance. Almeda University professors make it their mission to address students' unique needs and offer solid academic lessons through innovative and modern teaching methods.

For more information about Almeda University, visit http://www.almedauniversity.org.

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Life Experience Degrees From Almeda University Reflect Rapid Evolution of Online Learning

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nh-ei-WmyY

08-10-2012 13:57 The Magic of Health and Fitness uses magic and comedy to educate and entertain your students about the how to live healthier lives. Visit to schedule a date for your school!

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School Assemblies The Magic of Health and Fitness Bob Conrad School Assembly Program - Video