CHICAGO, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-eight percent of employees are unable to stop thinking about problems, according to an employee wellness report released today by ComPsych Corporation. Another 52 percent experienced a major life or work change in the past year (move, death of a loved one, change in job responsibilities, etc.). The annual wellness report compiles Health Risk Assessment results across ComPsych's book of business, providing a snapshot of employee physical/emotional health as well as current lifestyle and habits. ComPsych is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs and is the pioneer and leading provider of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, wellness, work-life, HR and FMLA administration services under the GuidanceResources brand.

"Employees' lives continue to be disrupted by such things as problems with housing and changes in job status, all as a result of a slow-growth economy and lingering effects of the recession," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, Chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "There is a need for corporate wellness strategies that focus on stress as part of overall health improvement. Programs that address both emotional and physical health, such as EAPs combined with integrated wellness programs, will have the best outcomes for employers."

Key Findings of the ReportAccording to aggregate survey results, employees are experiencing the effects of significant life changes as well as work-life stress:

For a copy of the full report, go to http://bit.ly/OCyi6X.

ComPsych HealthyGuidance programs target employee behavior and lifestyle issues before they become significant illnesses. The "Build-to-Suit" program includes health risk assessments and screenings; wellness coaching with behavioral, health and nutrition experts; online health management tools; wellness seminars/corporate challenges and targeted programs such as tobacco cessation, weight management and more.

About ComPsych ComPsych provides services to more than 17,000 organizations covering more than 45 million individuals throughout the U.S. and over 100 countries.

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ComPsych Report: Employee Stress and Life Changes Impact Overall Well-Being

So you want to be a professional coach? UEFA has been asking this question of students at its innovative UEFA Pro licence student exchange courses in recent times. Participants are confronted with a number of issues which make them reflect not only on the pleasures, but also the pitfalls of a job which brings its major share of pressure.

The latest edition of the official UEFA coaching publicationUEFAtechnician looks at the implications of becoming a coach, and how coaching is perhaps not so much a job of work but ultimately a life choice.

In his column, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh recalls the challenging question put to UEFA Pro student exchange candidates by eminent English technician Howard Wilkinson "Are you obsessed by the subject [coaching], and are you ready to commit the rest of your life to it?"

Roxburgh emphasises the particular demands on a professional coach, and how they can endanger a person's well-being and family life due to the requirements of players, media, sponsors and owners. "In professional football," he explains, "the to-do list is exacting, but it is the pressure that is wearing. The constant demand to produce results, the burden of dealing with elite players, the stress of trying to satisfy hungry media, and the multifarious difficulties imposed by time restraints, crisis situations, intrusive agents and all-powerful owners take their toll."

This notwithstanding, Roxburgh considers that for most top coaches, the highs outweigh the lows. And for those UEFA students who do go into the profession, the realities will soon become clear. "It will be a job which quickly becomes a way of life."

Once into the job, coaches develop and mature, both as coaches and as people. UEFAtechnician analyses how many of the great coaches have learned through education, work experience and the invaluable advice given by mentors on their path towards the summit of their profession. In addition, the coaches did not necessarily have to be leading players Real Madrid CF boss Jos Mourinho is one shining example but they all count on special life experiences, qualities and personal characteristics that have moulded them into successful technicians.

"It is a mixture of coach education, playing the game, coaching teams, making contacts, using mentors and working with football people which combines to produce the mature coach," says Roxburgh.

"Coaches, then, need to know how to coach, teach, manage, lead, learn, communicate, organise, plan, prepare, analyse and select. But this will not be enough, as Vicente del Bosque, Spain's reigning world and European champion coach, said at a UEFA coaches' gathering: 'If you only know football, you are lost ... Top technicians Jos Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and the others know football, but they also know about life ...'"

Women's football is flourishing in Europe, andUEFAtechnician spotlights coaching in the female game. Two women who are vastly respected, former Germany coach and triple EURO winner Tine Theune and current Scotland manager Anna Signeul, give a fascinating insight into the state of women's coaching as this area of football evolves constantly in tactical and technical terms.

The two technical observers at the recent UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Slovenia, Ross Mathie and John Peacock, survey the evolution of youth football and especially how the balance must be found between creating a winning, creative mentality in youth teams while also placing priority on player development rather than results.

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UEFA•technician – what makes a coach?

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Martin Stevenson training at Olney Health and Fitness Gym - Video

Updated: July 31, 2012, 7:41 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brandon Roy's retirement from the NBA last year wasn't intended as a final decision.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were eager to help him clarify his status.

"After a few months of sitting out, I decided, 'Hey, I don't want to stop playing basketball,' " Roy said Tuesday at a news conference at Target Center after signing a two-year, $10.4 million contract. "I wanted to continue going forward. It was never a situation where I said, 'I'm done forever.' It's just more of a pause."

David Sherman/NBAEFresh out of retirement, Brandon Roy says he hopes to be with Minnesota -- the team that drafted him -- for "a little bit longer than 30 minutes."

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Roy's medical-related retirement right before the start of the lockout-shortened season last year. His knees, lacking cartilage after six operations, were bothering him too much to continue. Roy said Tuesday, though, that the team doctor advised him to quit. The Blazers used the amnesty clause to waive Roy and not count the remaining $63 million on his contract against their salary cap or luxury tax.

"It was never really officially my decision to retire," Roy said.

So here he is with the Wolves, at 6-foot-6 and age 28, ready to resume what was already an outstanding career before his knees began to break down.

Roy was on a playing-time limit -- 22 minutes per game -- during his last season with the Blazers, a restriction he said frustrated him badly. His 18-point fourth quarter in a Game 4 comeback win over the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs only boosted his confidence that he could still play at an elite level.

The Wolves not only were interested once he made it known he was considering a comeback, they promised him they'd take off the reins as long as he can prove his knees can handle it. Roy said his goal is to again become a 35-minute-per-game player, his career average.

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Roy never saw retirement as being end of line

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fitch Ratings has assigned 'BBB+' ratings to the expected issuance of approximately $154.0 million Colorado Health Facilities Authority revenue and refunding bonds, series 2012A-C (Covenant Retirement Communities, Inc.). In addition, Fitch affirms the 'BBB+' rating on approximately $129.3 million of revenue bonds issued through one of the following issuing authorities on behalf of Covenant Retirement Communities:

--Colorado Health Facilities Authority;

--Illinois Health Facilities Authority;

--Golden Valley MN Housing & Redevelopment Authority;

--Plantation FL Health Facilities Authority;

--Connecticut Development Authority;

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The series 2012 bonds are expected to be structured as fixed rate debt. Bond proceeds will be used to refund approximately $131.2 million of outstanding bonds, fund $20.0 million of various capital projects throughout the system, fund a debt service reserve fund and pay costs of issuance. The issue is expected to price the week of August 20th.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

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Fitch Rates Covenant Retirement Communities Ser 2012 Revs at 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Brandon Roy's retirement from the NBA last year wasn't intended as a final decision.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were eager to help him clarify his status.

''After a few months of sitting out, I decided, 'Hey, I don't want to stop playing basketball,''' Roy said Tuesday at a news conference at Target Center after signing a two-year, $10.4 million contract. ''I wanted to continue going forward. It was never a situation where I said, 'I'm done forever.' It's just more of a pause.''

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Roy's medical-related retirement right before the start of the lockout-shortened season last year. His knees, lacking cartilage after six operations, were bothering him too much to continue. Roy said Tuesday, though, that the team doctor advised him to quit. The Blazers used the amnesty clause to waive Roy and not count the remaining $63 million on his contract against their salary cap or luxury tax.

''It was never really officially my decision to retire,'' Roy said.

So here he is with the Wolves, at 6-foot-6 and age 28 ready to resume what was already an outstanding career before his knees began to break down.

Roy was on a playing-time limit - 22 minutes per game - during his last season with the Blazers, a restriction he said frustrated him badly. His 18-point fourth quarter in a Game 4 comeback win over the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs only boosted his confidence that he could still play at an elite level.

The Wolves not only were interested once he made it known he was considering a comeback, they promised him they'd take off the reins as long as he can prove his knees can handle it. Roy said his goal is to again become a 35-minute-per-game player, his career average.

That, combined with endorsements from friends of head coach Rick Adelman, familiarity with Adelman's assistants and a playoff-caliber core in Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and now Andrei Kirilenko, was enough to persuade Roy to pick the Wolves.

''It's not a situation where I wanted to be a 10th man. I want to be able to go out and work and be a big part of a team taking that next step, and I thought the pieces were right here,'' Roy said. ''When they say, 'You know, Brandon, the sky's the limit here,' that really made me feel good. I thought some teams maybe wanted me to play a small role, but Minnesota was saying, 'You can come in and earn as big of a role as you want.' So that was really important for me.''

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Roy says retirement was never final in his mind

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

While facing the prospect of living more years in retirement, women nearing retirement underestimate how much they will need to pay for their future health care costs even more so than men nearing retirement, according to a Nationwide Financial survey released today.

According to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive of 1,250 Americans with at least $250,000 in household assets, women close to retirement estimate they will spend $4,624 each year on health care beyond what Medicare covers. Thats 21 percent less than the $5,882 men nearing retirement estimate they will spend each year on things like premiums, copayments and deductibles. However, both are way off. A 2012 study found a 65-year-old couple retiring today would need $240,000 to cover medical expenses during their retirement years and that doesnt include long-term care costs. 1

The fact is women live longer than men, which means they will spend more time in retirement and that places women at a greater risk of outliving their retirement assets, said John Carter, president of sales and distribution for Nationwide Financial. It also may increase their chances of incurring long-term care costs during their golden years. Thats why its especially important for women to plan for health care costs in retirement.

According to the survey, nearly half of both women and men say they are terrified of what health care costs may do to their retirement plans. Yet, women respondents nearing retirement are much more likely than men respondents to say they have not estimated:

On average, women estimate that Medicare will cover 65 percent of their annual health care costs. But, similar to men respondents, when asked how they came to this percentage, 85 percent either guessed or did not know. Only 2 percent said they were told this by a financial advisor.

Women are also slightly more likely than men to say they are somewhat unconfident to not at all confident in their plan to live comfortably in their retirement years (46 percent vs. 39 percent men).

Opportunity for advisors

While 65 percent of women have discussed their retirement with a financial advisor of those who have, only one in 10 talked about how much they should expect to pay in health care costs apart from Medicare (compared to one in four men).

Of those who have discussed retirement with a financial advisor, 77 percent of women say they were helpful to very helpful estimating health care costs in retirement (63 percent men) and a whopping 86 percent say they were helpful to very helpful discussing the role Medicare will play in their retirement (52 percent men).

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Women Nearing Retirement Underestimate Future Health Care Costs More Than Men

SANDPOINT, Idaho, and LUGANO, Switzerland, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thorne Research, Inc., a leader in developing and manufacturing pure, high quality nutritional supplements and personal care products marketed through medical professionals, and Helsinn, a rapidly growing pharmaceutical group based in Lugano, Switzerland, today announced the launch of the OncoQOL product line a portfolio of 13 nutritional supplements intended to support the unique nutritional needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment. The OncoQOL portfolio also includes the DermaQOL product line, with nine personal care products specially formulated to support the skin-care and hair-care needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment. DermaQOL products are manufactured using only high-quality, certified organic ingredients. OncoQOL products, including the DermaQOL product line, are available only through oncologists and other medical professionals in the United States and Canada.

Treatment for cancer often results in nutritionally related undesirable effects, such as weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and highly sensitive nerves and skin. The OncoQOL product line is designed to help patients address these and other similar conditions which can deteriorate their quality of life and adversely affect compliance in fully completing their course of treatment.

"For many cancer patients the side effects of treatment have a significant impact on their health and quality of life, often making it difficult for them to continue with their therapy. Our products are designed to meet the unique needs of these patients and are manufactured with the essential levels of purity and consistency that are so important for this population," said Sreenivas Rao, MD, president, OncoQOL.

OncoQOL nutritional supplement products are manufactured using pure, hypoallergenic, highly-absorbable nutrients. All products undergo extensive quality control testing during every phase of the manufacturing process. Although some of their active ingredients have been clinically shown to provide important benefits to cancer patients, OncoQOL products are not intended to treat specific diseases and should not be considered as adjuncts to disease treatment.

Three of the nutritional supplements in the OncoQOL portfolio are: DaxibeQOL, a blend of branched-chain and other essential amino acids known to possibly promote anabolism, weight gain, lean muscle mass, and muscle strength; NutraQOL, a wheat germ extract that may reduce fatigue and helps improve social, physical, and emotional wellbeing; and MucosaQOL, which contains L-glutamine, an amino acid helpful to support healthy mucous membranes of the mouth and GI tract.

"In our practice we see firsthand the challenges that patients face in managing the side effects of chemotherapy and trying to optimize their overall health and diet during treatment. A high fraction of patients take nutritional supplements during therapy, but many commercially available supplements are not designed for people with cancer. Selecting products and managing combinations of supplements is very confusing to patients, and many interact negatively and unpredictably with their cancer treatment. OncoQOL has prepared pure, high quality products designed with our patients' specific needs in mind which reduces the confusion and apprehension of using supportive care products as part of the treatment program,"said Lawrence Piro, MD, president and chief operating officer of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Santa Monica, California.

DermaQOL personal care products are manufactured without the use of plasticizers, foaming agents, and preservatives found in many personal care product brands. Three of the products in the DermaQOL portfolio are: DermaQOL Lotion, a silicone-free and sulfate-free blend of unscented organic emollients to hydrate dry, rough skin; DermaQOL Shower Gel, an all-body wash and shampoo specially formulated for sensitive skin; and DermaQOL Cooling Aloe Spray, a moisturizer that provides cooling relief for irritated skin.

"Living with cancer creates many challenges, and treatment can now extend over years. In order to avoid negative interactions, cancer patients should choose products formulated with their needs in mind," said Mary Hardy, MD, medical director, Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology.

Patients can access the full range of OncoQOL nutritional supplements and DermaQOL personal care products directly from their physician. Thus far, more than 100 cancer specialists and other health-care providers have signed up to provide these products to their patients.

"OncoQOL represents a huge step forward in helping patients undergoing cancer treatment and their families obtain reliable access to products and information that empowers them to become more proactive in their health challenge. By providing targeted dietary supplements that the consumer and the physician can rely on, OncoQOL is filling a huge void in the cancer supportive care marketplace," said James B. LaValle, RPh, chief executive officer of Integrative Health Resources, LLC, and chair of OncoQOL's Science Advisory Board.

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Thorne Research, Inc., And Helsinn Healthcare SA Announce OncoQOL™ - A Joint Effort To Provide Nutritional Supplements ...

Looking at the data, U.S. consumer spending was unchanged for July, while consumer confidence rose unexpectedly. To add another layer of complexity, personal income ticked higher in July.

So, Americans didnt spend the extra money they earned even as they grew more confident about the state of economy.

But whatever consumers say or do, investors are betting on the consumer sector. It has outperformed broad U.S. equities year-to-date, and flows to ETFs canvassing the sector have exceeded $600 million for 2012.

But picking the right ETF is anything but easy, as well see.

Just look at the year-to-date performance spread of the top four funds by assets.

The top-performing fund shown in dark blue, the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Index Fund (IYC) has outpaced the laggard shown in light blue, the First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDex Fund (FXD) by more than 10 percentage points in just seven months.

Also note the performance of these four funds relative to the S'P 500, shown in red, as represented by the SPDR S'P 500 (SPY). Three of the four have beaten SPY so far this year quite handily, while FXD lagged.

This means that choosing among the top ETFs in the space is just as critical as the decision to overweight or underweight the sector in the first place.

Performance Drivers

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Consumer Sector ETFs: Buyer Beware

By Alecko Eskandarian, Special to SI.com

Hope Solo (above) took aim at Brandi Chastain with a series of tweets that have taken the spotlight off Team USA's success.

AP

Hope Solo gets people talking.

On the field, she's the greatest U.S. women's goalkeeper of all time. Off it, she's arguably the most outspoken American player ever.

As the U.S. women's soccer team chases its third consecutive Olympic gold medal -- buoyed by impressive Olympics victories over France, Colombia and North Korea in the opening round -- the majority of the attention has been on Solo's Twitter rant aimed towards NBC broadcaster (and former U.S. women's national team star) Brandi Chastain.

Instead of a positive buzz for the women's team heading into the quarterfinals, it has now largely been overshadowed by the public debate of whether you are on #TeamSolo or #TeamChastain.

Chastain's comments, the ones that presumably irked Solo following the U.S.' 3-0 victory over Colombia on Saturday, weren't overly critical and were primarily aimed at U.S. defender Rachel Buehler.

"Rachel Buehler with the giveaway there," Chastain noted in the match's 22nd minute. "As a defender, your responsibilities are defend, win the ball, and then keep possession, and that's something Rachel Buehler needs to improve on during this tournament."

Though Solo's comments (see her postgame Tweets above) were aimed at Chastain's abilities in the booth, one can't help but read into the "the game has changed from a decade ago" tweet without thinking there's more to this than just commentary.

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Solo, Chastain feud obscures U.S. team's success entering medal round