Americans continue to be stressed about their retirements, according to the 2012 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), a major annual survey of employee expectations and retiree realities. Since the 2007-08 recession, retirement confidence has hovered for several years at or near the lowest levels recorded by the RCS since it began in 1990. Last year was no different.

[See 10 Steps to Fine-Tune Your Retirement Plan.]

For people still working, slightly more than half were either very confident (14 percent) or somewhat confident (38 percent) they would be able to retire comfortably. For people either retired or at least 65 years old, the picture was a bit better: 21 percent said they were very confident of a comfortable retirement and 42 percent said they were somewhat comfortable.

When the RCS asked them about their confidence in paying for basic necessities in retirement--a lower financial threshold than being comfortable--71 percent of workers (26 percent were very confident and 45 percent were somewhat confident) and 80 percent of retirees (32 percent were very confident and 48 percent were somewhat confident) said they were.

The RCS is co-sponsored by two Washington organizations: the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), a nonprofit research organization, and Matthew Greenwald & Associates, a market research firm. It has become the retirement benefits' version of the annual State of the Union message. And for most of those years, the message has not been very uplifting.

Americans save too little money and do not do a good job of planning for retirement. These are the averages. Broken down by income levels, more affluent workers do a better job, no doubt in large measure because they can afford to. Older workers also do a better job, for the obvious reason that they are beginning to see the retirement beast at the end of their employment tunnels.

[See How Spending Priorities Change as We Age.]

< p>Among the many charts and tables in the RCS, one topic has always held special interest. Each year, the RCS asks workers about what they expect to find in retirement. It then asks retirees a comparable set of questions about what they've actually found retirement to be like. There is a big gap between the two sets of answers. The reality of retirement is a lot more challenging than pre-retirees expect.

Taking a look at the differences between expectation and reality creates a compelling list of the things workers could be learning from retirees who have already walked a mile or two in their retirement shoes. Yet, the next year's RCS shows the same comparative gaps. And the next RCS after that. And so on. The RCS, to state the obvious, is probably not required reading in the lunch rooms of America's workplaces. Too bad.

[See Health: The Biggest Determinant of Your Retirement Security.]

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The State of the (Retirement) Union is Weak

The high cost of health, life and auto insurance are serious issues in the U.S. Some think there's hope in "performance-based insurance," which provides policy rebates or reductions based on whether or not the policyholder meets or exceeds designated performance standards. When measuring performance, however, privacy issues emerge. The use of black boxes to track driver safety for auto insurance and apps that report lifestyle activities, such as diet and exercise routines for health insurance, are a couple of examples. Although advances in technology offer sci-fi-like monitoring capabilities, whether or not they'll be employed are two different things. In this interview, Richard Weber of the California Institute of Finance at California Lutheran University discusses performance-based policies, predictive medical tests and just how far consumers are willing to go to save money on insurance.

Performance-based insurance provides policy rebates or reductions based on whether or not policyholders meet or exceed designated performance standards. Do you foresee big business model disruption with a convergence of this technology with market forces, and how will this affect consumers?

I have no doubt that in the next few years, health policies will take into consideration factors such as those who lose weight, stop smoking and pursue a regime of physical activity. I think the question will be whether or not the consumer is sufficiently motivated to make these changes, and that will depend upon what the offered policy rate class looks like to begin with -- and whether the individual will receive the benefit of such changes -- or if they merely go to the credit of any employer or government program such as Medicare. And a key question is -- if I'm offered a preferred policy because of new behaviors -- what happens if I regress? In life insurance, once I qualify in a "preferred" risk class, I can subsequently begin to smoke, I could begin to overeat, I could get diabetes, I could fail to exercise and the insurance company is obligated to the original rate class determination.

Applying the analogy of accepting a black box in my automobile, the question for health or life insurance would be: If I subjected myself to periodic exams, would I, upon achieving a satisfactory score, receive a reward or perhaps, more applicable, a lower premium?

There are two considerations: One is industry acceptance and the other is the consumer's inclination and ability to work the system. I don't think the 50 states' Departments of Insurance who regulate this area would readily accept such dramatic changes, since they have generally resisted DNA testing as an underwriting factor. As far as consumers getting what they want, in a sense, that's already happening in some situations. For example, if I applied for life insurance and I'm offered a standard rating -- with the reason I'm not offered a more favorable rating because of my weight and lack of exercise -- I can change my lifestyle (lose weight and show physical signs of exercise) and then reapply to that or any other company and presumably get a better rate.

If affordable and accessible DNA tests could predict health factors a person is likely to manifest, those who can show they will have a relatively healthy future could request policy discounts. What barriers to this scenario do you see? What opportunities or challenges should insurance carriers consider?

First of all, I think that in the current environment, there would be an outcry from consumer advocates that would not allow that to happen.

On the other hand, employers are beginning to provide incentives and penalties for healthy lifestyle decisions. An employer providing health, disability and life insurance might pay a greater proportion of the overall premium for employees who make healthy choices and subsidize a lesser amount -- or provide less coverage -- for employees who maintain unhealthy lifestyles.

Incentive-based insurance began in the late 1960s when smoker/nonsmoker policy differentiation first took shape in underwriting life, health and disability policies. From there, insurance companies started to differentiate not just standard ratings but preferred, super-preferred and ultra-preferred. Ultra-preferred being, in theory, a status that could only be attained if both your parents are alive and healthy, you have never smoked, you have low body mass and fairly strict ratios of weight and height, and fairly low blood pressure and cholesterol, among other criteria. In effect, that transformed "standard" to substandard and made ultra-preferred and super-preferred the new norm for what was standard and standard-plus.

While I see more of this occurring in the life and disability types of insurance, I do not foresee any time in the near future that consumers would favor DNA or other objective testing-based criteria in employer-provided health insurance as well as for those receiving Medicare.

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Save on Insurance, Compromise on Privacy

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --LendingTree, the nation's leading online lending exchange, announced the recipients of its annual lender awards which are based on business and customer service achievements of the lenders on the LendingTree network.

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"Our annual lender awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our lender partners," said Doug Lebda, LendingTree CEO. "Currently, we have over 200 exceptional lenders on our network, providing competition, choice and convenience to our customers. This year's award winners are excellent examples of how the lenders on the LendingTree network deliver great value and service to our borrowers. The success of the lenders on our network is a vital element to the success of LendingTree and we look forward to continued growth in the coming year."

The 2011 LendingTree award winners include:

"Customer Service is the foundation of Great Western," says Fred McDonald, CEO of Great Western Financial Services, recipient of the Excellence in Customer Service Award for two consecutive years. "The company realizes that when a customer chooses our company to finance his loan, he is expecting courteous, timely and efficient service, and this expectation is exactly what Great Western strives to achieve and even exceed. This award is a testament to our staff's continual commitment to provide the customer with an exceptional experience."

LendingTree provides more than 200 lenders from across the country a source of interested borrowers looking for home loans such as new purchase mortgage, refinance and home equity, as well as personal and auto loans. For information about the joining the LendingTree network of lenders, please contact Mark Fowler at (704) 943-8040 or visit http://www.lendingtree.com.

About LendingTree, LLC LendingTree, LLC is the nation's leading online lender exchange and personal finance resource, helping consumers take charge of all their financial decisions, from budgeting to money management to mortgages to credit cards and more.LendingTree provides a marketplace that connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools to aid consumers in their financial decisions. Since inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 28 million loan requests and $214 billion in closed loan transactions. LendingTree provides access to lenders offering mortgages and refinance loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, and more. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of Tree.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE - News). For more information go to http://www.lendingtree.com or 800-555-TREE.

MEDIA CONTACT:Megan Greuling (704) 943-8208 Megan.Greuling@tree.com

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LendingTree Recognizes Outstanding Lender Performance with 2011 Awards

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11-03-2012 17:43 MagnaVita is a marketing team dedicated to bring you the best opportunity of your life. We work directly with a company called OrganoGold that sells a variety of beverages, nutraceuticals, and personal care products. This is an opportunity to become your own boss and work from home. Our team will ensure success to all those that join us. It seems unbelievable but in reality, each individual's success generates greater prosperity for the team as a whole, therefore we will be personally assisting all our members through every step to assure favorable results for everyone. Many people see "financial opportunities" and assume it's a scam but as long as an adequate amount of effort and time is invested into the company, we can essentially guarantee personal success. For those who are interested in what may be the greatest financial decision of your life, send a message to this account or email us at magnavita2012@gmail.com and we will answer any questions you may have. We will disclose more information to those who show a serious interest in the company and allow you the opportunity to speak to us personally via telephone. magnavita.organogold.com

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Holton Buggs Compensation Plan [MV] - Video

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13-03-2012 09:23 createyourownlegendnow.com The Wharton Club of New York is where alumni of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania meet for continuing education, current trends in marketing, sales, and finance, as well as social functions to stay in touch with peers and friends. On March 22, 2012 The Wharton Club of New York hosts Dr. Marc Kossmann and Charlie Seymour Jr as they present their system: Create Your Own Legend Now. Does this group REALLY know what it's getting itself into? Does it know how much fun Dr. Marc and Charlie have with their presentations? Does it know how creative video can get each member to Get Out of the Crowd online, so that each one of them has a unique "Legend" (so people can find them when searching online)? Dr. Marc and Charlie take their material VERY seriously (but as you can see from this video, they don't take themselves too seriously!). Dr. Marc is an entrepreneurial clinical psychologist (who first studied neuropsychology and what makes people "tick") and Charlie Seymour Jr is a video-crazed Wharton MBA marketer. Together they have Personal Success Marketing LLC plus about 57 websites filled with helpful marketing information. See them LIVE and In Person on March 22, 2012 at The Wharton Club of New York. Click the link to find out more (and how you can sign up!). Seating is VERY limited. Modest charge for alums and guests who want to experience Dr. Marc and Charlie live; WCNY Members are FREE! createyourownlegendnow.com

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Wharton Club of NY Hosts Dr. Marc Kossmann and Charlie Seymour Jr on March 22, 2012 - Video

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13-03-2012 11:27 all i did was fuck up one pointer wheeeeeeee, patch coming out sooner or later

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Player Unit with personal themes - SUCCESS! - Video

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14-03-2012 01:06 MagnaVita is a marketing team dedicated to bring you the best opportunity of your life. We work directly with a company called OrganoGold that sells a variety of beverages, nutraceuticals, and personal care products. This is an opportunity to become your own boss and work from home. Our team will ensure success to all those that join us. It seems unbelievable but in reality, each individual's success generates greater prosperity for the team as a whole, therefore we will be personally assisting all our members through every step to assure favorable results for everyone. Many people see "financial opportunities" and assume it's a scam but as long as an adequate amount of effort and time is invested into the company, we can essentially guarantee personal success. For those who are interested in what may be the greatest financial decision of your life, send a message to this account or email us at magnavita2012@gmail.com and we will answer any questions you may have. We will disclose more information to those who show a serious interest in the company and allow you the opportunity to speak to us personally via telephone. magnavita.organogold.com

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Health Benefits of Ganoderma Lucidum [MV] - Video

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) March 13, 2012

Late last year, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Peak Potentials, T. Harv Eker, announced that Peaks Potentials had been acquired by Success Resources, an event production company that stages live and online events around the world in the personal success training category.

Since then Peak Potentials has been operating with the leadership of Adam Markel, a successful trainer, attorney and entrepreneur, as Chief Executive Officer plus the support of Success Resources to grow the North American operations of their business by continuing its valuable work in the area of training, education, and self-development

There is a wide misconception in society about the motivational training business. I hate to disappoint readers, but this industry is not a money-grabbing scheme; the Millionaire Mind Intensive is not a scam. We know as do our clients that you can make your fortune by following the simple tips that we teach says Markel in his first press appearance since being named Chief Executive Officer of New Peaks in November.

I prefer to be known as the Chief Energy Officer. I believe that anybody can be successful, regardless of their background or education. Its a matter of wanting to, then having the drive to do what it takes to achieve it. My goal is to inspire my team and our event participants, and show them that they have the power to get what they want from life.

Their flagship program, The Millionaire Mind Intensive, is a one-of-a-kind program where you spend three days rewiring your brain so you will think like the millionaire you want to be but for some reason have not yet become.

During the course participants experience more than just a bit of money talk. Participants are encouraged to do emotional searching of why they act the way they do around money, and learn how to replace old patterns with new affirming and beneficial patterns that will also break them through blocks that are holding you back from success. Plus participants will leave with a simple yet powerful way of tracking money to help move towards total financial freedom.

Now, Peak Potentials is pleased to announce that the Millionaire Mind Intensive has been revamped to bring new and fresh content to the Vancouver marketplace from where the Millionaire Mind Intensive originated.

The event has already seen many enhancements since it first appeared on the Vancouver success training scene in 2005, and many world-class entrepreneurs and business owners attribute their success to Peak Potentials and their teachings.

Today, the event is structured to ensure that participants are armed with a new set of skills and information to survive and succeed in our new world; where technology is consistently evolving how we work both locally and on a global scale.

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World-Famous Millionaire Mind Intensive Returns to Vancouver

Considering law school? Here are some pointers and suggestions to help you decide if a law degree is right for you.

Smart Choices

The effects of the recession are still lingering in the legal industry, but many partners at large law firms agree that the market has nearly stabilized. Intellectual property and energy law continue to be lucrativeand competitivespecialities. Most law schools also offer dual degrees, such as J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.A. degrees in a variety of fields, which give students greater interdisciplinary expertise that may be a benefit in the workforce.

[Find out what a dual J.D./M.B.A. can add to your education.]

Insider Tip

If you are set on a career in public interest law, don't let finances stop you. Many schools offer debt repayment options to students who work in the public sector, if their salaries are low enough. Low Income Protection Plans (LIPP) and Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) at schools help students who work in the government and at nonprofits pay back their student loans through loan forgiveness, lower interest rates, or postponed payment plans.

Students with good credit can also fund their entire law education with a mixture of Stafford loans and Grad PLUS loansboth of which are government-run borrowing programs. Better yet, to keep your repayment plan affordable, the government will now tie it to your income, if it's low enough. If you're still working in the public or nonprofit sector after 10 years and you've stayed on top of your payments, the rest of your debt can be wiped clean.

[Read more about paying for law school.]

Getting In

Study hard: High LSAT scores and GPAs continue to set top students apart in the admissions process, especially at the most highly selective schools.

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Law School Tips for Success

Considering engineering school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an engineering program is right for you.

Smart Choices

Biomedical engineering: Americans are living longer today and advances in medical technology are essential to making healthcare services more affordable to an aging population. Plus, no single occupation is expected to have more job growthemployment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow by 72 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Engineering management: You gain technical know-how plus management skills in this discipline, which is rapidly gaining popularity among business-savvy engineers who want a shot at consulting or administrative positions. Some students consider attaining a dual or joint degree to qualify for management positions in the engineering field.

[Check out the Best Engineering Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Be a people person: Professional engineers often work with colleagues in a number of different disciplines, so communication and teamwork skills are paramount, says Julia Galeazzi, associate director of the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering Office of Development and Alumni Relations. During your graduate studies, participate in a 6- or 12-month cooperative education program that puts you in a practical work environment. You'll get real-world experience and will interact with people outside of academia.

Getting In

Recommendations: Along with grades and test scores, letters from former professors and employers count. Try to work one on one with an undergraduate professor and aim to build a strong relationship with him or her.

Introduce yourself: Since admissions are often decided among faculty rather than admissions officers, try to make contact with a potential adviser in your desired department. Start off with a "snail mail" introduction that includes a brief bio, a photo, and an explanation of why you'd like to work with that professor. Then, follow up via E-mail.

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Engineering School Tips for Success