5 Signs You Should Consider Early Retirement
Posted: March 2, 2012 at 9:43 am
Let's say you have been working in your career for 20 or more years and are well compensated, but now you are having second thoughts about continuing down this path. Here are some signs that early retirement might be right for you:
[See 10 Important Ages for Retirement Planning.]
1. People with less seniority are doing a similar job to you. It's natural to take on more and more responsibilities as you gain seniority and get promoted. As you get paid more, your boss expects more productivity. If you take a look around your team meeting and see that you are the most senior member and getting paid the most, then it might be time to either take on even more responsibilities or perhaps move on.
2. Each Monday it is getting more difficult to come to work. You don't enjoy your job anymore and don't really like your co-workers. You are stressed all the time, which is affecting your mental and physical health. If this describes your situation, then it's time to search for an alternative.
[See 15 Ways to Tell if You Are Ready to Retire.]
3. You hit a plateau. Your career has hit the proverbial brick wall. Perhaps the next promotion requires something that you don't have, such as an extreme time commitment or stellar leadership skills. In today's corporate environment, all employees must keep evolving and grow. If you hit a plateau, other people will catch up and pass you by.
4. You want a career change. You are bored with your job and want to focus on other interests. We all know the grass is always greener on the other side, but sometimes we have to find out if it's true or not. If you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to start your own business or if you want to simply try out another career, then it may be time to go it alone.
5. You have enough side income to cover your monthly expenses. If you have enough side income to pay the bills without the salary from your full-time job, then early retirement becomes a real possibility. Diligent investing in dividend stocks, rental real estate, bonds, and other income producing assets can give you this option in the long run. Even if the investment income does not fully cover the bills, you can freelance or work part time to make up the rest of it.
[See 5 Alternatives to Traditional Retirement.]
If you are miserable all the time at your job, and you feel as though you are unable to advance in your career or achieve work-life balance, perhaps it is time for a change. If your job fails to excite you and you have a significant amount of savings and investments, you should start to think seriously about your exit strategy.
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5 Signs You Should Consider Early Retirement
Learn Adobe Photoshop – Performance Preferences – Video
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Learn Adobe Photoshop - Performance Preferences - Video
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results
Posted: at 9:42 am
HOUSTON, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA - News), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, announces financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.
2011 FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
"Despite significant volatility in raw material prices throughout 2011 and the uncertain global economic environment in the second half of the year, Kraton reported full-year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA of $194 million, the second highest in the company's history," said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although 2011 sales volumes were essentially flat with the prior year, reflecting the impact of customer destocking and competitive price dynamics in certain markets, we experienced volume growth in our more differentiated Cariflex and HSBC products. Furthermore, we were able to defend unit margins through continued implementation of our Price Right strategy as butadiene prices rose throughout much of the year, reaching record levels in the third quarter. Regarding our innovation results, in 2011 we proudly achieved a Vitality Index, reflecting the percentage of sales directly attributable to innovation sales commercialized in the prior 5 years, of 14.3%, a 137 basis point improvement from 2010," said Fogarty.
Three Months Ended Dec. 31,
Years Ended Dec. 31,
(US $ in thousands, except per share amounts)
2011
2010
2011
2010
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Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results
MSU will not release video showing state Rep. Bob Genetski taking roadside sobriety tests
Posted: at 9:42 am
EAST LANSING -- Michigan State University will not release police video of state Rep. Bob Genetski performing roadside sobriety tests because it constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, a university official says.
The refusal comes after the video was played in its entirety including the sobriety tests during a public hearing Monday related to the Saugatuck Republicans arrest for drunken driving.
The copy released by the university one day later, a month after MLive Media Group requested it through the Freedom of Information Act, is edited to remove Genetskis performance on the tests.
The deletions include his responses when the MSU police officer asks him to recite the alphabet, count backwards and walk in a straight line.
See how Michigan State University's Freedom of Information Office redacted details from police reports on state Rep. Robert Genetski's roadside sobriety tests.
The video is also edited to remove Genetski telling the officer he had consumed two beers, the last of which he said occurred half an hour before the traffic stop.
To me it is something of a personal nature, intimate and embarrassing, said Ellen Armentrout, MSUs Freedom of Information Act officer.
She said she knew the tape had been played in full in a drivers license suspension hearing which MLive attended but said just because something is public in one venue does not mean it is public in all venues.
The edited video does show the exchange between Genetski and the officer when Genetski declines to take a breath test at the scene:
Genetski: Im not taking the test. I want to see the reading that shows I was going 44 mph.
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MSU will not release video showing state Rep. Bob Genetski taking roadside sobriety tests
Rick Smith: Innovator and Serial Entrepreneur – Video
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Rick Smith: Innovator and Serial Entrepreneur - Video
Bradford Networks Addresses Data Privacy Laws and Cloud Security Services in Keynote at ASCII Success Summit
Posted: at 9:42 am
CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire -03/01/12)- Bradford Networks, the best choice to enable secure network access for corporate issued and personal mobile devices, announced the details of its participation at the ASCII Success Summit taking place today in Orlando, FL. The event is targeted to technology solution providers interested in new products, services and ideas to better service their customers.
In his keynote session, Bradford Networks' CMO Tom Murphy will present "Cloud Security Services that Rain Profits," explaining how simple and effective cloud security services, such as Bradford.cloud, can dramatically reduce the attack surface and the risk of a data breach.
Who: Tom Murphy, CMO, Bradford Networks
What: Since 2002, forty-six states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have enacted legislation requiring notification of security breaches involving personal information. Many organizations are in desperate need of help to understand these laws and best protect themselves from a security breach.
In this keynote, Tom Murphy will discuss how simple and effective cloud security services can dramatically reduce the attack surface and the risk of a data breach. Knowing these laws and the steps to protect customer data provides a roadmap for new security services and revenue streams.
When: Thursday, March 1 from 5:20pm - 5:45pm
Where: Marriott Orlando World Center & Resort, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL
For more information on ASCII events, please visit the http://www.asciievents.com/.
About Bradford NetworksBradford Networks offers the best solution to enable secure network access for corporate issued and personal mobile devices. The company's flexible Network Sentry platform is the first network security offering that can automatically identify and profile all devices and all users on a network, providing complete visibility and control. Unlike vendor-specific network security products, Network Sentry provides a view across all brands of network equipment and connecting devices eliminating the network blind spots that can introduce risk. For more information, please visit http://www.bradfordnetworks.com.
Network Sentry is a trademark of Bradford Networks, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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Bradford Networks Addresses Data Privacy Laws and Cloud Security Services in Keynote at ASCII Success Summit
Robert Michael Fried Reprises as Success Coach in Second Book
Posted: at 9:42 am
New book by best selling author Robert Michael Fried explores self worth and true success. The book, "Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion," is a publication of Thirdwind.com, an interactive community dedicated to empowering people to achieve "true" success by realizing both their professional goals and personal dreams.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 02, 2012
"Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion: A Businesslike Guide to Fulfill Your Professional Goals and Personal Dreams," is winning critical and reader acclaim. It was an Amazon best seller at launch and digital editions are available on Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Ready and iTunes. It will be available at major booksellers in the spring.
Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion is a compelling read and a profound road map to making meaning and money, says Jennifer Wise, Chief Editor for Vfirefly.com an online global women's network. The exercises in the book are designed to help one build self worth.
Too many personal growth attempts start by identifying and trying to "fix" weaknesses, says Fried. He helps reader focus on finding and building from strengths. He also shares lessons from his "own personal school of hard knocks."
"Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion" expands on many of the self help book points readers found helpful in Fried's 2005 book, "A Marketing Plan for Life: 12 Essential Business Principles to Create Meaning, Happiness, and True Success."
Mindful of readers whose experience may tilt toward business success or motivational self help, Fried frames his ideas for both worlds. Each chapter title defines both personal and professional insight. For instance, Assess the Market (professional or business insight) is subtitled Capitalizing on Your Own Strengths (personal). Others chapter titles include Weather the Product Cycles, or Reinventing Yourself at Every Stage; and Plan Your Distribution, subtitled Investing Your Time and Energy Wisely. Twenty pages of personal exercises add to the book's value as affordable, DIY professional coaching.
For people who have been unemployed, "Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion" can be an excellent guide and mentor, particularly now that business indicators show this is a great time to gear up and pursue a dream job. "Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion" will also support one in the inevitable experience of dealing with stress as well as the many decisions presented by a job search. Fried has also launched a new online community to help readers connect and support one another.
Robert Michael Fried is a respected keynote speaker. His speech credits include Wells Fargo Advisors, Canyon Ranch Life Enhancement Center, Clint Eastwood's Tehama Resort, Naval Post Graduate School, the Signature Eyewear Sales Group in Italy and graduate business schools at NYU, UCLA and USC.
Videos showing Fried discussing some of his key ideas are available at thirdwind.com.
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Robert Michael Fried Reprises as Success Coach in Second Book
Dominion Promotions – Ministry at its best
Posted: at 9:41 am
By Victor Laptiste
Story Created: Mar 1, 2012 at 11:25 PM ECT
Story Updated: Mar 1, 2012 at 11:25 PM ECT
Vern Joseph loves gospel music and always had a dream to elevate the status of Gospel Artistes in general and to create an environment for their career advancement and personal development. As Managing Director of Dominion Security Services Limited this Golden Lane- born entrepreneur took the step of faith and launched Dominion Promotions two years ago. Its Vision is to provide an all-embracing ministry for cultural and diverse groups including youths, musicians, artistes and churches. Their first venture was a 2011 Concert featuring international Gospel Minister and Singer Pastor Donnie Mc Clurkin. They did not want the event to clash with the ever-popular annual SONFEST open-air gospel concert which is normally held from Good Friday to Easter Monday, so it was held on Holy Thursday. The experience was awesome and beyond expectations even though the crowd was not what the organizers had hoped. To promote an event of this magnitude successfully on an island with a population of less than 60,000 persons is risky and financially challenging, but this Joseph is not a dreamer or a gambler. He indicated that: sponsorship is not easy for the Christian community. Businesses are not attracted to support events like these which project a different lifestyle from the national pre-lenten activities; this would be an alcohol-free zone. This year the company is bringing to our shores for In His Presence -2 the four- time Grammy Award Singer for Best Pop/ Contemporary Gospel Album and Worship Leader-Israel Houghton and his Band-New Breed from USA. Israel is widely known for popular worship songs such as here am I to worship, Alpha & Omega, etc. Joseph expects a crowd of close to three thousand souls to gravitate to the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Saturday March 03 to experience an evening of great worship and blessings. He already has a strong following from Trinidad as Israel would be performing only in Tobago and the expectation is that this exposure to the best international talents would raise the level of music and worship in our churches. His Marketing Team already has Ads on Radio, Posters, Flyers and messages on the social network Facebook. He assures that patrons will be well taken care of by the trained Ushers whether they are in the general area or are VIP or VVIP ticket holders. The future looks really bright for Dominion Promotions as they embark on this life-transforming area of ministry
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Dominion Promotions – Ministry at its best
TEDxMonterey – Alyssum Pohl – Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary – Video
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TEDxMonterey - Alyssum Pohl - Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary - Video
E-mini Trading Market Recap 02/27/12 – A Business With Trading – Video
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E-mini Trading Market Recap 02/27/12 - A Business With Trading - Video