NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nationally recognized health and fitness expert, Jennifer Galardi, knows the challenges everyone faces trying to stay centered in a hectic world. She understands it can be difficult to carve out time for yourself between work, home and family commitments. That's why she's on a mission to teach people how to create healthy habits and find balance, with her latest venture, livWHOLE Retreats.

Galardi says, "While technology has brought wonderful advancements to our society, it has also been a contributing factor in declining health. Many of us lead fairly sedentary lifestyles, moving only our fingers on a keyboard or walking just far enough to get from our car to our desk. Our bodies were meant to move. It's vital that we begin to see fitness not only as a means to an end (such as a trim waistline), but also as a daily routine to keep our bodies comfortable and disease-free."

Fully customizable, livWHOLE Retreats bring the restorative and energetic 'vacation' to you and are designed around you and your company's needs. Whether you want a one day on-site team building retreat or a week of sunrise yoga, afternoon cooking classes and a way to unplug before your team heads home, livWHOLE Retreats offers a variety of classes and seminars to ensure your employees are fulfilling their highest potential.

livWHOLE Retreats are a great affordable and healthy alternative for companies seeking something other than the typical convention-style meetings or team- building gatherings. Galardi says, "Learning tools to take care of yourself makes you more productive not only for the time you participate in a retreat, but also in the long term. Yoga, mindful eating, meditation, exercise and good nutrition are all ways to improve physical ailments, manage stress and become more productive. Whether it's helping to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain, or having an employee improve conflict resolution skills, the bottom line is the techniques I teach and information I share can be life changing."

Throughout her career, Galardi has worked with some of the hottest bodies in Hollywood including Julianne Hough, Kim Kardashian and Carmen Electra to help them achieve their phenomenal physiques. No matter who she is working with, she stresses the importance of being present in the moment -- and says, "The best thing we can do is educate ourselves about nutrition, fitness and wellness. Fill your toolbox with knowledge and then make the best decisions on which tools you'll use on any given day according to the challenges you may face."

About Jennifer Galardi

Nationally recognized star of more than a dozen best-selling dance/fitness DVD's Jennifer Galardi is a popular figure among top media, held in high esteem throughout the fitness industry, and adored by fans. Jennifer has been teaching dance and fitness classes in Los Angeles, Orange County, and New York City for more than a decade at prestigious studios and clubs such as The Edge, Sports Club L.A., CRUNCH, and Equinox. In addition to creating and leading her own DVD's, Jennifer has been involved in many exciting and high-profile projects. Regularly featured in top fitness and health magazines, she is also the face of Nautilus' CoreBody Reformer and was a featured trainer for SELF Magazine's, "Lose 8 Pounds," Campaign. She has developed and starred in several online workouts for Exercise TV, created workouts for Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease DVD series as well as Kim Kardashian's fitness program "Fit In Your Jeans by Friday." Jennifer has been seen as the face of top health and fitness brands such as Adidas, Under Armour, New Balance, lululemon, Nike, and Coca Cola's Enviga drink and featured in popular magazines such as Cooking Light, Fitness, Shape, Oxygen and Health.

For more information, contact: Sandy Peddicord, TrendSide PR sandy@trendsidepr.com

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Originally posted here:
Jennifer Galardi Introduces On-Site Wellness Retreats Aimed at Rejuvenating Employees to Her livWHOLE Health and ...

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaiGd6RwWCo

17-02-2012 18:00 Cameron MacIntosh speaks to a Regina family that is planning to retire early. VERY early.

Excerpt from:
(Very) Early Retirement - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZUifVC8ok

28-02-2012 19:00 ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes and Joe McDonald check in from Red Sox spring training to discuss Jason Varitek's retirement and Bobby Valentine's drill fundamentals.

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Red Sox Report: Bobby V on Retiring Tek - Video

By Mark Miller

Most retirement planning exercises begin and end with a simple question: How much income will you need to replace after you quit work?

But looking at income alone isnt enough, as spending habits change during retirement youre no longer paying the same taxes, saving for retirement or incurring work-related expenses for clothing and transportation. And saving habits change, too.A report from the nonprofit U.S. Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) looks at the interaction of income, expenses and savings in retirement. Using survey data from 5,000 retired households from 2000 to 2009, the report details how different socioeconomic groups of older Americans are faring in retirement.

Although the median income for retired households is 57% that of working households, retired households spend about 80% of what working households spend. More affluent households, which have been able to save for retirement, use those assets to plug the gap between income and spending.

From a retirement planning standpoint, EBRIs most important finding is that overall spending in retirement falls with age which means that a retiree wont need a constant replacement rate of pre-retirement income. The EBRI research also reflects the profound influence of income inequality and job loss on retirement security

The main reason is that health deteriorates with age, and that means people cant necessarily do all the things they planned, says Sudipto Banerjee, research associate at EBRI and author of the report. Discretionary spending on things like vacations and entertainment fall.

That finding reinforces data from the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics data that has suggested that the early years of retirement are the most expensive.

The two largest expenses in retirement are non-discretionary: housing and health care.

Housing costs, in particular, point to the economic squeeze facing lower-income seniors. EBRI found that housing made up 47% of expenditure in 2007 for the lowest-income quartile, compared with 41% for the highest-income quartile. Health spending was steady across all income groups, at 9% to 11%.

But spending on health increases with age. In 2009, people between the ages of 50-64 spent 9% of their total budget on health items, while those 85 or older spent 18%.

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How much does retirement really cost?

For many Baby Boomers who are closing in on retirement without enough money in the till, working longer is the only lever they can pull.

"68 is definitely the new 65!," exclaims Stacy Francis, a certified financial planner in New York City. "Delaying retirement leaves a worker with fewer years of retirement to finance, more time to save and earn returns, and higher Social Security benefits if they delay taking them."

A survey by human resources consulting firm Towers Watson earlier this year found about 39 percent of workers plan to delay retirement and the majority of those delaying retirement expect to work another three years. The findings mirror the advice of the financial experts in a CNBC recent roundtable discussion on "The New Retirement."

"If you can keep your job, YES, work longer," agrees Frank Troise, senior portfolio manager at SoHo Asset Management in San Diego, California.

He says Boomers face a "financial tri-fecta" income, expenses and investment returns and if you lose one, the other two have to be modified.

"The Boomer today who is 55 or older, they're not receiving any income appreciation," Troise says. "They're at serious risks of not keeping their jobs. Since income is not a variable they can control, if they're also now reassessing their market returns, the only other variable they can control is their expenses."

"Not only does working longer mean more contributions and more compounding, but the longer you can defer drawing assets from your portfolio, the more you improve its longevity," says Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar.

"It's also likely that bond and cash yields will be more hospitable in the years ahead than they are right now," she adds. "And delaying Social Security benefits is also valuable."

If you're 55 or older, you won't reach the full retirement age for Social Security benefits until age 66 1/2 or 67.

So retiring at 68 or even 70 may not seem like much of a stretch.

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Delaying Retirement: Why 68 Has Become 'the New 65'

So you're thinking about starting your own business? Many new entrepreneurs focus solely on their business ideas during the startup process--and rightfully so. But what about those less exciting yet important business decisions that could dramatically affect your performance or your bottom line?

Here are six questions you should ask and answer before earning your first dollar:

[See The Best Jobs of 2012.]

1. Do I really need an office? The answer depends on the nature of your business. You'll need space if you require a storefront or on-site personnel, but if you're like the majority of virtual businesses today, consider setting up a home office or renting shared office space instead. Starting a business can be extremely expensive, so reducing costs is the best option to improve your bottom line when revenue is small. Look into shared office services like Loosecubes, and check out online collaboration tools like Dropbox or Addie to share files and ideas with colleagues and clients.

2. Can I afford personal healthcare? Expensive healthcare is probably the top reason that many aspiring entrepreneurs refuse to break away from the comfort of their current corporate benefits. However, services like eHealth help you research plans and options that fit your personal needs and budget. Don't let personal healthcare costs prevent you from starting your own business, and don't take unnecessary risks by going without coverage.

3. What is considered a business expense? One major benefit of owning your own business is the ability to write off certain expenses on your taxes. Always seek the advice of a licensed tax professional if you have questions while preparing your returns. A few commonly forgotten business expense deductions include mileage; rent, mortgage, and utilities related to your home office; telecommunications, business meeting meals, and tax preparation fees.

[See Five Tools Every Entrepreneur Should Know About.]

4. How can I save for retirement? Small business owners can contribute to an individual 401(k). Essentially, you use your small business to "match" your personal contributions--a great way to use both company money and earned salary to fund your retirement. There is a maximum total contribution of $50,000 for 2012, which should be plenty for most small business owners.

5. How should I structure my company? There are several different business structures available, each with their own legal and financial implications, so do your homework to choose the right structure. Limited liability companies (LLCs) are becoming increasingly popular for small businesses due to low filing fees, ease of incorporation, relaxed tax implications, and liability protection for owners. If you need to incorporate to share ownership or shares but want to report profit and loss on your personal tax return, then an S corporation may be right for your business. If you choose to incorporate as opposed to setting up a sole proprietorship or LLC, you will need to elect a board, sign a shareholder agreement, and facilitate annual meetings to comply with government regulations.

[See How to Set Yourself Apart From Other Newbie Entrepreneurs.]

Read more:
6 Questions Everyone Asks Before Starting a Business

ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Momentive Performance Materials Inc., a leading global provider of silicones and advanced materials, today announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility and application development center in Chennai, India. Spanning more than 15 acres, the state-of-the-art facility, which opened in 2009, focuses on manufacturing high-end specialty silicones to serve the growing needs of customers in India, the Middle East and South Asia.

This investment represents a major step forward in our ability to grow the silicones business in India, said Craig O. Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Momentive. India is one of the worlds fastest growing regions for automotive, construction, telecom and energy. Chennai, in particular, is developing into a significant center for multiple industries.

Over the years we have stayed on course in realizing our vision of building Momentive into a best-in-class specialty chemicals and materials company in the region by combining global technology, application development, manufacturing and service capabilities with outstanding products and services, said V.P. Nalian, Managing Director, Momentive Performance Materials India. This expansion will bring some of the most sophisticated technology and manufacturing processes that Momentive has developed worldwide to the Chennai facility and considerably enhance our ability to serve customers across the region.

We look forward to delivering innovation and finding new opportunities to expand our technology platforms into this region, said Dr. Eric Thaler, Chief Technology Officer, Momentive Performance Materials. This expansion will allow for the commercialization of a number of specialty silicone branded products, such as Magnasoft* and Silsoft* additives for personal care and textile applications, Silwet* products for agricultural use, Niax*additives for polyurethane foam, and SilFORT* hardcoats for automotive lighting and glazing.

The expansion of the Chennai facility, along with the opening of a regional headquarters and global research and development center in Bangalore later this year, is part of Momentives long-standing commitment to India and the surrounding regions. Additionally, the Chennai facility has been designated to become a zero-discharge plant, underscoring Momentives commitment to sustainability. Local Momentive employees will participate in training programs on running the plant efficiently and in compliance with the highest safety standards.

For more information about Momentive Performance Materials solutions in India, the Middle East and South Asia, please call 800.295.2392 in North America (+1 614 986 2495 everywhere else), email 4information@momentive.com or visit http://www.momentive.com.

About Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a global leader in silicones and advanced materials, with a 70+ year heritage of being first to market with performance applications for major industries that support and improve everyday life. The company delivers science-based solutions, by linking custom technology platforms to opportunities for customers. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC. Additional information is available at http://www.momentive.com.

About Momentive

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Momentive Performance Materials Expands Manufacturing Operations in India

CHICAGO, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Mintel Beauty & Personal Care (BPC) has announced the key trend set to impact global beauty consumers in 2012 - Kinetique. Encompassing electricity and energy in beauty and "beauty that's plugged in", the trend is set to drive innovation in the year ahead.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120222/CG58099LOGO)

"We're seeing this trend manifest itself in several ways," explains Nica Lewis, global skincare analyst at Mintel. "From the next generation of at-home beauty devices that harness energy and light to new ingredients that boost cellular energy, beauty brands are giving consumers more power and vitality for better results."

While at-home and on-the-go beauty devices are more established in the US and Japan, the Kinetique trend forecasts Europe as the next market for these beauty devices to take hold.

"Interest in beauty devices in Europe is still low, especially in the UK, France and Germany. More than two thirds of women in these countries say they're unlikely to buy beauty devices for home use. Women in Italy and Spain are more plugged in to this trend. They show a preference for hair removal, anti-cellulite and deep pore cleansing devices for home use. This is partly climate-driven but also cultural since Southern European women are more likely to be familiar with these technologies from regular salon visits. The US is the dominant market for powered face care devices, but European manufacturers are now developing innovative light and laser-based solutions for anti-aging in anticipation of consumer demand."

As well as the growth in beauty devices, 2012 and beyond will also look at the power behind the technology - what is driving it and ingredients that harness or boost cellular energy, such as sugar and oxygen. But its counter trend - beauty ingredients that limit or shield the skin from high energy blue or violet light - will also become a focus. And anti-glycation claims, first seen in Japan, will give this trend renewed energy because of new actives coming to market - such as African Manilkara and Japanese apricot.

POS retail and packaging elements also form a key part of the trend - and Mintel BPC forecasts a rise in packaging and products which increase the interactivity between virtual and real worlds. Examples of sound, video and QR codes embedded in beauty packaging have already started to appear - but will start to make their mark globally over the coming year and beyond.

"We're seeing more connectivity both at point of sale - where consumers use smart phones to get information - and at home. From QR codes on pack to sound and video embedded in packaging, brands are increasing interactivity to enrich the product experience. One of the best recent examples is Urban Decay's Book of Shadows Volume IV which has a USB port built-into the palette so consumers can download makeup tutorials and listen to music while they're getting ready. This blurring of the on and offline space is critical for brands and retailers. It allows them to get closer than ever before to consumers."

"There is growing use of tablets and screens at point-of-sale to personalize the in-store experience. Korean brands in Myeongdong were some of the first to adopt screens and video at point-of-sale while Clinique introduced iPads for client consultations in-store. In the US, RiteAid is trialing an in-store kiosk that performs anonymous video analytics to determine the age and gender of customers standing in front of it. The Reward Centre then dispenses vouchers and customized promotions." Nica concludes.

About MintelMintel is a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence. For 40 years, Mintel has provided insight into key worldwide trends, offering exclusive data and analysis that directly impacts client success. With offices in Chicago, New York, London, Sydney, Shanghai, Tokyo, and now India, Malaysia and Singapore, Mintel has forged a unique reputation as a world-renowned business brand. For more information on Mintel, please visit http://www.mintel.com.

Originally posted here:
Mintel Beauty & Personal Care Forecasts Kinetique as Key Trend for 2012

Despite most of Savannahs popular opinion, Twitter is, in fact, not useless. I always laugh when I hear someone downplay Twitters value. They have hundreds of millions of users. Some people must be finding some value there, right?

So is it just a collection of hundreds of millions of self-indulgent Justin Bieber fans with lots of time on their hands? Well, yes, that segment is on Twitter. But just like everything else, you get out what you put in, and over the last 90 days, Ive seen the value firsthand.

I was always a casual Twitter user. I was fascinated by the simplicity mixed with the instant global reach the platform afforded, but I never spent much time using the service. I would look into what some people had to say and then check out for a few weeks (or months) since I wasnt really wrapped up in the conversations.

But then my goal changed. Several months ago, my team and I decided we would look for investors in our new business Bright Here. Bright Here is a unique social network we will launch in Savannah and expand from there, and venture capital investors are a natural fit for such an ambitious undertaking.

Because I dont have any close friends or family who do tech investing, I set a simple goal: Establish myself as an authority in my field in the eyes of the highest quality and quantity of tech investors possible.

Enter Twitter.

One thing that Twitter is great at is conversation discovery. Even those allergic to technology have a short learning curve and then can find people talking about virtually anything at all.

I quickly added about 100 investors and firms to the list of Twitter accounts I was following, and I simply observed the conversations as a spectator.

The more I observed, the more I participated. I realized that I could (at least in my opinion) contribute some value to a lot of these conversations with these people whom I held in high esteem.

The more I contributed to the conversation, the more I got out of those connections. And whats more, these investors and esteemed individuals started sending me messages back.

Originally posted here:
Jesse Bushkar: My personal Twitter success story

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fi3jQmkKnE

24-04-2010 12:10 The difference between the two. For more info or coaching services, Mike 954 806 0994

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Motivational Speaker vs Personal Development Coach - Video