Do You Work Too Much?
by Takara Alexis

Does this scenario sound familiar to you? You love working and you are responsible for many projects at once as well as tasks that are constantly being assigned to you or your group. You thrive on the pressures of multiple deadline. Or maybe you work multiple jobs or own your own business. Your work hours are long, your at-home hours short, and your sleep hours few. Vacations and social visits with friends are a distant memory. Your only hobby is your job.

You or someone you know might be a workaholic. Workaholics live for their work, and enjoy spending many extra hours at work, and often taking work home to complete. Americans, when compared to many other countries are typically a work-hard culture, but when work becomes the sole reason for a person's existence above more important things such as family and friends, the issue becomes critical.

Part of the matter is societal. Americans are working more hours every week than in past years, and with all the downsizing's and consolidations and lack of replacement hirings, more and more workers are working extra hours to complete the work previously completed by others. Some studies show that as much as many as 40 percent of workers don't even bother to take vacations, partly because of fears they may not have a job to come back to if they do.

Part of the matter is technological. We exist in a connected environment -- e-mails, instant messaging, fax machines, cell phones, and digital assistants -- causing it to be hard for workers to get any time away from their work.

The key is to take time away from work -- completely away from work -- to get your life back on the right path. It will take some effort on your part -- and perhaps the part of a friend or spouse -- to make the shift from a sole focus on work, but for your mental and physical well-being, you must try to make an effort.

Whether it's how more and more of us are commonly defining success in terms of financial and materialistic measures or the fact that a lot of Americans have to work various jobs simply to earn a living and prevent their families from poverty, we are working more and more for the financial outcomes.

Regardless of the reasons, workaholism can be a crucial condition that can lead to the descent and demolition of families, as well as stress-related health issues. When work becomes the only reason for being -- when it becomes the only thing we think about, the one thing that really makes us happy -- then it's time for some kind of intervention. And don't confuse hard work for workaholism. Hard workers know the difference when it comes to work and personal time and can perform normally when not at work, while workaholics don't have personal time and can't function well outside of work.

Planning For Succession
by Takara Alexis

Entrepreneurs tend to spend a lot of time building their business, they give little thought to how they will leave it and sometimes get side tracked by the amount of time it takes to establish and carry out an effective succession plan.

Owners seem to sometimes associate succession planning with choosing a successor. The first step, however, lies in an analysis of what has made the business successful. Does that success rely on ability or knowledge you as the owner have that would leave when you leave? Often that is the case of sole- practitioners such as lawyers or doctors - unless they have the foresight to bring in a junior practitioner who could possibly take over at some point.

Additional success questions to consider: current and future market competition, necessary technology infrastructure, talent of existing employees, and style of management. Answers to these questions can provide the basis for decisions on whether the business can continue without you, how it would continue without you and which person would lead it.

Personal financial planning will play a role in the succession plan whether you wish to sell the business to an outsider or progressively transfer your interest to a main employee or family member. If you sell and receive a large lump-sum payment, you will to plan what you'll do with the earnings. Advice from accounting and investment experts can help with strategies to lower your taxes on the sale.

If you plan on transferring the business to a key worker or a someone in your family, your personal financial plan should focus on long-term capital accumulation to provide cash for living expenses to replace the income you received from your company's profits. Developing that cushion takes awhile, but it will give you not only needed funds but the freedom to allow your successor opportunities to learn and make mistakes, without abusing your livelihood.

Entrepreneurs, mainly those with family members involved in the business, commonly dread actually naming a successor because they expect it will cause arguments among employees and members of their family. Again, having an analysis of the business and its needs for the future to keep its success gives you a platform from which to talk about issues with those affected. Open communication plays a crucial role in smoothing the path for your successor.

Communication will be key as you develop the person you chose to assume leadership. While you may be tempted to pass on everything you know to your successor, be sure to listen carefully and give the person some room to learn from experience or try new ways of doing things. Stay true to what has made your company successful, but recognize that your successor needs to prove his or her value to employees and customers and may actually have ideas for making the business better.

Planning how you'll leave your business can be emotionally draining as well as, financially and logistically difficult. Involving your key trusted advisors and seeking assistance from succession planning professionals can help you look at important details while keeping the big picture in focus. Begin early, so you will have enough time to create, finance and carry out a successful succession plan.

Women And Finances
by Takara Alexis

With the combination of later marriage, divorce, widowhood and longevity, almost 90 percent of women will end up maintaining their finances by herself at some point in their lives, according to the Department of Labor.

Despite upbringing, income, marital or motherhood status, a woman needs a solid base of financial knowledge to help set them up for that responsibility. Because a majority of women will be on their own financially at some time in their lives, financial education isn't wasted. Knowledge can give women confidence that if challenged with being unexpectedly single, they are able to handle it.

For women who hardly have any experience in managing money or none at all, taking small steps can help. Reading websites, magazines and books about financial topics or taking a community college course can provide a great foundation. Professional financial advisors can help as well. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a stupid question.

For young women starting out on their own, living expenses and paying down debt like vehicle or college loans usually get priority treatment. However, it is much more simple to save and invest before adding larger debt like a house or having children. Employer-sponsored retirement plans provide a fairly painless method - pretax payroll deduction - to begin, and singles should strive to contribute at least as much as their employer will match. Enrolling at the time of hire means never missing the money from the paycheck.

Having a team of advisors that can be trusted could help make women less susceptible to scams and opportunists who use people are newly divorced or widowed. Women that are married do not really need a team of professionals apart from their husband's, but they should have met those experts and be content with them. A traumatic experience like divorce or death is not the time to be looking for a credible professional.

Even if they do not work outside the home, pay the bills or make the investment choices, women should know how much money comes into the household and what percentage goes toward bills, college funds, retirement accounts and savings. They should also be aware of where key financial documents, such as wills and insurance policies, are kept.

Women must understand that keeping the house means keeping all the responsibilities that go along with it financially. On top of that, they might need to buy out their husband's share in the property. Suddenly a $2,000 mortgage payment becomes a $4,000 mortgage payment. That's when the advisor becomes important in helping the client make decisions based on financial reality not emotional reaction, because when the decree is final, you can not claim ignorance.

A firm grasp of financial basics and the household's financial picture, along with a team of trusted advisors, can give women the courage they require to make financial decisions throughout their lives, whether single and childless, married with or without children, divorced or widowed. Women must learn basic money management skills and find the expert support they need to make smart choices. It is a skill they will almost certainly need in their lifetime, so it is never too early to start.

The Cost Of Healthcare
by Takara Alexis

Health care prices for small businesses keep skyrocketing across the board. And as big companies and small businesses continue struggling to maintain low costs, it is commonly small businesses that get hit the hardest. Health care costs are constantly rising, sometimes with double-digit increases each year.

But that does not mean that there are not other possible options. Recently, more light has been shed on added options to assist small businesses with saving money and still have health care available.

Several options are out there that can help small companies minimize expenses. One of very popular option is encouraging employees to get individual health insurance. Instead of the employer subsidizing a large percentage of it, the to price of health care is left to the employee. And on average, individual premiums are less expensive than those of group plans.

And employers are able to help the employee out by giving a reimbursement to cover a portion of the costs, or by helping the employee take care of their Section 125 deduction. Either way, the employer can lower costs a a significant amount by using this method and frequently it can be a less expensive route than the one currently used.

In addition, an increasingly utilized option is to offer Section 105 plans to employees. Section 105 plans grant the employer permission to buy a higher-deductible, (but lower cost), insurance coverage for their employees. The high-deductible is compensated through an employer-controlled, tax-advantage fund that pays claims to the employees for medical costs below the deductible. The result is savings for both employer and employee.

But not every company will benefit from a Section 105. Just like all plans, it's important to talk with a financial professional to figure out what type of health care savings could be achieved in your small business.

Section 105's and advising the purchase of individual insurance are two ways to possibly save your small business money, at a time when small businesses are getting crushed by health care costs. Making the tough choices in every aspects of your business, and viewing all your health care options to minimize expenses as much as possible might just be one of the things that keeps you in the surviving 20% of small businesses.

Sexual Harassment In The Workplace
by Takara Alexis

You have a responsibility as an employer to maintain a workplace that is free of sexual harassment. This makes good business sense but it also your legal obligation. You will have to pay a high price in terms of poor employee morale, lawsuits, and low productivity if you allow sexual harassment to flourish in the workplace.

Sexual harassment can be any sexual advance or conduct that isn't welcome on the job that can create an intimidating, hostile, or aggressive work environment. If there's conduct of a sexual nature that makes an employee uncomfortable it could have the potential to lead to sexual harassment.

It is obvious that sexual harassment can come in various forms. Here are some examples of sexual harassment: when a supervisor implies that an employee has to sleep with them to keep a job, when a sales clerk makes harsh remarks about a female customer to his coworkers, an office manager is made uncomfortable by co-workers that regularly tell sexually explicit jokes, a receptionist's coworkers belittle her and refer to her by sexist or demeaning terms, an employee sends emails to coworkers that have sexual jokes and language.

The harasser could be the victim's supervisor, manager, or even coworker. An employer might even be liable for harassment by a non-employee, such as a vendor or customer, depending on the situation. Sexual harassment is a gender-neutral offense, at least in theory: Men could sexually harass women, and women can sexually harass men. However, statistics let us see that the majority of sexual harassment claims and charges are made by women who say they were sexually harassed by men.

Even people of the same sex can also be sexually harassed by each other, as long as the harassment is of a heterosexual nature. For example, if a man has co-workers that constantly ambush him with sexually explicit pictures of women and sexually explicit jokes, and it makes him uncomfortable because he is married, this type of behavior can constitute sexual harassment.

Keep the lines of communication open with your managers and supervisors. There are plenty of steps that you can take to lower the risk of sexual harassment occurring in your workplace. Adopt a clear sexual harassment policy. In your employee handbook, you should have a policy solely devoted to sexual harassment. That policy should define sexual harassment as well as state in no uncertain terms that you will not tolerate sexual harassment. It should also state that you will discipline or fire any wrongdoers. Also you should set out a clear procedure for filing sexual harassment complaints.

Take all complaints seriously. If there is a complaint filed about sexual harassment, act immediately to investigate the complaint. If the complaint turns out to be true, you should respond should swiftly and effectively.

Napping On The Job
by Takara Alexis

Falling asleep on the job could be turning into office protocol-not grounds for termination. An increasing number of companies are realizing the health benefits of a quick sleep, including heightened alertness, improved brainpower, and less sick days. While naps are not essential for those who get the advised eight hours of sleep each night, they might be key for those who lose out on sleep.

A lot of companies are offering assigned rooms for taking naps and some are setting up tents or lofted beds. You can close your eyes for 10 or 15 minutes and wake up with a completely refreshed feeling. Many companies, including British Airways, Pizza Hut, Google and Nike, offer "renewal rooms" and reclining chairs.

Most employers who permit people to take naps say they do so because of their employees well-being, which research shows is a good idea. People who take 30-minute naps everyday are 37% less likely to die of heart disease than those who do not take naps, according to a recent study.

Taking naps can also improve the immune system-theoretically leading to less sick days- and propel employees into their most alert, active, and imaginative states, say nap advocates. Also, if you are sleep deprived, you're going to be in a bad mood. And if you need to interact in meetings, or if you are a marketing person and have to convince someone to purchase your product, that might create a problem.

Some companies are outsourcing their napping. Time Warner, Hearst, and Yahoo!, for example, employ Manhattan-based YeloSpa. This offers power naps in personal rooms that come equip with customized aromatherapy, music or nature sounds, and lighting. A 20-minute nap costs $15, and a 40-minute nap is $28. Most of those companies allow employees to visit YeloSpa during their lunch breaks and have negotiated discounted rates.

Extended naps equate to deeper sleep, making waking up difficult. Some experts talk about warnings of sleep inertia, an effect that feels like a hangover that makes shrugging off sleepy feelings pretty much impossible. But there is a warning: For people who have been up all night and are extremely sleep deprived, a longer nap for at least 90 minutes is necessary to catch up.

For now, workplace naps remain the exception, rather than the rule. If you want to bring the trend to your non-napping workplace, draft a proposal that lets your employer's see the arrangement. Explain that napping minimizes absenteeism and research shows that employees tend to miss work because of fatigue. Get together with coworkers and suggest an experimental period.

The Basics On Fixed Annuities
by Takara Alexis

There are a lot of annuity products attainable today. One of these great products is the fixed annuity. Fixed annuities come in two main forms. Some have a deferred payout and those that have an immediate payout. Immediate annuities seek to payout income upon inception, while deferred annuities defer payment until a later date.

Fixed annuities are usually compared to certificates of deposit (CDs) by those investors looking for safety. Just like many other financial products you must evaluate the pros and cons in deciding which might be more appropriate for your financial needs.

Both CDs and fixed annuities usually base their rates on current market conditions and time of maturity. Generally, the longer you wait for it to mature, the higher the yield you will receive. Fixed annuity rates have been traditionally higher than CD rates because of longer maturities and rate circumstances. Fixed rate annuities might have the edge in longer-term returns, but they aren't short-term investments. The usual deferred fixed annuity ranges in periods from 3 to 10 years.

It's very substantial that you comprehend the liquidity issues as they may relate to your CD or fixed annuity investing. CDs may provide for a shorter time, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're liquid. When buying a CD you are obligated to that CD's time period, most commonly twelve months. If you prematurely withdraw any amount of your principle, you'll be subject to interest fines.

Tax deferred fixed annuities are precisely that-deferred from tax. Which means that income within your annuity isn't taxable until it is withdrawn. As time goes by, tax deferred growth outpaces taxable investments being as earnings compound without current income taxation, yearly. It's very important to note that annuities are taxed just as regular income, so it is better to take out withdrawals when income taxes are lower, such as retirement.

Fixed annuities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the issuing insurance company, and they are not contained or supported by the government. The higher rated insurance companies have to meet stringent capital requirements to back up annuity and life insurance obligations. You should choose the higher rated company while comparing fixed annuity rates. If you go with a lower rated annuity company for an insignificant increase in rate just isn't worth the extra risk.

Because of the Internet you are able to get a number of competitive fixed annuity quotes simply by clicking the mouse. This is a good way to locate the best fixed annuity rate, but you have to proceed with extreme caution. Working with a trusted independent agent is recommended here, because they can give the much-needed guidance, as well as the top fixed annuity rate you are looking for.

ChamberofCommerce.com Partners with Rapid Recovery Solution:

Providing Small Business Owners with a Source for Reliable Debt Collection

ChamberofCommerce.com connects over 1 million merchants with Rapid Recovery Solution’s outstanding debt collection services.

 

Bohemia, NY (November 9, 2010) – ChamberofCommerce.com has agreed to an exclusive marketing partnership with Rapid Recovery Solution, a reputable and proven Federal attorney-based debt collection agency. The partnership will give over a million small business owners on ChamberofCommerce.com a dedicated and professional option for recovering unpaid debts. Rapid Recovery Solution knows that uncollected debts hurt a business owner’s bottom line and their lawyers will work effortlessly to recuperate the money you are rightfully owed.

 

“At ChamberofCommerce.com we provide our small business owners with an array of financial services to help them reach their business goals,” said David Bayer, CEO of ChamberofCommerce.com. “It’s hard to grow and succeed as a business when you aren’t being compensated for the services you are providing. Rapid Recovery Solution knows that, and they are dedicated to recover the funds that are rightfully yours in a professional and lawful manner.”

 

"Rapid Recovery Solution is excited and honored to be the collection company chosen to help the members of ChamberofCommerce.com recover the money that is rightfully owed," said John Monderine, CEO of Rapid Recovery Solution. "It is hard enough to do business in this economy, the last thing you need is for somebody to think they can take advantage of you. RRS will help you focus on running your business and ease your worries about getting paid."

 

Rapid Recovery Solution will be contributing informational guides on ChamberofCommerce.com covering an array of topics regarding the laws and regulations of debt collection, the rights of an unpaid business owner, and techniques on how to legally and safely attempt to recover your lost wages on your own.

 

About ChamberofCommerce.com:

ChamberofCommerce.com is dedicated to helping local business owners grow their business and their web presence online while also facilitating connectivity between local businesses in more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide. ChamberofCommerce.com works with local business owners by providing tools and education to them develop, manage and grow their business and their web presence. CoC.com also helps increase membership within local Chambers of Commerce. They provide technology, tools and education to local Chambers of Commerce to help them communicate more effectively with their members online and provide them with more efficient and expedient customer support. CoC.com also works with industry-leading business-to-business solutions providers to introduce innovative products and services to more than one million small, medium and enterprise businesses.

About Rapid Recovery Solution:

Rapid Recovery Solution is a Full Service, Federal Attorney Based, Debt Collection Agency serving business customers worldwide. RRS offers a NO Collect, NO Fee program that is guaranteed to get you results or the service is free. RRS also has an extensive network of Attorneys in every jurisdiction that will file lawsuits on your behalf. RRS will become an extension of your business and they will do everything possible to maintain a working relationship with your debtor.

Comprehensive Risk Management
by Takara Alexis

As your career evolves, your compensation, capital and lifestyle often evolve as well - and so will your exposure to risk. Is your insurance relationships and policies keeping pace?

It isn't abnormal for people to accumulate policies and professionals as they go through life's stages. As a young single, you might not have given a thought about life, disability or even renters insurance. Your marriage could have assisted the purchase of life insurance and buying your first home introduced you to property coverage. If you have not bought life insurance already, the birth of a child could make that a priority as well as disability coverage. And these purchases could or could not have been from the same insurance professional or even the same insurance company.

As an executive, your compensation may have changed your lifestyle. Do you accumulate grown-up toys such as pricey cars, boats, or motorcycles? Do you have pricey collections like fine art, jewelry or a wine cellar? Have you documented all those items with paperwork or photos, had it recently appraised and added the correct riders or - in the case of any vehicles others might be using - liability coverage?

As your income increases, so does your need for disability coverage, particularly if your spouse doesn't work. If you bought disability coverage a few years ago, have you recently checked to make sure it still gives adequate replacement for your improved income?

Domestic employees can become more common when the the pressure on your time goes up. Depending on the state, you could be required to give insurance to your nanny, housekeeper, groundskeeper, driver or personal assistant.

Basic homeowners insurance doesn't always provide sufficient coverage for custom-built new houses or historic homes. Of course replacement cost coverage sounds great, most insurers cap rebuilding expenses. Promised replacement does not have a cap, and many companies have specialized policies designed to replace different and expensive details of historic homes or to cover the price of rebuilding historic homes in agreement with current building codes.

The patchwork of insurance relationships and policies you might have acquired over many years may no longer be sufficient. A comprehensive risk management strategy looks at each angle of potential loss, decides which would have the most drastic effect on your monetary well being and finds answers to diminish those risks. Talk to your financial advisor or insurance expert to ensure that your solutions still fit.

Personal Liability Insurance
by Takara Alexis

Senseless lawsuits and outlandish settlements got people's blood boiling recently when a judge - yes, a judge - sued a little, family-owned dry cleaners for $65 million for misplacing a pair of his pants. Small businesses, this goes to show, are just as open to attack as their deep-pocket peers. A recent study by NERA Economic Consulting concluded that small businesses pay for 69 percent of civil lawsuit liability costs, even though they generate only about 19 percent of business profits.

Not a small business owner or big business executive? You could still face significant loss of property from damages and court costs in a liability claim. You get some protection through your homeowners, renters and auto insurance, but every policy has limits and your policies may leave you exposed where you least expect it.

Umbrella policies dispense extra, coverage overall beyond these specific policies. Usually the amounts range from $1 million to $5 million and cover any loss past what your other policies will pay. The coverage is not bound to your property or vehicle so it can go where you go. It typically does not cover business activities, even if its a home-operated business.

The need for personal liability insurance can depend on two different factors: the amount of equity you have and the risks that are associated with your particular lifestyle. Is there a pool on your property? Allow hunting on your farm or ranch? Have people employed at your home like a nanny or housekeeper? These factors can expose you to risks that go past those policies of a typical homeowner.

Do other factors make you a victim for lawsuits? Even crazy claims might cost you time and emotional agony. If people are aware of your assets, recent inheritance, land holdings, or salary - or even mistaken assumptions about these things - could very well bring out claims from the classic slip and fall to more involved deceptions.

Typically, umbrella liability coverage extends to your kids, your spouse and relatives that live in your household, being cared for by you or under the care of a family member living with you. That can be a big reassurance especially if you have teenagers that drive or college students living away from home.

Umbrella liability insurance could protect money you have saved. Your financial counselor or insurance professional will be able to help you examine your coverages and potential risks to decide just big your umbrella should be.