tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2010://29 2007-10-13T23:57:34Z It is ARCHIVE SITE of the press release related to Finance. Movable Type Pro 5.01 tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.29830 2007-10-01T23:42:07Z 2007-10-13T23:57:34Z

New limited benefit plan designed to giv...

New limited benefit plan designed to give employees increased benefit options AIG Employee Benefit Solutions, a marketing division of AIG American General, has announced the launch of AIG Group Limited HealthCare, a limited benefit insurance plan underwritten by AIG Life Insurance Company and American International Life Assurance Company of New York. “As healthcare costs continue to rise, we’re finding that many employers are increasingly unable to afford the comprehensive major medical plans employees are traditionally used to,” said Michael Witwer, senior vice president, marketing and product development, AIG Employee Benefit Solutions. “The AIG Group Limited HealthCare plan addresses this by offering a flexible, affordable amount of ancillary coverage in a limited benefit plan that provides specific dollar amounts for predicable medical expenses such as routine doctor visits and prescription medications.” The plan is also ideal for those who already have current major medical plans but still need help paying for large deductibles and shrinking expenses from increasing co-insurance and co-pays. Features include: * Guaranteed Issue — no health questions asked * No pre-existing condition exclusion (except pregnancy) * Benefits paid directly to the insured or the provider * Spouse and children coverage available * Covers pregnancy, provided conception occurs after the effective date of coverage * 24-hour nurse line * Discount vision, dental and prescription drug benefit * Nationwide provider network with discounts provided at point-of-service * Convenient claims processing “As a competitive new limited benefit option, AIG Group Limited HealthCare plan offers a solution to employees who may be feeling the effects of rising healthcare costs or an increase in out-of-pocket expenses,” added Witwer. For more information about AIG Group Limited HealthCare plan and AIG Employee Benefit Solutions visit www.aigebs.com. AIG Employee Benefit Solutions®, www.aigebs.com, is the marketing brand under which group employee benefit insurance products and individual worksite products (including life, accidental death & dismemberment, disability, dental vision, cancer insurance and critical illness products) are offered by the insurance companies that comprise AIG American General, including AIG Life Insurance Company, American General Assurance Company, American International Life Assurance Company of New York, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York and American General Life Insurance Company. AIG American General, www.aigag.com, is the marketing name for the insurance companies and affiliates comprising the domestic life operations of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). AIG American General companies offer a broad spectrum of fixed and variable life insurance, annuities and accident and health products to serve the financial and estate planning needs of its customers throughout the United States. American International Group, Inc. (AIG), world leaders in insurance and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of retirement services, financial services and asset management around the world. AIG's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in Paris, Switzerland and Tokyo. AIG Employee Benefit Solutions insurance products underwritten by: AIG Life Insurance Company Wilmington, Delaware American International Life Assurance Company of New York New York, New York Member companies of American International Group, Inc. Policy form series numbers for employee benefits insurance products include: N20000, N20001, N20005, N20009, N20010, N50005, G-LAD-30000, G-LAD-40000. The underwriting risks, financial obligations and support functions associated with the products issued by the above-listed companies are the responsibility of each issuing company. All of the above-listed companies are responsible for their own financial condition and contractual obligations. AIG Life Insurance Company does not solicit business in the state of New York. Policies and riders not available in all states. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27972 2007-10-01T02:32:58Z 2007-10-02T02:33:56Z

Customers Cite International Fund Servic...

Customers Cite International Fund Services’ Expertise and Advanced Technology Systems as Key Strengths State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), the world’s leading provider of financial services to institutional investors, announced today that its hedge fund administration company, International Fund Services (IFS), achieved top rankings for the fourth consecutive year in Global Custodian magazine’s annual Hedge Fund Administration Survey. The 2007 survey rated 20 service providers, the highest number ever. IFS ranked first among managers with more than $1 billion, and achieved recognition as one of the top service providers in the Overall and Single Strategy categories. According to Global Custodian, “IFS maintains its impressive record in this survey.” “International Fund Services’ greatest strength is the people that they employ and the culture that seems to be incredibly consistent throughout the firm,” said one of respondents, an IFS client. “We are extremely confident in the services they provide us and consider them a true extension of our team.” “IFS offers industry leading technology platforms, the most adaptable and accurate reporting package, and a staff that provides superior knowledge and overall customer relations of any administrator today,” added another respondent. “As the hedge fund industry grows ever more complex, having the right technology and expertise in place is key to a successful servicing relationship,” said Gary Enos, executive vice president and head of hedge fund services for State Street. “These survey results confirm that our ongoing focus on customer service remains paramount.” State Street provides a complete set of servicing and management solutions for hedge funds including recordkeeping, fund accounting, valuation, risk management and regulatory reporting. State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is the world's leading provider of financial services to institutional investors, including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $13.0 trillion in assets under custody and $1.9 trillion in assets under management at June 30, 2007, State Street operates in 26 countries and more than 100 geographic markets worldwide. For more information, visit State Street’s website at www.statestreet.com. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27971 2007-10-01T02:25:11Z 2007-10-02T02:26:16Z

Earlier this year, Progress Software Cor...

Progress Apama/Dow Jones Webinar – Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10.00am (EST); 7.00am (PST); 3.00pm (GMT); 4.00pm (CET) Registration: www.progress.com/apama - under Events Progress Software Corporation Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) provides application infrastructure software for the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications. Our goal is to maximize the benefits of information technology while minimizing its complexity and total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000. Dow Jones & Company Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; dowjones.com) is a leading provider of global business news and information services. Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group includes Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions, Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones is co-owner with Hearst of SmartMoney. Dow Jones provides news content to CNBC and radio stations in the U.S. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27970 2007-10-01T02:23:36Z 2007-10-02T02:24:50Z

Aleri Inc., the leading provider of ente...

www.aleri.com. About Fixnetix Fixnetix is the next generation Market Data Telecommunications company that provides high performance, real time direct data feeds and trading connectivity services to the financial community. Fixnetix provides multi format, resilient, ultra-low latency direct data feeds, without the need for customers to install any specialized hardware or software on site. As the industry’s leading provider of low latency data, Fixnetix is a telecommunications company and vendor of record with most major exchanges around the world, allowing it to provide direct data and trading connectivity, and reduce transmission times by hundreds of milliseconds while ensuring no transmission delays or dropped data. For more information, visit www.fixnetix.com]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27969 2007-10-01T02:21:19Z 2007-10-02T02:22:53Z

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman...

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman visits campus Tuesday to share ‘real world’ personal finance lessons to help students score beyond the college arena Students at Boston College will receive practical tips in money management and help in developing a game plan for their financial future as members of “Team Hartford” bring the award-winning national educational program, Playbook for Life, to campus tomorrow. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Merkert Chemistry Center, room 127. Developed by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), working closely with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA®), Playbook for Life gives student-athletes and all college students the basic financial knowledge required for personal success. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, a former U.S. Olympian, Old Dominion and WNBA player, and former head coach of the Detroit Shock, will draw on her own personal experiences and make comparisons between sports and life in the real world to underscore the importance of financial planning. A current ESPN and NBA TV basketball analyst, Lieberman will be joined by Bill Poutre, a former golfer, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship and current head coach of the NCAA Division I men’s golf team at the University of Hartford, who will offer students practical information to help get their financial houses in order. “By sharing my own financial mishaps, I can help students steer clear of the mistakes I could have easily avoided if I had something like the Playbook for Life when I was in school,” explained Lieberman. “Knowledge of personal finance basics is an essential life skill; our goal is to empower students to make smart decisions to build a solid financial future.” Few students head off to college with formal training in personal finance. Currently, only seven states require a personal finance course for high school graduation, and only nine states require the testing of student knowledge on personal finance, according to the 2007 “Survey of the States” by the National Council on Economic Education. Concrete instruction in personal finance at the college level is also inconsistent, leaving many students in need of guidance on critical topics such as budgeting for housing and living costs and managing credit card and student loan debt. In Massachusetts, the average college student carries more than $18,000 in debt, according to a 2006 analysis by The Project for Student Debt. Moreover, a recent survey by The Hartford found that nearly half (47 percent) of college students nationwide say their parents have had to bail them out of debt at some time. This survey also revealed that 71 percent of college students are concerned about their ability to meet financial obligations and 76 percent of college students wish they had more help preparing for their financial future. The Playbook for Life gives students tangible skills in money management as they transition from college to the professional world. Students not only at Boston College, but across the country are invited to take advantage of the free resources found in the guidebook and Web site, www.playbook.thehartford.com. “The Playbook for Life has enriched the lives of student-athletes and college students by encouraging them to start planning for tomorrow, today,” said NCAA President Myles Brand. “These important life lessons in the basics of job benefits, credit, debt, saving and investing are a necessity for helping them create a game plan for financial security after graduation, regardless of the career path they choose.” Lieberman and fellow members of Team Hartford – a group of former student-athletes and professional athletes who have found success both in and out of sports – have brought the Playbook’s teachings to students at 19 colleges and universities, in addition to Boston College, since the program’s inception in March 2005. Playbook for Life was created by The Hartford, as part of the company’s philanthropic focus on education and its corporate partnership with the NCAA, to help student-athletes gain a solid understanding of personal finance. More than 100,000 guidebooks have been distributed to date, and the program has been widely praised by students, coaches, teachers and parents as a valuable resource for helping all students and young adults make smart decisions as they plan for their future financial success. The Hartford survey was conducted among 1,108 college students and 1,086 parents of college students nationwide by Impulse Research Corporation in February 2007 (with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent). The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services companies, with 2006 revenues of $26.5 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com. HIG-C Some of the statements in this release should be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about our future results of operations. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27968 2007-10-01T02:18:02Z 2007-10-02T02:20:04Z

Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) today introduc...

Biofuels indices weighted to reflect market trends The MLCX Biofuels Index weights commodities according to production levels and calorific potential, in order to reflect their economic value. It contains seven commodities commonly used as biofuels feedstock: sugar, corn, soybeans, barley, rapeseed, canola and soybean oil. The MLCX Biofuels Plus Index adds gasoline and diesel to the commodities in the MLCX Biofuels Index. The MLCX Biofuels Plus Index reflects how current technology and infrastructure is more geared to blending biofuels with conventional fossil fuels than to offering a pure biofuel alternative. Merrill Lynch expects demand for agricultural commodities to grow in the long term, thanks in part to legislation. E.U. directives adopted in 2003 aim to derive 5.75% of total transport fuel consumption from biofuels by 2010 and up to 20% by 2020. The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard Program requires that at least 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel be blended into vehicle fuel by 2012. Slow progress in finding more efficient ways to produce biofuels means that the demand will have to be met by a massive expansion in supply, increasing competition for cropland, labour and water. This could drive up the price of biofuels related crops as well as other crops such as wheat, rice and coffee. NOTES TO EDITORS Merrill Lynch Global Research has consistently achieved high rankings for its equity and fixed income research in numerous regional and global investor surveys, such as Institutional Investor, The Wall Street Journal, LatinFinance, Asiamoney, Euromoney, Bloomberg, Extel and Reuters. Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies, with offices in 38 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.7 trillion. As an investment bank, it is a leading global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a broad range of asset classes and serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Merrill Lynch owns approximately half of BlackRock, one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management companies with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27967 2007-10-01T02:16:13Z 2007-10-02T02:17:42Z

SmartBPM to Support Business Growth and ...

SmartBPM to Support Business Growth and Enable Business Agility -Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA), the leader in Business Process Management (BPM), today announced that Bank of the West has chosen Pegasystems’ SmartBPM® Suite and Smart Adjust™ solution framework to transform its check research and adjustment operations, making those operations more efficient and providing improved customer service. Bank of the West, with headquarters in San Francisco, is a high-performance, full service regional financial services company with $58.4 billion in assets, nearly 700 banking locations and approximately 10,700 employees. With the implementation of SmartBPM Suite and Smart Adjust, Bank of the West anticipates substantial business and operational improvements, including a reduction in annual debit write-offs and better coordination across departments resulting in improved customer service. ”Pegasystems’ SmartBPM will give us the ability to streamline several of our back office functions while giving us the flexibility to expand and thereby further reduce costs, improve customer service and allow our business partners to focus their attention on customer service,” said Eric Eisenberg, executive vice president for Transaction Processing, Bank of the West. “In addition, as we expand the use of Pegasystems, we can leverage our investment across departments and operations.” Willy Fox, senior director of Financial Industry Solutions at Pegasystems, commented, “We’re very excited to partner with Bank of the West, whose business model is centered around making service-focused decisions -- about credit, products and other aspects of its operations -- as quickly, consistently and as close to the customer as possible. Our SmartBPM with Build For Change® technology can help customers create a servicing backbone that supports highly responsive customer relationship management across business units and service products, making it a perfect match for Bank of the West, right now and into the future.” For more on Pegasystems SmartBPM Suite with Smart Adjust, visit www.pega.com About Bank of the West Founded in 1874, $58.4 billion-asset Bank of the West is the second-largest commercial bank based in California and is among the 25 largest in the United States. Bank of the West offers a full range of business, trust, international and personal banking services. The bank currently operates more than 700 commercial and retail banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. See www.bankofthewest.com. About Pegasystems Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA), the leader in Business Process Management, provides software to drive revenue growth, productivity and agility for the world's most sophisticated organizations. Customers use our award-winning SmartBPM® suite to improve customer service, reach new markets and boost operational effectiveness. Our patented SmartBPM technology makes enterprise applications easy to build and change by directly capturing business objectives and eliminating manual programming. SmartBPM unifies business rules and processes into composite applications that leverage existing systems -- empowering businesspeople and IT staff to Build for Change®, deliver value quickly and outperform their competitors. Pegasystems’ suite is complemented by best-practice frameworks designed for leaders in financial services, insurance, healthcare, government, life sciences, communications, manufacturing and other industries. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Pegasystems has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Visit us at www.pega.com. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27966 2007-10-01T02:12:59Z 2007-10-02T02:15:53Z

Healthcare Issues Most Influential in Up...

Healthcare Issues Most Influential in Upcoming Presidential Election Hiring plans among small business owners are at their second lowest point in the seven-year history of the OPEN from American Express ® Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners. This fall hiring plans among business owners have dropped, with three in ten business owners reporting plans (31%) to hire full and/or part-time staff in the next six-months. That is down from 34% in fall 2006, 37% in fall 2005, 35% in fall 2004, 34% in fall 2003 and 26% in fall 2002. Healthcare is cited by one in five small business owners (21%) as the issue that will most sway their decision on the next president of the United States, followed closely by homeland security (cited by 19%). Despite a lack of robust hiring plans, growth remains a top priority for entrepreneurs. More than one-third (37%) of small business owners report growing their business as their company’s single most important priority over the next six months, on par with 35% last fall. In fact, more than half (57%) of business owners are willing to take on risk in order to grow their business, unchanged from 2006. “Small business owners are on the front lines, dealing with issues like healthcare, the housing market and interest rates, so they know first-hand where we are as a country,” said Susan Sobbott, president OPEN from American Express. “It says a lot about the attitude of small business owners that they remain optimistic in the face of this difficult environment, as evidenced by their plans for growth and investment.” Entrepreneurs Adjust to Energy Prices, but Economy and Rising Costs Present a Challenge According to the survey, business owners are adjusting to higher energy and gas costs. A much fewer number report having lost sales as a result of higher energy costs (17%), down sharply from fall 2006 (31%). Fewer entrepreneurs also report having to pay rising costs for the materials and products they need as a result of higher costs (65% down from 71% in fall 2006). One third of businesses in the South (31%) report rising gas and energy costs as having little impact on their business. More business owners believe the downturn in the housing market and rising interest rates have negatively impacted their business. The survey found a 5% rise in the number of business owners who believe that the downturn in the housing market has had a negative affect on their business, compared to this spring. Half of all business owners believe rising interest rates have negatively impacted their business. Rising costs and uncertain economic conditions (each 20%) are the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face in growing their business. Finding the right staff (19%) and being too busy satisfying existing customers (17%) present additional challenges. Entrepreneurs are not letting the economy dictate their plans for growth. Over the next six months, nearly half (48%) of business owners expect their business to grow regardless of the economy. Three out of ten (28%) of business owners report the economy as the greatest determinant in growing their business. Business Owners Plan to Invest in Technology and Marketing Entrepreneurs plan to make capital investments as an avenue to business growth. The percentage of small business owners planning to make capital investments over the next six months remains on par with the previous fall (59% vs. 56%). Business owners will invest most heavily in the area of technology (45%). More are planning to make their next purchase in mid-priced equipment such as desktops, laptops, printers than a year ago (53% vs. 47%). Nearly one-in-five (19%) plan on making more substantial investments in major technology infrastructure such as software, servers or telephone systems. Slightly fewer (17%) plan to invest in modestly priced items such as PDAs or smart phones. In addition to technology, other investment areas include office equipment (21%), real estate (15%), manufacturing/production equipment (14%) and office furnishings (13%). In addition to capital investments, business owners plan to invest marketing dollars as a way to grow. Entrepreneurs are taking advantage of online marketing techniques, with the company website being the most utilized online marketing technique (55%). Nearly seven in ten (69%) business owners believe their marketing dollars are well spent. Almost half (46%) of business owners report seeing a direct up tick in sales when spending money on marketing. Male business owners are more likely to agree that marketing dollars have a direct positive impact on sales (47% vs. 32% female owners). Those with Hiring Plans Center on Growth; Males Most Likely to Hire to Increase Business Although hiring plans over the next six months are near record lows, among those businesses that plan to hire, three-quarters (75%) say they need to hire to handle their growing business. Two thirds (65%) will hire to help increase business volume. This number is greater among male business owners as seven out of ten plan to hire for this reason (71% vs. 46% of female owners). Two out of five (43%) will hire because they have a new business venture, one-in-three say they will hire because they have finally found the right candidate for the position (33%), or need seasonal help (28%). Business owners do not believe the increase in minimum wage is offset by small business tax breaks included in the law. Four-in-ten business owners (44%) disagree that the increase in minimum wage passed by Congress is offset by small business tax breaks included in the law. This number was even higher among male business owners (59% vs. 35% of female owners). Healthcare Remains Top of Mind The rising costs of doing business have not overridden the importance of employee well being. Seven out of ten bosses (69%) agree it is important to offer healthcare coverage to their employees. The number of businesses offering healthcare benefits to employees remains unchanged from last fall (71%). Business owners are looking for ways to make healthcare coverage more accessible to their employees. Nearly eight in ten (79%) small businesses would consider proposed healthcare policy solutions as a way to make healthcare accessible. About two out of three (65%) support the solution to “create purchasing cooperatives for small businesses to make heath insurance affordable”. More than half support a plan that would “ensure every child in the U.S. has health insurance” (58%) or “provide tax credits to low income workers to help pay for healthcare” (54%). Less than half would support the proposed solution of a “universal healthcare system” (42%), or an “additional tax on tobacco and alcohol” to fund healthcare (38%). Three quarters (75%) of business owners believe healthcare coverage will be a problem for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Cash Flow Issues Keep Entrepreneurs Up At Night Business issues are a cause for entrepreneurs’ insomnia. One in four (26%) entrepreneurs cited cash flow issues as what “keeps them up at night”, followed by ideas for growth (23%), customer service (16%), staff (15%) and competition (9%). Among those businesses in the North, 32% are kept up by ideas for growth. Cash flow remains a constant concern for business owners. The number of entrepreneurs experiencing cash flow issues remains on par with the previous fall (49% vs. 47%).Among small businesses with cash flow concerns, 22% will access their personal or private funds, while others will obtain and use line of credit (20%), put off purchases (14%), use a credit card (12%) or short term loan (10%) in order to address these concerns. Business owners handle on accounts receivable is not as good as they think. Nearly eight in ten (79%) entrepreneurs do not believe their accounts receivable are too high. Yet to improve cash flow, 25% are most likely to get aggressive in collecting accounts receivables. Others will look for special payment terms (13%), raise prices (12%), or offer customer discounts for early payment (11%) in order to improve cash flow. On average, small business owners are able to project cash on hand 5 months out. Business owners in the South are in the ideal situation with the ability to project cash on hand more than six months out “It is not surprising that tightening purse strings put greater emphasis on cash flow,” said Sobbott. “Anecdotally, we see small business owners becoming more sophisticated in dealing with cash flow issues, pursuing solutions such as special payment terms like trade terms.” Prosperity Signifies Growth; More Male than Female Entrepreneurs Have Plans to Grow The majority of entrepreneurs plan to grow over the next six months; however views on growth diverge regionally and among the sexes. According to the survey, three-quarters of business owners plan for growth over the next six months. However, more male than female business owners have a plan to grow (82% and 64%, respectively). Overall, three out of ten (30%) small businesses measure growth by their profits. One out of five (22%) measure growth by the number of customers, this number jumps to nearly one in three (32%) in the West. One third (35%) of owners agree that ‘growth’ can be signified by prosperity; significantly fewer associate growth with achieving balance/wellness (23%), the freedom to choose (20%), and popularity (15%). Being an Entrepreneur is as Fulfilling as Expected Business concerns do not weigh on business owners’ sense of fulfillment. Despite an uncertain economy and concerns over cash flow, three out of four (74%) owners of small businesses find that being an entrepreneur is fulfilling, while only 46% agree that being an entrepreneur is harder than expected, this number rises to 53% in the West. Four out of ten (42%) agree they are an entrepreneur because they are a born leader. But leaving a lasting impression is what appears to matter most to entrepreneurs, as two out of three (68%) claim their business is an important part of their legacy. The vast majority of business owners (89%) in the North report this sentiment to be true. More than Half of Entrepreneurs on Track for Retirement; Males Require More Money Business owners are on track to meet retirement goals, although goals differ between the sexes. The average net worth business owners believe they need to retire is $1,286,000. Male small business owners desire an average of $1.5 million net worth in order to retire, compared to $1.2 million among female business owners. According to the survey, more than half (55%) of business owners report they are on track to save the funds they need for retirement, unchanged from last fall. However, six out of ten say they are worried about their ability to save for the retirement they want, on par with last fall (60% vs. 57%). Business owners in the South are in the best shape for retirement, nearly half (49%) are not at all worried about their ability to save for the retirement they want. Entrepreneurs Show Concern for the Environment Even as the impact of rising energy costs diminishes, business owners concern for the environment is still an action item. The majority of small business owners/managers (87%) have taken steps to make their business environmentally friendly. Half of business owners have taken steps to recycle waste products (51%) or follow environmental recommendations within their industry (48%). Less than half (46%) buy and use recycled products, offer eco-friendly products and services to customers (24%). Most agree that it is important to give back their community (87%), and take actions in business to reflect concern for the environment (79%). Additional survey results are available by contacting OPEN from American Express. Survey Methodology The OPEN from American Express Small Business Monitor, released each spring and fall, is based on a nationally representative sample of 627 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted via telephone by International Communications Research from August 20-August 31, 2007. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.9%. About OPEN from American Express OPEN is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. The OPEN Team supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit www.OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a Card or loan. Terms and conditions apply. American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27965 2007-10-01T02:00:39Z 2007-10-02T02:01:46Z

Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) announced t...

www.hess.com (audio only). A replay of the conference call will be available from October 31 through November 14, 2007 by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering the pass code 82376703. Outside the United States, parties should dial 1-617-801-6888 and enter the pass code 82376703. Hess Corporation, with headquarters in New York, is a global integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, production, purchase, transportation and sale of crude oil and natural gas, as well as the production and sale of refined petroleum products. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this conference call may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, uncertainties inherent in the measurement and interpretation of geological, geophysical and other technical data. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27964 2007-10-01T01:58:44Z 2007-10-02T02:00:13Z

A.M. Best Co. will be exhibiting at boot...

http://www.ambest.com.sales and A.M. Best booth #22 at IBAO. For products specific to the Canadian market, please visit http://www.ambest.ca. More information about the conference is available at http://www.ibao.com. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27963 2007-10-01T01:56:59Z 2007-10-02T01:58:22Z

User Friendly Site Answers Questions abo...

User Friendly Site Answers Questions about HSAs in Plain English --HSAeducator.com today announced the launch of its new website, www.hsaeducator.com designed to engage individuals, employers, and insurance agents seeking answers about HSAs. The site, which advocates Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), seeks to address the basics of HSAs, inform and support the growing movement in the United States toward consumer driven health care (CDH) and affordable health insurance. HSAeducator.com is an online community for people interested in or using health savings accounts. It helps consumers, employers, and health insurance agents: * learn about Heath Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Plans * ask questions and get answers about HSA accounts * discuss their experiences with Health Savings Accounts * connect with resources that make opening and managing HSAs easier * stay up-to-date on HSA news * interact with HSA advocates and policy makers HSAeducator.com is intended as an educational resource and community of advocates that helps support the adoption of Health Savings Accounts as a positive change in American health care. “HSAeducator.com was created to fill a communications gap in consumer driven health care, and specifically HSAs,” said Sanders McConnell, President of HSAeducator.com. “This site is simple to read and easy to participate with. We are pleased to be a part of something we believe will become an important center of dialogue between consumers, employers, and insurance brokers and even politicians,” added McConnell. Additional site content is provided through a marketing partnership with Fontis Healthcare Services, Inc. (www.fontishealth.com), an online support platform designed to accelerate and simplify the adoption of employer-sponsored group HSAs. Based in Franklin, TN, Fontis provides a full suite of support tools, interactive education pieces, health and wellness resources, and a unique financial incentive program that work together to help employees save money and become more proactive about their health. For more information, and to join in the dialogue please visit www.hsaeducator.com or call 404-551-5543. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.27962 2007-10-01T01:49:54Z 2007-10-02T01:50:49Z

Hartford Life intends to continue callin...

Hartford Life intends to continue calling its Hopmeadow Street headquarters home as the company expands its U.S. and international businesses The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) announced plans to purchase the 200 Hopmeadow Street world headquarters of its life operations when the current lease for the building expires in 2010. The plan to purchase the 611,000-square-foot, four-story office building nestled at the foot of Talcott Mountain solidifies a commitment by The Hartford to its Connecticut-based workforce. The purchase price was not disclosed. “Hartford Life has experienced tremendous growth since it planted roots in Simsbury in 1986 and has become a leader in both the life insurance and financial services industries in the process,” said Liz Zlatkus, co-chief operating officer of Hartford Life. “We’ve built an entrepreneurial culture and we want to continue nurturing that culture in Connecticut. When completed, this planned purchase of our Simsbury headquarters will solidify our commitment to the Greater Hartford area and give us a solid foundation to continue growing, both in the U.S. and internationally.” Approximately 3,000 employees work at Hartford Life’s headquarters and another 2,000 employees are located in offices in Windsor and Avon. Recently, construction began on a new campus for Hartford Life in Windsor that will combine several smaller offices in Windsor and augment Hartford Life’s space needs in Simsbury. There are a total of 10,000 Hartford Life employees throughout the United States, Japan, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Since moving to Simsbury from Hartford, Hartford Life has grown from a small, specialty life insurer to the fourth largest life insurance company in the U.S. based on statutory assets reported in 2006. “Hartford Life is a leader, not only in the financial and insurance arenas but as an outstanding corporate neighbor to the Simsbury and Farmington Valley communities,” said Thomas Vincent, Simsbury first selectman. “The Town of Simsbury is extremely pleased to learn that Hartford Life will continue to make Simsbury its home.” Hartford Life is a leading seller of variable annuities, variable universal life insurance, mutual funds, group life and disability insurance, and 401(k) retirement savings plans. In Japan, Hartford Life is the No. 1 seller of variable annuities based on assets under management as of March 31, 2007 (the latest figure available) and is a leading seller of savings, insurance and retirement products in Brazil. Recently, Hartford Life started a retirement products business in the United Kingdom and established its European headquarters and service center in Ireland. The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services companies, with 2006 revenues of $26.5 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com. Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.19153 2007-09-14T10:46:19Z 2007-09-16T10:47:10Z

J.D. Power and Associates announced yest...

www.TrilogyLife.com]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.19152 2007-09-14T10:44:00Z 2007-09-16T10:45:47Z

3% of Homeowners Are Planning on Putting...

3% of Homeowners Are Planning on Putting Their Primary Residence on the Market in the Next Three Months As for Buying a New Primary Residence, Only 2% of Homeowners Plan on Doing So in the Next Three Months International Communications Research (ICR) conducted a study to understand the impact of today’s housing market on homeowners’ ability to pay their mortgage or taxes and to assess plans for selling/buying a new primary residence over the next three months. The following findings are based on a random probability telephone sample of 800 homeowners interviewed between September 6 and September 10, 2007 using ICR’s EXCEL omnibus. The margin of error around this sample of 800 is +/- 3.5% at a 95% level of confidence. Highlights -- Overall, 9% of homeowners surveyed say they are having difficulty paying their mortgage or taxes -- 20% of homeowners with household incomes of under $25,000 report having difficulty paying their mortgage or taxes -- Regionally, 12% of homeowners in the Northeast report having difficulty paying their mortgage or taxes followed by 10% in the North Central Region (South: 9%; West: 6%) -- While only 3% of all homeowners surveyed say the debt they have against their primary home (mortgage and home equity loans) exceeds the value of their home, among homeowners with incomes between $25,000 and $50,000, this percentage is 8%; this finding is four times higher than any other income group -- Based on the survey data, don't expect much activity on the home selling and home buying market over the next three months -- Only 3% of those surveyed plan on putting their house up for sale in the next three months; this percentage is highest in the North Central Region (5%) and lowest in the West (less than 1%); Northeast: 4%; South: 2% -- Only 2% of homeowners surveyed plan on buying a new primary residence in the next three months; regionally, it is 3% in both the South and West and 1% in the Northeast and North Central About ICR’s Excel Omnibus EXCEL is a national, twice-weekly telephone omnibus service designed to meet the standards of quality associated with custom research studies. The EXCEL survey consists of a standard set of introductory and demographic questions supplemented by a changing series of questions on various topics as contracted by participating companies. http://www.icrsurvey.com/Omnibus.aspx About International Communications Research (ICR) International Communications Research (ICR), based in the Philadelphia suburb of Media, PA is a top-ranked and nationally recognized market research organization in the business-to-business and consumer markets. Through its research in the U.S. and globally around the world, ICR provides consulting and research insights to its clients on a wide range of issues including branding, market segmentation, customer and employee satisfaction, loyalty, advertising, public relations, multicultural and ethnic marketing, social science, public policy and many others. For more information, please contact International Communications Research (ICR) at 484-840-4300 or www.icrsurvey.com ]]> tag:finance.sourceofnews.net,2007://29.19151 2007-09-14T10:42:05Z 2007-09-16T10:49:58Z

Real Estate Wealth: Myths, Facts & Strat...

Real Estate Wealth: Myths, Facts & Strategies, hosted by Gary Eldred, Ph.D, and Rick Dryer, debuts September 15. This program presents straight talk about how to invest successfully in property. Unlike the majority of real estate books, tapes, seminars and bootcamps, Gary and Rick’s program exposes the fanciful myths, discusses the facts, and shows the best strategies to build wealth with property while stepping around the pitfalls that await the naïve or uninformed. Among the myths they slay, they rationally rebut the infomercial hypesters who promise “get rich quick” and “no cash, no credit, no problem,” Although today’s news carries frightful tales of decling home values and mortgage foreclosures, Gary and Rick uncover those markets that are running against the headlines as well as other techniques to find profit in this real estate environment. In addition, they explain the long-term benefits of portfolio diversification through property. Close friends, Gary and Rick have worked together on and off for years, and have high praise for one another. “I heard Rick Dryer speaking at a seminar years ago predict areas of growth on both the macro and micro levels, and just as importantly, tagged areas to avoid. His Right Place Right Time Real Estate Investment Strategies principles set forth a sure guide to profitable investing. As just a few of countless examples, three years ago, Rick accurately forecasted the current boom in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and, at the same time, he also explained why he believed the Phoenix and Las Vegas markets were headed for trouble which also proved prescient. I have never known Rick to miss with his predictions.” Rick Dryer returns the compliment. “Gary Eldred’s body of work in regard to real estate investing is unparalleled. He is the one true real estate guru in a sea of wanna bees. He is in a league of his own, and it is a high honor to work with him.” Real Estate Wealth Myths Facts and Strategies airs at 4:00 p.m. Eastern and 1:00 p.m. Pacific on Saturdays beginning September 15 on XM Satellite Radio channel 166. Podcasts of the programs are available for download at http://garyandrick.com. Expertise of the Program Hosts: Gary W. Eldred, PhD, earned his doctorate in finance at the University of Illinois and has been investing in real estate for more then 20 years. He has worked as a real estate consultant for Fortune 500 companies as well as entrepreneurial builders, developers, and investors. Dr. Eldred was selected by Donald Trump to serve as the content expert for Trump University’s mastery program in real estate. He has also served on the graduate business faculties at Stanford University and the University of Virginia. Gary has written 23 books on real estate, financial planning, and risk management. His books, Investing in Real Estate and The Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investing are among the best selling real estate books worldwide. He also wrote Trump University Real Estate 101 (Wiley, 2006). Consultant/developer Rick Dryer created the popular and instructive Right Place Right Time Real Estate Investment Strategies™ seminar that has attracted tens of thousands of people to programs throughout North America including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. His break-through- but simple to understand-- 18 principles cut to the heart of how real estate really grows in value and shows potential real estate investors how to question and evaluate their real estate portfolio choices. Rick, a dynamic and personable speaker, has extensive experience in real estate. He and his companies have been involved in dozens of property developments and hundreds of real estate purchases and sales.