Chris Fox And Chris Herhalt, CP24.com Published Thursday, May 14, 2020 6:00AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, May 14, 2020 5:16PM EDT

Ontarios first phase of its reopening plan involves a full resumption of retail outside of malls, and all construction projects, starting on May 19.

And on Saturday, May 16, golf courses and marinas will be allowed to open to the public.

Physical distancing measures will still be required in all sectors, and retail shops will have to limit the number of customers they allow in at one time, or conduct business by appointment.

The plan also calls for the resumption of some individual, non-team sports such as cycling, golf driving ranges, horse riding, sport shooting clubs, rowing, gymnastics and figure skating.

All public pools in the province will remain closed until further notice.

"Businesses should reopen only if they are ready, and the truth is that this is all dependent on the numbers," Premier Ford said Thursday.

"As we get more and more people back to work, the risk of flare-ups is real so we need to be vigilant."

This Phase of reopening does not involve reopening restaurants under any circumstances, nor does it raise the number of people who can gather in any place beyond five.

We always go by the advice of the (Chief Medical Officer) and the health team keep in mind the vast majority of the economy is still shut down, Ford said.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said hospital admissions to intensive care and intubations are falling, and case growth is on a long-term drop.

A growing number of public health units are contacting 90 per cent of cases within 24 hours as we deploy more resources to support these efforts, Elliott said.

Also, all vehicle dealerships and scientific research laboratories will be allowed to resume operations, provided they respect sector-specific rules about physical distancing.

All scheduled medical diagnostic tests and scheduled medical procedures will also be allowed to resume, provided the facilities meet specific conditions regarding screening for COVID-19.

The media sector, including newspapers, book publishing, interactive digital media, film and television post-production and video game development will also be allowed to get underway.

For municipalities, all libraries will be allowed to conduct business via curbside pickup on May 19.

A whole variety of indoor and outdoor household services can also resume on May 19, including nanny and babysitter services, maids, cooks, cleaners, house painters and maintenance and repair works.

After Stage 1, Stage 2 of the reopening will involve resumption of certain service industries, offices and opening more community spaces.

Ford wouldn't say how long the province would stay on Phase 1 before moving to Phase 2, saying everything would depend on daily COVID-19 test results, which showed the lowest number of new infections in two and a half months on Thursday.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said Thursday that this phase may last two, or three or even four weeks, where they will be watching closely for new cases.

"When we go to Stage One of Phase 2 its for three week period, maybe four weeks we dont know, we want to say have we seen any changes that are concerning in that time period, has there been an uptick or rise in cases identified, have there been localized outbreaks?

When asked about personal care services such as barber shops and hair or nail salons, Ford said they could not reopen yet.

Look at my hair I look like a sheepdog right now, he said, adding everything was contingent on low testing numbers.

Elliott said the province is also asking the public to wear masks or face coverings while out in any circumstance where physically distancing is not possible.

Ford wouldnt say how long Ontario would stay in Phase 1 before moving on to Phase 2.

Theres no timeframe on Stage 2 well take as long as it takes to get the numbers down.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath said she doubted whether Ontario's testing and contact tracing capacity was adequate to begin reopening.

No one wants to see Ontario take one step forward and two steps back. We dont want to see more people getting sick, and freshly re-opened businesses having to close again, because of outbreaks and the solution to that is to test, test, test, and have the capacity to trace every positive case.

She said Ontario has averaged 12,600 tests per day over the past 30 days, lower than the earlier minumum benchmark promised in April.

Todays announcement comes as some Greater Toronto Area mayors express concern about whether the province is ready to reopen.

On Wednesday Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown pleaded with politicians not to pick a date out of thin air for the reopening of the economy and to continue to follow the advice of public health officials.

There may be calls in smaller communities and rural areas to reopen right away; I certainly dont feel that in Brampton or in the GTA, Brown said. Ive been on regular calls with fellow GTA mayors and we all believe that its essential we listen to public health.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie also cautioned against a rush to open things back up on Wednesday, noting that in doing so we would be running the risk of a second wave.

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Phase 1 of Ontario's reopening to allow all construction, most retail, individual sports - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

Rajesh Rengasamy is learning farming from his father-in-law. They grow paddy, coconut and gram on their farm, a four-hour drive from Chennai. He is also a student of folk music. But that's not what his 'profession' is. He is Director of Technology at digital business transformation company Publicis Sapient.

For most, passion and career never meet. That was the case for Rengasamy also until he moved from Bangalore to his hometown in Chennai in 2014. "The two-three hours I save every day on commute is a gift. I can do a lot more work and still have time for things I love." It's evident. Rengasamy has got two promotions in the last five years and has delivered multi-million-dollar projects, all working from home.

Such cases have been far and few in corporate India. While new-age firms always had the option of work from home, most employees did not opt for it. It didn't seem 'normal' unless one had a personal situation to take care of. Often, there were things like being invisible to the boss and being left out.

But, Covid-19 changed all that.

The lockdown forced companies, big and small, old and new, to get their employees to work from home. After a month of experimenting, companies are now using this crisis to see if it can be a long-term operating model. Indias largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has been a bellwether for the trend. In a Q&A after fourth quarter earnings call, TCS announced it is working towards a model called 25/25 where only 25 per cent employees will work from office by 2025. "We don't believe we need more than 25 per cent of our workforce at our facilities to be 100 per cent productive," said N.G. Subramaniam, Chief Operating Officer, TCS. Each employee should spend only 25 per cent of his/her time in office, he added.

Many others are in the wait-and-watch mode. According to Kameshwari Rao, Group Vice-President, People Strategy at Publicis Sapient, many employees are realising it is working for them and asking if they can continue working from home. Mahalakshmi R., Director, Human Resources, Mondelez India, says it is for the first time that the frontline sales team is working from home. The company is now thinking if some order-taking can continue to happen over phones.

A lot of research has been done on where work from home works and where it doesn't. Studies have shown that fewer distractions and reduced commute time lead to more productivity. It is also known to improve employee retention and reduce stress.

But not everyone agrees. According to a recent study by American researcher Judith Olson, remote work is good for solo performances but not where work requires collaboration. Here is what India Inc. is finding out.

No Office Office Anymore?

So, will companies continue the same remote work culture post-Covid? TCS has a clear answer. "We are not going to go back to where we were," said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rajesh Gopinathan during the earnings call.

As firms develop their own frameworks, Mondelez India's Mahalakshmi says one has to keep some ground realities in mind: specifically availability of safe public transport and in the long term the colleagues' personal situation at home, as for some people it could put pressure on their personal life or their socio-economic situation might not be conducive for work from home. Similarly, there are roles that are suited for the work-from-home model, and there are those that aren't. Analytics, core research, data mining and drawing insights lend themselves more to the work-from-home model for a longer period as opposed to roles that require significant coordination, says Amitav Mukherji, Head of Corporate Human Resources, ITC Ltd. "Managerial roles that require influencing opinion, coordination among stakeholders, resolving conflict and inspiring teams require personal interaction, and can be done from home only for a limited time. Even for roles that require frequent meetings with customers or managing a production line or a warehouse, work from home is not an option," he adds.

At the organisational level, remote work is effective for IT services, data analytics, digital marketing, design, transaction processing, auditing and document reviewing. But it may not work for firms in manufacturing, commodities, agriculture, warehousing, facilities and hospitality.

A Cultural Shift

The culture of work from home is in its nascent stage and managers and employees are still learning the ropes. A manager of a due-diligence firm told his team not to leave the room they work in during office hours. One of the team members took it literally and told the CEO how he has been following the instructions. Of course, the manager was reprimanded and the CEO took to task seniors on the remote team management.

No wonder many employees are complaining of longer working hours. Says a senior manager of a stainless steel firm: "Work from home is as much about working as it is about proving that you are working. The latter is an added burden. I would rather work from office."

To make the new model a success, the culture of the organisation has to facilitate remote work. "Mostly its about trust, respect and empathy," says Sohini Dutt, Regional HR Director, South Asia, RB Health. Organisations need to trust that employees will work and employees need to respect the same. Doing household chores does not make employees unprofessional as their personal situation might demand it. "Organisations will need to have these as part of their culture since the line between work hours and personal time at home is very thin," adds Dutt.

To bust the myth around work from home being unproductive, all CXOs, including the CEO, at Mondelez India worked from home once every week even before Covid-19 stuck. "We wanted to bust the taboo around remote work and had to put out a message that people may have different needs, and they should leverage it," says Mahalakshmi.

According to Rao of Publicis Sapient, one of the reasons for the seamless transition to 100 per cent work from home was that the company always hired people who were organised and would not need a big brother to watch over them. "The orientation of the firm is to keep the focus on the impact that is created rather than the effort, and even performance assessment is oriented to growth and learning. It helps build accountability and ownership in people." So, despite working from multiple locations instead of the usual four, there has been a 10-20 per cent increase in productivity at the organisational level, says Rao. One of the reasons is that 90 per cent of employees are software engineers and IT work is location-agnostic.

Also, organisations will need to change the way they look at work. "Work will move away from planning around workforce to planning around outcomes and making it more structured, with scope for more specialists than generalists," says Rajkamal Vempati, HR head, Axis Bank. With more colleagues working remotely, leadership too will have to change, adds Vempati. They will have to learn to inspire and enable people in the new environment. Social interactions foster creativity, sharing of ideas and emotions, so "organisations will have to figure out ways to curate physical and digital human interactions in getting the team to foster team spirit and social capital," she says.

"Firms will also need to do deep thinking around developing frameworks, policy, protocols and reporting guidelines to ensure work is done seamlessly without interruptions," says Saundarya Rajesh, Founder of talent strategy firm Avtar.

The Coming of Age of Technology

A strong technology backbone is needed to enable high-impact work from home. So, when Rengasamy started working from home in 2014, internet connectivity was an issue. But over time, better networks, use of tech platforms, including Skype, for messages and calls, and latest gizmos have improved the situation. Rengasamy now has a high-quality speaker phone, a drawing tablet and a web camera. "The amount I saved on commute was invested in high-end gadgets," he says. But many still believe that technology can never replace the advantages of human interactions. So, what could have been solved in a minute by talking to someone face-to-face in office, often requires a lot more time and effort when everyone is working remotely. But, todays tools such as whiteboard and document sharing allow almost real-life experience of collaboration.

In fact, as TCS moved 90 per cent of its 4,48,000 employees post-lockdown to work remotely, its CEO Gopinathan says they are already "seeing increased levels of productivity in certain instances and an increased level of engagement." This has been possible because of their investments in the past years inSecure Borderless Work Spaces (SBWS)- an operating model that allows TCS associates working from home ensure business continuity with support from minimal associates in offices. Working in a distributed model is not about moving the person out of office and connecting a laptop or a desktop from home. It is much more than that, says Gopinathan. "It is about taking the entire elements of the operating model and being able to deploy that into this kind of an extended environment."

Employees' Experience Key

P.C. Mustafa, Co-Founder of packaged food company iD Fresh Foods, started using Zoom post-lockdown. "I don't feel I am missing out on anything. If I am able to manage idli operations from home, then anybody can do it," he says. Around 20 per cent of his time used to be spent on travel to the four regions the firm operates in. Mustafa now plans to leverage more video-conferencing tools and reduce his travel.

When Shailja Dutt, founder of Delhi-based executive search firm Stellar Search, decided to operate out of Singapore, there were initial hesitations. "I had never left my firm in the care of anyone else and didn't know how much I should depend on whom and for what," says Dutt. But, over the next few months, she saw her colleagues stepping up. "One mistake entrepreneurs make is that they think they are indispensable to the firm. But when I saw the team was working better even when I was not there, I realised the only one who thinks I am indispensable is me."

Working remotely, she says, has helped her become a better leader and mentor. It has allowed her to choose how she wants to invest her time - whether she wants to get new business, or focus on long-term strategy. "A lot of my self-development as a leader has happened in this period because I have a lot more time to read, coach and mentor." It also helped the organisation set up strong systems and processes in place which are automated and do not depend only on her for clearances.

How Companies Benefit

The obvious one is reduced cost on office space and infrastructure. Firms that allow employees in certain functions to work from home can save 15-20 per cent of staff cost (including salary, employee benefits etc), says Sasmita Mohanty, CHRO (South Asia), Bollore International Logistics, a French conglomerate. "It will not be the case that, for the same job role, we will be paying the same salary to those who are working from home and those who are coming to office. There will be a difference because we are giving a comfort level to the person who is not coming to office."

It also helps firms manage risks. "It helps organisations become more resilient, because the fully distributed nature of this model is inherently less risky and better suited for business continuity and agility," says TCS' Gopinathan.

Working from home also allows organisations access a diverse pool of talent, which has a positive impact on revenue and innovation. "As companies get used to the idea of working from home, they will become open to employing gig workers who can contribute from anywhere. Working from home could also help include more women into the workforce," says Anupam Trehan, Director, People & Communities, Cisco India and SAARC.

The geographically spread workplaces can also aid economic growth. For example, if the Indian IT sector, which employs over 4.5 million, was dispersed rather than concentrated in certain hubs, it would not just reduce pressure on city infrastructure, but also lead to more balanced growth in the country. A distributed workforce will make cities more liveable and sustainable, feels Trehan.

One thing is clear though. Work from home is here to stay, in a bigger and longer form.

@sonalkhetarpal7

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How Productive is Work From Home? - Business Today

Each of the Too Hot To Handle contestants experienced personal growth in their own way, but some of them matured more than others on the retreat.

(Some cast members are omitted for lack of presence.)

Related:Too Hot to Handle: Chloe Shares Creepy Messages She Got After Show

Harry came onto the show and immediately fell into a romance with bombshell Francesca Farago. But many have questioned the legitimacy of this romance. To start, Harry and Francesca both displayed no respect for Lana's rules. Both contestants pounced on each other at will. Additionally, Harry displayed chicken-like behavior by throwing his romantic interest under the bus after HE initiated a kiss with her. Despite reports that 'Hancesca' seemed to be going steady post-show, now it appears Harry has resumed his playboy behavior. Reports surfaced that he had a secret girlfriend while he and Francesca had split, and there has been a link to Harry to Madison Wyborny. Accordingly, that romance has also ended amid rumors that Harry couldn't stop flirting with other girls. Needless to say, Harry has yet to learn the art of Lana.

Haley was the first contestant to be kicked offToo Hot Too Handle. That should speak volumes towards her personal development in itself. While on the show, Haley was belligerent to all of the other contestants. Well, everyone aside from friend and sidekick Francesca Farago. Her season tipping point occurred when Haley and Francesca hatched a plan to screw the other contestants over by sharing a steamy kiss. Throughout the show, Haley frankly seemed like she didn't want to be there. But it's understandable considering that she is a recent college graduate. In retrospect, Lana should check in on Haley, maybe in 10 years.

Madison entered the show late in the season and never really grasped what the show was all about. She appeared disinterested during the show's female empowerment classes and frankly scoffed at the show's attempt at rehabilitating the contestants. This culminated in her eventual removal from the show. Since then, she appears to have dated Harry briefly. But who could blame her? The casting of Madison was an unbelievably unorganized effort by the show and to expect her to immediately assimilate was downright asinine. Despite this, in hindsight, Madison is a good candidate for a rehabilitation attempt in season two.

Like Madison, Kori was another newcomer late in the show that didn't seem to assimilate. Originally, he began a romantic fling with Chloe Veitch. But fans soon learned Kori's true nature. While leading Chloe on, Kori's real interest proved to be stealing Francesca Farago from supposed friend Harry Jowsey. After this attempt proved unsuccessful, Chloe ended their relationship emotionally. This culminated in Kori being kicked off the show along with fellow castmate Madison. But much like Madison being cast so late in the show, there was little hope for Kori. Although conversely, he may not be the type of personality that can be rehabilitated.

Francesca was the biggest rule-breaker on the show. She committed multiple infractions between contestants Harry and Haley. Additionally, she also had a close call in the shower with contestant Kelz Dyke. After a spat with Harry, she instead pursued contestant Kelz in an obvious attempt to make Harry jealous. She then screwed the group over intentionally by kissing Haley and manipulated the group by blaming the unknown rule break on Sharron and Rhonda. To make matters worse, she also entertained a dinner date with Kori while supposedly in a meaningful romance with Harry. Despite these facts, Francesca did exhibit some instances of self-control as the show progressed. For example, on her dinner date she made the hard choice to reject Kori flat out. She also helped win cash back for the group in an exclusive challenge that tested Harry and Francesca's ability to not touch each other for one night. Needless to say, despite Francesca's mistakes her progress was evident towards the end.

Related: Too Hot To Handle: Francesca Farago Interview

Chloe Veitch came on the show to not have short term romantic flings and ended up having short term romantic flings. Originally, she engaged in a romance with David Birtwistle, but this ended quickly after Chloe realized what she described as "no spark." Next, Chloe fell for newcomer Bryce Hirschberg. Yet again this relationship ended when Chloe wasn't feeling it. Finally, Chloe met her attractive match, show bad boy Kori Sampson. Unfortunately, this relationship ended harshly with Kori attempting to sidestep Chloe to make a run at Francesca. To make matters worse, Chloe appeared to stop liking each of her romantic interests whenever they began showing interest in her. This is what eventually made her so attracted to Kori. He obviously couldn't care less about her. Evidently, Chloe has some other issues that Lana may be not able to address.

Bryce Hirschberg came onto the show and immediately hit on all of the female contestants. He was then subjected to disbelief when he learned that he couldn't hook up with them. But eventually this didn't seem to bother Bryce much. He fell head over heels for contestant Chloe Veitch and seemed to legitimately want to make something more with her. Sadly, his feelings were not reciprocated. Bryce ended the show as a popular contestant but unfortunately with no romances.

Like Bryce, David was also a victim of Chloe's. Originally, the buff Tom Holland doppelganger entered the show and made a pass at Rhonda Paul. Unfortunately he was outfoxed by stud and good friend Sharron Townsend. He then proceeded to settle in for Chloe and seemed to legitimately have feelings for her. But much like Bryce he was immediately rejected soon afterward. For a little while, David seemed to be floundering mid-season. After Sharron and Rhonda seemed to split, David attempted to make a pass at her again. But shortly after he was confronted by Sharron. Seeing that he was overstepping his bounds David made a mature decision to allow his friend's relationship to flourish. He later ended the show with romantic interest Lydia Clyma. Throughout the show, David proved to fans that he is a genuine guy. Most importantly, David showed he is a loyal friend.

Kelz Dyke happily embraced the moniker of the show's accountant. This meant that Kelz refused to give in to any inhibitions that would end up at the group's expense. This was truly tested during his time spent with Francesca. He refused to kiss Francesca when baited and did not indulge in clear motivations during a naked shower session. Unfortunately, Kelz ended the show with no romantic connection after Francesca played him to make Harry jealous. But it is worth noting that many of the cast members looked upon Kelz as a wise big brother. Being a nice guy that genuinely tried to adhere to the rules despite massive temptation is commendable.

Sharron Townsend entered the show with a protective persona. Sharron tried to play off the role of a womanizer, but fans and contestants eventually figured out this is an emotional shield. During the season, Sharron reveals that his past girlfriend had cheated on him with his best friend. Understandably, this experience emotionally scarred him and consequently, he is hesitant to allow his future romances to grow too deep. Initially having shacked up with Rhonda Paul, Sharron was unable to open up with her. This caused a rift in their relationship. But eventually, Sharron is able to make his way through it. After seeing his friend David pursue Rhonda, he realizes he doesn't want to lose her. This epiphany facilitates him to build a deeper relationship with her. In fact, throughout the season Rhonda and Sharron both displayed the most meaningful relationship on the show. Despite committing some severe infractions that ended up costing the group Sharron also vastly progressed emotionally. But most importantly, Sharron's transformation espoused exactly the type of rehabilitation expected by Lana.

Rhonda Paul entered the show arguably the most mature contestant. In her initial interview, unlike other contestants who had made raunchy, cringe-worthy statements, Rhonda instead talked about her personal female empowerment. Throughout the show, she legitimately seemed to work on building a meaningful romantic bond. Rhonda acted as a rock for love interest Sharron. She listened to him and never once reacted emotionally. Rhonda handled every issue in their relationship with reason, poise and maturity. These factors enabled Rhonda to progress the most during the show. She frankly had the most maturity to do so. And at certain points, Lana was rewarding.

Next:Too Hot To Handle: Aussie Harry Jowsey Won A Dating Show In 2018

KUWTK: How the Kardashian/Jenner Moms Celebrated Mother's Day

Walter Aye is a freelancer based in Bangkok, Thailand where he currently studies Financial Mathematics and holds a TEFL English teaching certification. He is an avid film buff touting directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese. Additionally, Walter has experience as a Taekwondo black belt and instructor in Tampa, Florida under Master Garry Wayne Dyals.

Originally posted here:
Too Hot to Handle: Contestants Who Showed the Most Personal Growth, Ranked - Screen Rant

SINCE making United Soccer League's Championship outfit Rio Grande Valley Football Club his new home, Deshane Beckford says he has become more focused on the game and is hoping things will continue to progress steadily in his budding career.

Beckford joined the Toros' roster on loan from Red Stripe Premier League club Montego Bay United late last year and has since made a name for himself with some tidy performances in the Texas-based team.

Despite scoring only once in nine appearances so far, the Jamaican midfielder who missed out on any real playing time with the Toros last season believes things have been looking up of late, and as such is excited about the prospects to come whenever action resumes.

The 2020 USL Championship season, which kicked off on March 6, was later suspended due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Beckford was a 58th-minute substitute for the five-year-old club in a 1-5 loss to LA Galaxy II in their season opener at H.E.B Park.

My transition to Toros was a smooth one; it took me to another level of professionalism and advanced my mindset as a football player. Life in Texas has been easy-going and there are not many distractions, so I have more time to focus on football, Beckford told the Jamaica Observer from Edinburgh yesterday.

I came at the ending of last season and I'm here for the entire 2020 season which is good for me and, like I said, things have been good so far because my team really enjoys Jamaican culture and music. So I feel at home and I have grown a lot and I am just trying to keep working hard every day, he added.

Given his no-nonsense attitude both on and off the field, Beckford refuses to let the uncertainty around the league's resumption be an excuse for not getting work done, and has been using the break from competitive action to do some personal development.

The coronavirus situation was unexpected but I am using the time to better myself as a player. I have been doing personal training everyday because my aim is to stay in good shape and maintain a high level of fitness during lockdown so that I will be ready and raring to go when things get back to normal, he noted.

Beckford, 22, is a dynamic, lightweight, technical attacking midfielder who possesses a stubborn determination, and so it comes as no surprise that he wants to soar higher in his career for both club and country.

The former Rusea's High School stalwart who has so far represented Jamaica at the Under-17 and Under-23 levels, said he would welcome the opportunity to ply his trade for the Theodore Whitmore-coached senior Reggae Boyz team, if called upon to do so.

During his Pan American Games outing with the Under-23 Reggae Boyz in Lima, Peru, last year, Beckford got on the scoresheet three times but was unable to repeat the feat in a 9-0 hammering against Japan with an Under-22 team at year end.

Still, Beckford maintains that the experience has aided his growth and development as he continues to hone his craft.

Every experience on the field shapes you as a football player, whether your team wins or loses; you always feel like there is room for improvement, both individually and as a team.

So for me personally, I am continuously aiming to work extremely hard to ensure that I perform at a top level and produce the goods if and when I am called upon. So my goal is to have a great season for Toros and most of all, help the team to qualify for play-offs and then see where things go from there, Beckford reasoned.

That said, the fleet-footed player of a shy nature shared his views on the Reggae Boyz' chances of qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup Finals in Qatar.

The process is going good so far and they know what is at stake, so they have to just continue to trust the process and continue to grow as a team. Once they do that and get all the necessary support, then their chances will be as good as any other team, Beckford ended.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

Originally posted here:
'I have more time to focus on football' - Jamaica Observer

Grae Gosnell has been hanging around the Wando volleyball program since elementary school.

Warriors coach Alexis Glover first noticed her wild, flowing hair. It fit her personality. She was small then but already fierce. Energy flowed from her, even at a young age. She came from a strong pedigree with two older sisters whod matriculated through the Warriors program.

If they could just harness that spirit, Glover thought, the youngest Gosnell might be the best yet.

She knew before she even joined our program that the expectations around here are very high, Glover said. And especially for her, having been around us so much. She knew what was expected of her and she lived up to it.

Wandos Grae Gosnell is The Post and Couriers high school volleyball player of the year.

Gosnell has been selected as the 2020 Best of Prep Sports Volleyball Player of the Year, an honor presented by the Moultrie News and the Charleston Gaillard Center.

The Indiana signee logged nearly 1,400 kills in her four-year varsity career. Wando went 182-26-2, winning 87% of its games along with three Lower State championships over that span.

Gosnell finished her senior season ranked second among all S.C. High School League players in total kills. She was named all-state, the most valuable player of the North-South all-star game and received all-American honors from multiple publications this fall.

She was so competitive. Checkers, a relay race, three-on-three, it didnt matter. She wanted to win, Glover said. Shes worked so hard. When she got here, she wanted to kill the ball every time. Kill it, kill it, kill it. Now she has different tools in her arsenal that have taken her from a very good player to an outstanding player.

The Moultrie News established the Best of Prep Sports Awards two years ago as a way to further celebrate the top athletes of East Cooper and its surrounding areas.

The current health crisis and social distancing concerns have forced the paper to change how it presented this years honorees. There will not be an event, no dinner party, no emcees and guest speakers as in years passed.

Instead, with the help of the Gaillard, each winner will be featured in the paper with their own question-and-answer exit interview. Each athlete has been given seven questions and the freedom to express their thoughts and reflect on their seasons as they see fit.

Our staff, fellow media and area coaches have selected one athlete from each of the 12 sports that were completed this school year to be featured.Athletes from Academic Magnet, Ashley Hall, Bishop England, First Baptist, Oceanside, Palmetto Christian, Philip Simmons, Porter-Gaud and Wando were all considered.

Interviews have been edited for clarity.

Wando senior Grae Gosnell has signed with Indiana.

A. High school sports have been very valuable to me and my personal development because they have taught me a bunch of different life skills like teamwork, cooperation, passion and so much more. It has taught me how to flourish with those I get along well with and cooperate with those that I might not. They taught me to be respectful and considerate, and how to trust teammates as if they were my family. Ive learned to fight through adversity like injuries and losses, and found a way to keep my head up when things dont go my way. They have taught me how to work well in groups but also how to be responsible and independent. I believe high school sports are valuable to the communitys youth because they teach kids the things that classroom curriculums can not.

A. There are definitely many great lessons that I have come across throughout the years, but one of the greatest things that I have learned was that if you try your hardest, it doesnt matter if you win or lose, just be proud of the work and effort youve given and be grateful for the opportunity to play.

A. I think the strongest attributing factor to my success as a high school athlete was the fact that I have wanted to play professional and college volleyball since I was little. I have wanted to play against the best of the best and I knew that I would have to push myself if I wanted to be considered one of them. I have believed in perseverance and persistence, everything else can be taught.

A. The toughest challenge of my high school career was the adversity of injuries. Sitting out and not having any opportunity to get in to play is never fun. On the bright side, youre able to see a whole new perspective of the game by watching, that you cant see when youre playing.

A. My favorite memories from my high school athletic career were probably the home games. Away games are fun but when you are home and your friends and family come to see you play there is a different kind of motivation and it makes you play for them. There is no one you want to make proud more than your friends and family, so seeing their faces while playing such an amazing sport is absolutely the best combination.

A. If I could replay any moment of my high school career it would be my sophomore year at the state finals when the other team had game point. I looked at the crowd to my family and I saw every single one of them cheering me on and believing in me regardless of if I won or lost. In that moment I realized that I should be proud of me and my teammates, no matter the outcome. We had worked ourselves so hard and pushed ourselves to the limit. That feeling of love and support during that critical time, was one of the best feelings I have ever felt.

A. The advice that I would give to the youth would simply be to believe in yourself. Dont let others tell you what you can and can not achieve, only you can determine that. You dont always have to be better than someone else, you just have to be better than the you you were yesterday. Be extraordinary and thankful for every day.

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Wando's Gosnell named Best of Prep Sports Volleyball Player of the Year - Charleston Post Courier

Brennan Rose, Opinions Writer May 12, 2020

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I have always been someone who has gone through life with a mindset of being true to myself. As clich as that may sound, in a school as big and diverse as RM, living with that perspective was not at all difficult, in fact it was actually encouraged. As I reflect on four years at RM, I think of my growth, personal development, and ultimately feeling perfectly comfortable in my own skin.

I came from an extremely small private school with only nine people in my 8th grade class. Since Kindergarten, my classes were never bigger than twenty students. RM was the first time I rode on a school bus or had options for so many extracurricular activities. It was a new world and I was quite intimidated by the change. However, I realized that no matter what I liked or whatever my interests were, there would always be people who cared about me and shared my hobbies.

I met some incredible friends, had my first experience with the concept of love, and even tried some brand new activities. I joined the Archaeology Club after a childhood obsession with dinosaurs and rose the ranks to become the club president in my junior year. I joined the RM Drama Club and was a proud member of the Lighting crew and eventually, a cast member in multiple roles and a lead role in Lend Me a Tenor. I even tried my hand at business by competing in the DECA States Competition where I ended up winning second place and qualifying for the International Competition.

Throughout my time in high school, I dabbled in many different things and tried activities that I didnt even know existed. I have truly loved every part of my high school experience. I have made mistakes, as we all do and I do regret a couple of past actions as an inexperienced freshman, but I have made those mistakes part of me. They define who I am and I know they will aid me in the future.

I dont try to push away any part of my personality or try to act a certain way, I simply act as myself and let my true colors shine through. Its important to fail; people need to know how theyre wrong to get better. You need people to tell you that youre wrong and people to cry on and people who you can always rely on. Most importantly, you need to find friends who appreciate you for everything you are and I would never trade mine for anything. If I had one piece of advice for freshmen or any other person struggling through the rough halls of high school it would be this: dont ever be afraid of yourself or the judgment of others. Act as you wish and I promise you, people will love you for it. As I move on in life, its the most important lesson Ive ever learned.

About the Writer

Brennan Rose, Opinions Writer, TidePod Contributor

Brennan Rose is a senior at RM as a writer for the Tide as well as a staff member of the TidePod with his interest being politics and domestic, foreign...

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Senior Reflections: Brennan Rose The Tide - The Tide

I used to put a million things on my to-do list. As you can guess, most of the tasks on the list never got done because it was simply unrealistic. I'd wake up at the same time as my toddler, give him a bowl of fruit, and whip out my laptop so I could get to work. By 1 p.m., I was lackadaisical and disappointed at my lack of productivity.

That is until I realised I was doing my to-do list all wrong. Why? Because self-care was never anywhere on the list. When weighing which tasks took priority for the day, giving myself a scented bubble bath just didn't seem as important as meeting a stringent work deadline. Until I had an epiphany and realised self-care should take priority over every other task. I won't pretend this is a groundbreaking conclusion I came to on my own. Multiple self-care focussed therapy sessions and a book titled High-Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard helped me change my life.

So, what does my to-do-list look like now? Instead of one long blurb of endless tasks, I take a unique approach. I break my list into four sections: self-care, work, family, and personal development. I also limit the number of tasks I can include in each section to two. This way, I'm setting realistic expectations, giving myself ample time to complete each task, and eliminating unnecessary pressure. It also helps me curb feelings of underachievement and guilt that creep in when I set unrealistic goals and don't meet them.

By including self-care on my list, I'm forced to consider my own needs. What will give me the physical energy I need to get through the day? How can I boost my focus and resilience? How can I raise my emotional frequency? What will give me the patience I need to balance parenting and working simultaneously? Ultimately, this approach forced me to explore what self-care means to me and what I'm doing when I feel at my best. I concluded healthy meals, physical activity, scented candles, and doing nothing for an hour a day were some of the best forms of self-care for me. That said, I don't advise blindly copying self-care ideas from other people. Remember your needs aren't the same as everyone else's, so it will take some reflection to find what works for you.

Over time, I've built a self-care routine that I stick to during the week. On the weekends, I'm spontaneous as I have more free time and flexibility. From Monday to Friday, my self-care tasks include:

This holistic approach to self-care ensures I get a mental, physical, and emotional boost before I start my day. It also means I'm setting the tone of my day and not leaving it to circumstance.

You might wonder if it's possible to do all of this with so many tasks to get through each day. Well, I once thought the same thing. But when I realised days devoid of self-care were less productive, unfulfilling, and stressful, I made time for it. Also, completing this list doesn't take me more than an hour. I do a 30-minute workout and then dedicate the other 30 minutes to reading a few pages of a book, meditating, journaling, and setting my intentions for the day. In terms of rest, I take a break during the late afternoon when I need it most.

Because I'm human, I leave room for imperfection and also allow flexibility. Sometimes I might do shorter workouts or journaling doesn't get done and that's OK, too. On those days, I do what I can, but I avoid skipping the entire list. That's all any of us can do.

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I Started Adding Self-Care Items to My To-Do List, and It Changed My Life - POPSUGAR United Kingdom

Offers a Free Front-Row Seat to a Live, Interactive Series Event Unlike Any Other

LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeWave, Inc., a leading health and wellness company with distribution in almost 100 countries, in partnership with cmi, a global meeting industry leader, has kicked off a dynamic virtual experience that's a network marketing first. It's calledLifeWave EMPOWER! -- an eight-week personal development series featuring aworld-class lineup of keynote speakerswho inform, entertain, and motivate their audience to higher levels during these times of uncertainty.

"We've committed to offering something completely different to our distributors," said Jim Caldwell, VP of Marketing for LifeWave. "Since we've had to cancel all of our live events due to COVID-19, we wanted to match that energy and interaction through a virtual Zoom experience, pulling out all the stops in how these amazing speakers present their empowering information."

This virtual event is anything but a typical Zoom meeting or webinar. Hosted by Phil M. Jones, international speaker and author of the best-selling book, Exactly What to Say, the series uses music, live interaction, and mystery guests to keep the flow exciting and unexpected. It's structured so that each upcoming speaker will be "revealed" during the preceding webinar, keeping the element of surprise building for each webcast and the anticipation level high. It is designed to gain momentum along the way and rise to a crescendo by the end of the eight-week series.

As Phil Jones put it, "Knowing so many people are locked down in their homes and struggling to feel the human connection, it's a privilege to be able to use technology to keep communities together, help make new friends and allow people to use their time at home for extensive personal growth!"

According to Karen Harris, CEO of cmi, "Just because it's virtual doesn't mean it has to be boring or lacking in energy. We're offering speakers who use music, multiple cameras and angles and a little bit of magic to bring their presentations to a new level for these unprecedented times. These speakers will leave the participants energized, uplifted, and inspired to be not only better at what they do, but also better for each other and better for the world."

These webcasts give network marketers the skills they need to drive confidence, overcome fear, and increase resilience to take their business to a new level.The content includes a broad range of powerful personal and business development training on topics such as:

Attendees watch, listen, and learn from the comfort of their own home. They also get a chance to interact with presenters, ask questions, and even come on as live guests. Here are just a few of the types of comments from attendees who left messages in the chatbox:

The LifeWave EMPOWER! Series runs Wednesdays at 6 pmPacific time until June 24, 2020.

About LifeWave

LifeWave is a network marketing company offering proprietary, wearable patch technology. Their health and wellness products tap into the body's natural energy and resiliency using light to, among other things, activate stem cells. Founded by CEO and Inventor David Schmidt in 2004, LifeWave has thousands of distributors worldwide and holds more than 90 issued patents for its innovative products. LifeWave has been on Inc. Magazine's list of fastest-growing companies multiple times.

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About cmi

cmi is a global meeting industry leaderrepresenting an international roster of speakers who positively impact millions of people through keynote speeches, training, books and thought leadership. Founded by Karen Harris in 2001, cmi's mission is to connect audiences with thought leaders who affect positive change, move people to next-level results and empower organizations to grow in new and extraordinary ways.

Information contacts: Jim Caldwell, LifeWave, jcaldwell@lifewave.com, http://www.LifeWave.com Karen Harris, cmi, 1-403-398-8488, karen@cmispeakers.com, http://www.cmispeakers.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lifewave-presents-the-ultimate-virtual-experience-to-affiliates-worldwide-in-response-to-covid-19-301056964.html

SOURCE LifeWave

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LifeWave Presents the Ultimate Virtual Experience to Affiliates Worldwide in Response to COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance

The Sulphur Springs Public Library is open! We are so happy to be assisting the public again. Please stop by, say Hello and get re-acquainted with your library. The hours for May are Monday through Friday 10-6. We will add our Thursday evening and Saturday morning hours in June.

Children 0-13 -We have a great Summer Reading Program plannedonline! It may take a little getting used to, but please give it a try. Friend us on Facebook for announcements, download the ReadSquared app and register for the Sulphur Springs Public Library in Texas! It takes the place of the paper reading log by keeping track of your reading minutes. There are also fun Missions to complete for extra minutes. If you do not have online access, do not worry, we still have paper reading logs. The prizes range from bookmarks, books, brag tags, coupons, backpacks, virtual teddy bear workshop and final drawings for Family/Party packs at local restaurants and activities. Summer Reading has started early this year and we want to see you get started!

Teens 13+ SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. SYNC gives participants two thematically paired young adult/teen themed audiobooks a week. The purpose is to introduce a variety of audiobook experiences to teens. You can register for SYNC at http://www.audiobooksync.com. There will be two featured titles each week through July. The titles, once loaded into the app, are yours indefinitely. The two featured titles this week (May 7-13) are: Picture us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert and Secret Soldiers by Paul B. Janeczko.

Adults New titles are here and available for checkout!

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Close Up by Amanda Quick

The Farm Stand by Amy Clipston

Find Me by Laura Van Den Burg

Hello Summer by Mary Kay Andrews

The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer

Paladin by David Ignatius

Pelosi by Molly Ball

Grudge Match (Robert B. Parker) by Mike Lupica

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige

Unyielding Hope by Janette Oke

20th Victim (Womens Murder Club) by James Patterson

Reading makes you sexy. Best-selling author Jordan Gray agrees that knowledge and personal development absolutely make you more attractive to the opposite sex. If you have ever been wondering what to say to be more interesting on a first date, or feel lost in your current relationship on what to talk about, grab some books, start a discussion, and share some insights. When you start reading more, your partner will start reading more, and you will both become more interesting. Go get more interesting! Joe Girard Sulphur Springs Public Library, 611 North Davis, 903-885-4926, http://www.sslibrary.org

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From the Director's Notebook The Sulphur Springs Public Library is Open - KSST

When it comes to planning for a healthy financial future for themselves and their family, many people feel overwhelmed and dont know where to start. Thats why they turn to financial advisors for assistance. With training, education, certification and experience, a financial advisor can help clients develop a plan and the necessary steps to get there, to ensure financial security and peace of mind.

A financial advisor helps clients reach their personal financial goals. This can often entail a lifelong relationship and long-term planning. A financial advisor can explain to their clients strategies around investments and risk management, retirement and estate planning, taxes and insurance, and more and how all these factors affect their clients ability to save and grow their money.

When pursuing your Bachelor of Science in Finance, think about if youre interested in going into a personal financial advisor role in your future career. If so, it is highly advantageous to add a concentration in financial planning to your education.

In addition to learning about investments (using trade-simulation software), securities, insurance, pension plans, real estate and more financial topics, the concentration in Financial Planning component will prepare you to sit for the CFP exam an important and respected industry certification.

Using Case Studies

Youll learn the nuts and bolts of being a financial planner and how to best advise your clients. This knowledge will be solidified via your work with case studies. A finance education will offer a capstone project of a complex case study, where the student will turn it into a financial plan and be able to present it clearly and concisely, said Gary Simmerman, CFP professional and finance adjunct faculty at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). You need to not just develop it, but be able to communicate it to laypeople. Sitting for the CFP exam will be contingent on that case study project. Its critically important.

Case studies are where you will hone your communication skills. After creating your comprehensive financial plan, your work on a case study touches on each topic and teaches presentation skills; communication is important, said Craig Allen, CFP professional and finance adjunct faculty at SNHU. Yes, you need to be able to build a portfolio and analyze it. But you also need to know how to condense and present that information, which is an art in itself. So we not only teach analysis, but also how to be able to communicate and heighten client comprehension for making their decisions.

In a program with a concentration in Financial Planning, youll learn investment planning, insurance, retirement and estate planning, and budgeting, said William Alan McKnight, CFP professional and finance adjunct faculty at SNHU. (It) is very project-based, where students work through a particular client profile. They learn not just the fundamentals of how, but also how to have the conversations on the potential problems or issues that a client will face. The (program) gives you an opportunity to practice on client profiles while learning the fundamentals.

Some concentrations in Financial Planning prepare you to sit for the defining industry credential at the CFP, or Certified Financial Planner, exam. Not every job in finance needs or requires it, but for those pursuing a career specifically in personal financial planning, accomplishing the CFP certification will set you apart.

According to the CFP Board website, the CFP certification examination is a key requirement for achieving CFP certification. By passing the exam, you demonstrate that you've attained the knowledge and competency necessary to provide comprehensive personal financial planning advice to your clients.

In order to sit for the CFP exam, you have to take specific coursework to qualify. Those with existing related degrees would need to add this additional education; if you can obtain it while youre getting your degree, you will save time. If you have an accounting degree, for example, before you sit for the CFP test, youd have to go online and take a variety of additional coursework, Allen said. The benefit to taking that concentration at SNHU is youre prepared to sit for the test and youve met the qualifications to sit for it concurrent to obtaining your bachelors degree.

These requirements help to reassure potential clients that the financial planner has the knowledge to help them reach their financial goals and understands how to advise (them) ethically, Regis said.

There are currently only 13 online programs that are recognized by the CFP Board, SNHU being the only one in New Hampshire. Its no small feat to be an accepted university worthy of preparing people for the CFP exam, said Marli Erickson, CFP professional and finance adjunct faculty at SNHU.

Your career as a financial advisor will be jump-started with this added certification as part of your CV.

This honed focus e.g., a finance degree versus a concentration in financial planning its not a common college program, said Brendan Mann, CFP professional and finance adjunct faculty at SNHU. Youll get a leg up on other graduates with this curriculum, and youll be well ahead touting this rare commodity and opportunity to specialize. SNHU is one of the rare universities that offers it online.

If you decide to become a personal financial planner, you can take your career from financial advisor to a more elite level. Being a CFP practitioner will increase your reputation within the industry, and with potential clients. The CFP certification definitely helps you gain knowledge and prestige, which is valuable for financial planners and also CPAs. It's really a great credential, Allen said.

CFP practitioners can be proud to hold out this certification. It shows I have a fiduciary responsibility that supersedes my own (interests and benefit), Erickson said. I want to be seen as the gold standard of financial planning.

The strong code of conduct and standards of practice have a stringent set of rules that do not necessarily bind a financial advisor who is not a CFP practitioner. The CFP code of ethics resonates with the public as a higher quality fiduciary duty, putting the client first, Allen said.

At its core, a career as a personal financial planner hinges significantly on the development and tending of long-term client relationships. Therefore, its important to your success and job satisfaction that you are the type of person who enjoys this level of interpersonal communication.

Three skills that can help you as a financial planner include:

Here's how financial planners can use those skills.

Caring: Each word in personal financial planning is just as important as the other. In contemplating the first, however, you should consider if you would enjoy developing close relationships with clients which may last decades. Financial advisors can almost feel like part of their clients family.

A big part of (this job) is the relationships formed over time with clientele, Allen said. Ive had some clients for more than a decade. Consider all the changes in your own life in the last five, 10 years. If youre working with a client on an ongoing basis, you experience those changes with them. A very real aspect of this business is the personal component. You need to understand their needs and objectives.

A career in personal financial planning is a blend of left and right brain modalities. The technical knowledge and aspects you utilize are tempered with the more creative and emotional facets of the job. You have to have the mind of a capitalist, and the heart of a social worker, Mann said.

Financial changes good and bad, big and small can have a huge emotional impact on your clients. They will need to know you care about them and their future. I would stress the importance of empathy in this career, Simmerman said. You will need to look at a situation and synthesize multiple concepts to create solutions specific to your clients needs. Youll need to be someone who genuinely wants to help people achieve their financial goals.

Listening: A large part of being a financial advisor is knowing when to stop and listen. Each client has their own journey, and building trust with them will come from their belief that you are listening to their goals, their fears, and the evolution of their family.

My passion is listening to people's stories, Erickson said. How did they get to where theyre at, why they sought me out as a CFP practitioner, and (using that to determine) what can I do for them. You have to consider yourself to be a service-minded person.

Communicating: In addition to the various technical and analytical aspects related to education and training for this career, the so-called soft skills are also necessary as a financial planner. The ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to layperson clients, concisely and clearly, are key to success and long-term relationships.

Strong presentation skills are always valuable, but in the world of financial planning, its vital to effectively advising clients in a changing world. With many people depending on the stock market to grow their 401ks, market volatility can trigger some to make rash decisions. Its the job of the financial advisor to warn against making monetary strategy changes based on emotions.

A good advisor is going to empathize with the situation the client is in, and then help them take the emotion out of their decision, Simmerman said. What is their risk tolerance, their financial situation? That has to be part of the assessment when youre making recommendations to clients. Tact and clarity of communication are top tools a good advisor will have at the ready.

The career outlook for financial planning is very good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 7 percent by 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for personal financial advisors was $87,850 in May 2019.

The CFP Board website suggests some positions that would benefit from having the CFP certification:

The most successful advisors in the industry are the people strongest in interpersonal skills, who enjoy teaching, who like fostering the personal long-term relationships, and who have concern for the client, Mann said. You also need to have a certain intellectual level CFP certification is challenging. Youll need aptitude and interest in analysis as well as the ability to interact with families and balance the interpersonal and analytical sides.

If you like the idea of financial planning but are not as interested in the interpersonal component, there are other opportunities that are not client-facing. There are financial planning jobs that would benefit from your CFP education (that are) not necessarily engaging with clients, Simmerman said. There are positions where youre not personally involved with the clients, but are in a support role more behind the scenes, developing investment solutions. Youd benefit with the finance degree and CFP certification, he said.

You could work for a firm that builds model portfolios that they offer to clients. Roles that arent personal financial planners could include duties of examining various types of clients (risk tolerance, goals, etc.), and creating sample portfolios based on those personas; or creating personalized options specific to one particular client, that a personal financial planner would then present.

Support roles could include:

In those types of supporting and related positions, that experience can also count toward your hours requirements for getting to use that CFP mark, Simmerman said.

Baby boomers are driving the need for more personal financial planners in two ways. First, theyre hitting retirement age right now, and are paying rapt attention to their financial needs and upcoming transition. Also, many CFP certificants are themselves boomers. The CFP certification began in 1972, when I graduated high school, Erickson said, so those people are also aging out of their financial planning jobs.

BLS corroborates this: As the population ages and life expectancies rise, demand for financial planning services should increase.

Times have changed from when our parents finances took up only a folder or a drawer. Financial planning has evolved so much that the business of being a family requires its own (office in the home), Erickson said.

With that new expanded consideration, personal financial planners are now needed more than ever, to help navigate the way. Its OK for people not to fully understand everything they need; its too vast, Erickson said. You need a financial planner who knows the complexities of your needs and investments and retirements. Its too much for a layperson to know it all.

Employers and clients alike will respect the level of hard work and dedication to your craft that is demonstrated by obtaining your CFP certification. I dont know a person with a CFP certification who doesnt love it, who isnt passionate in what they do, Erickson said. Its quite an emotional commitment. (Were) experts. We have on-the-job experience and education. We want to share our knowledge to help people achieve financial success.

Kathleen Palmer is an award-winning journalist and writer.

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What Does a Financial Advisor Do? - Southern New Hampshire University