The personal flying vehicle can be no larger than 8.5 feet and has to be capable of carrying a payload of 200 pounds.

Courtesy of Moble Benedict

A team in the Texas A&M University Department of Aerospace Engineering worked over the past two years to make personal flying vehicles a reality as part of the GoFly Prize competition sponsored by Boeing.

The GoFly Prize, a two-year, $2-million international competition to create a personal flying device, launched in September 2017 and had almost 3,000 innovators across 110 countries compete in Phase I. The challenge was to create a device that can be flown by anyone, regardless of experience, 20 miles without refueling or recharging with vertical, or near vertical, takeoff and landing capability.

Under Moble Benedict, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, a team of eight Texas A&M aerospace engineering graduate students and two researchers from NASA created Harmony. As outlined in their written report, Harmony is a compact rotorcraft designed to minimize noise and maximize efficiency, safety, reliability and flight experience. As part of Phase I, the team built a 1/8 scale prototype to demonstrate their vehicle design. They were awarded $20,000 as one of the 10 winning teams in Phase I and went on to build a prototype, named Aria, to win the $50,000 prize for Phase II. The Texas A&M team was the only United States university team out of the five Phase II winners.

Winning both Phases I and II of the GoFly Prize, especially with such fierce competition, brought a lot of excitement and confidence to the team, Benedict said.

Phase II involved hundreds of hours of lab testing to successfully verify their full-scale aerodynamic and acoustic predictions.

Although the hours have been long and exhausting, Im very excited about GoFly, said team member Farid Saemi. I would not have enjoyed such a hands-on opportunity to develop a new field of aviation even if I had gone straight to industry as a recent graduate.

Team members Farid Saemi, Hunter Denton, Carl Runco, David Coleman and Moble Benedict.

Courtesy of Moble Benedict

Throughout the process, the team worked to address practical issues like the size of the personal flying vehicle and the high noise levels generated. The vehicle had to be less than 8.5 feet something that can fit in a garage and take off almost vertically.

Helicopter rotors are very big because of the trade-off between efficiency vs. compactness of a rotor, Benedict said. We have carefully chosen a configuration that can give you very high efficiency for the given footprint.

To address the noise, the team shaped the blades to minimize the rotor noise as much as possible. At 73 decibels 50 feet in the air (the equivalent of highway noise in a car), Aria was also the quietest prototype at the competition and is also believed to be the quietest rotorcraft in the world at this size scale.

The final personal flying vehicle had to be capable of carrying a payload of 200 pounds and travel at a speed of at least 30 knots. Because the teams vehicle crashed during a flight test 10 days prior to competition, they were only able to fly their one-third scale prototype for Phase III in February 2020. However, Harmony was one of the four teams that could fly at any scale during the final fly-off.

Since none of the competing teams could meet the GoFly requirements in the final fly off, the competition still remains open. Benedict and his team at Texas A&M intend to continue competing for the $1 million grand prize provided they can obtain university support to build the next prototype. Based on the new GoFly rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the flight capabilities of their new prototype could be demonstrated at the RELLIS Campus.

Benedict is confident that had the team flown the full-scale model, they would have won the competition; he intends to compete in the next GoFly phase with a stronger and more innovative prototype. Theyre currently analyzing what theyve learned from the GoFly competition to improve their design in the next competition. Since its Phase II success, the team has also built and successfully tested both the one-third scale prototype (22 pounds) and the full-scale prototype (550 pounds).

The visibility and success the team has had from the GoFly challenge has put Texas A&M on the map for eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aviation, Benedict said. This also paved the way for two research grants we recently obtained, one from the Army Research Lab on hybrid-electric aviation the other from Air Forces Agility Prime Program to develop quiet propulsors for eVTOL aircraft.

Texas A&M team members include David Coleman, Farid Saemi, Carl Runco, Atanu Halder, Bochan Lee, Hunter Denton, Vishaal Subramanian and Benedict. More information on Benedicts researchcan be found at his website.

Read more here:
Texas A&M Team Competes In Final Phase Of GoFly Challenge - Texas A&M University Today

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It is said that the Americans who stormed the beaches of Normandy and saved the world from the ultimate evil are members of the Greatest Generation. I believe the name can also apply to the many people who lived through World War II in Europe and moved to the United States to create a new life. Those immigrants typically came with no family, having lost many during the war, minimal understanding of English, and nothing but the clothes on their back.

My grandfather, Sam Blumenfeld, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 98, was part of this latter group. He came to New York City in 1947 after experiencing the atrocities of the Holocaust and seeing many friends and family members murdered at the hands of the Nazis. He didnt complete his schooling or master any trade since the war interrupted his studies. Yet, in the United States he managed to have a family, start a small business, become an active member of his community, and enjoy a more than 30-year retirement.

He was also my first client when entering the wealth management industry after college. Little did he know that he taught me much more about investing and retirement planning than the training program at a major Wall Street bank early in my career. The money lessons I learned from him were based on nearly a century of experiences. Below are just a few personal finance tips I learned from my grandfather over the course of our professional relationship.

1.Purpose oriented investing: Many folks start investing without clear goals. Sometimes they get into the stock market for a little excitement or because it seems like the responsible thing to do. My grandfather invested with the direct purpose of meeting his cash flow needs and leaving an inheritance for his family. This laser focused approach was helpful in tuning out noise. He never bought in to the latest investment fad and he didnt trade frequently trying to outpace an arbitrary index or his friends alleged performance. He didnt get caught up on relative performance since his sole benchmark for success was his ability to achieve his own objectives. That is why he was able to retire on a modest sum of money that managed to support his lifestyle for over three decades in retirement.

My grandfather was also clearly ahead of his time, implementing a values-based approach to investing before it was popular. He refused to invest in certain European stocks because of his experiences during the war. Proper portfolio diversification is necessary to achieve better risk adjusted returns, but performance became secondary as he would not violate his personal beliefs. The same concept is popular today with the focus on environmental, social, and governance related issues, as well as religious or values-based investing.

2.Money is a tool, not a scorecard: My grandfather once told me Ive been fortunate that I never had to worry about money. If I needed something, I bought it. If I wanted to go on vacation, I went. If family needed money, I was able to give it to them. Since he was objectively not a rich man, his musing recalled the phrase from Pirkei Avot, a compilation of Jewish ethical teachings, which states Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot. In short, he lived within his means and was very satisfied with what he had.

Most of my grandfathers happiness was derived from being able to spend time with his family. I remember, even as a young boy, my grandparents came to visit every Wednesday after school. They played with me and my brothers, joined us for dinner, and then went home. Later in life, when I began my professional career, I asked him why he would take off from work every Wednesday afternoon to visit. It meant closing his store early and, undoubtedly, cost him revenue. His response was just two words: Why not?

For some people, money serves as a scorecard where the more you accumulate, the better off you are. For my grandfather, money allowed him to pay his bills and gave him the flexibility to spend time on the things he enjoyed most. If money isnt a concern in your life and you can spend your time as you want, that is the ultimate blessing.

3.The power of optimism: The 2008-2009 Great Financial Crisis was one of the best learning experiences of my career. It taught me about risk, reward, human behavior, and the importance of establishing a systematic, rules-based approach to investing. It was during that time that I also learned an incredible lesson from my grandfather. While many people were panicking as they watched their portfolios fall dramatically in value, I distinctly remember how excited my grandfather got at the low prices of some of his favorite blue-chip stocks. During one conversation I remember saying Zeidy, the market is crashing. Maybe we should keep more cash available in your account. He said that approach was silly and insisted on buying more stocks because good companies were trading at a fraction of what they were just a few months earlier.

His optimism paid off. The crisis eventually got under control and the market went on to experience one of the longest bull markets in history. Buying the dip was a successful strategy again this year. When it comes to investing, its important to be realistic but even more important to be optimistic. As long as you believe in human ingenuity, entrepreneurship, capitalism, and the power of market forces, you can build a meaningful level of wealth in the market over the long run.

4.Proactively downsizing: After my grandfather retired, he and my grandmother sold their house and moved to a smaller house in a nearby community. Many retirees hesitate when it comes to downsizing. They stay in their current home too long, oftentimes resulting in selling their home later under less favorable or more challenging circumstances. Downsizing sooner can help simplify your life by offloading the burden of maintaining a larger home, minimizing expenses, and moving into a residence that is more conducive to aging.

Another important aspect of downsizing is getting rid of your stuff. My grandfather never really accumulated many things, but whatever he did have he tried to give away to family or donate to charity during his lifetime. Giving away your things while you are alive can provide a tremendous sense of fulfillment and will relieve your heirs of the burden of sorting through your stuff upon your death.

5.A fulfilling retirement: My grandfather had a small business selling and installing draperies. He told me that he stopped working when he no longer had the patience to deal with vendors or difficult customers. In truth, he was gearing up for his retirement years in advance. He developed a routine of community involvement, attending lectures, religious study, and visiting family. This daily schedule stayed the same for most of his retirement years.

He also continued to stay curious and well informed, regularly discussing his new stock ideas with me and reading the daily newspaper cover to cover until failing eyesight made him switch to watching cable news at a very high volume. After my grandmother passed away, my grandfather even got a roommate, a graduate student 65 years his junior. During off hours, they had meals and conversations together, which helped him stay with it even as an octogenarian and nonagenarian.

I always tell clients that it is essential to retire to something and not from something. The individuals with the most fulfilling retirements maintain a strong social network, a way to stay mentally sharp, and the ability to keep their days structured. My grandfather managed to achieve all three.

6.A framework for giving: Philanthropy is a big focus for some retirees upon reaching a certain age. My grandfather gave throughout his life, always following his personal framework to prioritize his giving. He created a hierarchy of recipients with his first focus on taking care of his family, then his local community, followed by specific causes that he felt passionate about, and lastly any solicitation that came that piqued his interest. While there is no shortage of good causes to support with your hard-earned dollars, its imperative to develop a systematic approach to giving away your money so your charity dollars are most impactful and meaningful to you.

7.Learning from mistakes: Its axiomatic that a sound investing process minimizes ones mistakes. However, nothing is foolproof. The important thing to remember, when errors are made, is that one can learn as much from their mistakes as their successes. My grandfather definitely didnt get everything right when it came to his personal finances. Sometimes he chased high yielding stocks or blue-chip companies that were financially struggling. Many of his investing errors took place earlier in his investing career when he could afford to make them. As he got on in years, the lessons that had been learned resulted in fewer missteps.

My grandfather also should have been a bit more explicit on how he wanted certain things handled after his passing. I believe that one of the main reasons he didnt do enough planning was because of his optimism and faith that things will work out. Things did work out and, as noted above, I extoll the virtue of investing like an optimist. However, when it comes to personal finances, its also important to plan like a cynic. This balanced approach helps prepare families for whatever scenario may present.

8.Leaving a legacy: When it comes to leaving a legacy, people often focus on the financial aspects of proper planning. However, I would argue that a legacy is not only about the transmission of wealth, but also about the transmission of values. Certain values are passed to your family by modeling behaviors, the way one leads their everyday life and how they spend their time.

In addition to watching my grandfather prioritize his family, faith, and community, I witnessed his ability to fully live in the moment. He was able to thoroughly enjoy watching his great-grandchildren play in the backyard, chatting with friends at synagogue, or spending a weekend together with his family. His enjoyment and happiness during all these seemingly mundane moments was palpable.

In the age of 24/7 connectivity, its easy to lose sight of the here and now. There is always something else that demands your attention. Unfortunately, living for tomorrow causes folks to miss out on some of the best that life has to offer today. When I notice myself reaching for my iPhone, instead of appreciating what is happening around me, I remind myself to live in the moment just like my grandfather would have. This is perhaps my grandfathers greatest legacy, the one that will allow me to live my life to the fullest.

The underlying theme of the aforementioned lessons is that some of the most important retirement guidance cannot be determined within the confines of a spreadsheet or financial planning software. My grandfather understood this instinctively and imparted that wisdom to me. I continue to share that same timeless advice with my clients today.

Disclaimer: This article authored by Jonathan Shenkman a financial advisor at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. The information set forth herein has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and does not purport to be a complete analysis of market segments discussed. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. does not provide legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed are not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, and investment advice. Adtrax #: 3380718.1

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Retirement And Investing Lessons From My Grandfather - Forbes

After months of destructive wrangling Congress agreed on a new pandemic relief bill.

Its flawed. It botched unemployment aid and the new round of checks for individuals, and it contains tens of billions of dollars in pork spending.

In this episode of Whats Ahead we discuss how it does provide needed additional assistance for small businesses.It helps craft brewers, distilleries and wineries by keeping them from getting hit with big tax increases at years end. It helps beleaguered restaurants by permitting businesses to deduct meals. Certain industries, such as airlines, get direct grants to stay aloft.

A very big plus of the legislation is that it bars the Federal Reserve from trying to extend its emergency lending facilities beyond December 31 without express congressional approval. Democrats and the Fed were hoping to sidestep Congress and have our central bank bailout such financially mismanaged states as New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California.

But this is not a true stimulus measure. A real one would have contained big personal and business tax cuts like those enacted by Presidents John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

Related: Forbes Advisor created this second stimulus check calculator to help you estimate the amount you and your family could receive from the long-awaited second round of economic impact payments.

Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Steves newest project is the podcast Whats Ahead, where he engages the worlds top newsmakers,

Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Steves newest project is the podcast Whats Ahead, where he engages the worlds top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steves signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy. Steve helped create the recently released and highly acclaimed public television documentary, In Money We Trust?, which was produced under the auspices of Maryland Public television. The film was inspired by the book he co-authored, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy and What We Can Do About It. Steves latest book is Reviving America: How Repealing Obamacare, Replacing the Tax Code and Reforming The Fed will Restore Hope and Prosperity co-authored by Elizabeth Ames (McGraw-Hill Professional). Steve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of Fact and Comment. A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate. In both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.

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Stimulus Update: The Good And The Bad Of The $900 Billion Plan - Forbes

During a pandemic year marked by mounting economic and emotional challenges, the latest advances in technology helped us stay employed, continue the education of our children, comfort loved ones, and reimagine our ideas about community. In CNET's second annual Innovation Awards, we wanted to recognize a handful of advances that changed things for the better in a really tough year.

We've already named our best products of 2020, based on the Editors' Choice selections of CNET reviewers. Those are the products we most recommend people buy across the biggest and most interesting categories in consumer tech.

Get the latest tech stories with CNET Daily News every weekday.

But there are a few things that didn't make that list that are also worth highlighting this year. We're talking about the stuff that made a difference. That stuff that gave us new breakthroughs. Not all of these belong to products that CNET recommends for everyone. But, they all moved the technology world forward in powerful ways.

And as CNET has expanded the scope of what we cover -- into science, health and personal finance -- we've also expanded the realm of what we consider for Innovation Awards. That brings us to this year's winners, the first of which we're all counting on to help us find our way out of the current global crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic caught our bodies and our communities by surprise in early 2020. It wreaked havoc on lungs and hearts, and health professionals quickly realized that the virus was even more contagious and more deadly than the flu -- which quietly kills over half a million people each year. That was partly because COVID-19 has a longer incubation period and so an infected person can spread it to others for up to a couple weeks (the flu only does so for one to four days). The solution quickly became clear: We needed a vaccine.

The problem is that vaccines can take a long time to develop -- some need more than a decade. We didn't have that luxury with COVID-19, which was shutting down communities across the world. So, in 10 months, researchers from Pfizer and Moderna made a new kind of vaccine based on synthetic messenger RNA. It's not only 95% effective, but it's such a breakthrough that it could lead to treatments of inherited diseases like cancer and allergies. It also has the potential to lead to more rapid treatments for the next pandemic. Read Jackson Ryan's story on how it could change vaccines forever.

The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer.

With more people working from home and a lot more students being educated from the kitchen table -- often at the same time and in the same household -- plenty of us ran into the limits of our internet connections and our Wi-Fi routers in 2020. Our networks were not made to handle two or three Zoom meetings running at the same time from the same living space.

The arrival of the first Wi-Fi 6 routers offered hope to solve the problem. While these new routers still cost hundreds of dollars and aren't quite ready for mainstream wallets yet, two of them offer a glimpse of the future of home Wi-Fi. And, it's a lot faster and more efficient. We're talking about the mesh routers Eero Pro 6 and Asus ZenWifi AX. Ry Crist explains how these two both use a tri-band design to deliver big improvements.

The Asus ZenWiFi AX.

For over a decade there's been talk about the Arm processors that power phones and tablets eventually being powerful enough to run laptops. The main benefit is that the battery life on Arm chips is so much better and most people would love to have laptops with that kind of staying power. Microsoft has been trying to make it work with Windows for the past 10 years. But the chips always felt sluggish and software incompatibilities have usually doomed the whole experiment.

Enter Apple in 2020. Its home-grown Arm chips in iPhones and iPads have been blowing away benchmarks for the past several years and 2020 finally brought the first systems powered by an Apple silicon chip called the M1. Apple has pulled off a nearly impossible feat -- systems with great battery life, full-throttle performance and wide app compatibility so that virtually all existing software runs great on the new chips. All of this was a welcome arrival in a year when more workers and students are at home glued to their laptops. It's a development that could lead to a lot of future laptops being faster, longer-powered and perhaps even a little less expensive. Read Dan Ackerman's full review of the MacBook Air 2020 M1 for a look at how well the first iteration of Apple's chip already runs.

Apple boasts its M1 processor has the best performance per watt of power consumed, a key factor for long battery life.

With people doing a lot more online in 2020 -- from shopping to learning to socializing to organizing -- the internet privacy and security problems we've been sweeping under the rug for over 20 years are starting to show. Phishing scams, malware, identity theft and other forms of attacks are getting more clever and artful. That's bad for people in the US, UK or Australia, but it's even worse if you're living under a repressive regime and you find yourself on the wrong side of an argument about the future.

What can average citizens use to protect themselves?VPNs, which CNET writes a lot about. But even the best VPNs have their weaknesses. In 2020, a new decentralized Blockchain-powered VPN called Orchid is changing the balance of power to give the little people some more control. (Blockchain is the technology and the secret sauce behind the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin.) Orchid's not ready for the masses to use yet, but it could pave the way for better consumer protection. Read Rae Hodge's breakdown of why Orchid represents a clear leap forward for VPN, privacy and security.

Orchid's mission statement.

Our final CNET Innovation Award winner didn't cure a public health crisis or save us from overreaching government agencies, but it has helped a lot of people smile more and forget some of their burdens, if only temporarily. It's brought an unexpected freshness and delight to next-generation video game consoles, which are mostly about speed, power and photorealism.

We're talking about the new PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, paired with the game Astro's Playroom that comes preinstalled on PS5 systems. The controller features a new combination of haptics and sound that takes in-game effects to the next level of immersion. It transcends what you expect a game controller to be able to do, and it feels like the future. Read Scott Stein's feature story on why Sony put a lot of the magic of the PS5 into this new controller.

The PlayStation 5's delightful DualSense controller.

Vizio Elevate Soundbar: A soundbar can be one of the best ways to amp up your home entertainment, and the most innovative new soundbar of the year is the Vizio Elevate, which rotates automatically for better surround sound. It's a little pricey for now, but it could be a trend-setter.

Lenovo X1 Fold: Folding screen smartphones were a hot commodity last year, but interest faded. In the next year, the technology could make a comeback in folding screen laptops andLenovo's X1 Fold is the first one out of the gate. With solid build quality and practical touches like its magnetic Bluetooth keyboard, the X1 Fold has the look of an upstart design that others could copy.

Oculus Quest 2: Last year's first-gen Oculus Quest was the only product to earn both CNET Editors' Choice and Innovation Awards. The second version is even better and cheaper and might have pulled off the double win again, if it weren't for the fact that Facebook now forces Oculus users to use a Facebook account to play -- and for no good reason.

Apple's Spatial Audio for AirPods: In another case of Apple perfecting an idea that other companies have been trying to master for years, Spatial Audio for AirPods Pro (and the new AirPods Max) converts 5.1-channel, 7.1-channel or Dolby Atmos audio into virtual surround sound. It's eerie how you move your head and the sound shifts to adjust to the way you're facing. You usually have to pay a lot of money for the kind of cinematic sound system that this software can offer.

Read more:
CNET's 2020 Innovation Award winners made things better during a difficult year - CNET

Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, like American Express, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Firstrade is a discount online brokerage offering investing, retirement, custodial, and cash management accounts for active traders and investors. But it doesn't stop there. The brokerage also lets you trade almost all of its investment products for free, and this applies to both US-based and international investors.

As for pricing, Firstrade charges $0 for all stock, ETF, option, and mutual fund trades. It offers more than 2,200 commission-free ETFs and 3,400 commission-free mutual funds, and you'll only run into fees for some of the brokerage's fixed income investments (for example, primary market CDs cost $30). And while most brokerages typically charge $0.50 to $0.65 for options contracts, Firstrade charges $0. Firstrade is also the only brokerage that charges $0 for all mutual funds.

Firstrade offers international trading in more than 65 regions, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and more. And the brokerage even provides toll-free customer support and online trading for Chinese-speaking customers.

Like many other brokerages, Firstrade also provides investment research and analysis. In addition to its education articles, the company gives you access to free research from Morningstar, Zacks, Benzinga, and Briefing.com.

Firstrade's four trading platforms the web platform, mobile app, Options Wizard, and Firstrade Navigator all offer access to account information, investment performance, and market data. However, Options Wizard specifically offers tools and insights to simplify options trading. Firstrade Navigator lets you manage all of your trades, orders, and account balances on one screen.

This brokerage is a competitive option for active traders, mutual fund investors, options investors, stock and ETF traders, and international investors. Firstrade offers something that most brokers don't: commission-free trades on everything. And if you ever lose internet connection or need help purchasing an investment, broker-assisted trades only cost you up to $19.95 (Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade both charge $25 for broker-assisted trades).

One downside to consider is that Firstrade doesn't offer any automated or professionally managed investing accounts. Brokerages like Merrill Edge and TD Ameritrade offer both self-directed and automated investing accounts, but Firstrade primarily caters to active investors.

You also won't have access to 24/7 customer service or specialty investments like cryptocurrency, futures, and precious metals.

Bottom line: Firstrade could be a good brokerage choice for US residents and international investors looking to actively trade multiple investment types for free. It may not be a good fit for you if you're looking for professionally managed accounts or robo-advice.

Firstrade offers individual and joint investing accounts for US-based and international investors. Each account includes commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options. And, unlike many online brokerages, Firstrade doesn't charge any options contract fees.

You'll also pay $0 for Firstrade's load, no-load, and no-transaction-fee mutual funds. The brokerage's other investment choices include treasury bills, notes, bonds, CDs, and other fixed income investments.

If you're not a US citizen or permanent resident, and you don't have a Social Security or tax ID number, you can sign up for an international account.

You'll also have the choice of multiple fee-free retirement accounts. For individuals, Firstrade offers traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and rollover IRAs. Businesses can set up SEP IRAs or SIMPLE IRAs.

You can set up any of Firstrade's IRAs without having to worry about minimum opening deposits or account fees. In addition, Firstrade says it uses IRA specialists to help new clients with rollovers.

Firstrade's Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) lets you set aside money for children or designated beneficiaries under the age of 18. You can open multiple ESA accounts, and any withdrawals you make for your ESA are tax-free (you can currently make up to $2000 in non-deductible contributions per child).

You can also set up a custodial investment account for your child as long as they haven't reached your state's age of majority (usually 18 or 21). Firstrade's custodial accounts don't have any contribution limits, custodian income limits, or minimum deposit requirements.

Firstrade is an online investment platform offering self-directed brokerage accounts and commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. The company also offers international investing accounts, cash management accounts, investment research and tools, and customer support for Chinese-speaking clients.

Firstrade was founded in 1985 as First Flushing Securities. In 1997, the company launched Firstrade.com to provide online brokerage and trading services.

Headquartered in Flushing, New York, Firstrade has earned recognition and awards over the years. In Kiplinger's Best Online Brokers of 2019 ranking, the company recognized Firstrade as the #1 brokerage for ETFs, active investors, and commissions and fees.

Firstrade is also a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

Rickie Houston is a wealth-building reporter at Personal Finance Insider who covers investing, brokerage, and wealth-building products.

Read the rest here:
Firstrade investing review: Pros, cons, and who should open an account - Business Insider

I am an Upper East Side wife and mother with two children. The residents of our building have agreed to tip our doormen, super and two gardeners who tend to our common areas 25% more this holiday season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We usually give $200 to our favorite doorman, $200 to our super who never complains and always has a smile on his face even though he deals with everyone elses complaints, and $100 to the other two full-time staff, and $100 to the two gardeners.

The Moneyist: My father wants to deed his kids his home before Prop 19 takes effect. I suggested a life estate instead he said Im ungrateful

My husband says we should continue to give 25% more in 2021. I disagree. We have been giving the same amount to the people who work in the building for the past five years because it doesnt create increased expectations year after year. Its simpler that way.

We have been working from home this year and have not had any pay cuts. We live in a privileged world, and we are fortunate to be able to work remotely when millions of people have lost their jobs, sure. But New York City is an expensive place to live, and these holiday envelopes are not cheap.

What do you say?

Upper East Side Wife and Mother

Dear Wife & Mother,

If you are giving 25% extra this year, give the same dollar amount or even a little more next year. Your tips havent gone up in five years, even to keep pace with inflation, so this is the year to make a grand gesture, and stick with it.

If anyone understands what its like to have to budget to make ends meet, its your doormen, super and other staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. The average pay for a doorman is around $16 per hour although thats probably higher in New York, especially in Manhattan and they clearly rely on tips at the end of the year to buy gifts for their loved ones and enjoy the holidays, just like the residents of the buildings they tend.

See also:Meet the most generous tipper in America

Also, people who work in buildings already know everyones business. They know who comes home late at night smelling of gin, stumbling in the doorway and requiring help getting to their apartment. They know the couples who bring home an overnight guest every time their partner is away on business (or not). They know whether youre stressed out, whether your kids are well behaved and if youre having marital problems. You may never see the night-shift doorman, but he sees all.

Money talks, especially in a year when so many people have had to do without.

Supers, gardeners and doormen unlike neighbors are paid to smile and say good morning even if they got out of bed on the wrong side, are going through a messy divorce or need a kidney. They are there to cater to your needs and be as pleasant as humanly possible. For every neighbor who gives you a biannual hello in the elevator, you can usually rely on the staffs good manners once you leave your apartment.

They see and hear everything, so they know if your daily routines have changed and a holiday envelope with a sum of money thats more than what you normally give will come as a welcome surprise. Monetary gifts help, especially when theyre given to people who provide a service all year long and dont get enough appreciation. But so, too, do handwritten notes detailing all the little things they did for you during the year.

Numerous studies show that positive recognition and affirmation are appreciated more than money in the workplace. One such study found that over 80% of people said they value recognition of their hard work over a monetary increase. Well, I dont buy it. Money talks, especially in a year when so many people have had to do without. Your finances have been largely untouched by the coronavirus pandemic, so its time to pass on some of that goodwill.

Read also: How much to tip everyone

I also generally advise against leaving one envelope with a lump sum. That will only give them more work to do and could possibly cause ill will among the staff. A tip is a thank you, and should have the persons name on the envelope. Dont forget other people who come to your home this time of year: dog-walker, piano teacher, babysitter, nanny, housekeeper or personal trainer. A general rule of thumb there are no hard-and-fast rules is one weeks pay.

Give 25% more to your building staff, and thank them for all the hard work. Make each note personal. (They may compare them.) Unemployment is difficult and challenging enough, and they may have family members who are struggling. Job insecurity and job loss create stress, fear, loathing and arguments among households over budgets, but they can also bring with them a sense of shame. We put so much of our own worth in our jobs, and when that job is taken away, whats left? Character.

People want to feel valued. And they want to be seen.

You agree to your emailed letter to the Moneyist will be published here anonymously. It may be edited for style and space.

Hello there, MarketWatchers. Check out the Moneyist private Facebook FB, -2.09% group where we look for answers to lifes thorniest money issues. Readers share all sorts of dilemmas.

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Our building is tipping staff 25% extra due to COVID-19. My husband wants to maintain this in 2021. I disagree. What should we do? - MarketWatch

James Kon

Members of the public were awestruck by the 12 martial arts performances at the opening of the Martial Arts Open Day at the Jerudong Park Garden yesterday, held as part of the Brunei December Festival 2020.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) and guest of honour Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali thanked organisers, the masters and participants parents for making the event a success.

Our journey will not stop here. We will continue to work with media agencies and the government to produce a video series of all martial arts involved at this event.

We will also work with our partner to produce a Brunei version of Tekken. This is an initiative we have been dreaming of creating, and we need local martial art exponents support, because the character in the game will be you. I will be working very hard on this and hope this will materialise in a few months.

We have another project on December 27, and have invited some of the martial art exponents here. We plan to carry out another Brunei Book of Record event, with 2,020 tai chi practitioners in the country performing at several different locations simultaneously. The number 2,020 is to commemorate the Brunei-China Year of Tourism 2020, and also marks the Brunei December Festival 2020, Wardi said.

Wardi launched the Martial Arts Open Day by punching through a wooden board.

The martial arts showcased were Silat (Penguruan Pencak Silat Warisan Pelangi Brunei Darussalam), Taekwondo (Brunei Darussalam Taekwondo Association), Karate (Shitoryu Karate Association Brunei Darussalam), Shainji Kempo (Persaudaraan Shorinji Kempo Brunei Darussalam), Muay Thai (BDM Muay Thai), MMA, Hapkido, Judo (Judo Academy SSBN), Kendo (Kendo Federation of Brunei Darussalam) and Wushu (Brunei Darussalam Wushu Federation).

The rest is here:

Of flying kicks and seamless executions - Borneo Bulletin Online

An 80-year-old couple from Bromley Cross havebecome the first people in Bolton to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the community vaccination programme.

Michael and Ann Clubley, who both turned 80 earlier this year, were first in line to be vaccinated this morning at Tonge Moor Health Centre.

The couple were surprised but thrilled to be called up, and said they felt privileged.

Mrs Clubley said: We werent expecting it until January, but we feel very privileged to be the first.

As soon as we heard about the vaccine, we were happy to offer our arms over! We are very supportive of vaccination.

Both say they are usually quite active people in the community.

Michael loves his gardening and is a regular at all BWFC home matches under normal circumstances.

Ann usually volunteers at her local RSPCA shop and reads to children at her local primary school. She also attends a Thai Chi class.

However, the pandemic has meant that they could only enjoy walks together and catch up with friends via video calls.

The couple have two daughters and one grandson, and they have missed socialising with their family.

Mrs Clubley added: We have managed, but its not been the same. I feel sorry for people who arent as mobile as us.

Our daughters both work with the public so they have been protecting us by not seeing us as they normally would do. We know we could still get the virus but having the vaccine will give us the confidence to see our two girls. They are thrilled for us!

The first phase of Covid vaccinations in Bolton is being held at Tonge Moor Health Centre, Thicketford Road by appointment only.

Six GP practices are part of this first phase, and form Turton Primary Care Network. Primary Care Networks are made up of several practices working together to manage the health of their local population.

Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Bolton, and Clinical Director of Commissioning at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Wall, said: Its fantastic to see Mr and Mrs Clubley receiving their vaccination, and they mark the first couple of many to be getting the best protection from the virus today.

We have all pulled together to make this historic event happen in just a few short days, and Im very proud to be leading such a dedicated team. We received 975 doses for this first phase, and we are fully booked!

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: This is truly wonderful news both for those receiving the vaccine today and for everyone in our borough.

We have been hit hard by this pandemic but I commend the hard work and sacrifices everyone has made to see us through to this vital stage in our response to the virus.

Quite rightly, our older and more vulnerable residents will receive the vaccine first.

In the meantime, I urge everyone to be patient and stick to the rules so we can put this behind us.

Original post:

80-year-old couple become first people in Bolton to receive Covid-19 vaccine - The Bolton News

AN 80-year-old married couple from Bromley Cross made history yesterday by being the first people in Bolton to received the covid-19 vaccine.

Michael and Ann Clubley, who both turned 80 earlier this year, were the first in line to be vaccinated on Tuesday at Tonge Moor Health Centre.

The couple received their vaccination shortly before 8am, administered by Dr Helen Wall, clinical director of commissioning at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group.

After having the vaccine, Mrs Clubley said: "We're very pleased and grateful to have had it, it was quite surprising actually to find out we were getting it.

"We're looking forward to hugging our loved ones again.

"Fortunately we've not had to self-isolate but the main problem we've had this year is not seeing our family.

"We've had no close contact with them, just having a conversation from a car window to the front door.

"Hopefully we can get back to meeting our friends and going out for meals."

Mr Clubley added: "To anyone who is unsure about the vaccine, just do it.

"It means you're no longer vulnerable and it's better to be vaccinated than catch the virus.

"It's amazing really that we've been able to receive it, there's been so much work gone into it in such as small space of time."

The couple, who've been married for 51 years, have two daughters and one grandson.

Michael is a former development chemist and Ann used to be a school librarian. They met while working together at a research library.

Since retiring they've enjoyed spending time together but this year they've been missing out on their usual activities.

Michael loves gardening and is a regular at all BWFC home matches under normal circumstances.

Ann usually volunteers at her local RSPCA shop and reads to children at her local primary school. She also attends a Thai Chi class.

Now they are looking forward to being with their family over Christmas.

Mrs Clubley said: "We do have a very small family so we're planning on seeing our two daughters over Christmas.

"We're looking forward to having freedom again and having the confidence to go out.

"We've been married 51 years but have never experienced a year like this before.

"Luckily we live near lots of reservoirs so we've been able to go on lots of walks together."

Dr Helen Wall, said: Its fantastic to see Mr and Mrs Clubley receiving their vaccination, and they mark the first couple of many to be getting the best protection from the virus today.

We have all pulled together to make this historic event happen in just a few short days, and Im very proud to be leading such a dedicated team. We received 975 doses for this first phase, and we are fully booked.

Six GP practices are part of this first phase, and form Turton Primary Care Network. Primary Care Networks are made up of several practices working together to manage the health of their local population.

The first phase of Covid vaccinations in Bolton is being held at Tonge Moor Health centre, Thicketford Road by appointment only.

In a huge logistical operation, over 900 vaccinations will be administered over three days.

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: This is truly wonderful news both for those receiving the vaccine today and for everyone in our borough.

We have been hit hard by this pandemic but I commend the hard work and sacrifices everyone has made to see us through to this vital stage in our response to the virus.

Quite rightly, our older and more vulnerable residents will receive the vaccine first.

In the meantime, I urge everyone to be patient and stick to the rules so we can put this behind us.

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Couple who received first coronavirus vaccine in Bolton say they're 'looking forward to hugging loved ones' - The Bolton News

Somboon Booniam,1 Tinakon Wongpakaran,1 Peerasak Lerttrakarnnon,2 Surin Jiraniramai,2 Pimolpun Kuntawong,1 Nahathai Wongpakaran1

1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 2Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Correspondence: Nahathai Wongpakaran Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawaroros Road, T. Sriphum, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Tel +66 53 93 5422 ext 320 Fax +66 53 93 5426 Email nahathai.wongpakaran@cmu.ac.th

Purpose: This study compared predictors of passive suicidal ideation (SI), active SI, and suicide attempt (SA) among elderly Thai patients in tertiary care settings. Patients and Methods: Psychiatric diagnoses and suicidality of 803 older people were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. All participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), 15-item Thai geriatric depression scale (TGDS-15), 10-item perceived social scale and the Core Symptoms Index. The chi-square test, t-test and ANOVA were used for bivariate analysis of predictors of specific suicidality types. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors for each type of suicidality. Results: The patients mean age was 69.24 6.90 years, and the majority were female (69.74%). Passive SI, active SI and SA were found among 20.42%, 3.74% and 2.37%, respectively, of the patients. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was a predictor of both passive and active SI (OR = 2.06 and 3.74, respectively). Other predictors of passive SI included hypomania (OR = 8.27) and positive score on the TGDS-15 (OR = 1.29). Predictors of active SI included agoraphobia (OR = 6.84) and hypomania (OR = 7.10). Predictors of SA included a family history of alcohol dependence (OR = 14.16), a history of depression (OR = 4.78) and agoraphobia (OR = 19.89). Surprisingly, hypertension and self-reported anxiety symptoms were protective factors for passive SI (OR = 0.51 and 0.85, respectively). Likewise, MSPSS was a protective factor for SA (OR = 0.90). Conclusion: Predictors of each type of suicidality differed. MDD was the main predictor for SI; however, agoraphobia and poor perceived social support were more pronounced among individuals with SA. Further investigation, especially in longitudinal fashion, should be warranted.

Keywords: suicide, elderly, risk, predictor

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Predictors of Passive and Active Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt | NDT - Dove Medical Press