For many people, the idea of retirement elicits visions of a never-ending vacation, with the retiree choosing to do what they want to do, whenever they want to. But, the reality is that is not the case for a growing number of individuals; as many find that they have no choice but to work during what many consider 'retirement years.' If you find yourself forced to have a working-retirement, or even if you choose to work during retirement even when you don't have to, you might find the following tips helpful.

Convert Hobbies to Income Producing BusinessesYou are likely to be more accepting of having to work during retirement, if you enjoy your job. One way to do so is to convert hobbies that you enjoy into money making ventures. Some relatively inexpensive hobbies that have significant earning potential are: photography, art, pottery and gardening. One thing that you should keep in mind is that some of these hobbies will be time consuming, so make sure that you can manage your time efficiently to allow time to enjoy your retirement experience.

Stay Current with TechnologyTechnology is rapidly changing and employers are adapting by modifying business practices to benefit from these changes. If you fall behind in your knowledge and experience of how basic technology works, that could make it difficult for you to compete with other job seekers. If you are unable to afford to pay for courses, check out your local library or government institutions that offer education support for adults. Some libraries offer basic computer training as part of their community programs, and some government agencies include adult education as part of their social services programs.

Note: If you decide to start your own business, visit websites like http://www.sba.gov to get tips on starting and operating a business.

Engage in Lifelong LearningOne way to increase and maintain your competition with other job seekers is to continue your education. The level of continuation depends of how much education you have already gained in the area that you want to work. If you are changing careers, it may take you longer to complete your education, but it may be worth it in the end. Your options include technical and computer courses and general education. Many of these can be completed after hours if necessary, as well as during the daytime. If you decide to pursue this option, check to determine whether you are eligible for financial aid, which include student loans and grants.

Learn Industry JargonConvincing a potential employer that you are familiar with the job for which you are applying may require 'speaking the language' of the job. For example, if you are looking for a job as an accountant, make sure you know what terms like 'capital accounts,' 'general ledger' and subsidiary accounts mean. Being familiar with the jargon helps you to effectively engage in discussions, and explain why you are the perfect hire for the role.

Stay in ShapeAnother thing to keep in mind is your physical health. When you are retired, it's very easy to fall out of shape if you become inactive, which can cause lethargy and might cause others to perceive you as being lazy. Staying active helps to increase your energy level, and helps you to be productive. Your energy level could determine your ability to 'get the job done' efficiently and effectively, which may determine whether you keep the job you get.

The Bottom Line While you may feel the need to take on a few responsibilities in order to give yourself that extra retirement income that you need, you should always consider the fact that you are retired and make sure that you make time to enjoy your retirement years. If you feel that you don't have enough post retirement income to achieve your desired lifestyle, and must therefore continue working, take the steps to ensure that you are qualified to get the job that you want. They key is to maintain a balance, so that you can enjoy your retirement as much as reasonably possible.

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5 Steps To Embracing A Working Retirement

By Chris Taylor

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Don't look now, but your retirement savings plan may not be as ironclad as you think. It may even include some magical thinking.

That's because every retirement calculator features an "annual rate of return" that savers typically are asked to plug in for themselves. And the hard truth is, no one really knows how well their investments will perform in the future -- and that makes all our detailed retirement calculations seem kind of futile.

But here's something we do know: The good old days, when savers blithely counted on their retirement savings growing 7 percent or 8 percent or even 10 percent, year after year after year, are likely gone. In the New Normal, cautious investors are learning to revise their expectations downward.

People like Louis Berlin, for example. The Miami insurance salesman was one of those who piled into risky assets in the late 1990s, and thought he could rely on hefty annual stock gains.

"I thought those 90s rates of return were going to carry us all through, and then we had a Lost Decade," he says.

After losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the dot-com bust, he settled on a new rate of return for the future: 3 percent. Or, when he's feeling a little devil-may-care, 4 percent.

"When people start expecting 8 or 10 percent a year, that's when they get into real trouble," says the 58-year-old, who currently keeps about half of his portfolio in equities. "People get carried away on the high side, and when reality hits they're unprepared. Then you have a whole decade of missed returns you have to make up."

REALISTIC OR MAGICAL?

So what's realistic when it comes to portfolio returns, and what's essentially magical thinking? After all, you have to put some number into those retirement calculators, even if it's just a back-of-the-napkin approximation.

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Dangerous magic in your retirement plan

CHICAGO, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Today the BMO Retirement Institute issued a report, Complementary Paths to Retirement: How men and women can learn from one another that finds that, when it comes to retirement, gender strongly influences the path men and women take to plan for that important life stage.

The report explores the different approaches men and women take to retirement, identifies additional challenges women must address, and suggests ways in which they can learn from each other.

"Despite the challenges that women face, we are seeing that they are actually more likely than men to enjoy their retirement," said Tina Di Vito, Head, BMO Retirement Institute. "Men and women have noticeable differences in how they respond to both financial and non-financial changes brought on by retirement, and women are proving that they have adapted the necessary skill set to help them cope with this transition."

Women Face Unique Challenges

The report notes that, for many women, retirement is often lived alone, whether by choice, or as the result of divorce or the death of a spouse.

Women must address unique challenges when planning for retirement such as longer life spans than men, and more intermittent work histories (women are more likely to interrupt their employment to act as family caregiver). These factors may result in lower earnings which, in turn, equate to lower pension benefits or 401(k) balances. Widowhood or divorce can also reduce women's retirement income. Moreover, women are statistically less likely than men to find a new partner if they find themselves alone in retirement.

What the Genders Can Teach Each Other

The behavioral differences exhibited by women and men can have a critical impact on their retirement planning. However, by capitalizing on each other's positive behaviors, which are very complementary, both sexes can better position themselves to have a more successful and fulfilling retirement.

The report found that women, in general, are less confident in their knowledge of finances and financial product/services than men. They also tend to be more risk averse than men, trade less frequently, hold less volatile portfolios and expect lower returns than men do.

Men's willingness to assume a reasonable level of risk allows them to achieve relatively higher growth in their retirement savings. Women could benefit from employing some of these behaviours in their retirement planning efforts.

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BMO Retirement Institute Report: How Men and Women Can Learn From One Another When Planning for Retirement

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28-03-2012 12:37 Dr. Mike Murray lifedoctor.org life coaching Training Personal Success Coach Speaker Development Attraction Inspiration Motivation Leadership prayer pray relationships marriage family

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Sweet Successful Marriage - PT4 - Video

Green Bay -

Students at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College are learning how to leave a lasting impression on prospective employers.

Today, marketing students teamed up with Goodwill to select and show off the appropriate attire for interviews and the first day on the job.

They say the fashion show demonstrates you can buy a brand new outfit for $30 or less and how you present yourself is important.

"We only have one time to make that good first impression, and especially during the interview," says NWTC Marketing Instructor Karen Widmar. "We can look great on paper, but the moment of truth is when we walk into that potential employer's office, how we look and how we present ourselves, our personal brand is really going to determine whether or not our students get the job over somebody else."

At least one student was so impressed by the selection of Goodwill clothes, he purchased the items he modeled after the fashion show.

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NWTC Students Demonstrate How to "Dress for Success"

NEW YORK, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Consumer Trends in the Personal Hygiene Market in the US, 2011

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0707546/Consumer-Trends-in-the-Personal-Hygiene-Market-in-the-US-2011.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Hygiene_Products

Synopsis

This report provides the results for the US Personal Hygiene market from Canadean's unique, highly detailed and proprietary survey of consumers' Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) consumption habits, and forms part of an overall series covering all CPG product markets.Its coverage includes, but is not limited to, consumption behaviors, the extent to which consumer trends influence their consumption and the value of the market these trends influence, brand and private label choices as well as retailer choices. Much of this information can also be analyzed by specific consumer group, providing hard and fast data on consumers and markets at the product category level.

Summary

Why was the report written?

Marketers in the Personal Hygiene market face a major challenge. Understanding market size and segmentation is valuable, but the keys to effective targeting is knowing just how valuable specific consumer groups are, and being able to quantify the impact of consumer trends.This report solves these problems by providing integrated survey-based data on consumer trends, consumer groups and market data which show exactly the size of consumer groups, how much of the Personal Hygiene market they account for and which consumer trends drive their behavior.

What is the current market landscape and what is changing?

In a market characterized by set personal care routines and ingrained habits typically lasting a life time a key to longer terms success is the need to attract new customers and encourage consumption frequency. In the future the ability to target the specific trends that encourage consumers to switch either brands or categories will be key for future success.

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Consumer Trends in the Personal Hygiene Market in the US, 2011

NEWTON, Mass., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --First Commons Bank of Newton, Mass., is announcing Tony Nuzzo's new book, "The Business PACT: Connecting Business Thinking with Daily Living." The book, which delivers informative, practical advice for driving business and personal achievement, is drawn from the personal journal of proven business leader and First Commons Bank Chairman, President, and CEO Tony Nuzzo.

Written to engage, educate and inspire, the book is intended for anyone seeking to improve business thinking. In it, Nuzzo shares his business insight with readers, presented in the form of observations and bits of advice drawn from his daily living and divided into categories aligning with the four key processes of successful businesses: Planning, Analysis, Communication and Teamwork (PACT). Weaving personal anecdotes with the keys to business success, he connects the business and personal realms with practical, useful tools.

The following are three reviews from the book cover:

"Maybe the best source of wisdom is right in front of our noses. In The Business PACT, Tony Nuzzo shares a fascinating variety of practical business lessons drawn from his own daily life. He offers an easy, user-friendly read that may just turn your own daily life into a series of illuminations." -- Bob Reynolds, President & CEO, Putnam Investments

"The Business PACT is full of history and a warm sense of place. I especially appreciate the vignette about the Scallop Shells and putting together the right team for success. I highly recommend this book." -- Stacy Madison, Founder, Stacy's Pita Chips

"The Business PACT is easy to read with great stories. The advice is memorable and to the point with applications for all businesses. I definitely recommend this book." -- John K. Mara, President & CEO, The New York Football Giants

Nuzzo is both an entrepreneur and a senior corporate executive. He is the primary organizer, chairman, president and CEO of First Commons Bank and the recipient of American Business Awards' prestigious Stevie Award in 2010 for Financial Services Executive of the Year. He also started an Internet bank for Marsh & McLennan as chairman, president and CEO and founded his own businesses. His career includes running two established banks, Chemical Bank Delaware and Fidelity Trust Company, and it began with 10 years in packaged goods marketing with Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson before transitioning into financial services with American Express.

For more information about "The Business PACT: Connecting Business Thinking with Daily Living" (ISBN 1439284679), visit the website at http://www.TheBusinessPACT.com. The book is available for sale online at Amazon.com, or at The Business PACT website at http://www.TheBusinessPACT.com, and other channels.

About First Commons Bank

First Commons Bank, N.A., is a new, nationally chartered, FDIC-insured full-service community bank, dedicated to serving the businesses and individuals of Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts. The bank, which opened for business in 2009, reports total assets of more than $168 million, making it larger than 52% of all FDIC-insured banks in the U.S.

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New Book by Tony Nuzzo, First Commons Bank Chairman, President & CEO is Guide to Business, Career, and Personal Success

User experience is important when developing any mobile app but in an enterprise context, what about security?For example, if you are developing an app that stores personal information there are regulations that ask where this information resides.Depending on the industry, mobile app developers may be completely accountable if any security issues happen on an app that they develop.

To ensure that you are in full compliance to any privacy, security or regulatory questions, it is recommended that apps be developed in-house or through a partner.So do mobile app developers need to consider regulatory, security or privacy concerns in advance of mobile app development projects?

"Yes, I think that developers of mobile and Internet-connected applications need to be positively thinking about privacy and security issues, which will likely help them address any regulatory compliance issues. And this should be true whether or not the apps are intended for enterprise use", Andrew Baker, director of Service Operations with SWN Communications, says.

He adds that security is something that has to be planned and developed in advance, so that it functions effectively and costs less than a bolted-on solution.

"Whether or not an app is intended for an enterprise audience, there's a good chance it will be used by enterprise employees, or connect to enterprise infrastructure", Baker emphasizes. "The safer our applications are the better. Security needs to be built-in, rather than layered on afterwards".

Jon Stroz, anInteractive and Traditional Marketing Specialist with Accella, a mobile app development firm, agrees that, as withany software development, mobile app developers do need to worry about security and privacy concerns, especially when handling sensitive data.

"While many mobile applications and games do not handle private information, others do,especially with the proliferation of mobile payment being adopted by users and merchants", Stroz says, adding:

Sharing [information] via a mobile app requires security. A developers main concern with security should really surround the transmission of data, sending it from a mobile device to a secured server. This is especially important with financial transactions and other sensitive data. While it is the consumer's responsibility to make sure that - should their device be lost or stolen, no sensitive data will be uncovered, it is the developer's job to make sure that data is safe when being transmitted or stored in their app.

Security Breakdown

However, despite the fact that security and compliance in mobile apps should be important in the development phase, the reality is, it is not.

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Mobile app developers, don't forget about privacy and security

BETHESDA, Md., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --OppsPlace.com announced today that Strayer Education, Inc. has joined as a corporate charter member to increase diversity and inclusion within their talent and supplier procurement selection pools. Strayer Education, Inc. joins a list of corporations from around the country each with a commitment to business solutions aimed at creating employment and business opportunities within the minority community.

(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120328/PH77347LOGO)

"OppsPlace was created as an online network to connect minority professionals and minority businesses to large U.S. corporations," said Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and co-founder of OppsPlace. "I believe corporate America must do more to fully engage the minority community and OppsPlace makes it easier for this engagement to take place. I commend Strayer Education, Inc. for becoming one of our charter members and for making an affirmative statement that they are truly committed to increasing employment and business opportunities for minority Americans."

The vision of Johnson and technology expert Ariel Friedler, OppsPlace provides companies with the best opportunity to find qualified minority job seekers and minority businesses online.

OppsPlace is free of charge for job seekers and minority firms and allows corporate human resources and procurement executives to easily access qualified job seekers and qualified minority businesses for openings to provide the best opportunities.

Strayer Education, Inc. joins the nearly 40 other companies from across the U.S. to register as OppsPlace charter members.

For more information, visit us online at http://www.oppsplace.com.

About OppsPlace: OppsPlace, LLC created by Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and Ariel Friedler, CEO of Symplicity Corporation, is the preeminent online network for minorities looking to build net worth. It is the only online community that aggregates rich content, minorities looking for jobs and minority businesses seeking to do business with U.S. corporations all in a robust networking environment. OppsPlace provides U.S. companies with the best opportunity to find qualified, minority job seekers and minority businesses in one online destination. For more information visit http://www.oppsplace.com.

Media contact: Traci Otey Blunt, 240.744.7858, tblunt@rljcompanies.com

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Strayer Education, Inc. Joins OppsPlace.com as Charter Member to Further Highlight Its Commitment to Diversity and ...

SAN DIEGO, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown to summer has begun, and many are flocking to the gym to get back into bathing suit shape. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) reminds excercise enthusiasts of the importance of safety when starting a new fitness program or ramping up a workout regimen. To help fitness seekers workout safely and efficiently, ACE has released its list of the top three most common mistakes, and how to avoid them. ACE is America's leading authority on fitness and the world's largest nonprofit fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education and training organization.

"As America's Workout Watchdog, at ACE we are constantly evaluating the latest fitness trends, techniques and routines to determine both the benefits and dangers presented to fitness seekers," said ACE exercise physiologist, Jessica Matthews. "While these three training modalities are highly effective when done properly, using incorrect form can increase risk of injury. For the most effective and safe workout, we recommend enlisting the aid of a certified personal trainer, who can provide guidance on how to be safe while getting the most out of a workout."

The following are the top three errors most commonly made with popular workout trends, and tips from Matthews on how to correct these mistakes:

1. Plyometrics: Quick, powerful movements, known as plyometrics, include exercises such as depth jumps, multidirectional drills, and cone jumps, and are designed to increase muscular power and explosiveness. Appropriate strength, flexibility and postural mechanics are necessary in order to avoid injury. Incorrectly landing on the heel or the ball of the foot, however, can increase impacting forces and make participants prone to injury.

How to correct: Master the art of landing correctly, before moving into more advanced moves like full jumps and hops. Focus on landing softly on the mid-foot and then roll forward to push off the ball of the foot avoiding excessive side-to-side motion at the knee in the process. To further reduce the risk of injury, it is important to complete a dynamic warm-up before performing plyometric exercises.

2. Kettlebells: Research confirms that kettlebell workouts are an extremely effective form of training that can be performed in a relatively short period of time. The problem lies in that many people who use kettlebells do not understand the proper mechanics for the exercises. For example, many incorrectly perceive the kettlebell single arm swing as a shoulder exercise when, it should be working the core.

How to correct: When performing the kettlebell single arm swing, avoid lifting with the back or the shoulders. Like in many kettlebell exercises, the hips should always drive the movement. To execute this movement correctly, contract the abdominal muscles and hinge at the hips. While exhaling, initiate an explosive upward movement to swing the kettlebell upward coming to a standing position. The momentum generated through the lower body should allow the arm to become parallel with the floor with neutral alignment maintained through the wrists. If it is too difficult to achieve the desired arm position, attempt to generate more power from the lower body by thrusting harder with the gluteal muscles from the lowered position.

3. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT is being used by exercise enthusiasts to add new challenges and variety to workouts. It is a cardiorespiratory training technique that increases the intensity of a workout by alternating between brief speed and recovery intervals to maximize training sessions in a short amount of time. Carelessly overlooking the active recovery intervals that are integral to HIIT is what can make fitness fans more prone to injury.

How to correct: While there isn't one single best way to structure sessions, when getting started with HIIT after completing a five minute warm-up, begin with a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio of speed intervals to active recovery intervals. This means one minute of speed work to every two or three minutes of active recovery. Avoid the temptation to shorten the recovery intervals, or to let the recovery periods be less than active. These recovery intervals are when the body produces more energy for the next bout of high-intensity exercise andalso removes metabolic waste from the muscles. Remember, active recovery periods should always be as long if not longer than the high-intensity intervals. In terms of perceived exertion, high-intensity intervals should be about a seven or higher (on a scale of 0-10) while active recovery intervals should be at about a four or five.

For more workout recommendations, fitness technique tips and expert advice, please visit http://www.acefitness.org.

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American Council on Exercise Shares Most Common Exercise Mistakes and Fixes to Avoid Them