Here Are our Top Financial Concerns

Looking at the numbers will not make them any better. How do things look for you?

Financial concerns include:

• Not having enough money for retirement
• Not being able to pay medical costs in the event of a serious illness or accident ( this is a big concern for people living in countries without government provided health-care assistance such as the United States
• Not being able to maintain the standard of living you enjoy today
• Unable to provide assistance  for medical and care costs of you parents
• Not having enough money to pay for children’s college 
• Not having enough to pay normal monthly bills 
• Not being able to pay rent, mortgage or other housing costs 
• Not being able to make minimum payments on credit cards 
• Not being able to make to make the minimum payments on your credit cards
• Not being able to take annual family vacations

It's not money that makes you happy. It's how you use it. If you don't know how to use it you will never achieve what you value most.

Many people believe that God will provide everything that they need to live a full and rewarding life. Do you know anyone that recently got a cheque from Heaven signed by God.

Additionally, many women believe that a man (husband/partner) will provide for them and their children. How many women have been left as single moms all around the world. Some countries  around the world do nothing to help women collect maintenance payments from the fathers of their children.

When you see someone driving by in their new fancy car what do you think?  Must be selling drugs to be able to have the money for that car. Or do you think that you should meet that person and find out what they are doing to make their money.

Do you focus on the possibilities or the problems? Do you constantly complain about the bills you have to pay? Or do you whine about the cost of living.

You need  to adjust your mindset about money! Kill the poor person mentality - there is money available for you.

Can You Teach Others Something?

Yes of course you can -  you know many things in life

 

Here are some possible coaching niches to consider:

·         business

·         small business

·         entrepreneur

·         marketing

·         public speaking

·         personal image

·         public relations

·         writing

·         real estate

·         career

·         career transition

·         life passion

·         interview/job search

·         retirement

·         executive

·         corporate

·         management

·         sales

·         dating

·         marriage

·         divorce

·         parenting

·         aging parents/eldercare

·         grief

·         assertiveness

·         academic

·         admissions for college

·         teen or college student direction (or other age groups)

·         spiritual

·         inner peace

·         intuitive

·         religion (Christian, Jewish, etc.)

·         mid-life crisis

·         meditation

·         transformational

·         life-work balance

·         personal development

·         extreme self-care

·         organization/declutter

·         time management

·         financial management

·         stress management/relief

·         life skills

·         productivity 

·         success

·         performance

·         motivation

·         goal setting and achievement

·         health

·         wellness

·         fitness

·         holistic

·         raw, vegan, or vegetarian

·         addiction

·         weight loss

·         eating disorders

Do you Suffer from Migraines

From the Harvard Medical School

 A new era for migraine treatment

POSTED MARCH 05, 2018, 10:30 AM

Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, FAHS
Contributor

Migraine is a common medical condition, affecting as many as 37 million people in the US. It is considered a systemic illness, not just a headache. Recent research has demonstrated that changes may begin to occur in the brain as long as 24 hours before migraine symptoms begin. Many patients have a severe throbbing headache, often on only one side of the head. Some people are nauseated with vomiting. Many are light sensitive (photophobic) and sound sensitive (phonophobic), and these symptoms can persist after the pain goes away.

There are a variety of migraine subtypes with symptoms that include weakness, numbness, visual changes or loss, vertigo, and difficulty speaking (some patients may appear as if they are having a stroke). The disability resulting from this chronic condition is tremendous, causing missed days of work and loss of ability to join family activities.

It is sometimes possible for people to use an “abortive” medication, which, when taken early, can arrest the migraine process. For many patients, a preventive medication can decrease both the frequency and the severity of the migraines. But to date, many of the medications available for migraines have been developed primarily for other causes: seizures, depression, high blood pressure, and muscle spasms, for example. Researchers have been working for decades to develop a “targeted” preventive therapy specifically for migraine, and now we are finally close to having an exciting new treatment.

What does “targeted” therapy mean?

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a molecule that is synthesized in neurons (nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord). It has been implicated in different pain processes, including migraine, and functions as a vasodilator — that is, it relaxes blood vessels. Once scientists identified this target molecule, they began trying to develop ways to stop it from being activated at the start of migraines, as a kind of abortive treatment. An agonist makes a molecule work more efficiently, and an antagonist blocks or reduces the molecule’s effect. The CGRP antagonist did work to decrease migraine pain based on certain measures, but there were some serious side effects including liver toxicity.

Back to the drawing board.

Monoclonal antibodies: Cutting-edge translational science

You have likely seen ads for monoclonal antibody (mAb) cancer and autoimmune therapies. There are lots of different types of mAbs, and while some harness a person’s own immune system to block replication of cancer cells, others stop a reaction in the body by binding to a target molecule or receptor and inhibiting it, thus preventing the reaction from continuing. The CGRP mAbs have this effect, and because they have a long duration of action (called a half-life), they can be administered much less frequently than typical migraine medications that are taken daily (with the exception of botulinum toxin, which is injected every 90 days). These new migraine medications are injected under the skin monthly, and have thus far demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in days of migraine. Four different drug companies are developing these new molecules, with two versions already sent to the FDA for approval.

What’s next?

If you think you may be a candidate for this new type of migraine medication, talk with your doctor, and perhaps ask for a consult with a neurologist or headache specialist who can help you understand more about the medication. Monoclonal antibody therapy is expensive, and there will likely be regulations about for whom s the treatments are appropriate. Much more research needs to be done about who is the best candidate for this therapy. But for many migraine patients who have not responded to the standard treatments, or who have had intolerable side effects such as cognitive dysfunction, low blood pressure, weight loss or gain, or other issues, CGRP monoclonal antibodies are safe and well tolerated, and are an exciting new development for migraine therapies

Road to Financial Peace of Mind - by the Wealthy Barber

David Chilton is a Canadian author, investor, and television personality from Waterloo, Ontario. Today, he resides in Kitchener, where he runs his own financial planning business and publishing company.

Financial peace of mind is very important as people will spend their life worrying about money and providing for their loved ones. Here are 10 - Steps to help you have financial peace of mind. Adjust for taxes and other regulations as they may apply in your country.

1. Make tax deductible contributions to Retirement Plans such as  

     RRSP's in Canada and 401 k's in the USA.

2. Invest at least 10% of your income for long term growth. 

    Buy assets that will appreciate over time not "trendy" hot 

    tips of the day schemes.

3. Buy Mutual Funds or Exchange Trade Indexes rather than 

    in one or two stocks. This will spread your risk over more 

    companies and let you buy into shares you would not 

    otherwise be able to afford. Be careful of Mutual Funds 

    that they are well managed funds with a track record of 

    success.

4. Make a will and also prepare powers of attorney so that 

    someone can speak if you cannot. Don't let your estate to 

    fall into the hands of the government.

5. Buy enough life insurance to protect your loved ones in 

    the event that someone unforeseen death happens to you.

6. Make sure you understand what safeguards exist in the 

    event that you suffer and illness or accident that leaves

    you disabled for a lengthy period of time. Anything can 

    happen at anytime totally unexpectedly. If necessary take

    out additional insurance if you believe you are not 

    adequately covered by your government or employer

    plans.

7. Real Estate is not a "for sure" investment. Put as much

    money down as you can to reduce your mortgage. Homes

    will require maintenance and upkeep and of course 

    property taxes.

8. You can have credit cards but be disciplined and controlled

     in how you use them. Don't use credit cards because you 

     have them. Is the purchase absolutely necessary?

9. If you are earning above average wages consult with a tax

    specialist before the tax filing date to ensure you are 

    advantage of all tax deductions available to you.

10. Learn how to manage your money as nobody will care

      about you and your money the way that you do. You

      worked hard to earn it "don't piss it away"  

Study this list and learn how you can create financial peace of mind

         

Scammers and Hackers are Everywhere

How to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-reduce-the-risk-of-identity-theft/

by Matt Tatham

Preventing identity theft these days can be harder than avoiding a Kardashian on television. In fact, there’s really no way to guarantee that you’ll never be a victim of ID theft.

You can, however, reduce your risk, and take steps to make sure you’re aware as soon as you’ve been targeted. In 2017, there was an average of four data breaches every day according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. More than likely your personal information has already been compromised. So what can you do?

Here are 20 ways to help reduce the risk of identity theft now:

1. Don’t Give out Personal Information to Just Anyone

There are a lot of scammers and identity thieves out there who will pretend to be a debt collector, bank, charity or a local business in order to convince you to give out your social security number, street address, date of birth, or any information that they can use. They will call you, email you and send you mail so be diligent in reviewing any of the above communications.

2. Avoid Clicking on Links You Are Unsure About

Fraudsters are really good about attracting your attention through emails that look like they come from businesses or people you know (and don’t assume just because you know the name of the person sending the email it’s actually them—check the actual email address too).

If something seems off about an email and they are asking you to click a link to an offer or action, don’t click on that link.  Instead, roll over the link with your mouse and you can see the destination URL that you will be sent to. This is a safer approach and can help you avoid malware, phishing scams or viruses to gather your data. If it turns out it’s fake, you can let the business know so they warn others.

3. Shred Your Documents

Using a shredder can take extra time but that adds a layer of protection down the road. While many people are opting for email or text alerts for bill notifications, identity thieves still use dumpster-diving as a way to gather personal information.

4. Don’t Carry Your Social Security Card

You rarely need to show the card, you just need to remember the number. One mistake of losing the card can lead to a lifetime of trouble. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place at home or in a deposit box.

5. Only Carry Credit Cards You Actually Need Daily

There’s no need to carry around cards you rarely use. Minimize the risk of losing your cards by only having the ones you use on a regular basis.

6. Protect Your Mailbox

This old-school theft is still common today especially around tax return time when checks start showing up in the mail. If you can lock your mailbox do so or add a key lock if possible.

You may also want to consider having smaller packages delivered to your work address so you receive them during the day versus having them left unattended on your porch. If you are going to be gone for awhile, consider placing a hold on your mail with the US Postal Service.

7. Monitor Your Online Accounts

If you haven’t set up account notifications from the financial institutions with whom you do business, then do so. Staying up-to-date on changes to your accounts is important and a quick notification sent to your smart device can make all the difference in maintaining peace of mind. There are also plenty of products out there that provide credit and identity monitoring (Experian’s CreditWorks is one of them).

8. Create Strong Passwords

Avoid using the same password across multiple sites as well. You can use password managers that are available or the suggested password features from your smartphone as well.

9. Use Two-Factor Authentication

This tool adds a layer of security to your online accounts in addition to your password. Two-factor authentication requires you to provide a second piece of proof to verify your identity which can mean entering a code sent to your smartphone or computer, and many institutions require it when customers want to change account details.

10. Don’t Use Public Wifi to Access Sensitive Data

We all seem to want to be connected all the time, so using free public wi-fi is very tempting. It’s not always safe though, hackers and others can set up their own free wifi networks and scrape your data as a result. Make sure the network you are connected to is secure and can be trusted. If you’re not sure, then don’t take the chance.

11. Check Your Credit Report Regularly

To ensure all the data is accurate and that nobody has opened up accounts under your name, make sure to check each of your credit reports at least yearly. You can get your Experian, Transunion, and Equifax credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

If possible, pull one report every four months so that you’re looking at your reports throughout the year. If you notice a problem, make sure to dispute it with the lender and the bureau. At Experian, you can get an additional free copy of your Experian credit report and dispute anything inaccurate on your credit report online.

12. Cut Old Credit Cards Up

It’s important to destroy any old credit cards and any other cards that have personal information about you or your family members that could be used by identity thieves. Every little detail about you can be used to build a synthetic identity, piecing together the information needed to open up a credit card account in your name.

13. Shop Online With Trusted Sites

Using secure and trusted websites to shop online can help further protect your personal and credit card information when you purchase items. For example, if you’re shopping on a website, make sure that there’s an “https” before the URL, instead of just an “HTTP.”

14. Don’t Overshare on Social Networks

That advice seems like an oxymoron these days but identity thieves will often scan social networks for personal information to piece together identities. Never post any personal information, location data, and even what items are included in a picture (like a credit card on a table) that you do share. Also, make sure social media accounts like Facebook are not viewable by people you don’t know.

15. Don’t Respond to Unsolicited Requests

If someone you don’t know asks for personal information (your name, birthdate, social security number, or bank account number) by phone, mail, or online, just say no!

16. Consider Freezing or Locking Your Credit

A credit freeze will not affect your credit scores, but it will prevent your credit report from being accessed by lenders and used to do many things including opening new accounts, renting apartments, or applying for loans.

If you need to do any of these things, then you’ll have to temporarily suspend your credit freeze. You can also request an extended fraud alert from the consumer credit bureaus (if you have filed a police report), which lasts for seven years.

17. Monitor Billing Cycles

If you start to notice your bills or financial statements are showing up late then you should contact the lender or business to find out the reason for the delay. Review your account statements and watch out for unauthorized transactions.

18. Implement Biometric Options

When possible, you can include a fingerprint, a handprint, an eye scan, and facial recognition to verify your identity rather than using a password or asking you a series of questions that you have to remember what you inputted when you set an account.

19. Keep up With the Latest in ID Theft

Pay attention to the news to know what the latest scams or breaches have taken place. Unfortunately, this has become too common, but being complacent can lead to a mistake. Staying up-to-date can mean the difference in protecting your identity from the latest threat or identifying a scammer or thief down the road.

20. Consider an Identity Theft Protection

Consider purchasing an identity theft protection plan or check with your existing insurance companies to see if you have any protection as part of your auto or homeowners policies). These services typically go beyond credit monitoring and help you resolve any problems once they arise. (You can learn more about Experian’s identity theft protection services here.)

If you think you’ve been the victim of identity theft, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself (file a police report, contact all three credit bureaus, freezing your credit), but ultimately the path you take to resolving the problem will depend on the nature of the crime.

For example, if someone has stolen your credit card, your course of action will be different than if someone opened a new credit card in your name. And if someone got a tax refund in your name, the solution will be different still.

Following these suggestions can help you keep up with the latest ways to prevent your identity from being stolen.

Would You Leave Home Without Your Pants On?

Today I would like to share with you an article by Dana Corey  https://www.danacorey.com/

after my recent blog discussing the need and importance of mission and vision statements. Where is it that you are wanting to get to? Do you have an action plan to get there? It's not going to happen on it's own.

I will now turn it over to Dana.

Probably not. … and likely chances are if you did, you’d get some undesirable results: awkward glares, head shakes of shame, frightened faces, etc.

That’s what having a vision and jumping into action without having an action plan is like.

Unless you want to end up beating yourself up over all the things you should have done, and feeling frightened about looking into the future because vacations, days off, monthly massages, dinner dates, etc. seem impossible…

You need a plan!

You’ll likely feel like you need to take action right away, probably because you’re so overwhelmed, overworked, and practically running on coffee fumes it’ll seem nearly impossible to find time to do anything other than try to catch up.

Business owners run themselves ragged. 9 times out of 10 it’s because they’re taking tons of haphazard action, trying to feel accomplished. Instead, they’re mostly doing busy-work and it’s digging them into a hole of overwhelm and dry spells.

That’s the exact reason you need to put a S-T-R-A-T-E-G-I-C action plan in place.

One that has your end result in mind. That caters to what you most want and need out of your business while serving your clients in the highest, most authentic & powerful way.

And how do you create a strategic action plan? I thought you’d never ask…

You work backwards, of course! Have the end goal in mind. Know your desired result.

Not just the numbers your working towards, but exactly how you’ll feel when you’ve reached that goal. Don’t just imagine the result for you. Know exactly how you want your potential clients to feel and what they’ll experience from participating with you.

Work Backwards.

Start with the end result and ask yourself “What steps do I need to take to get there?”

Keep asking yourself that until you have an action plan for this week. No matter what you have going on today,  make time to take your goals and create your strategic action plan.

Make sure you set goals that will allow you to win! Winning gives you energy to move onward to your next goals. Don’t set yourself up with goals that beat you down, that you can’t possibly accomplish. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a big pile of unsuccess to add to your already big pile of self-criticism (caused by your laundry list of should-have-done’s).

.

You and I both know working long hours away from your loved ones is no good for your relationships and it’s certainly no good for your bank account.

Why Do Companies Have Mission/Vision Statements?

Most established companies develop organizational mission and vision statements, which serve as foundational guides in the establishment of company objectives. The company then develops strategic and tactical plans for objectives.

Read these company mission statements and see how well they resonate with you and their validity. Are these company's operating in such a way that is aligned with their mission. These companies are some of the most successful companies on our planet. I have included a few that have subsequently filed for bankruptcy - Sears and Toys R Us. Can you see how they fell out of sync with their mission statement?

Here we go:

Uber's mission statement reads, “Transportation as reliable as running water, everywhere for everyone.

Alphabet Inc. (Google) mission statement is “to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

Starbucks mission statement . “Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Airbnb is a hospitality company  - The mission is to live in this world where one day you can feel like you're home anywhere and not in a home, but truly home, where you belong. 2. Be a Host. To live in this world where you can be home, you have to provide hospitality and hosts provide hospitality. 

Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.

Twitter Inc. has a perfectly respectable mission statement: Our mission: To give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly, without barriers. ... This is 80 characters over Twitter's previous  140-character limit.

YouTube's mission is to provide fast and easy video access and the ability to share videos frequently.

Amazon's mission statement says: It's our goal to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything at Amazon.com.  Amazon is focused on taking care of their customer for starters.

Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. We operate leading online and mobile marketplaces in retail and wholesale trade, as well as cloud computing and other services. We provide technology and services to enable consumers, merchants, and other participants to conduct commerce in our ecosystem

Walmart's mission statement is “Saving people money so they can live better.” This statement is synonymous to the company's slogan, “Save money. Live better.”

Sears Holdings Mission Statement: "To grow our business by providing quality products and services at great value when and where our customers want them, and by building positive, lasting relationships with our customers.

Nike's mission statement is "To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world." The legendary University of Oregon track and field coach, and Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman said, "If you have a body, you are an athlete."

The Adidas Group strives to be the global leader in the sporting goods industry with brands built on a passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle. We are committed to continuously strengthening our brands and products to improve our competitive position.

Tesla – their  Mission  is the same as it is today as when we created Tesla a decade ago: to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible.

Apple's current Mission Statement is: "Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store.

Samsung's mission statement is "Inspire the world, create the future." As one of the leading electronics companies in the world, Samsung Electronics is characterized by new technology, creative solutions and innovative products. we follow a simple business philosophy: to devote our talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society.”

McDonald's mission statement  is to be our customers' favorite place and way to eat and drink. Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience – People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion.

KFC the mission of this company is to be an internationally renowned fast food industry in the world and to increase and maintain the quality in fast food in world industry. Their aim is to capture the fast food market

Coca Cola Company  -  Our mission is: To refresh the world in mind, body and spirit. To inspire moments of optimism and happiness through our brands and actions.

Pepsi's mission statement states the company's intention of serving as a premier international brand and offering consumers convenient snacks and beverages. Pepsi strives for honesty and fairness in its interactions with consumers and investors, and looks to deliver value and quality.

Toys 'R' Us Mission Statement -  "Our Goal is to be the Worldwide Authority on Kids, Families and Fun."  

Toys 'R' Us Vision Statement: "Our Vision is to put joy in kids' hearts and a smiles on parents' faces."

Playboy Enterprises Inc. brings the iconic Playboy lifestyle to innovative products and experiences for global consumers.

Indigo - to inspire our customers and those they care about with life-enriching products and experiences.

Netflix referred to its brand promise as a "quest": "We promise our customers stellar service, our suppliers a valuable partner, our investors the prospects of sustained profitable growth, and our employees the allure of huge impact."

It is also highly recommended that we apply mission and vision statements to our own personal lives. They will help keep us focused on what it is that we are out to do and accomplish.

Investing Your Money - The Stock Market

Home of the bears and the bulls

We have all heard the stories of the person that picked a stock that turned out to be a winner and it made a lot of money. But we have also heard the stories of so many people that lost their money chasing a stock that did not perform. Stock prices are volatile and very unpredictable. On a given day a stock can soar only to lose that gain and more on the next day.

You should not invest your money in the stock market expecting short term gains. It is not the road to riches. Investors are always looking ahead attempting to predict a company's future performance. For example a company like McDonald's may be devastated if a report came out that their meals cause cancer. Could McDonald's recover from such news and overhaul its product offering. In any event McDonalds has properties all over the world that it could sell off. What about the McDonald's franchisees - what action could they take if any to protect their investments. You can see from this example anything could happen with severe effects on a company and its stock price.

Stocks go up and down - a company can be doing extremely well but investors fear current short term economic news and lose confidence in stock markets overall. Political events can impact the prices of stocks - is there a shortage of a commodity or new sources of supply have been found. You must be able to evaluate the potential of a stock over time. Do you sell your shares and take an immediate loss if your stock holdings lose value. Or is this a temporary setback that you can withstand the decline and hold your stock for a future time period.

Much has been written about how to invest in stocks successfully by many skilled investors. One of the most successful investors over time has been Warren Buffet, who on any given day is one of the Top 5 richest men in the world. Like anything else, success leaves a trail and you should follow those successful investors who have been at it for many years and weathered strong and weak markets.

Let me share with you some of the principles of successful investing. You may be a novice investor that does not understand the complexities of investing in the stock market who is hoping to make some quick gains without the possibility of losing any of your hard earned "sweat money". If you don't have the staying power you can get wiped out quickly and not even realize what happened.

We cannot control market conditions so we must establish some general rules to help us assess the performance of stocks we buy and hold.

1. Buy stocks of quality companies.

Companies with a proven record of success with strong management teams are generally expensive. How many shares of such companies can you afford to buy? Consider buying ETF's (exchange traded funds) or Mutual Funds. This will spread your money over a group of stocks and also spread your risk over several stocks at a more affordable price.

2. Make sure you understand the business. 

How can you evaluate a business if you have no clue as to what they do?

3. Make sure they are businesses with long term growth opportunities.

You want to make sure the company is involved with products that are growing. For example look at smart phones and where they are headed. Lots of customers available but prices are getting very expensive. Would you buy shares of newspapers and magazines when most people are getting their news and stories online? 

4. Be prepared to hold your investments.

You need to be able to weather the storm. Is your business going through a temporary or seasonal decline or are they on the verge of bankruptcy.

5. Does the business have strong cash flow?

It's ok for a company to borrow money if it strengthens their ability to expand or acquire new equipment in order to modernize or automate. If a company is borrowing money just to pay their operating costs they are in trouble.

6. Don't chase news headlines.

Unless it is devastating news it will pass in a few days, the stock may suffer a temporary setback but it should recover. Most stocks already have a certain element of expectations built into the current price.

7. Generally do not risk money that you will need within the next 3 years.

If you are planning to retire, get married, move or need a new house or car don't risk losing these savings as the money may not be there when you need it.

8. Stocks trade worldwide.

Do your research thoroughly. What is driving stock prices in America may not be the same as what is happening in Canada or Europe. Economies in Asia may offer better returns and value today.

9. Resist Fads.

Be careful and avoid trendy stocks like social media (Facebook and Twitter) or simply hot technology as they are unproven over time and may not have a sustainable business model that will generate steady and growing revenues. Look at what's happening to a billion dollar company like Facebook in March of 2018. UK and USA governments are ready to pounce and their data harvesting techniques and who they sell the data to. 

Good luck and many happy returns to you.