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Its a chilling nightmare. Youve just put in a transaction to double your investment in a for-profit education company in which you see real promise. You sit down to watch some television and a commercial comes on for your favorite little online university on which your financial future is now entirely dependent.

And there is its newest celebrity endorser: Jessica Simpson. She states how much she likes books and stuff. You gag on your turkey sandwich and rush back to the computer, but its too late

While this might have been a tad dramatic, its true that the right celebrity spokesperson or endorser, even if theyve done it tacitly, can ultimately have a big effect on sales and, indirectly, on a companys share price. While its hardly a reasonable strategy to pick stocks based on the celebrities endorsing their projects (Is it? Maybe someone should run the numbers on that), heres a quick look anyway at a few of the more public endorsements of late and how share prices have reacted.

JC Penney (JCP) Wonders Why All the YEllen?

Typically when a company seeks out a celebrity endorser, its looking for someone completely free of controversy. Like Tiger Woodswas. The last thing the a company wants for its brand is to be associated with a controversial or divisive issue, regardless of ones position. It was probably what the conservative group One Million Moms had in mind when it put public pressure on JC Penney to drop its new celebrity endorser comedienne and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres. The decision to go with DeGeneres, who is openly gay, was viewed by One Million Moms as not being neutral in the culture wars and led to a threat of a boycott.

Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families. More sales will be lost than gained unless they replace their spokesperson quickly, One Million Moms posted on their website.

JC Penney, though, stood behind Ellen and refused to bow to the pressure, prompting an outpouring of support on Facebook. The entire episode proved that, while its generally good policy to avoid controversy, a bold step in the public eye can create a lot of goodwill with consumers.

Ellens endorsement, announced in late January, came immediately before JC Penneys shares took off. Theyre up 22 percent since January 25th when Ellens hiring was announced along with a new plan for revamping the company from CEO and the man behind the Apple (AAPL) Store Ron Johnson.

The Round Mound of Weight Loss

Weight Watchers (WTW) has had a series of celebrity spokespeople, from Kirstie Alley to Jennifer Hudson, who got to show off their slimmed down figures while gushing about the effectiveness of Weight Watchers. Well, the most recent endorser was entirely unexpected. Charles Barkley, basketball hall-of-famer and analyst for games on TNT (TWX), has long been known for his brash demeanor and unfiltered personality. And boy did Weight Watchers get its moneys worth. Barkley was announced as a spokesperson for the company on December 13th; his first ads aired on Christmas. Since announcing Barkley as its endorser, Weight Watchers shares have gained over 30 percent.

Of course, this wasnt without Barkley creating some of his trademark controversy. Barkley stated on the evening of January 5th that his job with Weight Watchers was a bigger scam than the work he does with TNT. Barkley, in context, was referring to the fact that he thought it was a dream job to get paid to lose weight and get healthy, but the comment still ignited a public controversy that prompted statements clarifying Barkleys comments from both Weight Watchers and Barkley.

Lin-ing Up Returns

Sometimes a celebrity endorsement can come in forms other than the simple transactional variety that bagged the support of Ellen or Charles Barkley. Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks has created a nationwide sensation with his exciting play and unlikely underdog story while leading the Knicks on a six-game win streak. And, while hes still only getting paid for playing point guard, Lins success might be having unintended consequences in the markets.

The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG), the company which owns the legendary venue where the Knicks and Rangers play, has seen a boost in its stock of late. Since the start of Lins spectacular six-game run, shares of Madison Square Garden are up almost 10 percent.

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Charles PT Phoenix to speak about “Reinventing Your Financial Future” at Marriotts Harbor Beach Resort and Spa, Fort Lauderdale, February 18th, 2012

Fort Myers, Florida (PRWEB) February 14, 2012

Charles PT Phoenix of Phoenix File amp; Pagidipati PLLC, will be a speaker for the Snowbird Seminar hosted by Wayne State University. The February 18th lunch and learn event will be held at the Alumni College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. Phoenix will be speaking on the topic of Reinventing Your Financial Future. A leader in his field, which melds years of experience in both business and law, he’ll offer insights about current issues that impact everyone’s financial future. Changes in real estate markets, taxes, government regulations, the economy and social conditions are just a few of the factors that may have you thinking it’s time to reinvent your financial future.

About the Snowbird Seminar

Event title: Alumni College in Fort Lauderdale

Date: February 18, 2012

Time: 11:30am-4:30pm

Location: Marriotts Harbor Beach Resort and Spa, Ft. Lauderdale

Description: Become a member of the charter class of the Wayne State University Alumni College. Lunch and learn at the Alumni College, held at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, on Saturday, February 18. The days activities begin at 11:30 am, with a luncheon at noon featuring President Allan Gilmour.

About Phoenix File amp; Pagidipati PLLC

Phoenix File amp; Pagidipati PLLC combines legal backgrounds with seamless service to produce progressive legal solutions for clients for today’s changing world and businesses as they face big challenges. Phoenix File amp; Pagidipati looks to help clients unlock value in assets and targets through corporate law, commercial litigation, dispute resolution, reorganization, Chapter 11 representation, contract negotiation, construction law, tax representation, sports and entertainment management, and other approaches. For more information, visit http://www.PhoenixFile.com or call 239.461.0101.

Phoenix File amp; Pagidipati PLLC is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebTop-Law-Firm-FL/Snowbird-Seminar/prweb9193461.htm

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When we talk about managing your financial future, that really runs the gamut. From debt management to college, wedding and business planning. From investing and tax strategies to estate planning and business succession.

Your financial life is complicated, and it’s important that all aspects of your plan be as cohesive as they are comprehensive.

This article is the first installment in a series, scheduled to be published on the last Sunday of each month, designed to help you develop and coordinate a “trust team” of professional advisers to help you manage your financial plan.

You may have an entire team of advisers — each skilled in a different capacity — so you think you’ve got your bases covered. But do they work together as a cohesive team to meet all your personal goals?

Probably not. Today, the field of financial advice is so complex that it requires in-depth understanding of the many products, tools, strategies and philosophies in each discipline and how they can work together. On top of that, the range of credentials that keep cropping up is mind-boggling.

For example, given the growing generation of seniors today, there’s a whole new industry of professionals available to protect and serve this population. For example, a geriatric care manager works on a senior’s behalf to coordinate care and communication regarding physical and cognitive concerns. An elder mediator, on the other hand, specializes in helping adult siblings resolve contentious issues associated with elderly parents.

This just goes to show that advisers can be specialists within a specific area, but they’re not likely to have your entire financial picture in mind when providing advice.

Combine these specialists with your attorney, CPA, financial adviser or insurance agent, and you may lose sight of who is responsible for what. And if you can’t figure it out … well, they sure can’t do that for you.

No true professional can claim to be a “jack of all trades” in today’s complicated field of financial advice.

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Make it count are you taking the right steps to ensure you have secured your financial future? Illustration: Karl Hilzinger

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NEW YORK, NY, Feb 07, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Citi today launched the new Women & Co., the acclaimed personal
finance source for women, unveiling its redesigned website –
womenandco.com — and making its trusted and relevant commentary
available to all women. Launched in 2000, and previously available
only to Citi customers, Women & Co. is now available to any woman who
wants to improve her finances and strengthen her financial
foundation.

The new website, redesigned based on extensive user feedback, is
organized around the areas women say matter most: career, family,
home, investments, and lifestyle, as well as a Special Features
section, which includes Get Started, The Grapevine, Start Talking,
and the award-winning blog Insights & Outlook. Women & Co. is one of
the longest running personal finance websites for women.

“At Citi, one of our biggest responsibilities is to listen to our
customers, and build tools and services that help simplify their
financial lives. Women & Co. is one of the most unique and targeted
avenues to do that, and we’re thrilled to expand its reach,” said
Citi Global Consumer Chief Marketing and Internet Officer Michelle
Peluso. “Just as we recently launched the new Citibank Online and
Citibank for iPad to simplify and enhance the customer experience,
Women & Co. has completely re-imagined itself as an online center of
activity that brings to life information on the financial issues
women say matter most.”

“As women increasingly take on a major financial role in the
household, their need for trusted financial expertise, commentary,
and ideas has grown, adding to the list of competing priorities
already fighting for their attention,” said Linda Descano, CFA(R),
President and CEO of Women & Co. “Our mission at Women & Co. is to
move the topic of money from the top of a woman’s mind to the tip of
her tongue. By providing financial insight, when, where, and how she
wants it, Women & Co. helps her shape the financial future for
herself and her family.”

As part of the re-launch, Descano outlined the five conversations
women should consider having, in order to set or evaluate their
personal financial goals. To improve your finances and strengthen
your financial future, Descano suggests having five conversations in
2012:

1. The money talk with yourself: It may sound obvious, but one of the
most important financial conversations to have in 2012, may be the
one you have with yourself. Take some time to think about your
financial life and don’t let it fall to the bottom of your to-do
list. Assess what you are doing well and where you can improve your
financial management skills and commit to spending time every week or
every day to think and talk about money. womenandco.com is a great
place to start.

2. The money talk with your partner or spouse: Talking about money
can be an emotionally charged subject for couples, but it’s an
important conversation to have regularly, whether you are just
starting out or have been together for many years. Start the New Year
off right, by going over things such as your individual financial
styles, how you will manage household vs. personal money, your short
and long-term goals, roles and responsibilities for daily and
long-term financial decisions such as who will pay for what bills,
and how you plan to keep the conversation going, in order to really
establish financial harmony.

3. The money talk with young children. Whether you have kids of your
own, or you just spend a lot of time with someone else’s kids,
talking to kids about money early on can be a great way to establish
good financial habits for life. You can use everyday activities to
get them thinking about financial topics such as savings, emergency
funds, and credit.

4. The money talk with aging parents. People are living longer these
days, and while we are happy for those extra years, they inevitably
mean that we need to put away more money. To help your parents
maintain their financial independence, it’s important to have the
money talk to make sure they are prepared. What’s more, as women are
more likely to take time out of the workforce to care for aging
parents, it is also important for your own financial health to have
the talk. You’ll want to discuss things like: where they keep
important documents, what kinds of plan they have in place, and what
their financial situation looks like today. The more you know about
your parent’s financial situation, the better positioned you are to
help them.

5. The money talk with friends. One of the easiest ways to keep on
top of finances is to simply talk money with your friends. Make it a
habit in the New Year to talk to or pass along any finance or savings
tips you pick up and check out the Women & Co. blog to see what other
women are saying.

For more tips and “how to” guidance, visit the Start Talking section
on womenandco.com. Also, visit Women & Co.’s award-winning blog,
Insights and Outlooks.

Women & Co., a service of Citi, is the go-to source online for what
women want to know about personal finance. To sign up for free, go to
womenandco.com.

About Women & Co.
Women & Co., a service of Citi, is the go-to
personal finance source for women. By providing financial content,
commentary and community, Women & Co.’s mission is to get women
thinking and talking about personal finance. Founded in 2000, Women &
Co. is one of the longest running personal finance websites dedicated
to helping women strengthen their financial futures.

About Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has
approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more
than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers,
corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of
financial products and services, including consumer banking and
credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage,
transaction services, and wealth management.

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Media Contacts:
To schedule an interview with Linda Descano, CFA®, of Women & Co., please contact:
Andrew Brent
212.559.1299
Email Contact

or

Gabrielle Gugliocciello
o: 646-500-7690
m: 314-494-8715
Email Contact

SOURCE: Citi

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=D2F5D2F102F6E81F

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=98B7A796FA122D40

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

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Mumbai: New car sales in India climbed 7.2% year-on-year in January as the sector showed further signs of recovery from its slump in 2011, an industry body said on Wednesday.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said domestic passenger car sales rose to 196,013 last month from 182,852 in January 2011, marking the third straight monthly gain for the sector.

Discounts from auto manufacturers, new car launches and improved demand for diesel vehicles have helped the industry bounce back.

Sales of trucks and buses – a key indicator of economic activity – climbed in January by nearly 14% to 69,859 units from a year earlier, SIAM said.

India, which has been one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets, saw sales fall earlier in the financial year as many buyers deferred purchases or cancelled them due to costly loans and rising fuel costs.

Sandeep Bhatnagar/Mint

And the upturn in demand may not be enough for the industry to reach its target of up to two percent growth for this fiscal year to 31 March SIAM said.

“Car sales are improving but it may not be sufficient to get the industry into positive territory by March,” said SIAM’s senior director Sugato Sen.

“We need to see 10% growth in passenger car sales each in February and March, to achieve our projection.”

Also See | (Graphic)

India last saw negative growth in annual car sales in 2002, analysts said.

SIAM forecasts car sales will grow between 11 and 13% in the next financial year, which starts on 1April, 2012.

Analysts believe car sales will keep improving in the coming months with India’s central bank expected to start lowering interest rates as inflation shows signs of moderating.

Maruti reported earlier this month that sales in January rose for the first time in eight months, while rival carmakers have continued to show a steady pace of growth.

India, a country of 1.2 billion people, remains a hotspot for global automakers thanks to its stronger expansion compared with sluggish Western economies.

Car ownership remains low in India where the growing economy is minting new middle class families each year.

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A brand that more than 12 years ago was criticized for its
lackluster design and poor build quality was recognized recently as
Americas best.

The Hyundai Elantra earned the nod as the 2012 North American
Car of the Year at the 19th annual North American International
Auto Show at Detroits Cobo Center last month.

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque received high marks as the
2012 North American Truck of the Year.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new
vehicles of the year. Those vehicles are benchmarks in their
segments based on factors such as innovation, comfort, design,
safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

This year, no Japanese automakers were among the three finalists
for North American Car of the Year. Instead, those in the running
were the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat.

The award marks the second win for Hyundai. The Hyundai Genesis
won in 2009, and the Hyundai Sonata was one of three finalists last
year.

Hyundai is a rags-to-riches story, said jury member Dave Van
Sickle, of Motor Matters Syndicate. Prior to 1998, their sales and
reputation were in the Dumpster. It took hard work and tight focus
on improvement to put Hyundai where they are today — and in just 14
years.

Hyundai has sold more than 200,000 Elantras since the new model
was introduced in 2010. The popular compact car was designed in
California and achieves 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

Detroit hauls empty

To the disappointment of Built in America loyalists, there was
an absence of Detroit truck builders among the truck award
finalists: the BMW X3, Honda CR-V and Range Rover Evoque.

Evoque netted the first win for Land Rover, although the British
brand has been a finalist twice before.

Range Rover successfully charts a new direction for the
venerable SUV trailblazer with a fresh design and advanced thinking
about environmental issues, said Alex Taylor, of Fortune
magazine.

Domestic auto manufacturers have won North American Car of the
Year 10 times. Japanese automakers have captured the award three
times and European automakers four times. A Korean automaker has
won twice.

American automakers have captured the honor of North American
Truck of the Year 12 times. Japanese automakers have won on four
occasions and European automakers three times.

A jury of 50 prominent automotive journalists chose the winners.
They represented newspapers, magazines, websites, and television
and radio stations in Canada and the US

This years awards were the strongest showing by European
automakers in 15 years with BMW, Land Rover and Volkswagen each
having finalists. In 1997, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and BMW were the
three car finalists, with the winner being the Mercedes SLK.

The 2011 North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet
Volt.

Ford Explorer took last years 2011 North American Truck of the
Year award.

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The chairman of the board, Mary Nichols, oversaw the enactment of these new rules, which require that 15 percent of all new cars sold in California by 2025 emit little or no pollution and that the state reduce emissions of smog-forming pollutants by 75 percent. The rules are expected to result in 1.4 million zero- and low-emission vehicles — electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell — reaching California auto showrooms over the next dozen years, compared to roughly 10,000 on the road there today. And it’s a near certainty that once built, those models won’t just be sold in California, but in the other 49 states, as well.

In an interview with Yale Environment 360 contributor Paul Rogers, Nichols — who has headed the board since 2007 — explains why California has consistently led the US in passing the toughest air pollution and vehicle mileage standards, why Detroit automakers have decided to endorse California’s new rules, and why US and international car makers are on the verge of a clean-car revolution. “Auto manufacturers have finally come to the conclusion that their future lies in very efficient, very clean vehicles,” says Nichols.

Yale Environment 360: Why did California pass these rules?

Mary Nichols: California has been working on these rules for decades. Really, this is just the latest version of a program that has been in effect since the 1960s, which began because we were the first place to discover smog and to begin to take action to deal with the problem of pollution caused by motor vehicles. But this most recent round of standards is one

We’ve concluded that we’re going to need a fleet of vehicles that is not primarily running on conventional fuels.”

that reflects a real change in viewpoint about what the future of our transportation system is going to look like. Basically we have concluded that when you look at the rates of growth in travel and the even greater problems of energy use, dependence on imported petroleum, as well as global warming and our contribution to it, we’re going to need a fleet of vehicles that is not primarily running on conventional fuels. And so we’re looking for ways to help speed up the transition to a fleet of vehicles that are extremely clean and efficient. And we’re setting standards for their design that help use the power of the California marketplace to do that.

e360: And what impact do you think these rules will have on the entire auto industry in the United States?

Nichols: Well, California buys about 10 percent of all the new cars that are sold every year. But we have even more influence than that over the design of future vehicles because every car manufacturer from the largest to the most innovative start-ups uses us as a design laboratory because they know that Californians know cars and they really like them. The term “love affair with the car” might be an exaggeration, but not too much.

e360: So you see these rules as changing the way all Americans drive, not just Californians?

Nichols: Yes, clearly cars that are manufactured for the California marketplace also get sold outside of California. But we also have 13 states that followed California’s lead automatically. They’ve signed up for the California car program. Those states include all the states in the Northeast plus Oregon and New Mexico. They are going to be requiring that all the cars sold in their states meet California’s standards.

e360: The standards that the air board passed are pretty far reaching. They require 15 percent of all new vehicles by 2025 to have zero emissions, which as a practical matter means all electrical, hydrogen fuel cell, or plug-in electric. Why do you think the auto industry generally supported them, when in the past it has filed lawsuits to block laws California has previously passed?

Nichols: I think that the auto manufacturers have finally — maybe a bit belatedly — come to the conclusion that their future lies in very efficient, very clean vehicles. If they are going to be able to continue to provide cars

We are prepared to provide direct incentives toward the initial cost of some of these vehicles.”

for places where the demand is really growing, like Asia and other developing parts of the world, they’re going to have to compete in an arena where gasoline is extremely expensive and, in some cases, almost impossible to obtain. They’ve also got to recognize that gasoline prices are going up and that there is a need for extremely clean fuels that can meet other demands, as well, in some of the most polluted areas on the planet, including India and China.

Alternative fuel vehicles are going to be hot sellers as soon as there are enough cars available and the fuel suppliers come along and fill the demand for whatever the future fuel is going to be. The demand in the parts of the world where people are becoming more prosperous is almost insatiable for vehicles. The first thing that people buy when they get to the point where they have a little disposable income — people want mobility. First, electric bicycles, then motorcycles, then a car — that seems to be an almost iron rule at this point. The car companies are going to have to have cars that meet that customer demand.

e360: In terms of the American consumer, what would you say to critics who say that government can force suppliers to make a certain amount of vehicles, like electric vehicles, but it can’t force the public to buy them? That they might all be left sitting on lots.

Nichols: Well, we agree that there’s more to be done than simply to mandate the vehicles. We view our mandate program as giving a floor so that the manufacturers know that this is the minimum that we are going to be asking of them. But we are predicting that these cars are going to do much better than the minimum. The only way we are going to achieve that

The political will to require cleaner cars in California goes back to the discovery of smog.”

is through government taking responsibility that the changeover to new kinds of fuels is as simple as possible for the consumer — that is, making sure that there is easy access to electric charging or other ultra clean fuels. We are also prepared — as we already are doing — to provide direct incentives toward the initial cost of some of these vehicles. We know that until we’ve gotten the demand up and the volumes of production in place, that the initial cost of the new vehicles is going to be a deterrent to some. We want to be sure these cars are widely available, that people see them in the showrooms, and that they want to buy them.

e360: Sounds like the incentives you are talking about are tax credits and access to carpool lanes, things like that?

Nichols: Yes, exactly. Actually, we offer direct rebate funding thanks to a program in California called AB 118, which is a surcharge on vehicle registration fees. Some of that money goes into consumer rebates for purchasing zero-emission vehicles.

e360: How will a showroom in California or the United States look differently 10 years from now because of this rule?

Nichols: We expect that at least one out of every seven cars in that showroom is going to be a plug-in vehicle.

e360: In a wider sense, California has also passed some groundbreaking legislation on climate change with AB 32. Can you talk a little bit about how this clean car package of rules fits in with AB 32?

Nichols: AB 32, which is the state’s global warming law, was actually founded on the basis of our vehicle emissions rules for greenhouse gases. In 2002 the legislature ordered the resources board to start treating greenhouse gases as air pollutants and to set emissions standards for them. The standards were actually set in 2004. They weren’t implemented until after Obama came into office because the Bush administration held up the waiver that California needed to enforce our standards. We were already planning on addressing the problem of the contribution that our motor vehicles make to the overall problem of global warming. In California, [vehicles] are our largest contributor. In passing AB 32, the legislature told us to adopt a plan that would meet the standards of the Kyoto treaty and bring our overall emissions as a state back to 1990 levels by 2020, which meant they [included] our electricity system and our other major industrial sources of pollution, such as oil refineries. But the first step was to look at cars and see what we could do there.

e360: Finally California has a 50-year history of passing tougher air pollution regulations than the rest of the country. Can you talk a little about why that’s the case and what the effects have been?

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New Jersey State law mandates that students beginning with the class of 2015 must prove proficient in the course known as Financial Literacy.  Freshmen this year are familiar with this required course that replaces their elective freshman year, but the rest of Monmouth is not. 

According to the objectives of this program, Financial Literacy intends to educate young American citizens about finances.  The hope is that this may help the American economy out of its ever-increasing debt since the current youth of America are the ones who will soon be in control of the economy. The actual Financial Literacy course is broken up into three subsections. The actual Financial Literacy section lasts for two consecutive marking periods; and the Leadership and Career/Study Skills each last for one marking period.

The Financial Literacy component focuses mainly on how to save money. Students learn how to invest their money, where to invest their money, and most importantly, how to keep their money without losing any. One the teachers of this class, Mrs. Cilino, say she finds educating freshmen about such finances important: “I absolutely think that every student should have financial literacy. There’s no reason that they can’t learn it now. The earlier off you start saving and investing, the better off your financial future will be.”  She says that most current upperclassmen are not prepared for their future from a financial standpoint.   Freshman Michael Yang says “Financial Literacy is hard and confusing, but useful.”

But the issue has been raised about what age students should be enrolled in the financial literacy component. For instance, Mrs. Donnelly says she taught financial literacy to freshmen during the same time she was teaching independent living to seniors. She noticed that the seniors were more receptive than the freshmen. Most seniors, for example, might have a different set of life circumstances in which a financial knowledge would be applicable. Seniors are more likely to drive and have car expenses while enrolled; and some may work and receive some sort of personal income.

Mrs. Kampf, who teaches the career portion of the course, points out that the course gets in the way of letting freshmen take one year of an elective, so they’ll never be able to reach a fourth level in any elective.  Freshman Haley Pszeniczny says “it is pointless to take the class now because students would probably forget everything they learned in the class by the time they graduate.”

Mrs. Donnelly also speaks of the importance of opening up freshmen eyes to what’s happening in the economy in order to build a financial foundation for them. But she makes the point, “Only time will tell how much of it will be retained.” It’s up to each individual freshman to decide how he/she wants to treat this graduation requirement. Keeping in mind if he/she fails the course, it will come back around to haunt him/her the following school year. That’s why it is imperative that freshmen strive to do the best they can in Financial Literacy.

The Career Readiness section of this course is designed to help students identify what they love and what skills and abilities they have in hopes of each student’s identifying viable career options. This course helps freshmen to identify their values and figure out what kind of lifestyle they would like to pursue. Freshmen are exposed to careers they might be interested in through formal research projects. The ultimate goal of this course is to teach freshmen how to mature, live their lives independently and to support themselves according to their income.

This course explores the reality that not all jobs are equal and not everybody needs to go to college if their future job does not require it. However, students are taught that it is more than likely that their amount of education ultimately will determine how much money they make. Most importantly, this course exposes freshmen to the reality that high school does matter and teaches them to value their education. Mrs. DiDonato, who teaches this class, paraphrases Winston Churchill, “You don’t plan to fail. You fail to plan.” She also says how it is important for freshmen to “get serious about education now so they can save money later.”

She describes the importance of freshmen looking into their future careers since the occupation they choose to pursue will ultimately lead to a label or identity that will forever be attached. Mrs. DiDonato explains how taking the career course as a freshman will also assist in helping students choose future electives that accommodate their interests so that they can save money by using their high school credits in school towards their future jobs. Since careers largely define each individual’s future, she says that the careers section of financial literacy could be of great assistance to those students who choose to take it seriously.

The Leadership component of the course examines the attitudes that will foster success in school and beyond. The objective of this class is to teach students how to become a successful individual both now and in the future. Four core principles are inculcated into the minds of young students: respect, accountability, responsibility, and trust. Teacher Mr. Morrell says that teaching students accountability “gets them thinking about it at a younger age.” Having taken the class, Freshmen Sierra Melli says, “It will help me be motivated and driven to my future and my goals in life.” Leadership hopes to encourage students to reach their goals.

The students and staff at Monmouth have different opinions about the newly required course. Staff members who teach the class believe that it is a good addition to students’ high school experience. While on the other hand, some freshmen, like Juliana Peters, feel that it the class is hassle and pointless. Zach St.John says since freshmen are already overwhelmed with the new high school experience, adding another mandatory class to the curriculum does not make the transition any easier. St. John says that if a student is not interested in the class, it becomes a bother since it is a graduation requirement.

Is the class a waste of time or a helpful way to plan for the future?   It depends on the underclassmen’s point of view and how they decide to look at the

We focus on the subject of poor credit auto loan finance as well as used auto loans across America by making use of our own elite auto finance loan companies.

TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
TD poll finds some surprising misconceptions about planning for
retirement -

Canadians have a variety of misconceptions
about their finances for retirement, from when they should start saving
to the amount they will need, according to a recent TD poll. With the
RRSP deadline coming up on February 29, 2012, time is of the essence to
separate the myths from reality to help Canadians plan appropriately
for their retirement.

“While planning and saving for retirement is different for everyone,
there are some basic fundamentals to keep in mind with respect to
things like when to start saving, how much you need to save and
weathering the stormy markets,” says Crystal Wong, Senior Regional
Manager, TD Waterhouse Financial Planning. “An important starting point
is to determine what your ideal retirement lifestyle is like, then set
financial goals and work with an advisor to develop a comprehensive
plan to help you attain those goals. This will help you feel more
confident about your financial future.”

Wong unveils some of the myths held by Canadians about retirement
financial planning and provides advice to Canadians about how they can
act now in order to achieve their dream retirement:

Myth: You should focus on eliminating debt before saving for your
retirement.

The majority of Canadians (63%) think you should focus on eliminating
debt before saving for retirement, and 66% also feel you should never
retire with debt.

“Retiring without any debt may not be realistic for some Canadians. It’s
important to pay down as much debt as possible before retiring, but
it’s also essential to strike a balance between reducing debt and
saving for retirement,” says Wong. “The first step is to review your
current financial situation and your retirement goals. This is where an
advisor comes in. They can help you formalize a financial plan that
works towards eliminating your debt, starting with any high-interest
debt, so you can get on the right track for your financial future.”

Myth: In an economic downturn it’s safer to sell your investments and
only put your money in guaranteed investments.

Forty-two percent of Canadians believe that putting money only in
guaranteed investments or selling investments is the safest strategy
during an economic downturn.

“The reality is there will always be fluctuations in the markets, but
that doesn’t mean you should sell and run. In times of market
volatility it’s essential to stick to your plan and not react
emotionally,” says Wong. “Just as saving for retirement is a long-term
process, having your money in the equity market is a long-term
investment. An advisor can help you determine the right asset
allocation for your portfolio, which will optimize potential returns
without exposure to inappropriate levels of risk.”

Myth: The older you get, the less money you will spend/need for
day-to-day expenses.

Almost half (46%) of Canadians believe your expenses will decrease as
you age.

“Despite the fact that our expenses may decrease as we enter our
retirement years, recent surveys of retired Canadians have told us that
their daily expenses are higher than they anticipated. This may be
because they haven’t taken into account everyday expenses such as
dental and health care, or unforeseen expenses such as accidents or
home repair,” says Wong. “You should work with an advisor to estimate
what your expenses will be in retirement, and calculate to ensure that
you are saving enough now to pay for these future expenses when you
probably will not be generating as much income.”

Myth: You don’t need to have money in the stock market to grow your
retirement nest egg.

Only 36% of Canadians believe that investing in the stock market is an
important way to establish a financially-secure retirement.

“Similar to many things in life, when it comes to retirement savings,
it’s important to ensure you establish a good balance,” adds Wong.
“With the recent volatility in the markets, you can help protect your
retirement nest egg by having a variety of investments and savings
products, including equities, bonds, and savings vehicles such as an
RRSP or TFSA. Your portfolio should also contain a mix of conservative
and more aggressive investments, depending on the number of years you
have until retirement and your comfort level, which will help you
maximize your retirement savings.”

TD ‘Retirement Mythbusters’ Quiz

How much do you know about being on the right track for your retirement
savings? Can you separate the myths from reality? Take this easy quiz
to find out.

True or false?

1. The odds are I won’t live to 90, so I don’t need to plan for my money to
last.

False: The reality is that Canadians are living longer than ever before, many
into their nineties. Therefore it’s important to ensure that you have
enough savings so you don’t have to worry about outliving your money.

2. The best time to start saving for retirement is when you’re about 40
or when you’re more established financially.

False: While it’s never too late to start saving, it’s best to start as early
as possible, ideally when you are finished school and have a full-time
job. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow,
and the larger your retirement nest egg will be.

3. You need 75% of your working income to get by in your retirement.

True: Depending on what you plan to do in retirement, and whether or not you
have any debt, it’s safe to estimate that you will need 60-80% of your
working income to continue to lead the same lifestyle in retirement
that you had during your working years.

4. The best way to fund your retirement is through the equity in your
home.

False: While relying on the sale of your home is a good way to boost your
retirement savings, unless you’re planning to downsize significantly,
it likely won’t generate enough money to last throughout your golden
years. It’s important to ensure you have additional savings and
investments, such as money in an RRSP, TFSA, pension or equities.

5. You need to have a lot of money to invest in an RRSP.

False: Saving a small amount as soon as you start working full time, and
increasing the amount you invest as you earn more money, can result in
a rather golden nest egg thanks to the power of compound interest and
dividends.

About the TD Poll:
Results for this study were collected through a custom, online survey
fielded by Environics Research Group. A total of 1,006 completed
surveys were collected with Canadians aged 25-64 who are not retired.
Data was collected between November 22-December 2, 2011.

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as
TD Bank Group (TD). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by
branches and serves approximately 20.5 million customers in four key
businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres
around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including
TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; Wealth and Insurance,
including TD Waterhouse, an investment in TD Ameritrade, and TD
Insurance; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Bank,
America’s Most Convenient Bank, and TD Auto Finance U.S.; and Wholesale
Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world’s
leading online financial services firms, with more than 7.5 million
online customers. TD had CDN $733 billion in assets on October 31,
2011.

About TD Waterhouse
TD Waterhouse represents the products and services offered by TD
Waterhouse Canada Inc. (Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund), TD
Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc., TD Waterhouse Insurance
Services Inc., TD Waterhouse Private Banking (offered by The
Toronto-Dominion Bank) and TD Waterhouse Private Trust (offered by The
Canada Trust Company). TD Waterhouse Financial Planning is a division
of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.

SOURCE TD Bank Group

PDF with caption: “TD Waterhouse Retirement Mythbusters – True or False Quiz”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9514.pdf

Image with caption: “You should never retire with any debt (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9505.jpg

Image with caption: “You should have money in the stock market to grow your retirement nest egg (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9506.jpg

Image with caption: “You should focus on eliminating debt before saving for your retirement (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9507.jpg

Image with caption: “You need 75% of your working income to get by in retirement (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9508.jpg

Image with caption: “The older you get, the less money you need for day-to-day expenses (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9509.jpg

Image with caption: “In an economic downturn, it’s safer to put money only in guaranteed investments (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)”. Image available at:

http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8599_PHOTO_EN_9510.jpg

PDF with caption: “TD Retirement Mythbusters – BC Fact Sheet”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9517.pdf

PDF with caption: “TD Retirement Mythbusters – Alberta Fact Sheet”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9519.pdf

PDF with caption: “TD Retirement Mythbusters – Manitoba-Saskatchewan Fact Sheet”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9516.pdf

PDF with caption: “TD Retirement Mythbusters – Ontario Fact Sheet”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9515.pdf

PDF with caption: “TD Retirement Mythbusters – Atlantic Canada Fact Sheet”. PDF available at:

http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/02/20120202_C8599_DOC_EN_9518.pdf

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Nationwide Auto Lending delivers auto finance for an auto loan if you have very bad credit or alternatively bankruptcy proceeding.