Below are some notes on the February edition of the Financial Times.

IF YOU SAVE TOO MUCH, DOES IT HURT THE ECONOMY?

According to some prominent economic thinkers from the past century, individual saving can actually make bad national financial situations even worse! So right now, with the sub-prime mortgage crisis, high fuel prices and shaky stock markets, should you consider cutting back on your saving?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN’T PAY YOUR MORTGAGE, OR YOUR PROPERTY TAXES – OR THE NATIONAL DEBT?

A brief overview of “innovative” ways to solve desperate financial circumstances. But will they really work, or just delay inevitable financial pain?

LARRY KING’S LIFE INSURANCE PROBLEMS

Life settlements can be a legitimate way to immediately leverage the financial value of insurance on your life. But the strategy has consequences, as talk show host Larry King found out. A report on his legal proceedings gives some insight to the unique value of life insurance.

PREDICTING YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL FUTURE

Economic forecasters have all sorts of formulas and indicators to predict the future. Similarly, there’s a simple way to gauge your financial future. Read an excerpt from John McCormack, on how he can tell if someone is going be financially successful.

For the full article click here.

Here is another example of how something we thought we knew and were sure of really might not be the case.

What if bad fat isn’t so bad? No one’s ever proved that saturated fat clogs arteries, causes heart disease–By Nina Teicholz.

Mens Health–updated 12:54 p.m. ET, Thurs., Dec. 13, 2007–Suppose you were forced to live on a diet of red meat and whole milk. A diet that, all told, was at least 60 percent fat — about half of it saturated. If your first thoughts are of statins and stents, you may want to consider the curious case of the Masai, a nomadic tribe in Kenya and Tanzania.

In the 1960s, a Vanderbilt University scientist named George Mann, M.D., found that Masai men consumed this very diet (supplemented with blood from the cattle they herded). Yet these nomads, who were also very lean, had some of the lowest levels of cholesterol ever measured and were virtually free of heart disease. Scientists, confused by the finding, argued that the tribe must have certain genetic protections against developing high cholesterol. But when British researchers monitored a group of Masai men who moved to Nairobi and began consuming a more modern diet, they discovered that the men’s cholesterol subsequently skyrocketed. Read the rest of this entry →

Here’s To Your Health In The New Year.

This time of year brings the joy of holidays, family and lots of food. Unfortunately, all those wonderful holiday treats come at the expense of our health and waistlines. We all know that as our weight increases, so does our risk for chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and hormonal problems.

As the New Year approaches, let’s talk about what you can do to invest in your health and your future. To shed those unwanted pounds and improve your health you must make a conscious effort to burn off more calories than you take in. To get started, we suggest you keep a food diary for one week. Write down everything you eat without making changes to your normal routine and add up your calories for each day. Use food labels, information on recipes or websites for restaurants you visit to calculate the calories, and don’t forget to check the portion size.

To lose 1 pound per week you must cut 500 calories from your diet per day or burn 500 extra calories per day by exercising or some combination of the two. As always, before starting any diet or exercise program, consult your health care provider. Even little changes make a difference. Start now. This year give yourself the gift of health. This is the most important gift you can give to yourself and to the ones who love you.

This is an interesting site about Free-Market medicine.

I particularly like this article where David Gratzer (author of The Cure) explains what the real problem is, and why socialization is not the answer. It begs the question: if we ARE in a market-driven system, why is it that costs don’t go down like other high-tech fields? The answer is: we’re NOT in a market-driven system. And it’s tough to argue that a truly market-driven system definitely wouldn’t work. So shouldn’t we try it first?

A lot of the rest of the site has videos that dispel some myths about the current system…like the number of people that are uninsured by choice, and the extent of the safety net for those who don’t have a choice.

A sister site, On the Fence Films, has a video about a brain surgery patient from Ontario which illustrates the flaws in a single-payer system.  Many of the arguments for “rationed care” simply comes to this:  only poor people are important, and those with jobs and money should have to wait just like everyone else.  Tell that to this gentleman.  The dirty truth is…even a poor person in the U.S. with no “coverage” would have better “access” than this middle class family in Ontario.  And our private system would eat the bill.

In addition, missing from the conversation of Government Health Care is the fact that local governments and non-profits have been an effective solution so far for those without private coverage.  Like the Loudoun Free Clinic, where anyone in the county who makes less than 200% of poverty can get FREE health care.

The January edition of the Financial Times is linked at the bottom. Here’s my summary:

THE REASONS NOT TO–Sometimes the best way to understand why you should do something is to also understand why not to do it. An article about what you can learn from a good financial professional by asking what not to do – along with some cautions about using the reasons not to as excuses.

THE TAX YOU CAN’T PLAN FOR–The sharp differences of opinion regarding the federal estate tax have made for some unusual legislation – and as we approach 2010, the situation will get even stranger. A quick overview of the issues, and ramifications.

ONE BAD YEAR–In non-guaranteed financial instruments, there’s always the risk of losing money, but there is the expectation that over the long haul, the losses will be overcome by gains. But it’s surprising how much impact even one bad year can have. Check out the math; you’ll be amazed!

HOW LONG IS LONG-TERM?–A companion article to the one about losing money. A new article reveals the best time horizon for profit in the stock market may be a lot longer than you think.

DETAILS, DETAILS–For many, a will doesn’t become a priority until it’s too late. However, doing a few things right on a regular basis could make it easier for everyone.

For a complete PDF of the article, click here.

Healthy, Beautiful Legs for Life!

It is estimated that more than 80 million Americans suffer from some form of vein disorder.¹ These statistics show that nearly one in three Americans over the age of 45 are affected by vein disease. Unfortunately, only 4% of those are being treated. Venous disorders are an extremely common occurrence, just like high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. They also need to be taken just as seriously.

The veins in your legs have valves that keep blood moving in one direction: back toward the heart. When these valves no longer work properly the blood can flow backwards and problems begin to occur. A back up of blood results in higher pressure in the veins, especially in the lower extremities such as the legs. The higher pressure may strain the wall of the veins causing them to enlarge. This may lead to small bluish spider veins and enlarged varicose veins that become visible bulges underneath the skin. Read the rest of this entry →

Some Key College Admissions Facts:

• Currently, more than 17 million students are enrolled in college, an all-time high.
• Grades in college prep courses, strength of curriculum, SAT/ACT Scores, and overall Grade-Point-Averages are the top factors in the admissions decision.
• Approximately 75% of 4 year colleges reports an increase in the number of applications they are receiving
• Parents and students are left on their own in developing a college admissions plan, with little assistance from high school guidance counselors.
• College search can seem overwhelming.
• Getting started early will make senior year much less stressful.
• This time in a high school student’s life means a big change in family life, too.
• Parental involvement is critical to the college admissions and selection process.

…But College Vision can really help!

• The individualized attention of the College Vision process is priceless.
• Parents are fully involved in the process with both the student and the College Coach. This makes the process very collaborative.
• Each student is different. Each parent is different. Each student requires an individualized plan and approach to the process. There is no one-size-fits-all.
• The SYLVAN Academic Assessment will identify areas, for each student, that need to be addressed. We are identifying these areas early enough to fix them. Students that don’t go through our program will most likely find out about these gaps, after they first take the SAT, which is often too late.
• Parents have the comfort in knowing that they have a resource to call at anytime.

Click here to schedule a meeting or phone conversation.

From the American Academy of Pediatrics Web Site (http://www.aap.org)

Preschoolers

• I will clean up my toys.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• I won’t tease dogs–even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids 5-12-years old

• I will drink milk and water and limit soda and fruit drinks.
• I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
• I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
• I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.*
• I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends–like someone who is shy or is new to my school.
• I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name, or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids 13-years-old and up

• I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink.
• I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
• I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one-to-two hours each day–at the most–on these activities.
• I will help out in my community–through volunteering, working with community groups, or by joining a group that helps people in need.
• I will wipe negative “self-talk” (i.e., “I can’t do it” or “I’m so dumb”) out of my vocabulary.
• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
• When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk with an adult about my choices.
• I will be careful about whom I choose to date and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence.
• I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
• When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.

*Virginia law now requires the use of a car seat or booster seat until age 8

by Tim Rankin Most of you know of the many benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in Fish Oil, from heart health to fighting depression. Now, more evidence is arising that consuming fish oil can also aid in weight loss! Click here to learn about an Australian Study showing participants who tooks fish oil lost significantly more fat than those who just exercised!

At Superslow Zone, we have recommended high dose pharmaceutical grade fish oil for our clients for years for the many health benefits offered. We offer Sealogix Fish Oil online, and carry a limited quantity in our studios. Tip: when ordering online, click the “People” link. Also order using the Autoship option and you can save 20% on the products.

Finally! The December issue of Financial Times, with the following official comments from your Trusted Financial Advisor:

RIPPLE EFFECTS OF PROSPERITY–When you have your financial stuff together, you make the world a better place. Most of the time, financial decisions are evaluated in terms of their personal impact, but well-managed and prosperous individuals also have a positive impact of society at large. Read about the interesting way in which your prosperity ripples out to others.

OVER-PAY YOUR WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE–Conventional financial wisdom often touts the idea of paying less for insurance of all kinds. But there are some occasions where overpaying might be better long-term strategy. A brief overview of paid-up additions and how using them can provide more long-term flexibility in your life insurance program.

SUB-PRIME SUBPLOTS–The financial fallout from the failure of many sub-prime mortgages is receiving major play in the financial press. But behind the headlines are several other stories, some that might be more interesting and revealing.

SPEND-DOWN MATH–The ultimate purpose of all accumulation is distribution. So after decades of saving, how do you start spending it? A little touch of math to illustrate the fundamental differences in the most prevalent spending strategies.

For the full PDF of the Newsletter, click here.