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Sound Business Plan is Crucial to Success-Video

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 at 9:42 PM

All the experts will all tell you that a sound business plan is an absolute must if you’re going to make it in the business world. Forget about the info-commercials and ads that show you the mansions, expensive cars and suitcases full of money. All of that is just a sales pitch to get you to buy into a program that promises that you’ll be filthy stinking rich almost overnight with very little work. Unfortunately the real world just doesn’t work that way. As they say, if it was that easy then everybody would be doing it and it wouldn’t have any value. To get on the right track to a real and successful business, watch the video below.

Top Steel Exec Gets Huge Raise & Shareholders Get the Shaft

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 10:15 PM

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It’s a story that’s not new because we’ve all heard it so many times before over the years. Only the names have changed. New guy takes over the top spot in the company. Results are nothing to write home about or brag about at the golf course, but top guy still gets super achiever raises. Any manager below him would have been fired a long time ago, or money taken out of his check for poor performance. Where’s the justice?

Let’s hear it for the corporate boss who gets a 20% raise — or maybe 88%, depending how you count — when his company lost shareholders 6.4% for the year, saw returns trail the S&P 500 by 8.5 percentage points, and has seen returns trail its industry by 12 points over the last three years.

This man of steel — whose compensation can withstand the slings and arrows of muddled performance — is none other than the chairman and chief executive of steelmaker Nucor (NUE), Daniel R. DiMicco. According to the proxy filed this morning, DiMicco’s total compensation rose to $8.1 million for 2011, from $6.8 million in 2010. The biggest chunk of that change came from his cash bonus, which rose to $1.5 million from $540,000.

That’s using the standard compensation calculation required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. But like many companies chafing at the comp-disclosure bit, Nucor offers an “alternative” calculus — and one that is even more eye-opening: By Nucor’s measure, DiMicco’s 2011 pay rose a whopping 88% over the prior year, to $5.3 million from $2.8 million. (The chief difference between the two measures is that the “alternative” attempts to exclude “compensation that may possibly be earned but is not guaranteed” by ignoring options and reducing the stock-award value by some voodoo the company doesn’t explain very clearly.)

Shareholders, meantime, would have done better to invest in just about any major stock index during 2011 (the period covered by the proxy). The one place shareholders would have done worse, on a total-return basis, is the rest of the steel industry, and we do have to give Nucor some credit here. Nucor outstripped the steel industry by 28 points in 2011, after trailing it by 9 points in 2010 and by 107 points in 2009. DiMicco has run the company since 2000, and has been chairman since 2006; looking over the past three, five and 10 years, the company’s total return has trailed the steel industry’s by between 5 and 12 percentage points, and the S&P 500 by even more.

Source

The shareholders of this company would have been a lot better off by spreading the risk into other investments. Get #1 Strong Buy Picks from Zacks

Latest Aggressive Growth Stock Pick from Zacks

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 8:38 PM

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If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck…

The same is true for picking stocks. When you see a stock like this that’s showing consistent positive results, it’s not a duck. It’s a winner and the thing to do now is to jump on it and grab it with both hands.

Wesco (WCC) delivered three consecutive positive earnings surprises that have shown earnings acceleration. Add in some higher estimates and you have all the components of a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy).

Company Description

Wesco International, Inc. is a leading provider of electrical products and other industrial MRO supplies and services in North America. The company is also a provider of Integrated Supply services. Their Integrated Supply solutions and outsourcing services fulfill a customer’s industrial MRO procurement needs through a highly automated, proprietary electronic procurement and inventory replenishment system. It operates 400 branches and 8 distribution centers located in North America and internationally. WESCO International, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

WCC Tops Expectations Three Straight Times

WCC has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last three quarters. One of the beats, in the September 2011 quarter saw the company post earnings of $1.13, $0.09 ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04. The stock then moved higher by 10% after that 8.6% beat.

The string of beats started in the June 2011 quarter when the company posted EPS of one dollar, but that was seven cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.93. The stock moved higher by nearly 7% following the report.

WCC Recently Reported Earnings

On January 26, 2012 the company reported revenue of $1.59 billion roughly $63 million more than the Zacks Consensus Estimate and up from the $1.33 billion reported in the year ago period. EPS of $1.12 was $0.15 ahead of the estimate or a 15% beat. As a result the stock moved higher by about 6.5%.

Aggressive growth investors love to see beats, but they love it even more when the company increases the acceleration of earnings momentum with stronger beats on an absolute and percentage basis. WCC has done just that in its last three beats.

Earnings Estimates Bumped Up

Following the most recent earnings report, analysts bumped up their earnings estimates for 2012. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2012 EPS moved from $4.34 in December 2011 to the current level of $4.70.

Source

This stock is rated a strong buy by Zack’s. If you would like to see more of these winners Get #1 Strong Buy Picks from Zacks

Tax Cuts, Political Promises and Outright Lies

Friday, February 24th, 2012 at 12:31 PM

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taxes (Photo credit: 401K)

As the election year wears on we’re constantly being bombarded by the political machines of the candidates. They all think that they have the best plan to fix the economy, cut taxes, put more money in your pocket and create more jobs. They all promise the voters the best of all worlds but the stark reality after the election is always somthing a lot different. Here’s one take on reality…

A number of proposals on taxes and the budget have come out recently, one by President Obama, one by Mitt Romney, and one by a friend, John Mauldin.

Every one of the proposals are fatally flawed, most of the for multiple reasons. Before one can fix a problem one must understand it.

In general, Democrats want to raise taxes and spend money.

Republicans on the other hand generally want to cut taxes and spend money. Military spending and Medicare spending both soared under Republican. Bush signed a disastrous Medicare bill.

Both parties claim to be against deficit spending. However, if neither party wants deficit spending then why are their deficits?

Before we get to what’s wrong let’s take a short look at some recent proposals.

Tax Cuts to Prosperity

Mitt Romney proposes A Tax Reform to Restore America’s Prosperity

First, I will make an across-the-board, 20% reduction in marginal individual income tax rates.

Second, I will reduce the corporate tax rate to 25% from 35%, transition from a world-wide taxation system to a territorial one, and make the R&D tax credit permanent.

Third, I will promote savings and investment by maintaining the low 15% rate on capital gains, interest and qualified dividends, and eliminate the tax entirely for those with annual income below $200,000.

Fourth, I will take long overdue steps to correct failures in the tax code. I will abolish the death tax, whose primary effect today is to foster elaborate schemes for transferring wealth. I will also repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was intended to make the code simpler and fairer but has accomplished precisely the opposite.

Fifth, I will bring stability to the tax code by making these changes permanent.

A Simple Question

Excuse me for asking a simple question: How the hell are you going to pay for this?

What spending cuts would Romney make? He did not have the decency to say.

Take another look at point number 5. It’s a blatant lie. There is no way to make changes permanent. Any Congress at any time can make tax changes undoing prior Congressional actions.

Source

So who are we to believe? Your guess is as good anybody’s. Just put all the names in a hat and pick one. Works every time for me.

Rare Coins: A Viable Investment Alternative

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 6:00 PM

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High-quality rare coins increased in value in 2011, but buyers and sellers should be prudent and deal with experienced, reputable dealers, advises the nonprofit Professional Numismatists Guild.

Rare coins, especially those in high-grade condition, performed well in 2011, according to various independent analysis by numismatic experts. “Blue chip” coins rose over ten percent in value last year, according to one tabulation, and the top 100 rare coins sold at public auctions last year brought over 27 percent more money than the top 100 a year earlier.

“Rare coins are an enjoyable hobby and part of some people’s long-term portfolios, but buyers — and sellers — should remember the important adage: If you don’t know rare coins, you better know your rare coin dealer,” said Jeffrey Bernberg, President of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com).

Founded in 1955, the PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers who must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics (http://www.pngdealers.com/category.php?category_id=6) in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.

“Some experts estimated the 2011 U.S. rare coin market at over $10 billion, not including the sales of modern bullion coins or items sold directly by the United States Mint. Like stocks, bonds, artwork or real estate, numismatics is a highly specialized field with its own terminology and ‘rules of the game,’ and prices can go up or down. In the past, the greatest financial gain has accrued to those who have taken the time to read about coins and learn the basics before making a large investment,” Bernberg advised.

“Select a reputable dealer. PNG members must demonstrate knowledge, responsibility and integrity in their business dealings, and must agree to binding arbitration to settle any unresolved disagreements over numismatic property.”

The Professional Numismatists Guild has 270 members in the United States and seven other countries. A complete list of PNG members can be found online at www.PNGdealers.com.

Several authoritative sources all reported increased prices in 2011 for high-grade U.S. rare coins.

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (www.NGCcoin.com), the PNG’s official authentication and grading service, annually tracks the top 100 prices realized for NGC-certified rare coins sold at public auctions conducted by four of the largest US numismatic auction companies. There was a 27.3 percent increase in the average price for the top 100 at auctions in 2011; an average of $204,355 per coin compared to $160,571 in 2010, according to NGC Auction Central.

PNG member-dealer and certified public accountant Patrick A. Heller of Lansing, Michigan, Editor of the “Liberty’s Outlook” newsletter (http://www.libertycoinservice.com/images/stories/lcsnewsletter/current/currentnews.pdf), annually tracks the numismatic market in a half dozen different categories. He calculated that high-quality rare coins (“Investor Blue Chip Coins”) increased 10.6 percent last year. “In general, I found the 2011 results to be encouraging for overall market direction in 2012,” he wrote for CoinUpdate.com.

The rare coin index compiled by the weekly magazine Coin World (www.coinworld.com) gained 4.98 percent last year. The index is composed of 82 rare, significant coins, and the combined value of those coins has grown from $7.7 million in 2005 to nearly $13.7 million at the end of 2011. Coin World Associate Editor Steve Roach wrote: “…the high end (of the rare coin market) should continue to appreciate, and the key factors seem to be in place for 2012 to build on the success of 2011.”

The PCGS3000® Index compiled by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com), indicated that $1,000 invested in rare coins in 1970 would have been valued at over $66,000 at the beginning of this year.

For a copy of the informative pamphlet, “What You Should Know Before You Buy Rare Coins,” or a printed directory of PNG member-dealers, send $1 to cover postage costs to: Professional Numismatists Guild, 28441 Rancho California Rd., Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. Phone: (951) 587-8300. Email at info@PNGdealers.com, or visit the web site at www.PNGdealers.com.

CONTACT: Jeffrey Bernberg, +1-630-654-2580, or Donn Pearlman, +1-702-868-5777

Web Site: http://www.PNGdealers.com

Google Tops Mergers & Acquisitions List for 2011

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 4:34 PM

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Google Tops Mergers & Acquisitions List for 2011-Image via CrunchBase

Berkery Noyes, an independent middle market investment bank, today released its Full Year 2011 Mergers and Acquisitions trend report for the Information Industry.

The Information Industry report, which Berkery Noyes defines as all media, software, and online companies, analyzes M&A in 2011 and compares it with activity in 2009 and 2010.

The median revenue multiple increased from 1.7x in 2010 to 2.1x in 2011, while the median EBITDA multiple increased from 10.5x to 12.0x. Total transaction volume in 2011 increased by 17 percent over 2010, from 2639 to 3098.

The most active acquirer for 2011 in the Information Industry was Google with 25 acquisitions, including 5 in the Fourth Quarter: Clever Sense, RightsFlow, Apture, Katango, and SocialGrapple. Overall, Google had 58 Information acquisitions from 2009 to 2011.

“Large tech players were heavily involved in intellectual property M&A,” said James Berkery, Chief Information Officer at Berkery Noyes. “Strong strategic interest in the sector was evident in 2011. For instance, Nortel sold 6,000 wireless patents in July 2011 for $4.5 billion to a consortium that included Microsoft, Research In Motion, Sony, Ericsson, EMC, and Apple.”

In several 2011 transactions, Google acquired a wide range of patents from IBM. Technology companies such as Google are likely to increase their patent portfolios for several reasons, principally to drive product innovation and to hedge against the increasing prevalence of patent litigation. Google’s acquisition of RightsFlow in December 2011, which will help with music licensing concerns on YouTube, shows that the search giant is determined to be a key player in the IP space.

Berkery Noyes specializes in Mergers & Acquisitions advisory services, in addition to structuring debt and equity transactions in the $25 million to $500 million range. Unique among investment banking firms, Berkery Noyes combines independent strategic research and industry intelligence with senior information technology banking expertise. Long having been an innovator in database and research technology in M&A, Berkery Noyes has committed itself to providing more expansive and more current information. The firm’s research teams publish acquisition activity in the respective sectors they follow on MandAsoft.com.

A copy of the FULL YEAR 2011 INFORMATION INDUSTRY MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS REPORT is available at the Berkery Noyes website.

About Berkery Noyes

Berkery Noyes is an independent investment banking advisory firm servicing the information industry. Focused on middle-market corporations and financial sponsors, Berkery Noyes is committed to delivering a comprehensive array of industry-leading advisory services. Since its founding by Joseph W. Berkery in 1983, the firm has worked with corporate clients to grow through acquisition, divest non-core assets, and maximize shareholder returns through strategic transactions and restructurings. For private owners, Berkery Noyes helps create liquidity and execute timely exit strategies that achieve the personal and professional objectives. For more information, visit www.berkerynoyes.com.

Contact Information:
Peter Wilson
Berkery Noyes
646-442-7966
peter.wilson@berkerynoyes.com

Web Site: http://www.berkerynoyes.com

Public Speaking Help for the Tongue Tied Exec

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 8:19 PM

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Public Speaking Help for the Tongue Tied Exec-Image via Wikipedia

Why are leaders with prestigious pedigrees, proven track records of success, and great visions for the future spending sleepless nights worrying, preparing, over-preparing their speaking?

“What’s really ratcheting up the anxiety is not only the visibility afforded by today’s broadband, YouTube environment, but the demand that leaders be out there capitalizing on these media,” says Anett D. Grant, president of Executive Speaking, Inc., a global speaking company founded in 1979 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. “Leaders today need to be out front articulating their vision and demonstrating their leadership presence – on demand. The option of managing this anxiety through avoidance is gone.”

While many anxious leaders choose to tough it out, charge forward, and just get through it, this approach is perilous, says Grant. “Anxiety does not just make executives feel uncomfortable; anxiety has many unconscious impacts on their behavior – anxiety can definitely derail performance and even kill careers.”

One of the most significant impacts of anxiety is on facial expression. Anxious speakers often have fixed facial expressions – brows that stay furrowed, smiles that remain frozen. Anxious speakers wear these expression masks unconsciously – oblivious to the impact these expressions have on their ability to project authenticity and engagement.

Another one of the impacts of anxiety is on coherence and focus. Like a spiral that accelerates around a vortex, anxious speakers get into a speaking spin, and then go into a detail, then into another detail, and then into more detail about the detail about the detail about the detail – unconsciously. They begin talking, they feel uncomfortable – they talk more. “The more they talk in an unconscious attempt to feel better, the less they engage their audience. The less they engage their audience, the more they accelerate their rate of speaking and gesturing. At this stage the speaker often feels better, but the impact of the behavior is disastrous,” says Grant.

“I had a senior leader who spoke three languages, had led a major innovation in medical device technology, and had a history of success sent to work with me because his company said, ‘He speaks like a buffoon.’”

Another one of the unconscious impacts of anxiety is on sentence structure. Anxious speakers tend to speak in long, complex sentences as if they were reciting an article. As the length and complexity of each sentence increases, the anxious speaker loses all sense of phrasing and rhythm. Their speaking becomes increasingly punctuated with “ahs,” “ers,” “you knows,” and other dis-fluencies. “As anxious speakers strive to arrest this arrhythmic pattern, their speaking becomes even more halting and disjointed. As I explained to one client who had no awareness of his repeated pausing and sputtering,” says Grant, “if he skied like he spoke, it would take him four hours to get down a hill.”

What these unconscious impacts demonstrate is that leaders today have to reach new levels of self-awareness and understanding in order to reach authentic, powerful levels of performance – on demand.

For insights and strategies for mastering speaking anxiety for senior executives, call Anett D. Grant, President, Executive Speaking, Inc. at 612-338-5748.

Executive Speaking, Inc. coaches leaders from around the globe from companies including DHL Express, National Public Radio, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., MasterCard, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., BP, Bank of America Corporation, Polo Ralph Lauren, UnitedHealth Group Inc., Nestle, HanesBrands, Inc., L3 Communications Holdings, Inc., Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Symantec Corporation, General Electric Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Dell, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Cargill, Inc., Bank of America Corporation, 3M Company, Ford Motor Company, Motorola, Inc., HP, Adobe Systems, Inc., SABMiller, Coca-Cola Company, SABIC, Verizon Communications, Inc., and Pfizer, Inc.

Website: http://www.ExecutiveSpeaking.net

CONTACT: Jennifer Hilton, +1-917-803-8921, Jennifer.hilton@admetechfoundation.org Web Site: http://www.ExecutiveSpeaking.net

Unemployment Rate Predicts Super Bowl Winner

Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 5:16 PM

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Unemployment Rate Predicts Super Bowl Winner-Image via Wikipedia

The team whose city has the lower unemployment rate has won 17 of the past 20 Super Bowls, according to an analysis by next-gen outplacement firm RiseSmart.

With the Super Bowl matchup set, serious fans will be poring over all kinds of statistics for clues as to who will claim the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 5. But a RiseSmart analysis shows that one of the most accurate predictors for the past two decades has come from an unlikely source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data.

The team whose metropolitan area boasts the lower unemployment rate during the previous calendar year has won 17 of the past 20 Super Bowls – a remarkable 85 percent success rate. Based on this correlation, the New England Patriots should claim the NFL championship over the New York Giants. Through November, the 2011 unemployment rate for the Boston metropolitan area was 6.8 percent, compared to 8.5 percent for the New York metropolitan area.

“Is economic prosperity a predictor of victory? The data would seem to suggest it,” said Sanjay Sathe, founder and CEO of RiseSmart, a leading provider of next-generation outplacement solutions that annually highlights the correlation between jobless rates and winning it all in the NFL. “You could make the case that a fan base with higher employment is more likely to buy team apparel, attend games, and cheer their team on at local sports bars and restaurants. By contrast, a metro area struggling with high jobless rates might subtly but negatively impact its team’s morale.”

On January 26, 1992, the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI; that year, the Washington, D.C. metro area’s unemployment rate of 4.6 percent was substantially lower than Buffalo’s 7.2 percent. So began the string in which 17 out of 20 times, the Super Bowl winning city had a lower unemployment rate than that of the losing hometown. The predictor has been correct in the past three championship games, including Super Bowl XLV, in which Green Bay (7.7 percent 2010 unemployment) defeated Pittsburgh (8.0 percent).

Other facts of note:

On the seven previous occasions that both teams’ metro areas have had unemployment greater than 5.5 percent – as is the case this year — the team from the metro area with the lower jobless rate has won in every instance.
During the five previous occasions when at least one team represented a metro area with 7+ percent unemployment – as is the case this year, with the New York Giants – the team with higher unemployment lost in every instance.
The Giants’ upset victory over New England in Super Bowl XLII, when the Patriots entered the game undefeated, represents one of the three times in the past two decades when the unemployment rate predictor failed to predict the outcome of the game.

“Correlation does not imply causation, of course. And there are exceptions to every rule,” Sathe said. “But one should never underestimate the power of having a job.”

About RiseSmart

RiseSmart is the leading provider of next-generation outplacement solutions. The company leverages a cloud-based technology platform, proven methodologies, and one-on-one support to help employers with their workforce strategies, and displaced employees with their career strategies. RiseSmart drives significant ROI to organizations by offering affordable pricing while reducing unemployment insurance taxes and severance costs. RiseSmart has received a wide range of awards and recognition from organizations including the Golden Bridge Awards, the Momentum Index, Red Herring, the San Francisco Business Times, SiliconIndia, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, the Stevie Awards and TiE. For more information, visit http://www.risesmart.com.

Contact
Scott Baradell
sbaradell@risesmart.com
972-235-3439

Web Site: http://www.risesmart.com

Currency Traders Can Try It On for Size

Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 5:04 PM

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Currency Traders Can Try It On for Size-Image via Wikipedia

Vantage FX UK (http://www.vantagefx.co.uk) is committed to providing traders with the information and trading tools they need to become successful in the markets. With this in mind, read on for five ways Vantage FX UK can help to maximise your currency trading potential.

1. Demo Account

The MetaTrader 4 demo account provided by Vantage FX is an exact replica of the company’s live trading environment, allowing new clients to find their feet on the virtual platform before trading with real money. Traders who sign up for the 30 day Forex demo account [http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/get-trading/demo-account ] also receive a free copy of Vantage FX’s MetaTrader 4 User Guide eBook to help get them started.

2. Expert Advisor Test Lab

Exclusive to Vantage FX, the Expert Advisor Test Lab [http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/ea-labs/what-is-it ] allows traders to assess two Expert Advisors every month through demo account testing, detailed monthly performance stats and trade-by-trade descriptions. The lab is designed to help traders seeking to automate part or all of the Forex trading process to select the software robots that best suit their trading style.

3. AutoChartist Pattern Recognition Software

Vantage FX UK offers pattern recognition from Autochartist.com to help traders detect currency market trends as they form, saving time and effort for the user. With a 70% accuracy rate of forecasts, Autochartist is considered one of the most advanced intraday tools for the automatic identification of Chart and Fibonacci patterns. The free-to-use software comes as standard with Vantage FX UK’s MetaTrader 4 trading platform [http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/metatrader-4-platform ].

4. Daily Newsletter

The Vantage FX UK newsletter is a free daily email which keeps traders in the loop with market-moving developments. Head of market analysis Jay Mawji is a key contributor to the Vantage FX Market Wrap email [http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/index.php?cID=260 ], which is sent out at the end of every trading day with a summary of the key news and events set to shape market activity in the near future.

5. Mobile Trading

Finally, Vantage FX UK allows traders to manage their Forex trading from the palm of their hand with real-time Android and iPhone trading apps [http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/why-vantage-fx/mobile-trading ]. Vantage FX droidTrader and Vantage FX iTrader are free applications which can be used to manage orders, monitor trades and set stop loss orders just like on an online platform. Mobile traders can also take advantage of a host charting packages, an economic calendar and a range of trading calculators.

Trading derivatives and Forex carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Forex trading may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.

About Vantage FX UK

Vantage FX UK is an internationally recognised currency trading broker based in the City of London, providing foreign exchange trading services to clients in the UK, the EU and the rest of the world.

What sets Vantage FX apart is its wide range of services and outstanding level of customer support. The company strives to provide an intuitive, interactive Forex experience by continually innovating and taking advantage of the latest trading technology, such as MetaTrader 4 and Expert Advisors.

Vantage FX also offers extensive educational resources to help give traders their edge, keep up with daily market commentary and try a Forex trading demo account.

Learn more about Forex trading with Vantage FX at http://www.vantagefx.co.uk

Contact: Robert Berkeley, Vantage FX, robert.berkeley@vantagefx.co.uk, +44(0)2073324954

Credit Card Rates Drop at PenFed

Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 2:20 PM

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The lower and more competitive variable 9.99% purchase APR* is now available on the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card and Visa Platinum Cash Rewards Card.

Staying true to course to bring every day value to its cardholders, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) announced today that as of January 15, 2012, the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card and Visa Platinum Cash Card now feature a new, lower variable 9.99% purchase APR*.

The lower purchase rate will be capped at 9.99% APR* on new purchases until June 30, 2014 and will apply to both existing rewards cardholders, as well as all new cardholders.

For all new cardholders, the 9.99% purchase APR became effective on January 15, 2012. For existing cardholders, the lower purchase rate will be “rolled out” by billing cycle, beginning with the January 15, 2012 effective date.

“PenFed is very proud of its diverse and dynamic credit card portfolio,” says Kevyn Myers,Executive Vice President, Collections and Card Services, PenFed. “Where other reward card programs have exorbitant APRs to fund their reward programs, PenFed’s do not. Our reward cards are packed with value, and the new, lower purchase rate is just one more reason why these cards should be a top of the wallet choice for our cardholders.”

PenFed was the first credit union in the U.S. to offer an American Express® Card to its membership. Since the Card’s launch in 2009, the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card has been recognized as one of the leading travel reward cards available today. Cardholders enjoy 5 points for every $1 spent on airfare, 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else*.

The PenFed Visa Platinum Cash Card has experienced continual, award-winning success as one of the best cash rewards cards available. Cardholders enjoy 5% cash back on all gas purchases made at the pump*, and since cash back rewards are automatically credited back to the statement each month; this card has become a “no-fuss” favorite for these cardholders.

Additional features such as no annual or foreign transaction fees, and no caps on the rewards cardholders can earn, make the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card and Visa Platinum Cash Card both highly competitive contenders when compared to other reward programs currently available in the industry.

For more information about PenFed membership, the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card and Visa Platinum Cash Card, or to apply for a credit card, visit www.penfed.org or call 800-247-5626.

About Pentagon Federal Credit Union

Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is the third largest credit union in the United States with over a million members, and more than $15 billion in assets. The credit union provides worldwide service to Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security personnel, employees or volunteers of the American Red Cross and military associations, and many others in the defense community and their families.

*9.99% APR: Variable 9.99% introductory purchase and cash advance rate capped through June 30, 2014. During this time the rate can only decrease if the Prime Rate decreases. After June 30, 2014 the cap will be removed and the APR will increase or decrease with the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer Rate: 1.99% APR promotional rate for 24 months on transfers made between January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2012. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new transfers will be 9.99% and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. This transaction is subject to credit approval. Fee is reduced to 1% (Min. $10 – Max. $250) per transaction for transfers made through March 31, 2012. The fee for balance transfers made after March 31, 2012 will return to 3% (Min. $10 – Max. $250) per transaction. How We Calculate Your Balance: We use a method called “average daily balance” (including new purchases). See PenFed’s account agreement for more details. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on Purchases and Cash Advances: Your APR can change on January and July of each year. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Additional details will be provided upon card issuance. Loss of Balance Transfer APR: We may end your promotional Balance Transfer APR and apply the Penalty APR if we do not receive your payment within 60 days of the due date. PenFed Visa Platinum Cash Card: Rewards are available only for new monthly purchases made with the card: cash advances, checks drawn from the account, and balance transfers are excluded and do not earn credit toward rewards. Certain limitations apply to the Visa Platinum Rewards Program. Certain restrictions may apply. Visa USA determines which transactions are classified as paid at the pump. Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats receive 1.00% cash back. Note: As of February 1, 2012, the cash back on fuel purchases for airplanes and boats will decrease to 0.25%. PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card: The PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Credit Card program is issued and administered by PenFed. American Express® is a federally registered Service mark of American Express® and is used by PenFed pursuant to a license. Rates: The information on this disclosure is current as of January 1, 2012, but is subject to change. To determine if any changes have occurred since this date, call 800-247-5626.

CONTACT: Amy Doane, Direct: +1-541-225-6606, E-mail: amy.doane@penfed.org Web Site: http://www.penfed.org

Student Loans: Here’s How to Find the Best Options

Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 9:55 PM

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Student debt has surpassed credit card debt for the first time in U.S. history, and the amount of outstanding student loans is expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2011. College seniors graduated with an average of $25,250 in student loans in 2010, up 5 percent from the previous year, according to The Project on Student Debt.

The issue has prompted U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to call on higher education officials to work with greater urgency and creativity in reducing college costs, and spurred the Occupy Wall Street movement to set up a campaign focused on student debt.

Sourcebooks, a leading provider in college-bound resources for students and educators, recognizes the need for sound financial advice and guidance when it comes to the college search process. The publisher recently formed a new education division, Sourcebooks EDU, which made its first acquisition on Friday of managingcollegecost.com and myfinancialfit.com. The online financial aid resources were founded by veteran admissions and guidance counselor Frank Palmasani, to help families conquer college costs.

“The economic impact of the student debt crisis is one of the big unknowns that we are facing today in this country,” Palmasani said. “The Financial Fit College Search Program is intended to engage students, parents, and high school counselors in a unified quest of finding affordable college options. The ultimate goal is to help families manage their college costs without excessive debt.”

Every year, thousands of college-bound students and parents face the complexity and anxiety associated with filing for and receiving their college financial aid packages, as well as making decisions that will affect them financially for years to come. In a process fraught with myths and misinformation, families often find out at the last minute that the colleges of their choice come with unexpectedly high financial burdens.

“Frank starts with the college search process and provides tools to support families all the way through choosing and paying for college,” Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah said. “Guidance counselors are telling us they cannot act as financial advisors and have no resources available to direct families to as they begin the college process. We’re finally going to be able to provide help.”

Managingcollegecost.com is a free, subscriber-based website that utilizes Palmasani’s vast and varied 25 years of experience to create a valuable resource for students, parents, and college admissions counselors. As users navigate the site, they will see features and links, along with 33 videos dealing with a wide range of issues pertaining to the financial aid process. Palmasani’s blog keeps parents up-to-date on the financial aid timeline while teaching them how they can help their student select the best AND most affordable option.

Building on this vision, Palmasani also created myfinancialfit.com, a subscription-based website designed to help families match their affordability threshold with the net price of colleges. Myfinancialfit.com offers a 10-item confidential and anonymous questionnaire that evaluates tax credits, cash flow, available savings, and reasonable borrowing, and then provides families with a college affordability range.

Sourcebooks EDU plans to make these tools more widely available, as well as enhance these resources with additional video, content, webinars, seminars, books, interactive ebooks, and software tools.

About Frank Palmasani
Frank Palmasani, founder of managingcollegecost.com and myfinancialfit.com, began learning about the financial aid process in 1976, his first year as a high school counselor. In 1981, he moved to the college level eventually becoming a director of admissions. After a twelve-year stint, he returned to the high school arena to a position that he continues to enjoy today, serving as a guidance counselor. Palmasani also has also delivered seminars on the college financial aid and planning process to an estimated 100,000+ people since 1985.

About Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is an independent publishing house dedicated to sharing our passion for books in a wide variety of genres. We publish over 300 new titles each year, and are honored to have 28 New York Times bestsellers. Sourcebooks is one of the largest woman-owned book publishers in the country. Visit www.sourcebooks.com for more information.

CONTACT: Liz Kelsch of Sourcebooks, +1-630-536-0595, liz.kelsch@sourcebooks.com

Web Site: http://www.sourcebooks.com

Derivatives Leader Offers New Futures and Options Contracts

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 at 10:12 PM

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CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced the launch of NYMEX Brent 25-Day (Platts) futures and options contracts to begin trading December 12 with February 2012 being the first listed month. These contracts are listed with, and subject to, the rules and regulations of NYMEX.

“Our new NYMEX Brent 25-Day contracts will offer customers a critical hedging solution to manage their price risk, at a time when the Brent market is undergoing a significant transformation,” said Gary Morsches, Managing Director, Energy Products, CME Group. “Customers have expressed strong interest in a transparently settled Brent futures contract that more closely reflects the hedging needs of the underlying physical Brent market. We’re confident our new contracts are well aligned with the Platts 25-day basis and will provide market participants with transparency and superior convergence against the physical Brent market to enable them to begin managing their price risk today.”

Final settlement of NYMEX Brent 25-Day (Platts) futures and options contracts will be based on the Platts 25-day Brent (BFOE) cash assessment and use the Platts Market on Close (MOC) methodology, which is the industry standard for Brent pricing. Options to be listed will include an average price option and underlying calendar swap, as well as American-style and European-style options. These contracts will be listed for electronic trading on CME Globex, open-outcry and over-the-counter clearing on CME ClearPort.

CME Group will work with Platts on an ongoing basis to maintain contract specifications in close alignment with the Brent (BFOE) cash market, including adopting a revised expiry schedule beginning in March 2015.

The CME Group Energy complex offers the most benchmarks in its asset class, with market participants trading an average daily volume of 1.8 million contracts on CME Globex, CME ClearPort and the trading floor.

As the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) is where the world comes to manage risk. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate. CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex® electronic trading platform and its trading facilities in New York and Chicago. CME Group also operates CME

Clearing, one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, which offers clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts, as well as for over-the-counter derivatives transactions through CME ClearPort®. These products and services ensure that businesses everywhere can substantially mitigate counterparty credit risk in both listed and over-the-counter derivatives markets.

CME Group is a trademark of CME Group Inc. The Globe Logo, CME, Globex and Chicago Mercantile Exchange are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and the Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are registered trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Further information about CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) and its products can be found at www.cmegroup.com.

CME-G

CONTACT: Media, Damon Leavell, +1-212-299-2547, or Allan Schoenberg, +44.203.379.3830, news@cmegroup.com, www.cmegroup.mediaroom.com, or Investors, John Peschier, +1-312-930-8491

Web Site: http://www.cmegroup.com

ETF and Alternative Funds Growth Double Since 2008

Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 10:35 PM

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ETF and Alternative Funds Growth Double Since 2008-Image via Wikipedia

It’s something that a lot of investors are looking for but seems so elusive. Something different. Something more stable. Something that won’t keep us up at night. A lot of investors have moved from the traditional roller coaster ride of the Markets to the world of ETF‘s and Alternative Funds. Many will never look back.

In these tough times, investors want alternatives to traditional asset classes that are now so disappointing — investments that will zig while everything else is zagging.

“Alternative” funds aim to deliver consistently positive returns by eliminating or substantially reducing market risk. It’s such a compelling pitch for investors seeking havens from recent market volatility that Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company, says assets in these funds have grown almost 125 percent in the last three years to $531 billion.

“That’s astounding, especially when you consider that $249 billion — almost 85 percent of that growth — is inflows from investors, not performance,” says Matthew Lemieux, a Lipper research analyst. The number of alternative mutual funds and ETFs has doubled since the end of 2008, to 289 and 427 respectively, Morningstar, another fund tracker, says.

Clearly, alternatives are hot. But what exactly are they? If you don’t know, you have plenty of company. A recent survey of investors by Natixis Global Asset Management found 70 percent understood alternatives “only a little” or “not well at all.” More than two out of five had no idea what alternatives are.

Your adviser may not know, either. In a recent InvestmentNews survey, 52 percent of financial advisers said they don’t feel as knowledgeable about alternatives as they’d like to be — yet 88 percent are using them in client portfolios.

So, what is an alternative asset? It’s anything that isn’t a stock, bond or cash, which means that real estate, gold and commodities are all alternatives. When you buy an “alternative” mutual fund, you’re not actually buying an asset class, but rather a strategy — in fact, multiple strategies that are typically used by hedge funds.

These funds invest in a broad range of asset classes and derivatives (financial contracts whose value is based on the value of other instruments, such as stocks, bonds, currencies, or market indexes). And they don’t just buy assets they like; they also bet against those they think will perform poorly with short sales.

Morningstar has grouped alternative mutual funds into six categories: Currency, Market Neutral, Multialternative, Managed Futures, Long/Short Equity, and Bear Market.

A few things to consider before opting for alternatives:

Source

As always, you need to do your own research in this market to determine if it’s really right for you. Just because investors added $249 Billion to these investments within the last few years doesn’t mean that they are without some kind of risk also.

Stock Dividends: What to Expect for the New Year

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 at 8:17 PM

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The crazy roller coaster Stock Market ride of 2011 is almost finished. Please keep your hands inside until the car comes to a complete stop. It has been a wild ride and most of us are glad to be done with it. So now what do we do? Keep on investing the same way or maybe try out a smoother ride? There’s a way to still make a profit without resorting to Dramamine pills.

The economic choppiness is coming to a head with the age of dividend hikes. The pressure is going to remain for companies to continue returning capital to shareholders while also looking for selective global growth opportunities. The established Dow Jones Industrial Average components traditionally offer far higher dividend yields than the other top indexes and 24/7 Wall St. is offering a case-by-case outlook for what investors should expect in DJIA dividend trends in the weeks, months, and even in the year ahead.

If you add up the last 12 SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) dividend payments, the DJIA yield has been almost 2.5% over the last year. The good news is that the yield is already higher if you include the hikes that are likely to be announced the price of the DJIA today should offer what will be closer to a 3% dividend yield in 2012.

The list of the 30 DJIA components is very long, but we have reviewed each and all of the following: Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA); American Express Company (NYSE: AXP); AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T); Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC); The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA); Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE: CAT); Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX); Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO); The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO); E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (NYSE: DD); Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM); General Electric Company (NYSE: GE); Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD); Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ); International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM); Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC); Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ); J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM); Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT); McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD); 3M Company (NYSE: MMM); Merck & Company, Inc. (NYSE: MRK); Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT); Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE); Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG); The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV); United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX); Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ); Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT); and finally Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS).

We have broken out each DJIA component to review the history and expected dividend action individually. While this is a no short read, dividend and income investors better pay close attention here. Value investors should pay attention as well. It is these DJIA components which are often considered as the prize of the sector and many peers are facing the same trends today and tomorrow. Our review focuses on when the last hikes have been seen, when the next dividend hike will come, and what the price and implied upside to the Thomson Reuters consensus price target offers. We have also even shown an expected income payout ratio on each if applicable to further show which companies can boost their payouts ahead.

Source

So now you have some things to think about over the Holidays. Do you stick with the status quo or move move in another direction? Or maybe even a combination of the two. Better luck in the New Year.

Federal Regulators OK New Sovereign Bank Charter

Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 6:02 PM

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Federal Regulators OK New Sovereign Bank Charter-Image by afagen via Flickr

Sovereign Bank, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. announced today that it has received formal approval from federal regulators to convert from a savings bank to a national bank. Additionally, Santander Holdings USA, Inc., which directly owns Sovereign Bank, has received approval to become a bank holding company. The respective conversions will take effect in early 2012.

The conversion to a National Bank charter is just one of several major initiatives underway to strengthen Sovereign and Santander’s position in the United States.

The shift to a National Bank provides Sovereign with greater flexibility to meet the financial needs of more clients and customer segments, including in particular, large corporations. To support the Bank’s continued growth, Sovereign has been making significant investments to implement Santander’s state-of-the-art information technology platform.

“We are very pleased to have received approval to convert to a National Bank,” said Jorge Moran, Sovereign Bank President and CEO and Santander U.S. Country Head. ”This is a significant step in our strategic growth plans and will allow us to provide more and better services to our customers and clients.”

About Santander Holdings USA, Sovereign and Banco Santander

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SAN.MC, STD.N) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A., and wholly owns Sovereign Bank and Santander Consumer USA. Banco Santander is a retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a presence in 10 main markets: Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Poland, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and the U.S. Founded in 1857, Santander more than 100 million customers, 14,709 branches – more than any other international bank – and more than 190,000 employees. For more information on Santander, visit http://www.santander.com.

Sovereign Bank is a financial institution with principal markets in the northeastern United States. Sovereign has more than 700 branches, nearly 2,300 ATMs, and approximately 8,000 team members. For more information on Sovereign Bank, visit http://www.sovereignbank.com or call 877-SOV-BANK.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander, S.A. and Sovereign Bank caution that this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning our future business development and the impact of Sovereign Bank’s charter conversion. While these forward-looking statements represent our judgment and future expectations concerning the development of our business, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) general market, macro-economic, governmental and regulatory trends; (2) movements in local and international securities markets, currency exchange rates, and interest rates; (3) competitive pressures; (4) technological developments; and (5) changes in the financial position or credit worthiness of our customers, obligors and counterparties. The risk factors and other key factors indicated in our past and future filings and reports, including those with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could adversely affect the development of our business. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual developments to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The information contained in this presentation is subject to, and must be read in conjunction with, all other publicly available information. Any person at any time acquiring securities must do so only on the basis of such person’s own judgment as to the merits or the suitability of the securities for its purpose and only on such information as is contained in such public information having taken all such professional or other advice as it considers necessary or appropriate in the circumstances and not in reliance on the information contained in the presentation.

CONTACT: Bryan Hurst, Office: +1-617-346-7438, Mobile: +1-857-207-2086, bhurst@sovereignbank.com

Web Site: http://www.sovereignbank.com

Some Simple Ideas to Make Stock Investing Profitable

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 8:22 PM

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Anti-bank feeling has resulted in the public looking to take more responsibility for investing their own money.

A new website has come up with a simple but novel way to help the regular Joe invest his own money and avoid the advisory services of financial institutions that are perceived to have let the public down.

Shared Sense is based on the theory of famed investor and mentor to the man on the street: Peter Lynch. The site takes his ideas of ”invest in what you know and that the best stock tip is in front of you in the mall” and goes a step further. It allows people to share these observations on a worldwide basis and so helping people gather market research through group thinking.

It uses the wisdom of the crowd to get people’s views on what is selling or not. Put simply, people can give an opinion on what brands are hot or not in their area. The information is gathered worldwide and the site gives back the total view on what people see as popular or not.

As increasing or decreasing sales is generally the most important investment criteria, members can use the information as part of their investment decisions.

The site editors take this information and add their experience to it. They analyze the other important factors including financials, margins and outlook and give full stock tips to members.

The site is not another stock price prediction site but focuses on identifying brand popularity to give regular investors an edge. The themes of the site are honesty and humor – the idea being to strip stock picking of all the overly fancy jargon and replace it with raw honesty. The top predictors are invited to join to the site as full authors.

Ned Goodwin, Shared Sense founder says: “Why can’t stock picking and investment be based on a co-operative system where people help each other by sharing information on buying trends? This is a practical way of occupying Wall Street — taking the power of investment decision back to the people. People helping themselves to get an investment edge. As Peter Lynch said, if you’re buying the product it might be worthwhile buying the stock. We’re saying if you know we’re all buying the product it’s definitely worthwhile buying the stock.”

http://www.Sharedsense.com

CONTACT: Eddie Goodwin, +1-617-331-6999, Eddie@sharedsense.com

Web Site: http://www.sharedsense.com

ING Trust (NYSE: PPR) to Redeem $25 Million of ARPS

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 8:09 PM

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ING Prime Rate Trust (Trust), a diversified closed-end management investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PPR), has announced today its intention to redeem the remaining portion of its outstanding auction-rate preferred shares (ARPS). The Trust’s Board of Trustees has approved a redemption that will be paid primarily by drawing on leverage available under the Trust’s credit facilities. The redemption would provide liquidity at par for the holders of the remaining ARPS.

The Trust expects to redeem approximately $25 million of the ARPS currently outstanding, approximately 100% by series, subject to satisfying the notice and other requirements that apply to ARPS redemptions. Upon completion of such notice and other requirements, the Trust will issue a formal redemption notice to the paying agent and record holders. The Trust expects to issue a formal redemption notice by the third week of November and anticipates that the redemption of the $25 million of ARPS will be completed by mid- to late December 2011.

In December 2009, the Trust announced its intention to redeem up to $100 million of the $225 million ARPS then outstanding, through a series of four quarterly periodic redemptions of up to $25 million each. In September 2010, the Trust’s Board of Trustees approved the continuation of the program for quarterly redemptions of the outstanding ARPS of the Trust in amounts of up to $25 million each quarter subject to management’s discretion to modify or cancel the program at any time. The amount and timing of subsequent redemptions of ARPS will be at the discretion of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and management, subject to market conditions and investment considerations.

The Depository Trust Company (DTC) will determine how partial series redemptions will be allocated among each participant broker-dealer account. Each participant broker-dealer, as nominee for its customers who are beneficial owners of the ARPS (street name shareholders), in turn will determine how redeemed shares are to be allocated among its customers. The procedures used by broker-dealers to allocate redeemed shares among beneficial owners may differ from each other as well as from the procedures used by DTC.

SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES: ING Funds Shareholder Services at (800) 992-0180

Certain statements made on behalf of the Trust in this release may be considered forward-looking statements. The Trust’s actual future results may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including but not limited to a decline in value in markets in general or the Trust’s investments specifically. Neither the Trust nor ING undertakes any responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement.

ING Investment Management (ING IM) is a leading U.S.-based active asset management firm. As of September 30, 2011, ING IM manages approximately $163 billion for both institutions and individual investors. ING IM has the experience and resources to invest responsibly across asset classes, geographies and investment styles. Through our global asset management network, we provide clients with access to domestic, regional and global investment solutions.

With an emphasis on active management, our investment mission is to find unrecognized value ahead of consensus. To this end, our portfolio management teams seek original insights on markets and securities and a vision of investment potential that differs from the consensus view. We apply our proprietary research and analytics, portfolio diagnostics and risk management to the development of investment solutions in pursuit of our clients’ objectives. We believe this is best achieved by structuring our investment platforms as entrepreneurial, skills-based strategy teams united by shared resources.

ING Investment Management is committed to investing responsibly and delivering client-oriented investment solutions and advisory services across asset classes, geographies and styles. We serve a variety of institutional clients, including public, corporate and union retirement plans, endowments and foundations, and insurance companies, as well as individual investors via intermediary distribution partners such as banks, broker/dealers and independent financial advisers.

CONTACT: Dana Ripley, dana.ripley@us.ing.com, +1-770-980-4865

Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) Pulls Out of NYSE

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 8:00 PM

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Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) Pulls Out of NYSE-Image via Wikipedia

Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) today announced the transfer of its stock exchange listing to The NASDAQ Global Select Market from The New York Stock Exchange.

The company said that the voluntary transfer to The NASDAQ Global Select Market, an exchange of The NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ), will be more cost effective, while continuing to provide Viacom shareholders with strong execution and liquidity. Viacom’s Class A common stock will trade on NASDAQ under the symbol “VIA” and its Class B common stock will trade under the symbol “VIAB” beginning December 1, 2011.

About Viacom

Viacom is home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories. With approximately 160 media networks reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom’s leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, Spike TV and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, America’s oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world’s most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations concerning future results, objectives, plans and goals, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the public acceptance of the Company’s programs, motion pictures and other entertainment content on the various platforms on which they are distributed; technological developments and their effect in the Company’s markets and on consumer behavior; competition for audiences and distribution; the impact of piracy; economic conditions generally, and in advertising and retail markets in particular; fluctuations in the Company’s results due to the timing, mix and availability of the Company’s motion pictures; changes in the Federal communications laws and regulations; other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company’s businesses generally; and other factors described in the Company’s news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and the Company does not have any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Reconciliations for any non-GAAP financial information contained in this news release are included in this news release or available on the Company’s website at www.viacom.com .

CONTACT: Carl Folta, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, +1-212-258-6352, carl.folta@viacom.com, or Investors: James Bombassei, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-212-258-6377, james.bombassei@viacom.com

Web Site: http://www.viacom.com

Bank of America Lawsuit Nearing Deadline

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 5:23 PM

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Only 10 days remain before the Nov. 22, 2011, lead plaintiff deadline in a case filed against Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) (“BAC”) alleging the bank misled investors regarding a $10 billion claim by American International Group (NYSE: AIG).

According to the lawsuit, BAC, Merrill Lynch & Co. and Countrywide Financial sold $28 billion in mortgage-backed securities to AIG. After analyzing data from hundreds of thousands of loans, in Jan. 2011 AIG allegedly informed BAC that it felt the risk of the securities had been misrepresented and was prepared to sue the banking giant for more than $10 billion.

AIG finally filed a lawsuit against BAC on Aug. 8, 2011, following months of reported negotiations. On the news, BAC shares fell sharply, losing 20 percent of their value.

Investors with losses over $500,000 who purchased Bank of America common stock during the class period, from Feb. 25, 2011, to Aug. 5, 2011, are encouraged to contact Partner Reed R. Kathrein, who is leading Hagens Berman’s investigation. Reed R. Kathrein can be reached at (510) 725-3000 or via email at BACSecurities@hbsslaw.com.

The lawsuit centers around claims that BAC failed to fully disclose the risks of a pending legal battle with AIG.

Individuals with direct non-public information that may help advance the investigation are encouraged to contact the firm. The SEC recently finalized new rules as part of its implementation of the whistleblower provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Bill. The new rules protect whistleblowers from employer retaliation and allow the SEC to reward those who provide information leading to a successful enforcement with up to 30 percent of the recovery.

Investors can also learn more about this investigation at www.hbsslaw.com/BACsecurities.

About Hagens Berman

Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is an investor-rights class-action law firm with offices in 10 cities. The National Law Journal has rated Hagens Berman as one of the top plaintiffs’ firms in the country five times. More information about the firm is available at www.hbsslaw.com, and the firm’s securities law blog is at www.meaningfuldisclosure.com.

Media Contact: Mark Firmani, Firmani + Associates Inc., 206.443.9357 or mark@firmani.com

Web Site: http://www.hbsslaw.com

OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX) Readies for Holidays with Amazon Kindle Products

Thursday, November 10th, 2011 at 12:48 PM

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OfficeMaxIncorporated (NYSE: OMX), a leader in office supplies, technology and services, is pleased to offer Amazon’snewest Kindles in its stores nationwide. New products joining the Kindles already sold at OfficeMax stores include the $79 Kindle, which is now available in stores, and the Kindle Fire for $199, which will be available after November 15. Arriving to OfficeMax later in November are the Kindle Touch, starting at $99, and the Kindle Touch 3G, starting at $149. These new Amazon products can be viewed at OfficeMax.com. and sold in OfficeMax retail stores. OfficeMax also provides a wide variety of Kindle accessories.

“OfficeMax is very pleased to bring Amazon’s exciting new Kindle family to our customers,” said Igor Anshakov, VP of Merchandising for OfficeMax. “Customers are already very excited about the new Amazon products, and we expect these Kindles to be very popular this holiday season.”

The new generation Kindle is the lightest most compact Kindle ever, featuring the same 6-inch screen and advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight – all for just $79. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with a touch screen that makes it easier to turn pages, search, shop and take notes – all with the same advanced electronic ink display.

Kindle Touch 3G is the top-of-the-line e-reader offering the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon’s new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen and powerful dual-core processor.

Amazon’s latest Kindles are among the many new technology products available at OfficeMax. Customers can now enjoy a broader range of technology products and supplies at OfficeMax including laptop, desktop, netbook, and all-in-one computers from trusted brands including HP®, Sony®, Acer®, Toshiba® and more.

About OfficeMax
OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office products. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and furniture to businesses and individual consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and nearly 1,000 stores. Since 2007, OfficeMax Goodworks programs have served communities and schools, contributing more than $14 million in grants and supplies to support teachers and classrooms. To find the nearest OfficeMax, call 1-877-OFFICEMAX. For more information, visit www.officemax.com.

All trademarks, service marks and trade names of OfficeMax Incorporated used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of OfficeMax Incorporated. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

OfficeMax Media Contact
Nicole Miller
630.864.6069

Web Site: http://www.officemax.com

Zacks Makes Washington Post as Bull of the Day

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 2:06 PM

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Zacks Makes Washington Post as Bull of the Day-Image via Wikipedia

Zacks Equity Research highlights The Washington Post Co. (NYSE: WPO) as the Bull of the Day and Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Toyota Motors (NYSE: TM), Priceline (Nasdaq: PCLN) and WMS Industries (NYSE: WMS).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

The Washington Post Co. (NYSE: WPO) top and bottom lines surpassed Zacks’ expectations in the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly earnings of $5.27 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.85. Total revenue of $1,032.6 million also came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,005 million.

The Kaplan Education division has undertaken a restructuring plan to lower its costs structure in the near future. Further, Kaplan International remains promising, registering growth of 25% during the quarter. Washington Post’s Cable division is also performing well, reflecting sustained improvement in Internet and telephone service revenues.

We have a long-term Outperform recommendation on the stock. Our target price of $374.00, 17.9X 2011 EPS, reflects this view.

Bear of the Day:

We have downgraded our long-term recommendation on Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) to Underperform following the weak quarterly performance in the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly earnings of $0.38 per share fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.46 and dipped 7.3% from the year-ago quarter battered by increased product costs.

The North American market continues to be sluggish in the ongoing fiscal 2011. Moreover, the company’s initiatives to change the product mix and reposition the business in the U.S. market will require significant expenditure to support increased advertising and promotional activities, which may dent its margins.

Furthermore, Avon is a highly leveraged company, limiting its financial flexibility to drive future growth. Additionally, the company faces stiff competition from other well established players and has significant exposure to foreign currency translations.

Mergers and Acquisitions in Technology Continue Steady Growth

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 1:38 PM

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Deals involving smart mobility and business analytics came on strong in 3Q11, driving two deals each with values above US$10b — the first time two deals of that size occurred in the same quarter since 1Q 2000. Hundreds more transactions were driven by cloud computing, information security, social networking, online and mobile games, health care IT and internet and mobile video. Many deals combined two or more of these trends.

Growth in the aggregate value of private equity (PE) transactions drove the overall sequential increase in value. PE aggregate value increased 82% sequentially to US$14.6b in 3Q11 and increased 86% YOY. PE firms contributed 6 of the 11 3Q11 deals valued above US$1b. Of note, the big-ticket PE deals in the third quarter occurred across a broad spectrum of technologies targeting different industries, including health care, financial services and education.

As they did in 2Q11, big-ticket deals dominated in 3Q11, with the top 11 deals totaling US$40.1b in value, or 71% of all disclosed in the quarter. Average values per deal also climbed – 14% over the previous quarter and 26% YOY – to US$221m, the highest level in 11 years.

Joe Steger, Global Technology Transaction Advisory Services Leader at Ernst & Young, says:

“In the face of market volatility and macroeconomic uncertainties that are dampening other industries, the megatrends driving global technology M&A so far have continued to push deal values higher. The increase in values is due primarily to the period of hyper-innovation that technology companies are experiencing. Technology companies have been delivering rapid waves of innovation around smart mobility, cloud computing, business intelligence/analytics, social networking, information security and other new technologies. Remaining competitive and transforming that innovation into economically actionable products and services often requires significant M&A activity.”

“Big data” looms large

One focus of technology M&A in 3Q11 was “big data.” As Steger explains, “Business systems, mobile applications, social networking platforms and smart metering systems are generating an ever-increasing mass of data that is getting harder to analyze as it grows exponentially in size. Companies are struggling with what has come to be known as the ‘big data’ problem. Technologies that help companies make sense of it all can provide important customer information and insights.”

There were roughly two dozen deals in this business intelligence/analytics category in the third quarter, including one of the deals above US$10b. The growth in business intelligence/analytics deals appears to be extending into the fourth quarter as well.

Top trends include integration

Cloud computing, smart mobility, information security and social networking continue to dominate deal-driving trends. There were multiple 3Q deals involving security technologies together with cloud, mobile or both. “As time passes, we’re also seeing technologies related to these technology trends integrate with each other – and with just about everything else,” Steger says.

Deal volume ticks down – again

Deal volume dipped 2% for the second consecutive quarter, to 759 deals in 3Q11. “This year’s deal volume plateau comes after a string of eight consecutive quarters without a volume decline from 1Q09 to 1Q11,” Steger says. To put it in context, published reports indicate that 3Q11 deal volume for all industries declined far more – by about 9%, compared with the 2% technology decline. Deal volume level has remained in a range between 700 and 800 deals in each of the last five quarters (beginning with 3Q10). This may be the technology industry’s near-term naturally sustainable level, according to the report.

Cross-border slowdown

Cross-border deals declined 11% each in volume and value in 3Q11, compared with 2Q11. This quarter represented one of the occasional pauses in a generally upward trend that has seen cross-border deals increasing as a percentage of the volume and value of all deals since 2009.

Outlook clouded by global trends

While global technology M&A provided a counterpoint to the global macroeconomic malaise prevalent in the third quarter, the question remains whether such robust values can be maintained in the face of uncertainty and extreme equity market volatility. “Although macroeconomic volatility makes it hard to predict whether M&A transactions will continue to grow or take a pause in the short term, the multiple disruptive technology megatrends occurring now and driven by smart mobility, cloud computing and social networking, make long-term M&A growth a relatively safe bet,” says Steger.

About the report

Global Technology M&A Update, July-September 2011 is based on Ernst & Young’s analysis of FactSet Mergerstat data for July through September 2011. FactSet Mergerstat data was last accessed for this second quarter report on 6 October 2011. Deal activity and valuations may fluctuate slightly based on the date that the FactSet Mergerstat database is accessed. Only disclosed value deals are used in all value analysis. Full report is available at www.ey.com.

Ernst & Young’s Global Technology Center

The technology industry is in a constant state of change — driven by continuous innovation, shifting markets, converging industries, consumer demand and the need for first-mover advantage. Ernst & Young’s Global Technology Center connects a worldwide team of more than 14,000 technology professionals to help you navigate the challenges of this continuous change. We provide assurance and tax guidance through a network of experienced advisors to help you manage risk, transform business performance and sustain improvement. We can help you deliver cost-effective innovation, balance product portfolios, maintain effective supply chains, and identify, execute and integrate strategic growth transactions. Our global technology network leverages our leading market share position in serving technology companies to provide you with timely, reliable information. Our teams use a cross-discipline, collaborative approach to help you achieve your business objectives. We encourage our people to use their ingenuity and initiative to help you develop approaches, create options and seize opportunities. It’s how Ernst & Young makes a difference.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

CONTACT: Tehira Taylor, Ernst & Young Global Media Relations, +44 (0)20 7980 0703, tehira.taylor@uk.ey.com; or Hannah James, Fleishman-Hillard, +1-212-453-2104, Hannah.james@fleishman.com

Web Site: http://www.ey.com

Credit Counseling Now Available for WikiLoan Users

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 1:28 PM

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WikiLoan, Inc. (OTCBB: WKLI), a peer-to-peer lending platform, announced today that the Company has signed a deal with Progrexion Marketing, the exclusive marketing firm for Lexington Law, to provide credit counseling for WikiLoan users with poor credit history.

The deal allows the company to offer a value added service to the users who are not credit worthy, while receiving generous affiliate commissions.

“More than 85% of users applying for peer-to-peer loans are not credit worthy. Instead of flatly rejecting the majority of our users, we believe that getting them back on the road to financial independence is an important way to build credibility and loyalty for our brand. In addition, Lexington Law has a new program that notifies us when our users meet the baseline credit score for our program that should allow us to convert our users to paying customers,” said Marco Garibaldi, WikiLoan, Inc. CEO.

About WikiLoan

WikiLoan is a Social Network with a focus on finance. At WikiLoan.com, family and friends can borrow and lend money among themselves at rates suitable to their respective needs. The company’s website provides repayment schedules and documentation for loans, along with proprietary administrative tools, which enable users to securely pull credit reports and automate the loan repayment process.

About Progrexion Marketing

Progrexion Marketing is the exclusive marketer of Lexington Law. Progrexion provides a credit counseling affiliate program through Lexington Law that has a history of quality services and a long commitment to credit correction research and development, with 20 years of experience assisting over 1/2 million clients in their credit counseling and repair efforts.

This release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which represent the company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events of the company’s financial performance. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the effect of competitive pricing, market acceptance of the company’s products and the effects of government regulation. Results actually achieved may differ materially from expected results included in these statements.

Investors may contact:
Ben Hansel
(720) 288-8495
benh@ttfsco.com

Web Site: http://www.wikiloan.com

Debit Card Use Rising: New Survey

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 1:17 PM

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Throughout the national economic crisis, many consumers have chosen to use debit instead of credit when paying for goods and services, as reported in Credit-Land.com 2009 research. Personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich, author of “The Real Cost of Living,” said recently on “The Early Show” that these introductory rates are being offered strategically, in an attempt to coax Americans back into using their credit cards more frequently. “Then the rates jump, [to] anywhere from 14 to 20 percent, so it becomes incredibly costly,” cautions Wong Ulrich. “You have to know how to use these cards.”

“Our credit card usage has gone way down [since the economic downturn]. And our revolving balances have gone way down,” explained Wong Ulrich. Credit card companies would like to see this trend reverse, and are doing what they can to boost the appeal of credit cards. By transferring balances from high interest credit cards to low interest credit cards, consumers can save themselves a lot of money in interest charges, but only if they pay off the entirety of their outstanding balance before the teaser rate expires.

Roman Shteyn, a financial guru and CEO at Credit-Land.com, advises people to outline a payment plan that will enable them to settle their transferred balance within the timeframe of the teaser rate and adjust their budgets accordingly.

“Some credit card companies are offering 0% interest on transferred balances for up to 21 months with no annual fee. That gives you nearly two years to pay off your balance and get out of debt. It’s an amazing opportunity to save money,” says Shteyn.

The consumer trend research team at Credit-Land.com determined the top four balance transfer credit cards favored by consumers.

They are: the Citibank Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®, offering a 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months; Discover® Card’s Discover® More Card, which has an 18-month promotional 0% APR on balance transfers; the Platinum Prestige Credit Card by Capital One®, which has 0% APR on transferred balances until December 2012; and Chase’s Chase Freedom® Visa, which offers 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months plus a $100 cash-back bonus.

If utilized correctly, a balance transfer credit card may seem an excellent tool for a financially struggling individual to pay down some of her personal debt. Denial of an application may become an inquiry mark on your credit history, which you may prevent by knowing your realistic credit potentials.

Contact Details:

Roman Shteyn
Credit-Land.com Inc.
2751 S Ocean Drive
Suite 1202 South
Hollywood, FL 33019
Phone: 1-888-281-1556
Email: press@credit-land.com
Website: http://www.credit-land.com/

Web Site: http://www.credit-land.com

College Students Facing Enormous Financial Challenges

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 1:09 PM

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College Students Facing Enormous Financial Challenges-Image by York College of PA via Flickr

NSLP, a private not-for-profit serving post-secondary institutions, today released an action plan for developing a campus financial education program. The report, titled Financial Capability Now: Why College Students Can’t Wait, provides a framework for student financial success.

The report recommends:

Create a multidisciplinary success team that includes the stakeholders on your campus and engages them to improve the financial capability of students.

Identify the financial topics relevant to students. Each campus and student population has a different need, and those needs may change as students progress through their education.
Identify the best and most accessible strategy for your campus, and select a delivery method that works for your school.
Once you begin your program, promote it to your students in order to get them to participate throughout their college career.
Assess the impact of your financial education program. Gather data related to programs and services to highlight the impact on financial capability and to support the need for continued resources moving forward.

The data released today supports the mounting body of evidence that proves financial education is critical for students in higher education. A study by Hartford Financial Services Group shows that only 24 percent of students feel well prepared to deal with the financial challenges that await them after graduation. Financial education improves a student’s financial knowledge, cultivates their money management skills, and increases confidence around financial decision-making.

“In study after study we’re seeing the same thing—students want to increase their financial capability,” says Kate Trombitas, NSLP vice president of financial education. “It is time for campuses to work creatively and collaboratively to respond to this need. This report makes it clear that students can’t wait for this critical piece of education; colleges need to respond.”

In addition, many students rely on credit cards to pay for textbooks and tuition when financial assistance fails to cover their expenses. Therefore, along with mounting student loan debt, young adults also face growing credit card debt. Overwhelming debt creates stress that many students are unable to manage. Financial education not only helps relieve stress related to excessive debt, but it also can be proactive in providing students with the resources they need to make informed choices before they borrow.

While some schools have implemented financial education programs on their campuses, the report explains why schools need to go beyond simply offering a program to their students.

“Schools must assess the impact of their programs to ensure they are meeting the unique needs of their student population,” Trombitas says. “When it comes to financial education programs, one size does not fit all situations. More than collecting information about how many students they serve in their programs, schools need to collect qualitative data about what students say about their financial issues. Schools must accurately gauge the effectiveness of their programs.”

This report encourages schools to act now to ensure a better financial future for students, schools and our communities. Download the report here.

ABOUT NSLP

Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, NSLP is a private, not-for-profit company with a 25-year legacy in the higher education marketplace. A former Top-10 student loan guarantor, NSLP continues to be a passionate leader and advocate for student success; providing colleges and universities nationwide with financial education, delinquency prevention, default aversion, financial aid related support, and Title IV training and compliance programs. NSLP collaborates with schools to develop programs that will ultimately help our future generations thrive financially.

CONTACT: CONTACT: Susan Helmink, +1-402-479-6802, SusanH@NSLP.org

Web Site: http://www.nslp.org

Allstate (NYSE: ALL) Board OK’s Stock Repurchase

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 12:53 PM

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The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today announced that its board of directors has approved plans to issue preferred stock and senior unsecured debt to fund a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program and repay maturing debt. The board also approved a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share.

“We believe this is an opportune time to repurchase common stock given Allstate’s current valuation,” said Thomas J. Wilson, Allstate’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “As a result, we plan to adjust our capital structure to capture this opportunity while maintaining our strong capital position. Our $1.0 billion share repurchase program and upcoming 2012 debt maturity will be funded by issuing a combination of preferred stock and senior unsecured notes totaling $1.25 billion, market conditions permitting.” The share repurchase program will be made through open market purchases and may include an accelerated repurchase program. The program is expected to be completed by March 31, 2013.

The board also approved a quarterly dividend of 21 cents on each outstanding share of the corporation’s common stock, payable in cash on January 3, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2011.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. We believe that these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans. However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Allstate has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Allstate has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Allstate and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Allstate will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling tollfree 1-800-416-8803.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

CONTACT: Maryellen Thielen, Media Relations, +1-847-402-5600, or Robert Block or Christine Ieuter, Investor Relations, +1-847-402-2800

Web Site: http://www.allstate.com

Student Loan Payments Go to Bottom of the Pile

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 8:07 PM

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With student loan repayment receiving much attention, the crux of the issue is joblessness. The long duration of a poor U.S. economy with near zero job growth is continuing to take a deepening toll on young adults. Faced with the highest joblessness since the end of World War II, young Americans are forced to deal with an increasingly limited number of opportunities for jobs and are delaying major financial and life decisions based on the economy – 27% say they will delay paying off student loans or other debt due to economic factors.

“The heart of the matter here is that young Americans need jobs in order to repay any debts, including student loans, and to plan for the future,” said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and a former Chief of Staff at the US Department of Labor. “The poor economy and a lack of jobs are the central reasons why millions of young Americans have delayed their dreams of buying a home, getting more education, saving for retirement, getting married, or starting a family. Millennials know that more rhetoric from elected leaders and new federal programs are no substitute for employment opportunities and simply having a job. Elected officials in both parties should put as much energy into allowing the private sector to create jobs for the next generation as they do preparing for the next election.”

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and a highlighted result for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below:

77% of young people ages 18-29 either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
- 44% delay buying a home;
- 28% delay saving for retirement;
- 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
- 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
- 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
- 23% delay starting a family;
- 18% delay getting married.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization’s social media platforms – “Being American” on Facebook and “The Constitution” on Facebook – have amassed a total fan base of more than 1.8 million. Both pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit “Being American” on Facebook here and “The Constitution” on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generacion Oportunidad – click here.

Matthew Faraci
202-997-1636

http://generationopportunity.org/

Business Shifting Strategy to Cash Management

Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 9:41 PM

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Business Shifting Strategy to Cash Management-Image by BlatantWorld.com via Flickr

Companies today are placing a greater value on the historic role of their treasury department in managing cash and liquidity as a direct consequence of the current economic and credit environment, according a survey by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) released today at the AFP Annual Conference. At the same time, treasury responsibilities continue to expand to include critical finance activities ranging from accounting and SEC compliance to financial planning and analysis to serving as a valued internal financial consultant to the company.

The AFP Strategic Role of Treasury Survey , underwritten by SunTrust, found that the role of corporate treasury, the subset of finance that assures that a company has enough cash on hand to meet its needs, in the last five years has become more strategic than operational. Not surprisingly, companies are also keeping a close eye on how they measure financial performance.

“At many companies, treasurers and their staff are interacting directly with senior management, including the board. Their expertise in forecasting and budgeting is even required at the business unit level as companies seek to calculate ROI on a project basis,” said Jim Kaitz, AFP’s president and CEO. “Time is also critical. Companies need to know how they are performing according to plan, so we are seeing an increased focus on financial metrics.”

“SunTrust is pleased to sponsor the 2011 Strategic Role of Treasury Survey,” said Eric Brewer, Executive Vice President of Treasury & Payment Solutions at SunTrust Banks, Inc. “This timely report captures the perspectives of senior-level financial professionals and offers analysis which highlight emerging trends and subtle shifts in the treasury function.”

Key survey findings:

Eighty-one percent of senior-level financial professionals report that treasury is playing a greater strategic role in their organizations than it did five years earlier.

Treasury’s greater strategic role is the result of:

Increased importance of cash management and liquidity given economic and credit market volatility (78 percent)
Senior management and boards seeking increased visibility into liquidity and risk exposures (70 percent)
Closer monitoring of financial metrics on projects and other activities (44 percent)

Treasury takes a leadership role in key finance functions, including bank relationship management, global treasury management, borrowing, investing and cash flow forecasting.

Treasury also plays critical roles in financial risk management, working capital management, financial planning & analysis, risk management, mergers & acquisitions, counterparty risk analysis, business continuity planning, enterprise risk management and capital structure.

In 87 percent of organizations, the treasury group acts as an internal financial consultant to other departments.
This expanded strategic scope has occurred even while many treasury departments committed a greater percentage of resources to traditional cash management responsibilities. The dual expansion was able to occur due to automation, professional development leading to expanded employee skill sets, and by recruiting employees with broadened skill sets.

View the full report on www.afponline.org/research

About AFP®

The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), headquartered outside Washington, D.C., serves a network of more than 16,000, members with news, economic research and data, treasury certification programs, networking events, financial analytical tools, training, and public policy representation to legislators and regulators. AFP is the daily resource for the finance profession.

AFP’s global reach extends to over 150,000 treasury and financial professionals worldwide, including AFP of Canada; London-based gtnews, an on-line resource for the treasury and finance community; and bobsguide, a financial IT solutions network.

CONTACT: CONTACT: David Johnson, Association for Financial Professionals, Media Specialist, +1-301-907-2962, pr@afponline.org

Web Site: http://www.AFPonline.org

Zacks Releases Bull of the Day

Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 9:15 PM

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Zacks Equity Research highlights Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) as the Bull of the Day and Plexus Corporation (Nasdaq: PLXS) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) and Ralcorp Holdings Inc. (NYSE: RAH).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

We are upgrading our recommendation on Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) to Outperform based on third quarter results, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and continuous cost reduction initiatives. Despite soaring fuel prices, earnings on a GAAP basis climbed on fare hikes, capacity cuts and unbundled offerings.

Delta continues to make efforts to reduce its operating expenses, including both fuel and non-fuel costs. The company is also progressing well on upgrading seats, replacing older planes in its fleet, installing WiFi and expanding Economy Comfort to other aircrafts.

Additionally, Delta is expanding its footprint in both domestic and international markets, thereby strengthening its competitive position. Furthermore, merger synergies from Northwest Airlines as well as efforts to deleverage its balance sheet make the stock more attractive.

Bear of the Day:

Plexus Corporation (Nasdaq: PLXS) reported mixed fourth quarter 2011 financial results. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.50 per share but fell shy of the revenue expectation of $540.0 million. Plexus continues to face cut-throat competition in the EMS market, where component shortages and supply chain constraints are increasing operational complexities.

Moreover, Plexus continues to invest in new sites and increasing headcount that may affect profitability in the near term. We maintain our Underperform rating and set a target price of $25.00.

Further, investment in Plexus is expected to generate just 10% over the next 5 years, compared to the peer group average of 11.5%. We therefore believe that downside potential exists.

Report on Employment Statistics Released by Feds

Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 8:41 PM

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Modest Job Growth in a Sluggish Economy is all We can Muster
There is not enough demand to support more than the modest job growth seen in September and October. And therefore, look for more of the same late this year and into the winter. While it may be enough to barely escape recession, the gain in jobs and incomes is not enough to offset consumer pessimism. The economy is simply not strong enough to deliver more than 125,000 jobs a month and continues to struggle to deliver even that much. There is no help on the way from monetary or fiscal policy, at the federal, state, or local level. It all adds up to a labor market struggle, continuing right through the upcoming holiday season and into winter.

About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world’s leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org

Follow The Conference Board
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CONTACT: Carol Courter, The Conference Board, +1-212-339-0232, courter@conference-board.org

Web Site: http://www.conference-board.org

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Business Shifting Strategy to Cash Management

Zacks Releases Bull of the Day

Report on Employment Statistics Released by Feds