FREEMAN-SPICER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Finance • Leasing • Accounting • Premium
316 South Eddy Street South Bend, IN 46617
574.234.0069 (V) • 574.234.6414 (F) • surekey@aol.com
Vol. 27, No. 7 • July, 2009
Now you can find this newsletter on the web, at Freeman-Spicer.com
Insurance Matters . . . . . . How do you know if you need Life Insurance coverage? The question to ask yourself is, “Would my death leave anyone in a financial bind?” That usually means once you become a parent, any adult in the house earning income should have coverage that will last until the kids get through college. And a stay-at-home parent may need a small policy to cover child care costs for the other parent if something happens. Even if you’re dual income, no-kids, you may need insurance to cover large shared financial obligations such as a mortgage. For older, empty-nesters, it may be unnecessary other than to cover estate taxes. (Smart Money)
Oldie But Goodie . . . . . . A man calls home to his wife and says, “Honey, I have been asked to fly to Canada with my boss and several of his friends for a fishing trip. We’ll be gone for a long weekend. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I’ve been wanting, so could you please pack enough clothes for a 3 day weekend? . . . . . And also, would you get out my rod and tackle box from the attic? . . . . . We’re leaving at 4:30 pm from the office and I will swing by the house to pick up my things. Oh! And please pack my new navy blue silk pajamas.” The wife thinks this sounds a bit odd, but, being the good wife, she does exactly what her husband asked. Following the long weekend he came home a little tired, but otherwise, looking good. The wife welcomes him home and asks if he caught many fish” He says, “Yes! Lots of Walleye, some Bass, and a few Pike. But why didn’t you pack my new blue silk pajamas line I asked you to do?” (And the answer is . . . . .) The wife replies, “I did, they’re in your tackle box.” (Bishop)
Viewing Distances For HDTV . . . . . . . Viewing distance and how large a HD screen you should buy has been a question that has a variety of answers. Kim Komando has a recommendation that can make your purchase easier. Using the following formula - here’s the way to determine what size HD TV to purchase: Let’s say you’re 9.25 feet from where the TV will be placed. Convert that to inches (9.25 X 12 = 111 inches). Divide the results by 3 and 2 (111 /3 = 37 inches and 111/2 = 55.5 inches). Ergo, you would need a minimum screen size of 37 inches and a maximum would be 55.5 inches. Common ranges of TV’s are 37, 40, 42, 46, and 50 inches. So here’s a quick chart to help you:
Distance Minimum Size Maximum Size
6 feet 24-inch screen 36-inch screen
8 feet 32-inch screen 48-inch screen
10 feet 40-inch screen 60-inch screen
12 feet 48-inch screen 72-inch screen
To Cook A Steak . . . well-done without drying it out, Pat Neely, co-host of Down Home With The Neelys, says: Take your almost-done steak off the burners and wrap it tightly in foil. Then, put the wrapped meat over indirect heat. It will continue to cook without charring or drying.
(Popular Mechanics)
How To Clean Your TV Screen . . . . . . .
1. Check the set’s manual for cleaning instructions. Look for any warnings about the use of certain types of cleaning products.
2. Avoid commercial cleaners, especially those with alcohol or ammonia, such as window cleaners. Older tube TVs had glass screens that could tolerate chemical cleaners, but plasma and LCD models can be damaged by harsh chemicals. It’s also a bad idea to vacuum the screen with a brush that could cause scratches.
3. Use a damp, soft cloth to clean the screen. Avoid paper towels and other wood-based materials, which can scratch the screen. The best choice is a microfiber cloth that’s just barely damp. Wet cloths will cause smudges or drip moisture down inside the screen. If you have an LCD set, be especially careful about pressing too hard on the screen because it can damage more easily. (Consumer Reports)
Employers !!!!! . . . . . . 54 percent - The share of employed Americans who say they will look for a new job once the recession ends. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 71 percent say they want to make a change once the recovery begins. (ADECCO North America)
Who Needs A Desk Phone? . . . Are companies ready to cut the cord? A forecast by research firm Gartner suggests that more businesses could soon join the many households that have unplugged from their landlines to go mobile-only. Gartner predicts that by 2012 about 23% of North American businesses will be doing without desk phones - up from 4% in 2008. At the forefront of this trend are out-fits like San Jose Web design firm Yogirt. Co-founder Brian Yoshida didn’t even bother with desk phones when he set up the company five years ago. Wireless-only is “the future,” he says. That’s music to the ears of makers of so-called smartphones - including Research in Motion, Nokia, and Acer. In their pitches to corporate clients, they emphasize the cost saving that come with switching to mobile. Initially installing one desk phone can cost up to $500, and the monthly per-line fee must be paid even if an employee is rarely in the office. For cell phones the average initial cost per employee is about $200, plus monthly charges. Given companies concerns about controlling employees’ cell-phone usage, however, most businesses are likely to buy mobiles but link them to their phone networks. That’s what CIO Tim Campos opted for when he was faced with the need to upgrade his phone system at KLA-Tencor, which makes semiconductor inspection tools. The company, based in Milpitas, Calif., spent about $8,000 to install RIM’s Mobile Voice System, which routes employees’ BlackBerry calls through the corporate landline. Employees get a single number for both desk and mobile phones, with the mobiles getting the company’s long-distance rate. (No Roaming Charges.) “You get the best of both worlds,” says Campos, who plans to roll out the BlackBerry to 3,000 U.S. employees in the next year. The system will cost about half the $400 per employee the company would have spent to upgrade it’s desk phones, he says. (Cliff Edwards in BusinessWeek)
Punster Alert . . . . . . A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering. - A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said” “Keep off the Grass.” - A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to the hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, “No change yet.” - A man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. - Don’t join dangerous cults, practice safe sects! (Bishop)
Mistakes - This is Worth Posting . . . . . . We all make mistakes. It’s a good idea to swiftly, genuinely, and thoughtfully deal with them when we do. You don’t always have to be right, but you do always have to take responsibility for being wrong. Coaching great John Wooden said, “You aren’t a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.” Don’t suggest the problem lies in the interpretation and reaction, not in what you said. Don’t excuse it as just your sense of humor. Don’t blame it on some outside source, person, or metaphysical phenomena. If you’re going to survive in the business world, you have to be up front when things go wrong. (Executive Charisma)
Opps! Americans Report Risky Behavior . . . . . .
People do what they shouldn’t . . .
Yes No
Sometimes use cotton swabs to clean your inner ears 73% 26%
Let your kids play on the trampoline 43% 56%
Often eat raw dough when making cookies 39% 61%
Occasionally use top step of ladder 31% 69%
Ever fail to fasten car’s safety belt 24% 75%
Sometimes have a beer while using power tool or mower 13% 87%
....and don’t do what they should
Yes No
Have a rubber mat in the tub or shower 39% 61%
Have a carbon-monoxide detector at home 51% 48%
Eat burgers only well done 67% 32%
Change batteries in smoke alarm yearly 79% 21%
Clean lint trap in dryer after each use 71% 18%
(Consumer Reports)
“It's what you do for others that help you succeed in life!” (Unknown)
“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you are tired.” Jules Renard
“All the money in the world won’t buy you one more day.” Ted Turner
Social Security . . . . . . . . . Should you start collecting Social Security checks at 62 or should you wait? Go to Met Life’s free calculator - metlife.com/fileassets/sscalc - answer three quick questions, and - bingo - the age at which you’ll have the best chance of maximizing your take, plus a clear explanation. (Money Magazine)
Go to the Freeman-Spicer Web Site - Freeman-Spicer.com and read an article about - “How to Salvage an Ailing Credit Score.” We put it on the web site
so you can cut and paste the article or send someone that might need this type of help, the link.
Sincerely,
Edward C. Levy
President