Money in the Bank....

Job applicants are stretching the truth less frequently on their resumes, but more creatively these days.

Some 40% of resumes, according to 3000 hiring managers who were polled, had a lie of some sort on them (down from 57% in 2000).

38% exaggerated their job responsibilities, 10% listed academic degrees they hadn’t earned.

At even 40%, this is a terrible figure.

Be forewarned... that these untruths , if uncovered after you have been hired, can (and often will) result in being fired.

I had a insurance defense attorney candidate some years back who almost lost their new job when it was discovered they had understated (not overstated) their prior salary, in fear that what they had been making was more than the new employer would want to pay!

Harvey Dorland

Money in the Bank....

I get requests from new candidates (on a regular basis) to find them a position where they can telecommute.

Wouldn’t almost everyone love to do that?!

But... while it is much more a reality today than it was just a year ago, still only 18% of employers allow it.

While I don’t have the statistics to support it, my consensus is that for those that are in this 18% category, the majority are either allowing it for long-term employees that have proven that they can work independently and be trusted, and that the only newly hired ones given the privilege are for positions that are typically not “in-office” jobs in the first place.

For those of you that don’t fall into either of the above categories, all is not lost.

The trend-line is moving up dramatically in your favor, and in a few short years to come my consensus may be outdated.

Harvey Dorland

Money in the Bank....

Before we sign off (at least for now) on the retirement prep issue, most everything I read says that:

· A bear market during your first 5 years of retirement can doom your chances of your money lasting until you no longer need it.

· A few extra years of work and 401(k) contributions, plus delaying social security benefits, can boost the purchasing power of a 62 year old by as much as 30%.

That’s a pretty substantial amount for someone, in my opinion, that will still be in their prime years!

Money in the Bank....

Over the next 20 years a record of $17 Trillion will move from pension and 401(k) accounts into the hands of new retirees.

The problem is that most recipients are not prepared for the change in landscape from accumulating and saving to spending.

Be careful: Many denizens of the deep out there are salivating at the idea of helping you determine how to spend it.

Probably the first thing that you will need to determine may be among the simplest, but the most daunting if you make the wrong choice, is to determine whether to take a lump sum distribution or payments over time.

Yours truly isn’t going to give you the answer, as everyone’s go-forward situation is different, but finding and cherishing a trusted CPA would be a good step in the right direction (and not one who also doubles as an investment advisor or money manager) – too tangled a web they have!

More later.

What are the top skills needed by the 30 largest Insurance Companies?

IBM and a company called skill proof analyzed all the job postings on the top insurance and financial company websites to see what skill sets are in high demand. The data will be used by colleges to help stir students interested in these industries to get the right education to get the jobs. The results of the survey show the following jobs are in high demand:

1. Actuaries
2. Accountants
3. Financial Analysts
4. Financial Brokers
5. IT

As an insurance recruiter, all of our clients are always looking for these types of backgrounds. If you are drawn to these types of positions, you will have a great career in the insurance industry.

You can view the article here:

Data Reveals Top Skills Employers Seek On Job Posts

Post by Roger Lear of Lear & Associates.com

Money in the bank

If you’re approaching, or are already in your 60’s, times and attitudes are changing.

Your highest income years are likely to still be ahead of you.

The Republican Party is asking us to hire a 72 year old CEO (President); Warren Buffet (77), Kirk Kerkorian (91), and Rupert Murdock (77), are the ones that Americans are listening to these days (they’ve been through many of these tough economic cycles before).

So have you!

As baby boomers age, so has the mystique of age also changed.

Forty years ago, the mantra was “don’t trust anyone over 30”...

Soon it may be “don’t trust anyone under 60”!

Harvey Dorland

Money in the bank

Instead of limiting your spending so you can save what is left, it’s suggested that you decide first what you’ll save, and then learn to live on the rest.

Here are some tips on how to live on the rest.

1. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses.

2. Pay cash. Shopping with plastic profoundly affects your spending by as much as 50% by some estimates.

3. Trading an SUV for a hybrid can save you as much as $2,400 /year.

4. Stock up / buy in bulk when there are sales.

5. Eat more frequently at home.

6. Raise the deductibles on your insurance policies.

7. Save up to $800 / year by checking your tires inflation every month and by maintaining steadier and a little slower speeds.

Harvey Dorland