Career opportunities booming for financial professionals

(BPT) - At a time when unemployment still remains relatively high and competition for jobs is stiff, the career as a personal financial professional holds much promise for graduating college students and career-changers.



While the national unemployment rate hovers at 7.3 percent, jobs as personal financial advisers are among the fastest-growing careers nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Summary. As a result the financial industry provides great career growth opportunity for new graduates or for those already in the workforce and contemplating a career change.



"A career in financial services is an important way to make a difference in people's lives. American families and business owners need reliable and trustworthy financial services professionals to help them make sound financial decisions," says John Vaccaro, senior vice president for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) Sales and Distribution.



These financial decisions include life insurance protection, retirement planning and achieving personal savings goals. Nearly 35 million families do not have a life insurance protection plan according to research industry group LIMRA's Life Insurance Ownership Study, and 57 percent of people have less than $25,000 in their 401(k) plan, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute 23rd Annual Retirement Confidence Survey. In addition, pensions are disappearing from American workplaces, requiring more workers to completely fund their retirement savings through 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth IRAs and other investments.



Because of a critical need for help in the area of personal financial services, MassMutual is recruiting and training record numbers of professionals, including agents with multicultural backgrounds. The training includes the Certified Family Business Specialist Program through The American College in Bryn Mawr, Penn., to help agents broaden their knowledge of the inner workings and dynamics of family-owned business. Also, the company's SpecialCare program offers agents training in helping families with a disability develop special needs plans for the future.



To excel in these fields, students and career-changers should have the following characteristics:



* An interest in helping others achieve their financial goals.



Financial services professionals work directly with individuals and families, implementing financial strategies and creating a vision for the clients' life goals.



* Connections through networks and organizations.



Starting off a job in the financial sector with connections from previous careers or social involvement provides plenty of business opportunities. But even if you are starting off in your first career directly out of college, you can develop your own network by contacting new prospects and getting referrals from existing associates.



* An entrepreneurial spirit.



Superior time-management skills, commitment and motivation to reach personal and professional goals are excellent traits for students and career-changers interested in building a financial services practice.



* A commitment to education.



The financial industry changes frequently, and students and career changers interested in a financial services career need to be open to feedback, team work, mentoring, coaching and professional development throughout their career.



Students currently in college and those contemplating changing industries to financial services have plenty of opportunities for a successful career helping Americans plan for their futures.



Courtesy of BPT

Cost-cutting techniques to fit your lifestyle

(BPT) - These days, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the multitude of sources offering money-saving tips. It seems like everyone has a hot new tip or an old tried-and-true method you just have to try. Unfortunately, trying to keep up with them all can actually be counter-productive to your savings goal because you aren't able to dedicate enough time and effort to see substantial results.



So how do you choose which tip to focus on? The answer is easy. Look at your personal lifestyle to figure out the savings tactic that will work best for you.



* For the serial over-achiever



Sure, you probably have the energy to coupon "til the cows come home," but that is not the most efficient use of your time. Try setting a goal. Your first step should be to figure out how much you would like to save each month so you can stop yourself once you hit that goal. Of course saving more than what you estimated would be great, but it's important to maintain a healthy coupon/life balance.



And don't be afraid to multitask! "When I was working full time, I would use my breaks and lunch to cut out the coupons I would need to shop and sometimes also shop on my lunch hour," says Jennifer Williams, founder of "My Frugal Wife" blog. Cutting coupons while you eat or while the kids are doing homework means you aren't skipping important parts of your day to get couponing done.



The important thing is to manage the time you spend couponing so that it does not add stress to your already-busy life.



* For the rewards program skeptic



You may think that the concept of saving is all well and good, but when it comes to the practice of participating in rewards programs you are not sure that the effort matches the savings.



This can be true, especially if you try to juggle too many programs at once. Participating in more rewards programs does not necessarily mean more savings. In fact, there are an average of 21.9 rewards program memberships per household in the U.S., according to the 2013 Colloquy Loyalty Census, yet individuals are only active in 44 percent of the rewards programs they are signed up for.



Save more by focusing your efforts on the right program for you. "Find a program that allows you to save on your most frequent purchases," says Heather Brickell, founder of "My Sweet Savings" blog. "A rewards program such as the Fuel Rewards Network(TM) program - or FRN(TM) program - is valuable because your savings pay off at the pump - one of the hardest places to save money or get a discount."



The FRN program allows you to redeem rewards for fuel savings at participating Shell stations. There are multiple ways to earn rewards through everyday purchases of things like food, clothing and household goods.



Participating in a program that allows you to earn rewards without having to step outside of your normal routine can help you save regularly without the stress.



* For the on-the-go lifestyle



Don't have time to spend hours cutting coupons or scouring the Internet for deals? No problem. If you are constantly on the go, but still looking to save money, Brickell suggests looking into downloadable smartphone apps that will allow you to save money on everything from clothing, dining out, and travel. "Apps are easy to use and many retailers and even restaurants will scan discount codes right from your smartphone," says Brickell.



Download a few choice apps and begin scanning them whenever you have a free moment in your day. It's quick and easy because, let's face it, your phone never leaves your side.



Just remember, if you are doing something - anything - to save, then count that as a success! You can create a consistent stream of savings without having to spend all of your time worrying about making it happen. For example, Wayne Wesley, an everyday consumer from Florida who commutes 60 miles per day for work, also takes advantage of the FRN program's ease of use. "I am not the kind of person who would use coupons or spends a lot of time hunting for bargains," says Wesley, who estimates he's saved more than $500 using the FRN program over the past year. "But I earn rewards at my grocery store each week and usually save between 35 and 95 cents per gallon when I fill up. It's an easy way I save money each month without much effort."



The bottom line is that you can cut costs and save in a way that works for you. Don't let time or multiple rewards programs and savings tactics overwhelm you; just pick the one that is right for you and stick with it. The savings can really add up over time!



Courtesy of BPT

Four ways to drought-proof your yard

The past few years have not been kind to lawns and gardens across the country. Homeowners have two choices in dealing with drought: try to water enough to keep grass and plants alive and looking good, or implement long-term changes to make yards more resistant to extremely dry and hot spells.



Fighting drought can be time-consuming and expensive. With forecasters and scientists predicting warming temperatures and more extreme weather events as the new normal, there's plenty of evidence to suggest that droughts could become more common and severe in the future. Making some changes to your approach to landscaping can keep you from worrying about your water bill and the well-being of your lawn when the weather isn't quite cooperating.



Here are four ways to drought-proof your yard:



* Choose your plants wisely. You may want to choose plants solely based on aesthetics, but picking plants that thrive with less water is the key to keep your yard looking good no matter the conditions. Talk with the experts at your garden center about which types of plants make the most sense for your climate, and which ones might be a little more drought-resistant than others.



* Go easy on the grass. For some it's hard to imagine a picturesque yard without a lush and expansive yard. But the truth is, a green lawn usually requires a lot of water to maintain. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced with less water-dependent alternatives saves 55 gallons of water per year. If you don't want to part ways with your lawn in favor of natural landscaping that's more water-friendly, you have another option: synthetic turf.



Any sports fan would know that synthetic turf has come a long way over the years, and now looks more natural than ever. Companies like Synthetic Turf International (STI) specialize in providing synthetic turf for residential and commercial uses that looks and performs like natural grass that could save 99,000 gallons of water each year for an average lawn of 1,800 square feet. The SoftLawn product from STI requires virtually zero maintenance, can be easily maintained with a leaf blower and is made from 100 percent biodegradable or recyclable materials. Considering the average homeowner spends 150 hours a year maintaining his lawn, you can save a lot of time and money by going synthetic. Examples of synthetic lawns can be found at www.synthetic-turf.com.



* Add mulch. Covering the soil around your plants with a layer of mulch or compost can help improve water retention, inhibit growth of water-hungry weeds and cool soil temperatures to keep your plants comfortable when temperatures rise. Natural mulches break down and are absorbed into your soil, which means there's little maintenance besides adding a new layer when appropriate.



* Make your water work harder for you. No matter what you do to drought-proof your lawn, you'll likely still have to do some watering. Drip irrigation systems can make your water go further by applying it directly to the root of plants. If you're watering by hand, water in the morning when temperatures are cool, and apply water to the soil rather than directly to the plants. Installing a rain barrel is a great way to put the water that runs off your house to good use - and you can use that water even if watering restrictions are in effect.



If you're tired of maintaining your yard when the mercury soars and the rain stays away, it might be time to adjust your planting strategy this spring to make your yard naturally resilient. Most drought resistant improvements are good for the environment too, allowing you to feel good while you also save yourself time, money and effort.



Courtesy of BPT

Video conferencing takes next leap to connect colleagues in the cloud

Video and Web conferencing have been around for decades, but the quality of the video and audio has proved disappointing and frustrating due to technology glitches and overall poor performance.



However, a new cloud-based system, OmniJoin, recently launched to change all of that. The OmniJoin cloud infrastructure provides a number of benefits to video and Web conferencing such as reduced costs from less hardware and IT; more scalability and increased response time compared to systems based on standard servers.



This video and Web conferencing technology provides the following unique advantages:



* Users can enjoy crystal-clear video images (up to HD quality) and seamlessly-synched audio



* It allows for enhanced collaboration and integration: During meetings, teams can view and edit documents in real time, and can then save the marked-up files for future reference. Users can also transfer files, and access presentations and videos, without having to exit the meeting



* Secure video meeting recording lets hosts concentrate on the discussions, knowing they can replay the meeting again later



Despite its advanced features, OmniJoin Web conferencing is surprisingly simple to use," says Bill Henderson, vice president of Brother International Corporation. "We designed its user controls - like on all Brother products - to be clear and intuitive. This ease of use, combined with free customer support for the life of your license, makes OmniJoin service a smart, worry-free choice for any business."



In addition to its cutting-edge product features, the conferencing tool helps small, medium and large businesses maintain the bottom line by eliminating airfare and other travel expenses - not to mention removing the added stress of going through airport security and potential flight delays. According to numbers provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, round trip domestic airfares in the past year are up 10 percent overall across the country. As companies search for new ways to do more with less, OmniJoin provides one solution without sacrificing quality and collaboration.



For example, Secure Telehealth, a Web-based platform for telepsychiatry, needed a video conferencing system to serve as a virtual meeting room between patients and health care professionals across different regions. It was important that the system provided superb audio and video quality to meet the demands of independent practices for sudden consultations. Secure Telehealth implemented the OmniJoin system to address these challenges via the cloud, thus eliminating hardware costs and travel expenses.



Courtesy of BPT

Woman with rare disease overcomes adversity one mountain at a time

(BPT) - For most of her life, 44-year-old Tanya Howell was considered unreliable. She missed many days of work, even lost jobs and would frequently cancel on her friends and family at the last minute. She was particularly devastated when she needed to cancel on group outings, because she loves exploring and conquering the outdoors. The reason for her 'flakiness,' a term many of Tanya's friends used to describe her, was because she was suffering from unexplained, debilitating swelling attacks that would come on quickly and cause swelling in different parts of her body at any given time. Most often the swelling and excruciating pain were located in her abdomen. These seemingly uncontrollable attacks used to confine Tanya to her bed for several days at a time.



Tanya's mysterious nightmare lasted for two decades and entailed visits to specialist after specialist in pursuit of an explanation for her swelling attacks along with frequent visits to the emergency room. Over the years, she was misdiagnosed with a litany of conditions including 'muscular uterus,' gall stones, ulcers and allergies. Despite her determination to find answers, healthcare providers had failed to pinpoint the cause for her seemingly helpless condition. This caused Tanya extreme frustration, and she even suffered from bouts of depression.



Two years ago, Tanya finally found an answer to her unexplained swelling attacks. She visited an allergist and immunologist who recognized her symptoms and accurately diagnosed her with hereditary angioedema (HAE), an extremely debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease that can rob people of educational and career opportunities and cause decreased overall mental and physical health. HAE is a rare genetic disease that affects about 6,000 people in the United States. The disease causes repeated swelling attacks that can occur anywhere in the body, including arms, legs, hands, feet, stomach, genitals, face or throat.



The average HAE patient endures about 10 years of repeated misdiagnosis before the disease is accurately identified. In fact, approximately 68 percent of people with HAE in the United States are initially misdiagnosed because the symptoms of HAE mimic other disorders, such as an allergic reaction, appendicitis, and ulcers, among many others. There is a need for increased awareness of HAE given that patients have therapy options to help them.



After receiving an accurate diagnosis of HAE, Tanya was put on a preventive prescription therapy. With the frequency and severity of her HAE attacks helped by therapy and by seeing her physician regularly, Tanya has even been able to ski the Rocky Mountains and hike the Ice Lakes located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. She has also reached the summit of Mt. Humphreys in Arizona, followed by Mt. Whitney in California. She hopes to someday reach the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina, which is the highest peak in both the Western-and-Southern Hemispheres, and would be her biggest adventure yet.



"Whether it was meeting friends for a hike, a bike ride or even competitive events, having an HAE attack made it impossible. I was simply unable to show up because of the unbearable pain and swelling," says Tanya. "I am grateful there are treatment options for people like me living with HAE because today, I feel I can do just about anything I put my mind to."



Tanya also just recently competed in her first mountain bike race in Flagstaff, AZ and hit another major milestone - celebrating her one year anniversary with her husband. Tanya is so thankful that she and her husband can have a future together that is not purely dictated by her disease.



Now that Tanya has finally reached a place in her life where she is knowledgeable about HAE and feels in control of her condition and her future, her advice to other people who are living with a rare or chronic disease is to not be discouraged when seeking an accurate diagnosis, search for resources, know your limitations and shoot for the moon!



"I suggest that you leave no stone unturned in your quest to live a happy and active life," says Tanya. "Do not be afraid; you are not alone. Being diagnosed with a rare disease is just one part of your journey."



To learn more about HAE and hear other stories from HAE patients like Tanya, visit www.HAEandMe.com, an online resource for people with HAE and their loved ones. To find a health care professional, visit www.HAEA.org, the official Web site of the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association.



Courtesy of BPT

Create an outdoor sanctuary in your backyard

(BPT) - Coming home from a long work day to a place of peace, quiet, relaxation and even harmony is a dream for many homeowners. And by creating an outdoor sanctuary in the backyard, this private place of solace will become the first destination for all members of the family when they need a break.



Backyard sanctuaries incorporate peace of mind with a spa-like atmosphere. Some do this with plant features, others with water. Here are some tips to build an outdoor sanctuary in your own backyard.



1. Create a walkway - A beautiful walkway around your backyard, through different scenic zones, can help you to clear your mind of troubled thoughts. This walkway can be a paved path, or composed of stepping stones or gravel and woodchips. Consider planting different gardens close to the walkway, inviting walkers to immerse themselves within the blooms and scents wafting from the flowers.



2. Incorporate a seating area - This space doesn't have to be large, but give it a sense of ambiance with an arbor made of cedar to allow plants to grow taller, or a pergola to provide shade and that wonderful natural aroma that cedar gives off. Natural materials like Western Red Cedar weather naturally, and are rot-resistant, giving homeowners a durable and long-lasting material to enjoy for years to come.



"Using Western Red Cedar for backyard sanctuary seating areas gives homeowners a variety of design options to work around," says Mark Clement, a building expert and co-host of "My Fix It Up Life" which airs nationally on iTunes, Blog Talk Radio and myfixituplife.com. "This wood is sustainable, environmentally friendly, easy to work with, ages beautifully, and, when incorporated into an arbor or pergola design, makes a stunning visual element to the space."



In this seating space, place a bench, outdoor patio furniture or even comfortable lawn chairs to encourage family members to stop for a rest and settle their thoughts for the day. If the family is into yoga or meditation, consider keeping mats in a nearby storage container for quick and easy access.



3. Design for both night and day - Sometimes a sanctuary space is most needed when the moon is shining brightly. Plan for this with a lighting design in the backyard. Provide illumination to pathways, the deck area, and in garden clusters to give a new sense of beauty to the plants. When designing your lighting scheme, be careful to avoid creating any scary shadows. If you notice this occurring, adjust the lighting to come from a different direction, or try using a different light. Also consider what form of light you would like. Would you prefer low watt electric lights, or candlelight, which would require a person to spend time preparing?



Once your backyard sanctuary is built, your family will have a place handy where they can escape for some peace of mind.



Courtesy of BPT