Talk, Don’t type
Talk, Don’t Type
These days, we rely pretty heavily on email and instant messaging. Sure, it’s convenient, quick, and to the point, but there’s a catch. You can say goodbye to any sense of humor or reflection of your true personality when you depend on written communication to interact with your team and clients.Every once in a while, it’s great to actually hear what someone has to say. Pick up the phone at least once a week to touch base with your clients; a 15-minute status report call over the phone, or even by Skype video, can really provide a wealth of information. Be sure to listen to what your clients are saying, and how they’re saying it. Pick up on their tone and react on the fly. As soon as they hear that you’re listening and care, they’ll feel your dedication and be more willing to share information with you. We all know that information is power, particularly in project management.
LISTEN UP
It’s very easy to go through the motions as the project manager: schedule the meeting, get conversation started, take notes, document, and share information in writing and by phone.. What’s missing in that list of “motions”? Listening. Take notes based on what’s been said and what’s implied. You have to let your clients provide you with the information that will enable you to do the best possible job, and sometimes that means being a better listener. Better listening reinforces with your client the fact that you are truly engaged in the project, share project goals, and honestly want what’s best for the project.
ASK AWAY
If you’re actively listening to your clients, you will have tons of questions that will help you to understand a number of things: their goals, impacts on the project timeline and budget, and even potential successes or risks. You should never be afraid to ask the client questions that will help the project—even if you’re short on time. If you’re limited due to the time constraints of a meeting, feel free to circle back to the topic in writing. And if you’re not getting answers to the things you need, be frank with your client and tell them that they’re holding up a potential decision—or success—on the project. That’ll surely light a fire. Really, you’re just being proactive and that’s what a good PM would do.
Then again, timing is everything. Take cues from the room and know when it’s appropriate to ask a question or revisit one. Being a relentless (and clueless) question-asker will kill the mood—and even a relationship. There is a delicate balance between getting info you need, seeming nosey (or annoying), and wrecking a conversation. For instance, if you’re mid-conversation and you ask a question that changes the direction of what’s being discussed, you may end up missing out on what your client was about to tell you. Be patient, PM, for the client will share what is appropriate in the context of a conversation. Wait your turn and you’ll get the info you need…and more.
BE HONEST
Transparency can really help when it comes to communications with clients. If you think about it, your clients are paying you or your company to complete a project. Why shouldn’t they know everything about your process and how you make project-related decisions? Nothing is a secret when it comes to project work. Is something a challenge for your team? Discuss it with your clients. They may bring a perspective to the situation that you don’t have and might even help you solve an issue. Including your clients in the decision-making process involves them and helps to build consensus on ideas before you’ve even presented them.
BE AN EDUCATOR
If your project is being outsourced by a company, it’s likely due to the fact that in-house expertise does not exist for your clients. That puts you in the position to take the lead and help your clients to make the right decisions. But they can’t do that unless you’re actually helping them to understand your process.
At the beginning of your project, explain your process at a high level. Run through a project plan line-by-line and actually explain what things mean. If your client is interested, explain what your team does at each turn of the project. This will help your clients to understand timelines and dependencies, which can potentially lead to faster, better decision making.
When your team presents a deliverable, take the time to educate your client on the deliverable. Just showing a deliverable is never good enough because it can lead to uninformed decision-making. Here’s a step by step process for presenting your deliverables:
This format not only helps your clients to understand the level of work and the process that has been followed, it helps them to make decisions based on what’s important to the project. They’ll be more inclined to provide feedback based on the context you’ve provided rather than give direction that was never discussed. If they do, it makes it easier for you, as the expert, to address questionable decisions and follow up with pertinent reasoning.
source:
http://teamgantt.com/guide-to-project-management/managing-projects/
—————————-
As business owners, we should also talk more often with our A and B clients. Less on texting or email to bring our own personal touch. I am looking for business owner mentality to own your business in retirement planning. Must have or should have a Life and Health insurance license.
Email connie –> motherhealth@gmail.com or call 408-854-1883
Wealth gap lasting into retirement by Michael Hill
William Kistler views retirement like someone tied to the tracks and watching a train coming. It’s looming and threatening, but there’s little he can do.
Kistler, a 63-year-old resident of Golden, Colorado, has been unable to build up a nest egg for himself and his wife with his modest salary at a nonprofit. He has saved little in a 401(k) over the past decade, after spending most of his working life self-employed. That puts him far behind many wealthier Americans approaching retirement.
“There is not enough to retire with,” he said. “It’s completely frightening, to tell you the truth. And I, like a lot of people, try not to think about it too much, which is actually a problem.”
With traditional pensions becoming rarer in the private sector, and lower-paid workers less likely to have access to an employer-provided retirement plan, there is a growing gulf in the retirement savings of the wealthy and people with lower incomes. That, experts say, could exacerbate an already widening wealth gap across America, as more than 70 million baby boomers head into retirement – many of them with skimpy reserves.
Because retirement savings are ever more closely tied to income, the widening gulf between the rich and those with less promises to continue – and perhaps worsen – after workers reach retirement age. That is likely to put pressure on government services and lead even more Americans to work well into what is supposed to be their golden years.
Increasingly, financial security for retirees reflects how much they have accumulated during their working career – things like 401(k) accounts, other savings and home equity.
Highly educated, dual income couples tend to do better under this system. The future looks bleaker for people with less education, lower incomes or health issues, as well as for single parents, said Karen Smith, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, a Washington think tank.
“We do find rising inequality,” said Smith, who added that it’s a problem if those at the top are seeing disproportionate gains from economic growth.
Incomes for the highest-earning 1 percent of Americans soared 31 percent from 2009 through 2012, after adjusting for inflation, according to data compiled by Emmanuel Saez, an economist at University of California, Berkeley. For everyone else, it inched up an average of 0.4 percent.
Researchers at the liberal Economic Policy Institute say households in the top fifth of income saw median retirement savings increase from $45,539 in 1989 to $160,000 in 2010 in inflation-adjusted dollars. For households in the bottom fifth, median retirement savings were down from $8,433 in 1989 to $8,000 in 2010, adjusted for inflation. The calculations did not include households without retirement savings.
Employment Benefit Research Institute research director Jack VanDerhei found that in households where annual income is less than $25,000, nine in 10 saved less than $10,000, up slightly from 2009. For households with six-figure incomes, 42 percent saved at least $250,000, up from 34 percent five years earlier.
The days of retirees being able to count on set monthly payments from pensions continue to fade among non-government workers. Only 13 percent of private-sector workers now participate in “defined benefit” plans, compared with a third of such workers in 1985. They’ve been eclipsed by “defined contribution” plans, often 401(k)s, in which employers match a portion of employee contributions.
Americans know they need to save for retirement. The trick for many is actually doing it. It’s estimated that about half of private-sector workers don’t take part in a retirement plan at their current job.
“Over the years, all I’ve been able to do, especially as a single parent, is just pay your bills every month,” said Susan McNamara, a 62-year-old adjunct professor from the Boston area. “Anything that’s left over is used up when your car breaks down or when the furnace breaks down. … There’s never anything left over, ever.”
McNamara is divorced and her son is now grown. But she has had heart issues linked to cancer in 2004 and related financial worries. She sold her home to meet expenses. McNamara has a defined contribution plan from past stints as a full-time professor, but its balance is under $50,000.
Or consider Kistler, who makes $41,000 a year working as a benefits counselor for a nonprofit health care provider. He has no substantial savings beyond the 401(k) worth roughly $19,000, and he has debt. He plans to keep working.
Kistler is philosophical about being on the short end of a retirement gap, though he wonders what will happen when boomers in his financial situation begin retiring by the millions.
“This next 10 to 15 years is going to be quite interesting,” he said.
EBRI, a Washington-based nonpartisan research group, projects that more than 55 percent of baby boomers and the generation that follows them, Generation X, will have enough money to last through retirement.
But EBRI also found the least wealthy boomer and Gen X households are far more likely to run short of money in retirement. Under some models, 43 percent of those in the lowest quarter run short of money in the first year of retirement.
VanDerhei, EBRI’s research director, said members of that group are relying mostly on Social Security and lacked consistent access to retirement plans over their careers.
Many of those retirees will find that it won’t be enough, David John of AARP’s Public Policy Institute said, noting the average monthly Social Security retiree benefit last year was about $1,300.
“In the long run, if we have significant numbers of people retiring on Social Security and very little else, there’s going to be a tremendous pressure on state and local governments for additional services, ranging from health to housing to libraries,” John said. “There’s going to be significant pressure on the national government to provide additional support.”
————–
It is not late, email connie dello buono , retirement planner at motherhealth@gmail.com at 408-854-1883 for your various options for a sound pension – lifetime retirement income that is tax advantaged. CA Life Lic 0G60621
In 50 US states, we help self employed, retired and all workers to save tax free at 8-13% return and also hiring financial service professionals part time to work from their community with full training and support. Life and Health insurance license rquired.
Bitter gourd or bitter melon for body builders, diabetics, HIV infection
What is the purpose of your money? Protect your legacy
Protect your legacy or accumulated wealth to help you have lifetime income, reallocate idle money/assets to tax free assets and grow your remaining funds.
What is the purpose of your money? There is a program I can help you fit the purpose of your assets and what you want to do with them.
If I can show you a program with guaranteed minimum of return, with guarantee that you can always participate in the upside potential with zero market loses, would that help you save now or grow your idle money?
Protect your current assets.
Do you know the personal assets life cycle? Learning stage is 0-25, dependent on other people, the 26-45 or the earning years, you start accumulating wealth thru savings. Job skills, lifestyle, health and income are factors.
Age 65 and over is the preservation or retirement stage. If you did everything right, you can build a nest egg. Don’t let this years be your yearning years.
If you did well and saved, there are things you cannot control: taxes, health, disability, inflation
The legacy age is the wealth transfer, efficiently distributing assets to your heirs avoiding taxes, final expense.
Part of my job is to help people preserve their assets in the preservation stage. Minimize cost in distribution stage, will you do business with me. I have some questions to help you.
Have anyone explained to you the three cornerstones of financial planning:
- What is the purpose of your equity/investments/risks? Do you have stocks, real estate, mutual funds? If you own your home, is it free and clear? What is the value of your stocks? What are your monthly income and expenses?
- Save: Before you invest, you have to save with 6 months of monthly income and with attention to market risks and income taxes.
- Insurance: Before you save, you have to insure yourself. Let’s review your life insurance and other insurance. What are the odds of a person age 65 or higher needing long term care? 1:2
Do you have long term care policy? Do you have funeral expense insurance or Funeral TRUST? 30% of US households have no life insurance.
Connie Dello Buono 408-854-1883
CA Life Lic 0G60621
motherhealth@gmail.com
Pay yourself first, car and housing are major expenses
Contact Connie Dello Buono 408-854-1883 motherhealth@gmail.com for finance coaching and motivating you to save for your future and be ready for financial and health threats.
Facial massage to clean your blood and lymps
Massage to clean your lymps and help with attacking any virus
Your lymphatic system travels opposite your circulatory system and helps in cleaning up your blood and strengthening your immune system. All kinds of massage have similar effects in helping you achieved a stronger immune system that can fight any virus.
Facial massage to clean your blood and lymps
A simple technique to relax, rejuvenate and regenerate facial skin.
The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump which means you need to move the lymph through its channels some other way.
As Joanie Greggains and I concur in The Fat Flush Fitness Plan, massage is one of the most effective ways to help your lymph move through its channels and nodes more efficiently, nourishing your tissues and making white blood cells–the mainstay of your immune system–available to your entire body.
Massage also stimulates your circulation, freeing toxins and waste products and carrying them down into the lymph system which then removes them from your body.
In addition, it can be an important healing modality. A study from the University of Miami found that massage actually increased the number of natural killer cells in the immune system, boosting your ability to resist disease. And it also helps release endorphins so you feel less pain and muscle soreness–especially important when you take up a new routine or activity.
Massage reduces stress, which can be a key factor in weight gain and weight retention. Remember that stress leads to high levels of cortisol, a powerful hormone that helps your body retain fat, especially in the abdominal region. So anything that lowers cortisol levels is a huge help in your diet and fitness efforts. Cortisol may also help promote the development of cellulite, especially around your abdomen.
Meanwhile, by stimulating your circulatory system, massage improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients to every cell, boosting your energy levels and helping to create healthy, glowing skin. Massage also promotes regular sleep, which reduces stress, lowers cortisol levels, and so, indirectly, can lead to weight loss.
Special Lymphatic Facial Massage
While you may already be aware of the benefits of a full body massage, here is a rather innovative method for massaging your face. I first learned of this technique from skin care specialist and veteran Fat Flusher Karie Wagner on our charter Fat Flush cruise. Joanie and I liked it so much we adapted it for The Fat Flush Fitness Plan book!
4 SIMPLE STEPS
1. Using the side of your index fingers, briskly massage up and down on your forehead. Using the side of your index fingers, briskly massage the sides of your face, from the temples near the hairline to the bottom of your ears.
2. Using the sides of your index fingers, start at your cheekbone beside your nose. Hook your finger under the cheekbone and gently vibrate your fingers back and forth. Gradually move down the cheekbone, vibrating your fingers, until you reach the center of the cheekbone, directly below the center of your eye. Using the same vibrating motion, finish this region by placing the underside of your thumbs under the cheekbone directly below the outer corner of your eyes and moving toward the center of the cheekbone.
3. Open your mouth slightly to create slackness in the hollow directly below your cheekbone. Using the tips of three fingers, massage both sides in a circular motion. Place your thumbs, underside against your skin, behind your jawline and just below your ears. Vibrate your thumbs and move down the jawline until your thumbs meet at your chin.
4. Bend your head to the left so your neck muscles are relaxed on the left side. Hold the four fingers of your right hand straight and firmly together. Start just under the jawline on the left side and slide your right hand down your neck and across your shoulder. Repeat ten times on the left side, then carry out the same process on the right side. You may feel a tingling sensation in your neck and arm as the lymph flows.
Contraindication
Turmeric and low back pain
Turmeric and low back pain
Low back pain
Low back pain is one of the most common problems people have. About 60 – 80% of the adult U.S. population has low back pain, and it is the second most common reason people go to the doctor. Low back problems affect the spine’s flexibility, stability, and strength, which can cause pain, discomfort, and stiffness.
Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old. Each year 13 million people go to the doctor for chronic back pain. The condition leaves about 2.4 million Americans chronically disabled and another 2.4 million temporarily disabled.
Most back pain can be prevented by keeping your back muscles strong and making sure you practice good mechanics (like lifting heavy objects in a way that won’t strain your back).
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of low back pain may include:
-
Tenderness, pain, and stiffness in the lower back
-
Pain that spreads into the buttocks or legs
-
Having a hard time standing up or standing in one position for a long time
-
Discomfort while sitting
-
Weakness and tired legs while walking
What Causes It?
Low back pain is usually caused by and injury — strain from lifting, twisting, or bending. However, in rare cases low back pain can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as an infection, a rheumatic or arthritic condition, or a tumor.
A ruptured or bulging disk — the strong, spongy, gel-filled cushions that lie between each vertebra — and compression fractures of the vertebra, caused by osteoporosis, can also cause low back pain. Arthritis can cause the space around the spinal cord to narrows (called spinal stenosis), leading to pain.
Risk factors for back pain include age, smoking, being overweight, being female, being anxious or depressed, and either doing physical work or sedentary work.
What to Expect at Your Provider’s Office
Often your doctor will be able to diagnose your back pain with a physical exam. Your doctor will ask you to stand, sit, and move. Your doctor will check your reflexes and perhaps your response to touch, slight heat, or a pinprick. Depending on what your doctor finds, other tests may include an X-ray, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a bone scan, and computed tomography (CT) scan.
Treatment
In many cases back pain will get better with self-care. You should see your doctor if you pain doesn’t get better within 72 hours. You can lower your risk of back problems by exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and practicing good posture. Learning to bend and lift properly, sleeping on a firm mattress, sitting in supportive chairs, and wearing low-heeled shoes are other important factors. Although you may need to rest your back for a little while, staying in bed for several days tends to make back pain worse.
For long-term back pain, your doctor may recommend stronger medications, physical therapy, or surgery. Most people will not need surgery for back pain.
Medications used to treat low back pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol (Soma), and steroids such as prednisone. Your doctor may prescribe opiates such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin) for short-term use. An injection of a corticosteroid (cortisone shot) may also help decrease inflammation.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies can help ease muscle tension, correct posture, relieve pain, and prevent long-term back problems by improving muscle strength and joint stability. Many people find pain relief by using hot and cold packs on the sore area. Special exercises, such as ones designed for your specific problem by a physical therapist, can help strengthen your core abdominal muscles and your back muscles, reducing pain and making your back stronger.
Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
There is no special diet for back pain, but you can help keep your body in good shape by eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Choose foods that are low in saturated fat and sugar. Drink plenty of water.
Foods that are high in antioxidants (such as green leafy vegetables and berries) may help fight inflammation.
Avoid caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
Exercise moderately at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week. Get your health care provider to okay you for exercise before starting a regimen.
These supplements may help fight inflammation and pain:
- Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed and fish oils, 1 – 2 capsules or 1 tablespoonful oil daily, to help decrease inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids can increase the risk of bleeding and potentially interfere with blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin.
- Glucosamine/chondroitin, 500 – 1,500 mg daily. In some studies, glucosamine and chondroitin have helped relieve arthritis pain. It has not been studied specifically for low back pain. People with allergies to shellfish should not use glucosamine. There are some concerns that chondroitin may worsen asthma symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin may interact with blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin.
- Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), 3,000 mg twice a day, to help prevent joint and connective tissue breakdown. In some studies, MSM has been shown to help relieve arthritis pain.
- Bromelain, 250 mg twice a day. This enzyme that comes from pineapples reduces inflammation. Bromelain may increase the risk of bleeding, so people who take anticoagulants (blood thinners) should not take bromelain without first talking to their health care provider. People with peptic ulcers should avoid bromelain. Turmeric is sometimes combined with bromelain, because it makes the effects of bromelain stronger. Bromelain may interact with some antibiotic medications.
Herbs
Herbs are generally available as standardized, dried extracts (pills, capsules, or tablets), teas, or tinctures/liquid extracts (alcohol extraction, unless otherwise noted). Mix liquid extracts with favorite beverage. Dose for teas is 1 – 2 heaping teaspoonfuls/cup water steeped for 10 – 15 minutes (roots need longer).
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa) standardized extract, 300 mg three times a day, for pain and inflammation. Turmeric is sometimes combined with bromelain because it makes the effects of bromelain stronger. Turmeric can increase the risk of bleeding, especially for people who take blood-thinning medication. Ask your doctor before taking turmeric.
- Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) standardized extract, 100 – 200 mg one to two times daily. Devil’s claw has been used traditionally to relieve pain. One study found that more than 50% of people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip or low back pain who took devil’s claw reported less pain and better mobility after 8 weeks. Devil’s claw may increase the risk of bleeding and interact with diabetes medications, so tell your health care provider before taking it if you also take blood-thinning medication or if you have diabetes. Devil’s claw can affect the heart and may not be right for people with certain heart problems. It can also potentially be problematic for people with gallstones.
- Willow bark (Salix alba) standardized extract, 500 mg up to three times daily, to relieve pain. Willow acts similar to aspirin. Do not take white willow if you are also taking aspirin or blood-thinning medications. Check with your health care provider if you are allergic to aspirin or salicylates before taking white willow. Do not give Willow should to children under the age of 18.
- Capsaicin (Capsicum frutescens) cream, applied to the skin (topically). Capsaicin is the main component in hot chili peppers (also known as cayenne). Applied to the skin, it is believed to temporarily reduce amounts of “substance P,” a chemical that contributes to inflammation and pain. One found a topical capsaicin cream relieved pain better than placebo in 320 people with low back pain. Pain reduction generally starts 3 – 7 days after applying the capsaicin cream to the skin.
Homeopathy
Although very few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider the following treatments to relieve low back pain based on their knowledge and experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person’s constitutional type — your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.
Some of the most common remedies for this condition are listed below:
- Aesculus — for dull pain with muscle weakness
- Arnica montana — especially with pain as a result of trauma
- Colocynthis — for weakness and cramping in the small of the back
- Gnaphalium — for sciatica that alternates with numbness
- Lycopodium — for burning pain, especially with gas or bloating
- Rhus toxicodendron — for stiffness and pain in the small of the back
Hydrotherapy
Contrast hydrotherapy — alternating hot and cold — may help. Alternate 3 minutes hot with 1 minute cold. Repeat three times to complete one set. Do two to three sets per day.
Castor Oil Packs
Apply oil directly to skin, cover with a clean soft cloth and plastic wrap. Place a heat source over the pack and let sit for 30 – 60 minutes. Repeat this procedure for 3 consecutive days.
Acupuncture
Reviews of clinical studies have found that acupuncture may be effective for low back pain. In addition, acupuncturists frequently report success in treating low back pain, and the National Institutes of Health recommend acupuncture as a reasonable treatment option. An acupuncturist may use a comprehensive approach including specialized massage, warming herbal oils, and patient education.
Treating low back pain with acupuncture can be complex because many meridians (including the kidney, bladder, liver, and gallbladder) affect this area of the body. Treatment of the painful areas and related sore points is often done as well, with needles or moxibustion (burning the herb mugwort over specific acupuncture points).
A study using acupuncture to treat 1,162 patients with a history of chronic low back pain found that at 6 months, low back pain was better after acupuncture treatment — almost twice as better than from conventional therapy. Patients had ten 30-minute acupuncture sessions, generally two sessions per week.
Chiropractic
According to a comprehensive review conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, spinal manipulation and NSAIDs are the two most effective treatments for acute low back pain. Of these, only spinal manipulation was judged to both relieve pain and restore function. Spinal manipulation also appears to be effective for chronic low back pain, but the evidence is less conclusive.
Massage
Massage may help treat and prevent short and long-term back problems.
Yoga and Tai Chi
There is evidence that suggests that the mind-body practices of yoga and tai chi offer significant relief of the symptoms of low back pain.
Special Considerations
Chronic low back problems can interfere with everyday activities, sleep, and concentration. Severe symptoms may affect mood and sexuality. Chronic pain is also associated with depression, which can in turn make chronic pain worse.
Supporting Research
- Aota Y, Iizuka H, Ishige Y, et al. Effectiveness of a lumbar support continuous passive motion device in the prevention of low back pain during prolonged sitting.Spine. 2007;32(23):E674-7.
- Bronfort G, Maiers MJ, Evans RL, Schulz CA, Bracha Y, Svendsen KH, Grimm RH Jr, Owens EF Jr, Garvey TA, Transfeldt EE. Supervised exercise, spinal manipulation, and home exercise for chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. Spine J. 2011;11(7):585-98.
- Cecchi F, Molino-Lova R, Chiti M, Pasquini G, Paperini A, Conti AA, Macchi C. Spinal manipulation compared with back school and with individually delivered physiotherapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized trial with one-year follow-up. Clin Rehabil. 2010;24(1):26-36.
- Chan CW, Mok NW, Yeung EW. Aerobic exercise training in addition to conventional physiotherapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;92(10):1681-5.
- Cherkin DC, Eisenberg D, Sherman KJ, et al. Randomized trial comparing traditional Chinese medical acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and self-care education for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:1081-1088.
- Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, Wellman R, Cook AJ, Johnson E, Erro J, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(1):1-9.
- Chou R, Atlas SJ, Stanos SP, Rosenquist RW. Nonsurgical interventional therapies for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society clinical practice guideline. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 May 1;34(10):1078-93. Review.
- Chou R, Huffman LH. American Pain Society, American College of Physicians. Medications for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(7):505-14.
- Chrubasik S, Eisenburg E, Balan E, Weinberger T, Luzzati R, Conradt C. Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: a randomized double blind study. Am J Med. 2000;109:9-14.
- Chrubasik JE, Roufogalis BD, Chrubasik S. Evidence of effectiveness of herbal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of painful osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. Phytother Res. 2007 Jul;21(7):675-83. Review.
- Cuesta-Vargas AI, García-Romero JC, Arroyo-Morales M, Diego-Acosta AM, Daly DJ. Exercise, manual therapy, and education with or without high-intensity deep-water running for nonspecific chronic low back pain: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;90(7):526-34; quiz 535-8.
- Dufour N, Thamsborg G, Oefeldt A, Lundsgaard C, Stender S. Treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized, clinical trial comparing group-based multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation and intensive individual therapist-assisted back muscle strengthening exercises. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).2010;35(5):469-76.
- Eisenberg DM, Post DE, Davis RB, et al. Addition of choice of complementary therapies to usual care for acute low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Spine. 2007;32(2):151-8.
- Engbert K, Weber M. The effects of therapeutic climbing in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).2011;36(11):842-9.
- Gagnier JJ, van Tulder M, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004504. Review.
- Haake M, Muller HH, Schade-Brittinger C, et al. German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: randomized, multicenter, blinded, parallel-group trial with 3 groups. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(17):1892-8.
- Hall AM, Maher CG, Lam P, Ferreira M, Latimer J. Tai chi exercise for treatment of pain and disability in people with persistent low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken).2011;63(11):1576-83. doi: 10.1002/acr.20594.
Harden RN, Remble TA, Houle TT, Long JF, Markov MS, Gallizzi MA. Prospective, randomized, single-blind, sham treatment-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of an electromagnetic field device for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a pilot study. Pain Pract. 2007;7(3):248-55.
- Henochoz Y, de Goumoens P, Norberg M, et al. Role of physical exercise in low back pain rehabilitation: a rondomized controlled trial of a three-month exercise program in patients who have completed multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010;35(12):1192-9.
- Hoiriis KT, Pfleger B, McDuffie FC, et al. A randomized clinical trial comparing chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Jul-Aug;27(6):388-398.
- Hondras MA, Long CR, Cao Y, Rowell RM, Meeker WC. A randomized controlled trial comparing 2 types of spinal manipulation and minimal conservative medical care for adults 55 years and older with subacute or chronic low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jun;32(5):330-43.
- Hopton A, MacPherson H. Acupuncture for chronic pain: is acupuncture more than an effective placebo? A systematic review of pooled data from meta-analyses. [Review]. Pain Pract. 2010;10(2):94-102.
- Hu S. Review: surgery may be more effective than unstructured nonoperative treatment for chronic low-back pain. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(11):2558.
- Inoue M, Hojo T, Nakajima M, Kitakoji H, Itoi M. Comparison of the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment and local anaesthetic injection for low back pain: a randomised controlled clinical trial. Acupunct Med. 2009 Dec;27(4):174-7.
- Jones MA, Stratton G, Reilly T, Unnithan VB. Recurrent non-specific low-back pain in adolescents: the role of exercise. Ergonomics. 2007;50(10):1680-8.
- Keller A, Hayden J, Bombardier C, van Tulder M. Effect sizes of non-surgical treatments of non-specific low-back pain. Eur Spine J. 2007; [Epub ahead of print].
- Kelly RB. Acupuncture for pain. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Sep 1;80(5):481-4.
- Khadilkar A, Odebiyi DO, Brosseau L, Wells GA. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) versus placebo for chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Oct 8;(4):CD003008. Review.
- Kim JI, Kim TH, Lee MS, Kang JW, Kim KH, Choi JY, Kang KW, Kim AR, Shin MS, Jung SY, Choi SM. Evaluation of wet-cupping therapy for persistent non-specific low back pain: a randomised, waiting-list controlled, open-label, parallel-group pilot trial. Trials. 2011;12:146.
- Kluge J, Hall D, Louw Q, Theron G, Grové D. Specific exercises to treat pregnancy-related low back pain in a South African population. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2011;113(3):187-91.
- Mannion AF, Balague F, Pellise F, Cedraschi C. Pain measurement in patients with low back pain. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2007;3(11):610-8.
- Marras WS, Ferguson SA, Burr D, Schabo P, Maronitis A. Low back pain recurrence in occupational environments. Spine. 2007;32(21):2387-97.
- Mens JM. The use of medication in low back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Aug;19(4):609-621.
- Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rahmani N, Behtash H, et al. The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise on women with chronic non-specific low back pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2011;15(1):75-81.
- Mulholland RC. Scientific basis for the treatment of low back pain. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2007;89(7):677-81.
- Pengel HM, Maher CG, Refshauge KM. Systematic review of conservative interventions for subacute low back pain. Clin Rehabil. 2002;16(8):811-20.
- Santilli V, Beghi E, Finucci S. Chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion: a randomized double-blind clinical trial of active and simulated spinal manipulations. Spine J. 2006;6(2):131-7.
- Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Connelly MT, Erro J, Savetsky JB, Davis RB. Complementary and alternative medicine medical therapies for chronic low back pain: What treatments are patients willing to try? BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004; Jul 19;4:9.
- Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Wellman RD, Cook AJ, Hawkes RJ, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A Randomized Trial Comparing Yoga, Stretching, and a Self-care Book for Chronic Low Back Pain. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(22):2019-26.
- Smith L, Oldman AD, McQuay HJ, Moore RA. Teasing apart quality and validity in systematic reviews: an example from acupuncture trials in chronic neck and back pain. Pain. 2000;86:119-32.
- Tilbrook HE, Cox H, Hewitt CE, Kang’ombe AR, Chuang LH, Jayakody S, Aplin JD, Semlyen A, Trewhela A, Watt I, Torgerson DJ. Yoga for chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. AnnIntern Med. 2011;155(9):569-78.
- Trigkilidas D. Acupuncture therapy for chronic lower back pain: a systematic review. [Review]. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010;92(7):595-8.
- van Middelkoop M, Rubinstein SM, Kuijpers T, Verhagen AP, Ostelo R, Koes BW, van Tulder MW. A systematic review on the effectiveness of physical and rehabilitation interventions for chronic non-specific low back pain. [Review]. Eur Spine J. 2011;20(1):19-39.
- Waller B, Lambeck J, Daly D. Therapeutic aquatic exercise in the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Jan;23(1):3-14. Review.
- Walsh AJ, O’neill CW, Lotz JC. Glucosamine HCl alters production of inflammatory mediators by rat intervertebral disc cells in vitro. Spine J. 2007;7(5):601-8.
- Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Baur R, Willich SN. Homeopathic treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: A prospective observational study with 2 years’ follow-up. Clin J Pain. 2009 May;25(4):334-9.
——————-
Connie’s comments: My 80-yr old mother made her massage blend of coconut oil and fresh ginger and I bought her Zyflamend capsules from Whole foods which has turmeric and ginger and she attest to its efficacy. She also likes the cooling effect of Salon Patch on her back (with camphor and menthol).
You can also try to lie on the hardwood floor to stretch your back and do deep breathing.
And also try to rock your back on a foam roller, similar to the ones they use in the gym.
Reduce oxidative stress in dogs, an anti-aging supplement for your friend
Life settlement , what you need to know
Investor Bulletin on Life Settlements
The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to highlight information about life settlements and some of the risks these types of transactions may pose for investors. Individual investors considering a life settlement transaction may wish to keep the following points in mind and seek guidance from an unbiased financial professional who will not receive a commission or any other financial benefit from the transaction.
What is a life settlement?
In a “life settlement” transaction, a life insurance policy owner sells his or her policy to an investor in exchange for a lump sum payment. The amount of the payment from the investor to the policy owner is generally less than the death benefit on the policy, but more than its cash surrender value. The dollar amount offered by the investor usually takes into account the insured’s life expectancy (age and health) and the terms and conditions of the insurance policy.
Why would a policy owner wish to sell a life insurance policy?
Due to changed family or other circumstances, a life insurance policy owner may no longer need the insurance provided by the policy. A spouse may have died, children may have grown up, or a company with life insurance on a key officer may have been sold or gone out of business. Other policy owners may have difficulty making premium payments or simply need cash. In such circumstances, many policy owners surrender their policies or let their policies lapse by ceasing to make premium payments. Selling a policy to an investor may be another alternative. Such sales may be made through life settlement brokers who charge commissions.
How does a life settlement take place and who are the parties involved?
A policy owner may discuss a possible settlement with his or her insurance agent or financial adviser, who then contacts a life settlement broker. In some cases, the policy owner may be solicited directly by a life settlement broker. Life settlement brokers may also be life insurance agents or securities brokers. Depending on the requirements of the states in which they do business, life settlement brokers may be licensed.
The life settlement broker obtains the insured’s authorization to release medical records and forwards the policy owner’s application and medical information to one or more companies known as life settlement providers. Many, but not all, states regulate life settlement providers, who also charge a commission.
The life settlement provider obtains life expectancy estimates on the insured and bids on the application. Life expectancy underwriters (who are not the insured’s personal physician) evaluate the risk of mortality of the insured based on his or her personal characteristics. If the life settlement provider’s bid is accepted, the provider may add that policy to a large group of policies, interests in which may be offered to investors. Institutional investors analyze the information provided by the life settlement provider, often obtaining their own life expectancy estimates. Retail investors, on the other hand, may have to rely on life settlement personnel or other investment professionals to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the transaction. In either case, the investor makes a cash payment to the policy owner or policy owners and continues to pay premiums necessary to keep the policy or policies in effect. Upon the insured’s death, the investor receives the death benefit.
Considerations for investors in life settlements
Before investing in a life settlement, investors may wish to keep the following points in mind.
- The return on a life settlement depends on the insured’s life expectancy and the date of the insured’s death. As a result, the accuracy of a life expectancy estimate is essential. If the insured dies before his or her estimated life expectancy, the investor may receive a higher return. If the insured lives longer than expected, the investor’s return will be lower. If the insured lives long enough or if life expectancy is miscalculated, additional premiums may need to be paid and the cost of the investment could be greater than anticipated.
- In response to investors’ concerns about the uncertainty of life expectancy estimates, some companies have incorporated purported life expectancy guarantee bonds into their offerings. These companies claim that if the insured does not die by the life expectancy date, they will pay investors the amount they would have received had the insured died by that date. Investors should be aware that the Commission has recently brought enforcement action against a company alleging that it made fraudulent claims about these bonds.
- Under certain circumstances, the investor may not receive the death benefit. For example, the life insurance company that issued the policy may refuse to pay out the death benefit if it believes the policy was sold under fraudulent circumstances. In addition, the heirs of the insured may challenge the life settlement or the insurance company may go out of business.
- The competence of a life expectancy underwriter and the accuracy of the life expectancy estimate are critical to the return on a life settlement. For the most part, life expectancy underwriters are not licensed or registered by state insurance regulators, and information about the methodologies and review procedures that life expectancy underwriters use is not generally disclosed.
- Life settlements can give rise to privacy issues. Insured individuals generally wish to keep their medical records and personal information confidential. Investors, on the other hand, want access to the insured’s medical and other personal information to assess the advisability of their investment and to
- monitor it on a continuing basis.
Get more information from the regulators
Investors may want to determine whether professionals involved in a life settlement transaction are registered or licensed. To check on the licensing or registration status of a life settlement broker or provider, contact your state insurance regulator. Contact information is available on the website of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org). To check on the registration status of a securities broker, use the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s on-line BrokerCheck (www.finra.org).
- ——————–
- Connie Dello Buono
- CA Life Lic 0G60621
- 408-854-1883
- motherhealth@gmail.com
- In 50 US states
Estate Plan in less than ninety minutes, have a plan since the government does and its slow and costly!
Estate Plan in less than ninety minutes, have a plan since the government does and its slow and costly!
A living trust is a document used in an estate plan and is most often used by those desiring to pass assets on to others while avoiding the administrative hassle and possibly publicity involved in the probate process. Due to the public nature of all probate documents and proceedings, those desiring privacy often utilize living trusts.
Under a living trust, a person (the grantor) places property in trust for the benefit of one or more other people (the beneficiaries). The trust document then defines a trigger event, often the death of the grantor, that results in the trust property being distributed to the beneficiaries.
A living trust can either be revocable or irrevocable. A revocable living trust is one that the grantor retains control over, meaning that he can take back the property or change the beneficiaries at any time. An irrevocable living trust is one that cannot be changed once it has been signed by the grantor. With certain limited exceptions regarding transfers occurring within three years of death, only property owned at the time of death is subject to estate taxes.
Therefore, an irrevocable living trust can be used to avoid both probate and estate taxes, because ownership of the property transfers to the trust while the grantor is still alive. The property held in a revocable trust, on the other hand, is still the property of the grantor and does not, therefore, avoid estate taxes. It does, however, still allow the grantor to avoid probate upon death.
When setting up a living trust, the grantor must give careful consideration to the choice of beneficiaries and be sure to include backup beneficiaries. The trust also should address what will happen if the beneficiaries die prior to the distribution of property held by the trust. If the trust does not specify what will happen after a beneficiary dies, the property in the trust will go back to the grantor’s estate and be distributed according to his will.
Also, if used to avoid probate, all of the grantor’s assets must be moved into the trust. Any assets that remain outside the trust and are owned by the grantor at death will be subject to probate.A valid trust should always address where the assets will go once all of the beneficiaries have died. There also may be gift tax consequences involved in setting up a trust, so always consult with an attorney. It also is essential for any estate plan that involves a living trust also to include what is known as a “pourover will” so that any assets not captured by the trust can be distributed according to the grantor’s wishes.
A living trust alone is not enough to avoid probate and estate taxes. In most cases, the grantor still has some small amount of property left at death, such as a final social security check. A “pourover will” is a good companion to a living trust, because it provides that all of this remaining property will be “poured over” into the living trust.
———–
Seek an estate planner, let me help you find one. Connie Dello Buono, retirement planner, CA Life Lic 0G60621 408-854-1883 motherhealth@gmail.com
Connie Dello Buono
Money coach and wealth strategist for tax-free retirement
1708 Hallmark Lane San Jose CA 95124
PS. Ask me for 6% index annuities and 13- 17% index universal life policies