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Archives: 2012

December News You Can Use: Tis the Season in Colorado…to Decorate

 Six Factors to Consider When Buying Life Insurance

Life insurance can be an important component of a financial plan, but what kind you choose and how much you purchase depends on your individual financial circumstances.

Here are six factors to consider when thinking about life insurance:

 

  • Consider whether you need life insurance in the first place. You generally purchase life insurance in order to protect the people you leave behind. Don’t buy it unless you have a spouse, children or other people who are financially dependent on you.
  • If you do need life insurance, consider which kind you need. Life insurance policies fall into one of two camps: Pure term policies and whole life policies. Pure term offers life insurance coverage only: You pay a premium and the policy pays your beneficiaries a certain amount when you die. Whole life combines term policies with an investment product to build cash value.
  • Consider what term will meet your needs. For example, you’ll most likely want the policy to last as long as you have dependents. It’s a guessing game, but your advisor can help you make it less so.
  • Think about what you can afford, but don’t leave yourself underinsured. Because whole life insurance is often more expensive than term life, many people purchasing whole life buy too little.
  • Be a savvy buyer. It’s always a good idea to buy insurance when you’re young and healthy, because rates will usually rise for older individuals and those who are in less than optimal health.
  • Always tell the truth when you apply for coverage; if you don’t disclose all relevant factors and then make a claim, the insurance company will investigate, deny the claim and likely cancel your policy.

Life insurance is no place to skimp. By consulting with your advisor before you purchase a plan, you’ll ensure that you have just the right amount of insurance for your needs. 

‘Tis the Season…to Decorate

The holiday season is about the only time we can indulge our decorating fantasies. Whether your dream decor is over the top or simple and elegant, the following will give you ideas to make your holiday fantastic.

  • Pinterest (https://pinterest.com/) is a great source for inspiration and home for the latest design trends. For example, during Halloween, we saw painted pumpkins (even gold-leafed) used as flower centerpieces. For Christmas and Hanukkah, we’ll see more clever ideas for reimagining and repurposing holiday decor items.
  • The DIY trend continues: Make your own Christmas ball garland by stringing your favorite ornaments on fish line, twine or ribbon. It works beautifully on your fireplace mantle or stair railing (but don’t forget to leave spaces for hand holds).
  • Last year the emphasis was on mercury glass, but this year there’ll be a reversion back to natural materials that focus on a central theme such as a classic winter wonderland.
  • Consider clusters of beribboned ornaments on tabletops and use flameless candles and strings of lights to brighten up darker corners.
  • Advent calendars are making a comeback – in an unexpected and fun way. Stretch a string across your fireplace and hang 24 numbered and handmade paper cones containing small gifts and candies. The kids can pull off one a day from December 1 to 24.

Deep Six the Eight-Glass Myth

Your mother always told you to drink eight glasses of water a day. Now it seems she’s wrong.

More and more health experts agree that drinking eight glasses of water isn’t necessary to stay hydrated.

Why not? Because we tend to get enough fluids from the foods and beverages we ingest throughout the day – even from drinks like coffee and tea.

Foods like lettuce and watermelon contain enough water to keep you satiated and hydrated for a few hours, so you don’t have to chug a glass or two with every meal to feel virtuous.

What do the experts recommend? Drink when you’re thirsty. And while it’s not a bad thing to drink eight glasses of water a day, it’s not been proven scientifically that it’s the only way to stay hydrated. Sorry, mom.

Critical Illness Plans Offer Lower Premiums

No one wants to gamble on his or her health, but over the past few years many Americans have decided to do just that. However, there is another way.

With the tight economy and high unemployment, many people have been skimping on health care. While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aims to make health care more affordable, most of the recommended changes are still being discussed, and many significant ones won’t take effect until 2014.

People with lower incomes and the self-employed, as well as those whose jobs don’t provide health insurance, are increasingly opting for a less expensive way to protect themselves by purchasing catastrophic insurance.

This form of insurance effectively lowers monthly premiums and raises out-of-pocket costs while offering complete coverage in the event the insured experiences a catastrophic health issue, such as a stroke, heart attack or cancer.

Do you need catastrophic coverage? To get the most from this type of insurance, you should be a basically healthy person – not one with many prescriptions or regular doctors’ visits. These are the high-cost areas. You’ll pay high out-of-pocket costs for them, and it’s best to keep them to a minimum. Older people also will find catastrophic insurance provides them with peace of mind at a lower cost.

Recipe: Artichokes Stuffed with Brie

Serves four as an appetizer for holiday dinner parties.

Serves 4

  • 4 large artichokes
  • 8 ounces Brie
  • 4 tablespoons chopped shallots
  • 2 cups dry white wine
  • 1 stick of butter cut in cubes
  • 8 ounces whole grain mustard
  • 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut off the top ends of the leaves and the bottom stems of the artichokes. Cook in boiling water for 10-15 minutes or until the bottoms are easily pierced. Run under cold water.

When cooled, cut the inner chokes away from the hearts, removing the inner leaves and keeping the outer ones. Cut the Brie into 1/2″ chunks. Stuff the centers of the artichokes and between the leaves with the Brie. Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees until the Brie melts (approximately 10 minutes).

Combine the shallots and white wine in a saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in the butter and remove from heat. Stir in the mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Drizzle the mixture over artichokes and serve.

Investing in Annuities a Little at a Time

When planning for retirement, it’s tough to know exactly how much of an annuities nest egg you’ll need in order to create the guaranteed income stream to support your desired lifestyle once you reach your golden years.

The good news is you don’t have to decide. Now you can buy an annuity in stages as opposed to one lump sum – a little here and there versus a lot now.

In essence, an annuity is a contract with an insurance company.

In exchange for making a payment now, you are assured that the insurance company will provide you with a stream of income in the future. That stream of income could last for life. Depending on the annuity, it could even go to your beneficiaries after your death.
Many investors believe an annuity must be purchased in a lump sum.

It is true that an annuity can be purchased in a lump sum, but it can also be purchased in a series of installments. Investing in an annuity in this way – a little at a time – means you don’t have to hand over a huge chunk of cash at once. It also eliminates the need for investing all your money when interest rates (and thus payout amounts) are low, which may be the case in today’s market, thanks to the quantitative easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

Whether you’re making a lump-sum payment or a series of payments, it’s important to choose the highest-quality insurance company – one with high ratings from Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best Company.
Ask your advisor to help you to make this important decision.

Can an Annuity Replace Social Security?

Social Security is an important component of most Americans’ retirement plans, but it’s also a collapsing program.

Social Security’s revenues fall short of its spending on benefits, and it is expected to run dry in or before 2036. That would slash benefits by about 25%.

But do you know that it is possible to retire without Social Security and its reduced benefits?

Retiring without Social Security may seem like a stretch, but it’s less so than you might think. That’s because Social Security is essentially a lifetime income annuity. You pay into Social Security for a certain period of time. Then Social Security sends you a check every month until you die. As such, Social Security could, theoretically, be replaced by an annuity. So why not consider buying an annuity to help protect your retirement?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the average retiree receives $14,000 a year from Social Security. A similar income stream for an annuity would cost a 66-year-old roughly $250,000.

According to a survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, many Americans don’t have that kind of money to invest; the survey reported that fewer than half of American workers have saved $25,000, and only a third has saved $50,000. If, however, you’ve been saving and can afford an annuity, why not consider it?

Keep in mind that Social Security offers some benefits most annuities don’t. These include a federal government guarantee and inflation protection.

Don’t underestimate the importance of these benefits: During the financial crisis, many annuity holders were worried about what would happen if their insurance carriers filed for bankruptcy protection. Plus, even small amounts of inflation will gradually eat away at your purchasing power.
If you’re concerned about Social Security but are unsure whether you can handle retirement without it, why not contact your advisor for advice on your retirement savings plan?.

November News You Can Use (Cut-Rate Insurance Can Actually Cost You More)

Cut-Rate Insurance Can Actually Cost You More

If you’re like the rest of us, you frequently receive solicitations and ads from cut-rate insurance companies promising to save you money on your auto or homeowners insurance. And, like most of us, you are being very careful with your money and looking at all your expenses in the hopes of cutting costs. However, buying cut-rate insurance may cost you much more in the long run.

Insurance is your first line of defense against life’s calamities. After a loss, you want to be able to count on a good insurance company to help you through all the problems that arise. For example, a full-service insurance company with a good reputation can:

  • Provide prompt and courteous service year-round after a loss.
  • Provide knowledgeable adjusters who can assist you in making important post-loss decisions.
  • Locate a top-rated repair shop near your job or home to repair your damaged car.
  • Promptly and conveniently provide a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop if you purchased rental coverage.
  • Pay for an alternative living space that is as similar as possible to your home if you are unable to occupy it after a loss.
  • Provide a strong defense with excellent legal counsel if you are sued after a loss.
  • Ensure prompt board-up services after a loss.
  • Help you locate a trustworthy contractor if your home or roof is damaged.

Cut-rate insurance carriers cost less because they generally provide fewer services.

The decision to purchase insurance should go beyond price. Protection for your home and family after a loss is priceless.

Do your research and talk to people who have purchased low-cost insurance to find out if they are pleased with the claims service they have received. Chances are, they’re finding the cost of their “low-cost” insurance is far too high.

 

Eat Dirt: It’s Not Evil Anymore

In North America, we obsess about hand sanitizer and scrub our fruits and vegetables until every vestige of mud in an effort to protect ourselves from bacteria we believe will make us ill. Well, as it turns out, our preoccupation with cleanliness may actually be making us sick.

A five-year study called the Human Microbiome Project found that 100 trillion good bacteria live in our bodies, bacteria that help keep us healthy.

The project, involving 200 scientists and 80 institutions, also discovered that as many as 1,000 bacterial strains exist in each person, that everyone’s microbiome (their collection of bacteria) is unique, and that disease-causing bacteria found in a human’s microbiome not only don’t cause illness, but they also co-exist peacefully. In short, bacteria isn’t evil.

Jeff D. Leach, founder of the Human Food Project, wrote in the New York Times: “Increasing evidence suggests that the alarming rise in allergic and autoimmune disorders during the past few decades is at least partly attributable to our lack of exposure to microorganisms that once covered our food and us.”

So how can we refamiliarize ourselves with those microorganisms? According to Leach, the answer lies in reintroducing organisms found in plain old mud.

While you may not want to eat spoonfuls of mud, you could consider trading artificially shiny grocery store produce for veggies and fruit from the local farmer’s market. And that dirt clinging to them? It’s good for you, so don’t be too quick to scrub it all off.

 

The Debate Continues: Pros and Cons of Urban Intensification

The dream of most couples used to be 2.5 kids and a house in the suburbs surrounded by a white picket fence. Now, according to municipal planners, families should scratch out “suburbs” and insert “smart growth urban communities” instead.

Arising from a shift toward urban intensification, these communities include high-density housing where everything you need is available at your fingertips. No more gas-consuming commutes. Urban intensification offers amenities and promotes walking, biking and transit-taking.

Furthering their claim, supporters of smart growth communities note that the shift not only accommodates fast-paced population growth but also protects the environment in several ways.

However, critics are wary of the move. For them, “high density” living is a colorful way to describe cramped housing. They’re expressing concerns over the depletion of local resources and a diminished quality of life.

They also note that the higher cost of real estate, caused by shortages of housing and buildable land, may have an opposite of what is intended: It may send people (and jobs) to the suburbs for more affordable housing.

But aren’t communities that encourage walking and biking more “healthy”? The jury’s still out, but studies comparing activity levels of kids in the ‘burbs and city kids indicate that city kids play more outdoors. However, this isn’t yet linked to their health status.

The debate continues. Whether the new dream becomes the condo in the sky will be determined, ultimately, by where people want to live. As always, we’ll vote with our feet.

 

Know How to Protect Your Bicycle From Thieves All Year Long

Bicycles are becoming the commuting vehicle of choice, even in the winter months and certainly in milder climes. But no matter what the season, your bike is always vulnerable to theft.

Bicycles can range in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Because they are easily sold on the streets for one-tenth of their value, they’re a hot commodity. And no spot is safe; thefts occur from houses, garages and office buildings. Here are some tips to help keep your bike secure:

Your homeowner’s coverage usually covers theft of a bike, but sometimes your deductible is more than the cost of the bike. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth a claim.

  • When you purchase a bike, immediately record the serial number. Consider etching your phone number on the bike.
  • Register your bicycle with the National Bike Registry. Registration costs $10 for 10 years and ensures you will have a better chance of recovering your bike if it’s stolen.
  • Always lock your bike, even if it’s stored on your balcony. Thieves can easily climb up and lower the bike to the street. Reports have been made of thefts from balconies as high as four floors up.
  • Police recommend you use two locks: a U-lock and a cable lock. A thief needs different tools to attack each lock.

Place your lock off the ground with the keyway facing toward the ground to make it harder to remove, and check to make sure it’s locked securely

October News You Can Use

Simple Maintenance Can Prevent Water Damage Claims

According to one large insurance carrier, water damage is a much more likely cause of homeowner claims than fires. Excluding claims for catastrophes, such as hurricanes, American homes are 10 times more likely to suffer from water damage than from fires.

Note that property maintenance is important in the event of a claim. In fact, you may not be covered for water damage that occurs over time due to inadequate maintenance. However, with good preventive maintenance you can easily eliminate such claims; below are several tips to help you reduce the risk of water damage:

  • Keep your roof in excellent repair. Regularly clean gutters and replace any cracked or missing shingles. Watch for ceiling stains and make immediate repairs if you notice water seepage or a damp ceiling.
  • Check washing machine hoses annually and replace them every five years.
  • Check hot water heater connections and perform regular maintenance on your hot water heater. It should be drained annually, but if you do it yourself, be careful because the water could scald you. If you do not know how to drain the heater correctly, hire a professional.
  • Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when you can stay home for the entire wash cycle. This simple tip can prevent you from returning home to a flood.
  • Check icemaker connections annually. Moving the refrigerator for cleaning may crimp the hose. Each time you move your refrigerator, check to make sure your icemaker line is intact.
  • Inspect your air conditioner drain lines annually for clogs or cracking.
  • Remove and replace deteriorating caulking around your tub and sinks.

Although water damage is one of the most frequent causes of claims, by taking time each year to maintain your home and appliances, you can dramatically reduce your chances of a being a water-damage statistic.

The Human Voice Wields Power: Even Today

The kids at camp who called their mothers nightly may have known more than their fellow campers thought. The human voice, like human touch, can act as a calming agent.

A 2011 University of Wisconsin study tested girls ages 7 to 12 who were given public-speaking assignments. Those who spoke to their mothers by phone or in person before the event had lower stress hormones than those who received email or texts or had no communication with their mothers at all.

In today’s hyper-communicating society, giving the human voice its due may seem counter intuitive. But though the keypad may be mighty, it’s also a weak substitute for the voice.

Why? The study suggests that texting removes the elements of pacing, tone and volume from communication. Emoticons are a poor substitute for the verbal cues that give words a meaning beyond the words themselves.

Unfortunately, many people spend the majority of their days communicating by computers and phones with little human interaction. Corporations have bought into the idea that regular tweets and status updates will build a support base among customers.

They may be rethinking that approach. According to a study out of the University of Missouri, adding a human voice element to an organization’s website can increase consumer satisfaction, building trust and commitment. As a result, many forward-looking companies are combining their online presence with a vocal presence.

Good to know the human voice is still in business.

Are Words Losing Their Magic?

The most powerful ideas in human history have one thing in common – they’re all based on words. From religious doctrines to political constitutions to famous speeches that have broken down walls and created worlds, words have a long history of forging futures.

So, what is it about words that give them the ability to shape perspectives?

Rooted in oral tradition, words have always communicated importance. From oral traditions to the written word, words were luxuries available only to the elite. That is, until the printing press made it possible for them to be distributed almost as soon as they were written.

Today, words are shared as they’re conceived, and technology has made it possible to fire these “thought-rockets” around the world at devastating speeds.

That same technology has quickened the pace of the world. We do more, say more, share more – but does that mean we’re thinking more?

Among social media, digital media and broadcast media, words are hurled randomly into cyberspace with meanings twisted and distorted. Indeed, we’re littered with words, but how many of them actually matter?

Ironically, even though we’re exposed to more words today than ever before, fewer move us as did the words and works of the great orators of the past. Are words losing their magic?

Don’t Let Fido Cost You Your Homeowners Policy

Dog bite claims have reached record levels, costing the U.S. insurance industry $479 million in 2011. Sadly, the majority of bites will be from the family dog or one belonging to a friend or neighbor.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that insurance carriers are cautious. Increasingly many insurance companies refuse to insure homeowners who own certain breeds, including Rottweiler’s, Pit Bulls, Chow Chows, and German Shepherds.

Although dog lovers lobby on behalf of these breeds, insurance underwriters may still refuse to write homeowner’s policies for owners whose pets are “blacklisted”. So, what’s a dog lover to do?

This solution may help your insurance carrier provide you with homeowner’s coverage, pooch and all. The American Kennel Club sponsors a “Canine Good Citizen” designation, and local trainers throughout the U.S. offer classes to train your dog for the designation. The Canine Good Citizen dog must pass 10 temperament tests: He or she should allow a stranger to approach; demonstrate a lack of aggression to other dogs (very important since many people get bitten when their dogs tangle with others); and feel confident in a crowd.

For dogs who are already trained, evaluators are available throughout the U.S. to certify Fido as a good citizen. Some carriers don’t accept the designation, although a bite-free history may help, but generally having a Canine Good Citizen will assist you in obtaining or keeping your homeowner’s insurance.

If you love your dog (and who doesn’t?), the cost associated with training and evaluation is a small price to pay.

October News You Can Use for business

Be Aware of Auto Policy Exclusions

Business auto policies have exclusions that limit coverage. Be aware of the exclusions and compensate for them. The top five are:

  • There is no coverage for injuries to your employees arising out of the use of a covered business auto. This makes workers’ compensation insurance not just a luxury but a necessity.
  • There is no coverage for personal property in your care, custody and control. This is because a property policy typically covers personal property. Business auto policies are liability policies and cover bodily injury and property damage to others.
  • In what is known as the “loading and unloading” exclusion, the business auto policy covers events that occur only during the actual delivery or pickup of property.
  • There is no coverage for pollution losses arising from any pollutants transported, towed or handled by the insured except for pollution stemming from the covered auto’s fuel source and oils or fluids necessary to operate the covered auto. If, however, your insured vehicle hits some other organization’s tanker truck, spilling the tanker’s hazardous cargo, there is coverage for that type of pollution loss.
  • There is no specific coverage for bodily injury or property damage caused by your operation of cherry pickers or similar devices mounted on an auto or truck chassis and used to raise or lower workers. When using this type equipment, your general liability policy usually covers any loss.

Your insurance professional can show you how to fill these exclusion gaps.

 

HUMAN RESOURCES News Flash: Employee Breaks Actually Increase Productivity

Some bosses believe employee breaks are a waste of time. But a growing body of evidence suggests that taking a constructive break from a mental task improves productivity.

For example, a NASA study of pilots on long-haul flights found that those who took turns having brief midflight naps showed a 16% improvement in reaction times after napping, while non-napping pilots experienced a 34% deterioration in reaction time.

Like muscles, the brain becomes fatigued with sustained use and needs time to recover. A short break can help get the creative juices flowing again. In fact, most people will readily agree their most creative thoughts come during moments of rest or reflection.

As well, there is substantial evidence that physically moving around stimulates blood flow and leads to oxygenation in the brain, which increases energy and attentiveness.

There are numerous productive ways to take a break. The ideas below will help employees regenerate. (Note that checking Facebook isn’t among them.)

  • Take a walk: Get some fresh air and a change of scene.
  • Take a catnap: Close your eyes for 15 or 20 minutes and let your mind wander.
  • Chat with a friend or colleague to get a new perspective on the task at hand.
  • Run an errand or do a nonwork-related chore.
  • Go to the gym and get some exercise.

These and other activities can boost their productivity and sense of well-being. Just be sure your employees don’t use break time as an opportunity to procrastinate.

MANAGEMENT Open Offices: Love ’em or Hate ’em

Some social scientists view the open-space environment as a way to enhance the sense of community and esprit de corps among office employees. They maintain that open configurations promote communication and information exchange among co-workers and thus foster teamwork, innovation and problem solving.

Detractors point out that the relentless noise and constant interruptions endemic to open workplaces take a toll on productivity as well as morale.

Generally, bullpen-style office configurations work best for workplaces that require a high degree of collaboration, such as newsrooms or trading floors. Workers whose jobs entail a great deal of concentration, intense focus and extremely detailed analysis tend to work more efficiently in a private office with a door.

The advantages of open-plan office configurations:

  • They allow for free-flowing communication and interpersonal exchange.
  • They’re cost-effective and help to maximize usable space.
  • They enable shared use of infrastructure and technology.
  • Equipment use is more efficient, and thus the facility is environmentally friendly.

The disadvantages of open office spaces:

  • Noise and distraction levels can affect productivity and morale.
  • It can be difficult to concentrate on high-level tasks.
  • The lack of privacy can create serious stress and insecurity.
  • Germs are easily transmitted, so absenteeism may spike during flu season.

Social scientists and managers have taken note of the complaints about cube farms. Some office designers have begun adding soundproofing materials to cubicles and experimenting with layouts that give workers privacy options, improve acoustics or offer quiet places to retreat.

A few companies have adopted sound-masking techniques, such as a pink-noise system that emits a soft whooshing sound. The system’s sound frequency matches human voices, so speech becomes unintelligible at a distance of about 20 feet.

As well, many cubicle dwellers have devised their own creative ways of dealing with the distractions and lack of privacy:

  • They fortify their partitions with books and papers to create an acoustic barrier.
  • They wear earplugs and headphones. In addition to mitigating noise, visible headphones establish a social wall that makes people less apt to interrupt them unnecessarily.
  • They use fans, desktop fountains, soft music and sounds of nature to soothe and create a buffer. Earphones or low-volume speakers pipe in music or nonintrusive sounds.
  • They are strategic about the location of their cubes, avoiding locations near reception areas and meeting rooms, as well as heavily trafficked corridors and aisles.
  • They avoid locations that make them targets for interruptions, such as spots near the coffeemaker or the copy machine.
  • They work at nonpeak times (early morning or late in the evening) when the office is quieter.
  • They ask if they can telecommute.

INSURANCE Return to Work Programs Reduce Premiums

A workplace injury can be traumatic for your employees and can increase your organization’s premiums. Injuries also decrease productivity through increased absenteeism and lowered morale. The answer for most employers is a well-designed Return to Work (RTW) program.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the longer an injured employee is away from work, the greater his or her chances of never returning. These studies confirm that assisting employees through their transition back to work benefits all stakeholders.

RTW minimizes impact

RTW is a process that returns injured or disabled employees back to work as quickly as possible. RTW programs minimize the impact of workplace injuries for both the employee and the employer.

An RTW program is tailored specifically to the employee and is based on his or her injury as well as current abilities and limitations. It includes a short-term modification of the employee’s former duties, which complies with the directives from the worker’s physician. The goal of the RTW process is to progressively advance an injured employee from absence to limited work status to full working capability. RTW is not a permanent accommodation of a disability.

Concerns

There are many fears surrounding return to work. Here are a few reasons managers and physicians may feel reluctant to return an injured employee to work:

  • What if the employee reinjures himself or herself?
  • Why should my department pay an employee to be unproductive?
  • Will our managers devote the time needed to monitor injured employees?
  • As a physician, can I trust that your organization will honor the limitations of my return-to-work directive?

Benefits

The RTW process, which has become well accepted in almost every industry, provides the answer to these fears. If your RTW program is properly developed and implemented, the risks are minimal and the benefits are tremendous.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of an RTW program:

  • RTW provides a clear structure to better manage injuries.
  • Employees feel supported and appreciated; this includes both those with injuries and those impacted by their coworkers’ extended absences.
  • RTW discourages fraudulent claims and malingering.
  • RTW saves the employer money.
  • Employees who might otherwise never return to work find productive employment.

Emergency plan a necessity

One of the key measures of success of an RTW program is the care that is provided after an accident. And that starts well in advance of the event.

You need to have a plan in place that is well understood by supervisors and employees and readily available online and in hard copy. Employees need to know where they can find this plan and how to use it.

When organizations implement RTW programs, they save money, lower lost-work days and retain employees who might otherwise never have returned to work – worthy results for any employer.