| Timely act saves Clardy
Horry County's director of environmental services submitted his plan to retire the day after a county investigation found reason to pursue allegations against him of sexual harassment, making racist remarks and misusing county equipment, according to county human resources records. Joe Clardy oversaw the county animal shelter and litter control during his career with the county and turned in his letter of retirement June 1, according to County Administrator Danny Knight. Eighteen employees said sexual jokes and propositions were a regular part of the atmosphere in the environmental services department under Clardy, the report said. Clardy did not return calls for comment to several local telephone numbers and to a second home in Tennessee. Knight, who has ultimate authority to fire county employees, said there had been no prior sexual harassment allegations against Clardy during his 13- to 14-year career with Horry County.
Cross-party support could win the day for pension loss victims
Campaigners for the 125,000 people who lost workplace pensions are cautiously optimistic of victory in their three-year struggle with the government, after last night securing cross-party support for an amendment to the Pensions Bill. The amendment, tabled late yesterday with support from Conservative leader David Cameron and his shadow chancellor George Osborne, LibDem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, and several Labour MPs, would force the government to set up a new "lifeboat fund" with interest-free loans, to be repaid in the future from the financial sector's stock of unclaimed assets. The fund would make up any shortfalls in pension funds whose sponsoring companies went bust before April 2005 and so are currently eligible for the much-criticised Financial Assistance Scheme.
CalPERS and CalSTRS Pensions Power Up State and Local Economies
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Retirement benefits paid by the state's two big public pension funds, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), generate a powerful $21 billion in economic activity statewide every year, according to the first ever study of pension payments, CalPERS announced today. The CSUS Applied Research Center of Sacramento State University analyzed the economic impact of $13.8 billion in retirement benefits paid to retirees of the two retirement systems during the 2006 calendar year. The study analyzed the ripple effects of the $13.8 billion in pension benefits given that year to approximately 674,000 retirees and beneficiaries living in California. The report indicates that retirees' income produced additional economic activity, commonly called a "ripple effect," of another $7.3 billion, for a combined total economic impact of $21.1 billion on the state economy.
Jack Naudi
During my long recent discourse on asset allocation, I mentioned that real estate and commodities should be, or at least could be, a part of investors' portfolios.
But I left out how you could purchase these asset classes. Most people understand that they can buy no-load index mutual funds that invest in stocks and bonds. But what about commodities and real estate?
There's some bad news and good news. The bad news is you probably won't find either option in your 401(k) plan. The good news is that outside of 401(k)s, low-cost options are available. .
Week of April 12, 2007
Students (kindergarten through eighth grade) and staff of Creswell Christian School invite community members to a Spring Open House to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 12 at the school, located in the Creswell Christian Center building on Holbrook Lane.
Attendees will be able to tour the facility, meet the staff, view curricula, admire students' special artwork and science projects and partake of refreshments.
SOFCU Credit Union's Creswell branch will hold a "Financial Wellness Day" on Tuesday, April 17. Jacki Holcomb, financial representative for SOFCU Financial Solutions will answer questions about retirement, IRAs, mutual funds, annuities, educational funding, long term care and life insurance. If you are interested in meeting with her, please call 895-3061 to set up an appointment.
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