Front Runner
News bytes, sound advice and practical business tips
Women win in the retirement game
According to a New York Life survey of retirees and pre-retirees, only 43 percent of men are concerned about having retirement funds past the age of 85, versus 57 percent of women. Financial planners do, in fact, recommend planning for retirement funds through age 90 or 95. Furthermore, 76 percent of women are concerned about Social Security cuts, versus 62 percent of men. And 78 percent of pre-retired women state that the number one issue they want to know more about is generating retirement income, versus 67 percent of pre-retired men. Also, just over half of male respondents have worked with a financial advisor, versus 65 percent of women. The survey suggests that women, more than men, are concerned about retirement and financial security matters.
Visit www.newyorklife.com for further survey findings.
Multi-tasking CFOs
A Bridgestar survey of nonprofit CFOs reports that, over the last decade, CFOs working with budgets of under $10 million have tended to function in multiple areas, including finance, IT, HR, administration and operations. In so doing, their positions more closely resemble those of Chief Operating Officers at larger companies. However, nonprofit CFOs working with budgets of more than $40 million are more likely to see their roles reside solely within the finance function.
Visit www.cfo.com for more.
INSIGHT wins industry awards
INSIGHT Magazine was recently awarded two Communications Concepts Apex 2006 Awards for Publication Excellence in the categories of Magazines & Journals – Printed Four Color (January/February 2006 issue) and Magazine and Journal Writing (July 2005 issue). This is the 18th annual APEX Award Program, which recognizes “excellence in publications work by professional communicators.” The awards are based on an evaluation of graphic design, editorial content and “the ability to achieve overall communications excellence.” These are the latest additions to the 11 awards INSIGHT has garnered since its 2000 editorial and art redesign.
CEOs charm america
CEOs are becoming nicer to boost the bottom line. No, really. After tale upon tale of corporate fraud and white-color crime, CEOs are using charm as their offensive, a Business Week article reports. “Positive energy” is the new “it” phrase in corporate America. “With greater transparency in business, there's no place to hide,” the article explains. “It's not enough to be popular with employees, board members, or the regulators perched outside your door. In today's wired world, how you treat workers and the planet can quickly come back to haunt you in a blog or I-Hate-Your-Company website. Anyone can find out what it's like to work for you.”
Visit www.businessweek.com and access “Charm Offensive” for more.
Plus-size profits?
The number of obese Americans has increased from 23 million in 1980 to 60 million in 2006. Numbers are expected to rise an additional 28 million by 2013. Statistics show that obesity rates are specifically increasing among American households earning $60,000 or more a year—a fact that is creating economic opportunity, money. com reports. “Just as Baby Boomers have driven business and shaped the economy during the past half century, the plus-size population is likely to dictate marketing trends through much of the 21st,” the article states, citing products such as Toyota’s Rav4, featuring seats that are three-inches wider, Select Comfort’s grand king size that’s 30-percent bigger than a traditional king, and personal seatbelt extenders for planes.
Visit http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/02/technology/business2_fatamerica0605/index.htm for more on this article.
Presidential lessons in leadership
Abraham Lincoln remains a symbol of strong leadership and diplomacy to this day. But what lingering leadership lessons does Lincoln offer contemporary America? Forbes.com gives these pearls of wisdom:
- Recognize your errors and learn from your mistakes to command the respect of allies and enemies alike.
- Listen intently to all sides of an argument.
- Find healthy escapes from day-to-day business, and replenish your energies.
- Manage your anger; don’t say anything you’ll later regret.
- Manage your ego; recognize that without the help of others, you will not succeed.
- Recognize your weaknesses, and employ those for whom these areas are strengths.
- Be visible in the business’s tough times, as well as its good times.
- Be sensitive to your audience when announcing changes.
- When speaking publicly, make sure your audience can effectively relate to what you are telling them.
- As team leader, take responsibility for failures as well as successes.
Visit www.forbes.com for more.