| TALKING MONEY: Income-tax refund can buy long-term financial security
Yes, it's tax time. The good news is refunds are about 6 percent higher than this time last year. So far, the IRS has processed refunds for nearly 39 million taxpayers to the tune of $102 billion. That works out to an average of $2,650 per refund. Sound like a bundle? Well, one thing you need to understand about tax refunds is that they're larger earlier in the season -- that's because people who know they're getting money back have an incentive to file, rather than leaving their hard-earned cash with Uncle Sam. The big question is: What do you do with all that dough? My suggestion is do something good for yourself. Such as: Make an IRA contribution. For a while now, we've been telling people to file electronically and have their refunds direct deposited.
Healthcare benefits to cost $11.1 billion
Hawai'i's state and county governments have to come up with as much as $11.1 billion to pay for the retiree healthcare benefits they have promised civil servants over the next 30 years. The unfunded liability was disclosed in a state consultant's report that tallied the costs of retiree medical and health benefits for Hawai'i's nearly 100,000 employed and retired public workers. While news of the health benefit liability comes too late for consideration in this year's legislative session, legislators next year are expected to wrestle with how to handle the burden. The options range from taking no action to finding money to create an investment fund. "There's a range of things, but before we make a determination on what we would do we need to get some more information," said Sen.
Blue Chip News: Fundamental Review for Aetna Inc.
Mount Etna is Europe's most active volcano; Aetna is one of the most active health insurance companies in the US. The company operates in three segments. Its Health Care division offers HMOs, PPOs, point-of-service (POS) plans, health savings accounts, and traditional indemnity coverage, along with dental, vision, behavioral health, and Medicare plans. Aetna covers more than 15 million individuals under its health plans, some 13 million dental plan members, and 10 million pharmacy members. Its Group Insurance segment sells life, disability, and long-term care insurance, covering about 15 million people. The Large Case Pensions segment offers pensions, annuities, and other retirement savings products. Shares were down 2% expanding efforts to help consumers purchase health care. BellwetherReport.com is a leading online research firm for international investors looking to get an edge over their portfolio.
Industry comes together to promote eServices
Origo is heading-up an industry initiative to encourage advisers to use online services, called adviserwise.com, which has been launched by 27 representatives from all areas of financial services. Product providers, portals and back-office system suppliers have come together to provider advice, support and information about the eServices they provide to advisers through the website www.adviserwise.com. The website will be home to free information on the eServices available to them and from whom, plus which product range is supported by a particular product provider. Currently the website supports eServices information for products that fall under group pensions, individual pensions, protection, investment and annuities. Practical tips on how to use online services to cut costs and improve efficiency will also be available.
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