EXCERPT: This is not an article per se, but more of a request for input.  There are diverse philosophies expressed here, and I think the input could be interesting.  Or maybe not.  This year the company I work for as a manager changed the manner in which annual raises are calculated. Previously, we performed the annual evaluations and raises were given as a percentage of their salary, based on performance.  For example, if someone received the meeting standards...

EXCERPT: “You’d never see members of the same team tackle each other in football.  But it sometimes happens in business.” (Teamwork Means Getting All Hands Ready For A Touchdown, Investor’s Business Daily, Monday, June 12, 2006)
 
This was the case at chip designer/maker Microchip Technology in Chandler Arizona. 
 
“It all began when clients started to move production to low-cost Asian plants.  U.S. sales reps who had the design account...

EXCERPT: I have been wondering when the billions in profits that the oil companies are making are going to trickle down to the end consumer.  Unfortunately the reason that trickle down economics doesn't work, is because of greed.  The oil companies are only netting approximately 10%, that is not that much.  Of course it is, when you consider what we have to pay at the pump.  If there was less greed and more compassion (oops, what a liberal idea) the corporations...

EXCERPT: What's wrong with this picture?
1950’s:
Good news – the company is offering a voluntary defined contribution retirement (K-) plan, with partial matching contributions.
 
1970’s:
Henceforth, the pension plan is unavailable to new employees. 
 
1980’s:
[Board of Directors: resolution – suspend K-plan matching contributions.]
 
1990’s:
The pension plan has been converted to a cash balance plan.   Some (translation:...

EXCERPT: If you can see the future behavior of your mutual fund or stock and determine the optimum point at which to get off, read no further. 
 
But if you can’t, then an alternative is to take the bull by the horns and decide for yourself on a point (say, twenty-five percent annualized return) at which you will get off.
  o  Set your threshold level of return and stick to it.
  o  Don’t sell before it is reached.  (i.e., don’t panic)...

EXCERPT: AZ Mom, you have aroused a valid discussion.  My experience tells me that the “work ethic” in America has eroded since I was growing up.  But so has the reward for a worker’s investment in the job.
 
We hear from our leaders that we should redouble our efforts to increase productivity.  The productivity squeeze is on, but the Average American is not seeing the benefit of their increasing effort as they strain into the productivity harness...

EXCERPT: Every week I am going to post comments about Companies that we should not give are business to. Also I will post companies that are Ripping off their customers.
Today it's VERIZON SUPER PAGES
REASON: If you place an ad on Verizon Super Pages and have them debit your bank account you are screwed. For 6 months this company has been trying to cancel an ad placed on VERIZON SUPER PAGES. The reason they are trying to cancel for 6 months is every time they phone the company the person...

EXCERPT: The first article in this series,  48% Annual Rate of Return!?!  How...? suggested that, for the Average American, one possible profitable approach to investing is to work with industry sectors and the mutual funds that represent them.  Four case studies were presented.  These case studies are actual histories of success for a period from November of 2005 to January of 2006.  They are recent and real.
In this article I wll explain in detail what the...

EXCERPT: It amazes me that in today's work place "Work Ethic" has been lost. It used to be that people took pride in their daily tasks and strived to be the best. Not just for themselves but the feeling of pride when they came home to their families knowing they were setting a good example. It felt good to come home from a hard days work and rest their head on the pillow and know that they earned every penny they made. The customer used to feel a genuine...

EXCERPT: The Average American gets burned in the stock market because they don’t have a pipeline into a company to see what is coming down the pike.  The Big Boys on the inside have already discounted the stock by the time you and I learn that the FDA is going to approve a new drug, for example. 
I’m not one of the Big Boys.  But I’m not your Average American, either.  I just recently made an annual rate of return of about: 45% on computer stocks in 36...