INVESTING 2009
As singer John Fogerty once crooned, “Things got bad and things got worse.” Despite the market downturn, however, some experts are chiming a cautiously upbeat tune, noting that historic buying opportunities are among the pluses. The challenge, they say, is that with volatility ‘the new normal,’ the onus is on investors to adjust their strategies in order to capitalize in an environment that offers as much uncertainty as potential upside. This special report discusses topics like fixed income investing, importance of education and more.
A Pursuit of Excellence
Healthy, wealthy. Proponents say fostering a healthy workplace isn’t just good for staff, it’s part of doing business in smarter, better ways.
Ask workplace expert Stan Murray why companies should foster healthy work environments, and he can’t help but respond rhetorically, albeit politely, “That’s like asking, ‘Why should companies earn money?’” Murray, the soft-spoken director of the National Quality Institute’s Healthy Workplaces programs, is also quick to caution, “If your company is only interested in wellness and lifestyle practices – it’s missing the boat.”
A Time to Give 2009
Even for affluent people, times are relatively lean. For the most needy, and the charities that support them, the recession is posing particular challenges.
Lean times have put a pinch on philanthropic giving just when the need for charitable services is rising. That paradox has put charities in a challenging situation, with many seeking innovative ways to engage donor support vital to the business of benevolence. Andrea McManus, president of The Development Group in Calgary and chairelect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International, says, “Continued support of the work of organizations helping people in need is more important than ever.”
Cosmetic Enhancements
Once the basics are covered, think about how to finance the lifestyle you envision
Recent trends show that not only are cosmetic/ aesthetic enhancements considered much more mainstream and common, they’re also much more socially acceptable.
Seven out of 10 respondents to a survey by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation say that Botox Cosmetic and dermal fillers are an important part of their aesthetic routine, and nine out of 10 are more than happy to speak quite openly about it with close friends, immediate family and anyone who asks.
Origin Biomed June 25th
Health research has shown that, combined with a genetic predisposition to diabetes, carrying excess abdominal weight promotes the onset of diabetes and its complications. The good news is keeping trim by pursuing a healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk.
It wasn’t long ago that developing a “spare tire” around one’s waist was considered an inevitable part of midlife, one often met with quiet resignation. In recent years, however, a linkage between belly fat and the risk of diabetes and its many complications has made the maintenance of a trim waistline a serious health matter.
GOOD LIVING: The income plan
Once the basics are covered, think about how to finance the lifestyle you envision
For Canadians looking at a potential 30 years of retirement or more, transitioning from asset accumulation to an income portfolio can be daunting. But effective planning strategies can ensure that the transition is worry-free and tax-efficient.
The transition to retirement is difficult for a lot of people, says Elaine Politsky, president of ESI Wealth Management in Markham, Ontario, which specializes in serving clients 50 and over.
Omega 3
The claim, “source of omega-3 polyunsaturates” can be found on a growing list of foods including juice, milk, nonhydrogenated margarine, eggs and bread. But the same claim can be made whether the source of omega-3 is DHA, EPA or ALA – so it is important to read the nutrition label to ensure the omega-3 source is fish oil.
The message has been clearly communicated; omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet.
Telecom 2009
When it comes to telecom, market and technological forces are making business personal
In the world of telecommunications, Canada is riding the crest of a sweeping wave of change bringing us closer to realizing the long-promised future of highly personalized communications, entertainment and business services available anywhere, anytime.
“It is much, much more now than just a choice between wired and wireless access to services,” says Mark Goldberg, a telecommunications consultant and cofounder of GST Conferences Inc. “We are entering an age of almost unlimited choice in the ways we access information of all kinds and the services that are available at our fingertips.”
United Arab Emirates 2009
Cocoon amid an opulent resort development, or get out and explore. Either way, the coexistence of the larger-than-life glamour that has come to define the world’s leading boomtown as well as the narrow alleys, souks and other intriguing remnants of Dubai’s historic past make this city a destination not to be missed.
Dubai is the sort of place that can’t resist trying to trump the competition. Tropical resorts the world over have long billed themselves as destinations for sun, surf and sand. Dubai, a city and emirate on the southeast tip of the Arabian Peninsula, touts itself as the home of “sunshine, shopping, seaside, sports and safety.” These days, it could easily add “skyscrapers” to that list.
SUN AWARENESS 2009
Variable, highly curable and potentially lethal, melanoma strikes people all ages. This special report produced in cooperation with the Canadian Dermatology Association raises awareness of the need for proper protection
While the incidence rates of many kinds of cancer continue to decline, the opposite is true for melanoma. Some 5,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with this disease in 2009, and 940 will die of it. Those deaths are particularly tragic, because melanoma is largely preventable. And if diagnosed early, survival rates are greater than 90 per cent.
