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Michael Dinich a 1-year MDRT member to hold retirement workshops throughout the month of August in conjunction with MDRTs Retirement Preparedness week. MDRT is a leading non-profit association representing more than 35,000 of the best financial services professionals around the world.

Sayre, PA («www.prweb.com») July 26, 2007 — Although thousands of Baby Boomers throughout the Southern Tier of New York celebrate their 60th birthday each day, research shows that a vast majority are not financially prepared for retirement. To help local Baby Boomers better understand — and overcome — the unique financial challenges they face in retirement, financial expert Michael Dinich of Sayre is planning educational efforts as part of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, August 6-10, 2007.

MDRT is a leading non-profit association representing more than 35,000 of the best financial services professionals around the world. During Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, MDRT members are partnering with local media, governments, businesses and community groups to conduct educational activities and events. «www.estateandtaxadvisorygroup.com», a 1 year MDRT member is planning special retirement workshops throughout the Month of August, for specific dates and locations please call 1-800-729-1564.

«www.estateandtaxadvisorygroup.com»
Baby Boomers face financial challenges no previous generation has encountered, including pension terminations, skyrocketing healthcare costs, uncertainty about government programs such as Social Security, decreased personal savings rates and significantly increased life expectancy during retirement.

“To overcome their unique financial challenges, Boomers must take action on their own behalf to prepare for retirement,” said Michael. “It is never too late to take steps that will improve your financial future.”

MDRT Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week
During Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, Michael Dinich and other MDRT members will be armed with information and tools presented at the recent MDRT Boomertirement Summit. At that event, Dr. Alan Greenspan (U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman - 1987-2006) and other financial experts, scholars, researchers and thought leaders came together for two days of discussion about solutions to the retirement challenges facing Baby Boomers.

MDRT has also established a Web site — «www.boomertirement.com» — that provides Baby Boomers with tools and information to help them take action in preparing for retirement. Content includes:

- Information about steps Boomers of various ages should be taking to prepare for retirement.
- A report that provides a summary of each Boomertirement Summit session, as well as links to video/audio of these sessions, audience handouts and other resources.
To get involved in Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, please contact Michael Dinich at 1-800-729-1564 or online at «www.MichaelDinich.com».

ABOUT MDRT AND BOOMERTIREMENT
MDRT is The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Founded in 1927, MDRT is an international, independent association of more than 35,000, or less than 1 percent, of the worlds best life insurance and financial services professionals. With membership from 77 nations and territories, MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

Through Boomertirement, MDRT is providing leadership that will help the financial services industry provide solutions that will encourage the biggest generation in history — Baby Boomers — to take action to navigate the financial challenges they confront as they retire.

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Stock futures pointed to a sharply lower open Thursday as credit market fears spooked financial markets. Nasdaq futures were down 16 points vs. fair value S&P down 16 points and Dow down 121.

There’s lots of earnings news, but that’s not the focus. Investors are very nervous about credit conditions with investment banks, lenders and home builders falling hard before the open. Oil prices are soaring toward record highs. Treasury yields are at their lowest levels since May.

A couple of big-cap leaders bucked the trend. Apple () traded higher by about 8% in the premarket. Late Wednesday, the iPhone maker delivered a 70% jump in fiscal Q3 profit, smashing views, on strong Mac and iPod sales. For the current quarter, Apple gave a very conservative outlook. But the company has a history of low-balling its guidance.

Baidu.com () was sharply higher after it continued its streak of triple-digit growth. Late Wednesday, the Chinese Internet search firm said second-quarter profit surged 128% to 57 cents a share, easily beating analysts’ estimates of 43 cents. According to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International Baidu had 58% of China’s search revenues in the second quarter vs. Google’s () 23%.

Meanwhile, Dow component Exxon Mobil () reported second-quarter income of $1.83 a share, missing views of $1.96. Shares edged lower in pre-market trading.

Fellow Dow member 3M () beat views and raised its full-year outlook. The Scotch tape maker now sees earnings between $5.40 and $5.60 per share, well ahead of views of $4.86 a share.

Intercontinental Exchange () delivered Q2 profit excluding charges ahead of views. But the stock slipped in pre-market trading.

Online real estate information provider LoopNet () beat views for the fifth straight quarter since coming public last June. The company also guided Q3 and full-year guidance mostly in line with estimates.

On the economic front, durable goods orders rose 1.4% in June, the biggest gain in three months. But that was below expectations of a 2% rise. Orders ex transportation fell 0.5%, while core capital goods orders also fell.

New home sales for June will be out at 10:00 a.m. ET. Economists expect 900,000 units. Pulte Homes (), D.R. Horton (), Beazer Homes () and Ryland () all swung to quarterly losses.

WASHINGTON U.S. voters are torn between competing cravings as they prepare to choose a new president in 2008: Change or experience? They are demanding something new, but there is comfort in the tried and true.

The American public’s low opinion of Washington and growing concern about the direction of the country point to 2008 being a “change” election, one like the campaigns of 1976 and 1992 Д when Washington outsiders Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were elected Д as people looked for a marked departure from the status quo.

INTERACTIVE: http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/pres_candidates/flash.htm

But the war in Iraq and the rise of global terrorism make for an anxious electorate and could turn this into a “war” election, one like the campaigns of 1944 and 2004 when voters found comfort in the most experienced candidates Д incumbents Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush.

Change versus experience? The White House will likely go to the man or woman who speaks best to both.

“You can’t separate them. I think (voters) want both,” said John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004 who is running for president in 2008.

“I think they’re looking for change Д serious change, substantive change Д and I think they will have to feel like whoever the candidate is is prepared to be president of the United States,” Edwards said in an interview.

BLOG: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/

“I will say I don’t think they will judge that based on a resume. I think that’s a judgment they will make based on what they see and hear Д the demeanor, personal strength (and) those kinds of things.”

Edwards was quick to add that last part because he is more of a “change” candidate than one of experience. Despite this being his second national election, the former North Carolina trial lawyer has little in the way of a political resume outside a single six-year term in the Senate.

Fellow Democrat Barack Obama also is more change than experience. A first-term U.S. senator who is just three years removed from the Illinois state legislature, Obama rocketed to the top tier of the Democratic presidential race by presenting himself as an outsider who could transform government crippled by corruption, polarization and “a smallness of our politics.”

“The time for that politics is over,” Obama said when he announced his candidacy Feb. 10. “It’s time to turn the page.”

The message clearly resonates. The Illinois senator raised more money for the nomination fight than any other candidate while drawing huge crowds and an Internet following.

Obama’s inexperience showed at an issues forum in Nevada when he had no answer for the nation’s health care crisis. He looked worse at a debate when the Democratic candidates were asked how they would respond to another terrorist attack in the United States.

Obama should have been ready for that question. But all he could muster were a few halting sentences about effective disaster relief effort and “good intelligence.” Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York pounced on his failure to consider a military action.

“I believe we should quickly respond,” Clinton said.

The former first lady and second-term senator is long on experience and short on change. Polls show that most voters have made up their minds about her and they associate her with her husband’s presidency Д for better and worse.

A USA Today-Gallup Poll this month showed Clinton leading Obama among Democrats nationwide. The No. 1 reason Clinton’s backers gave for their support was her experience. The main reason Obama’s supporters backed him was “fresh face/has news ideas.”

Still, both Democrats fight against type.

Clinton, 59, tries to be what her husband, Bill Clinton, has called a “change agent.” She denounces politics as usual, sponsors an edgy Internet contest and borrows phrases from Obama. “People are anxious to turn the page” and “change the direction of the country,” she said this month.

Obama, 45, has started giving policy speeches. His wife addresses the not-ready-for-prime-time murmurs. “He has great experience,” Michelle Obama told ABC this month. “He’s been in the state Legislature. He’s been a community organizer. He’s been a civil rights attorney. … Need I go on?”

Campaigning in New Hampshire, she said, “I know experience is important, right? But experience without the sort of moral compass is not enough.”

On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is a “change” candidate who casts himself as a Washington outsider.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is an “experience” candidate who built his presidential platform around the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Terrorism, he says, is something “that I understand better than anyone who is running for president of the United States.”

Republican Sen. John McCain was a self-styled reformer during his failed 2000 presidential campaign. His message this year is less about change than it is about courting conservatives Д the Republican status quo. McCain, 70, considers his age and experience an attribute.

“I’m older than dirt and have more scars than Frankenstein,” he likes to say. “But I’ve learned a few things along the way.”

Like-for-like sales at UK arm B&Q fell 1.5% in the 10 weeks to 14 July, prompting talk among analysts that the may be under threat.

Murphy waved away such fears today, insisting the bad news was a short-term issue.

‘It shouldn’t derail us. Investors will be prepared to look past an extremely difficult period,’ he said.

‘I know [Marks & Spencer’s] Stuart Rose said weather is for wimps but when you have the wettest weather on record, there is bound to be an impact.’

Asked if he had considered selling arks, Murphy replied: ‘We have all the materials if you want to build one yourself.’

Group sales grew 2.6% thanks to continued growth in Asia and Europe.

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Kingfisher damps B&Q recovery
B&Q sees a chink of light on sales
Rate rises and debt hit High Street sales
Halfords riding high from Tour de France
Amazon delivers ‘blowout quarter’
Baugur in 121m Saks stake buy in US
TM Lewin collars a 91% profits rise
Shoppers face 10p tax on bags

AS A ten-year-old, Mariann Fischer Boel would watch her father bring out a fine bottle of Burgundy, then rest it until the wine reached room temperature, before ceremoniously uncorking for the family Christmas dinner.

“I remember the solemn atmosphere,” she said, reminiscing about those glowing moments at the family farm in rural Denmark. “Drinking wine was something very special.”

Now, 54 years later, as the European Union’s agriculture commissioner, she is seeking to drag the continent’s wine industry into the 21st century so it can compete with the mass- marketed New World brands that are increasingly capturing European markets.

A five-year plan due to start in August 2008, authored by Ms Boel and announced today, calls for the ploughing up 200,000 hectares of excess vines, pushing subsidies toward marketing instead of price guarantees, and changing traditions that go back generations.

EU agriculture ministers will now spend several months debating the proposals. Europe’s unreformed wine sector - still the world’s largest - produces a wine lake big enough to consume a huge part of the EU’s annual wine-subsidy budget of 1.3 billion, used to distill unwanted alcohol into industrial products such as cleaning fluid.

France, Spain and Italy are the main targets. As the world’s largest three wine-makers by volume, these countries together account for 80 per cent of the EU vine area, which currently totals around 3.4 million hectares.

“We need to look at the market. We need to look at what consumers want and why they are buying more of the imported wines than the excellent European wines,” she said .

Outside her office yesterday, the EU’s main farming organisation was already explaining why it opposed the major outlines of her project, claiming she was caving in to commercial practices of the New World.

“The core of Fischer Boel’s proposal is to introduce the New World model which does not put the farmer, the vintner or mankind at the centre of things - but the company instead,” said Jean-Luis Piton of the COPA farmers’ union.

European tradition, though, has already been under pressure for over a decade as increasing imports, over-production and decreasing consumption increasingly put Euro vintners in trouble.

Around 1995, over nine out of ten bottles Willy Goorden sold in his shop outside Brussels carried French labels. But prices went ever higher, without quality necessarily following suit.

“When the 1995 Bordeaux came on to the market two years later, it was very expensive, often double in price. People were shocked looking at the price tag,” said Mr Goorden. “It was a turning point. People started thinking differently and, as prices remained high, they were ready for alternatives.”.

While top-class wines are often still Europe’s domain, it is in the less-expensive sector that the New World wines have made their biggest impact. Imports into the EU have risen by 10 per cent each year since 1996. Countries like Chile and Australia have more than doubled their exports this decade.

At Colruyt NV, one of Belgium’s major supermarkets, it is easy to see why.

Freddy Steens, Colruyt’s wine buyer, has seen the New World wines take over the under-5 bracket in the past dozen years, to account now for 90 per cent of volume. “People, especially the young, were looking for something different, something else than what their parents were drinking.” The Europeans had no answer at first, cocooned in complacency. Mr Steens said: “The French attitude just was, ‘Why would I go out into the world when the whole world can come to me?’”

French exports slumped from about 14.5 million hectolitres in 1999, to some 13 million in 2004. For Italy it slumped from about 17.5 million hectolitres to under 12 million hectolitres over the same period, when Chilean and Australian exports doubled

Even in France, there is a realisation business must change. But how the famously militant French farmers will react to the proposals remains to be seen.

ANOTHER controversial element in the plan that has already annoyed several non-Mediterranean wine-producing countries is a proposal to ban the use of sugar in wine manufacture.

In many cooler areas of Europe, it has been standard practice for centuries to increase the alcoholic strength of local wines by adding sucrose from beet or cane sugar.

Ms Fischer Boel’s plan would force sugar-using winemakers to use unfermented grape juice instead.

Enriching wine with sugar costs about a third as much as using concentrated grape musts and is a traditional winemaking method in much of north-central and eastern Europe, in countries such as Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and several of the ex-communist states that joined the EU in 2004, like Hungary.

But a sugar ban might be a problem for France, the world’s largest winemaker. Champagne producers, based in France’s most northerly Appellation Controle area, have a long tradition of adding sugar, for example, although famous red and white wines from the country’s warmer southern regions are sugar-free.

The European Union’s wine policy was last reformed in 1999.