05 Mar 2014

How to Finally Do What You Love ... In Retirement

By Rick Martin
Don't Leave Your Fate in the Hands of Uncle Sam or the Wolves of Wall Street, Says Financial Advisor

Just about everyone has a dream about who they really want to be: a professional athlete, the next great American novelist, a celebrated fashion designer, a beloved philanthropist. Sadly, many of us do not realize that dream in our lifetimes.

But you have a real shot of making at least some of your dreams come true in retirement, says Andrew McNair, a money expert who realized his dream of helping others with their finances at a young age.

"I started my radio show at 22; I was always good with numbers and I was blessed with the opportunity to apply my passion while young, but not everyone is so lucky," says McNair, founder and CEO of SWAN Capital, (www.SWAN-Capital.com), and author of "Don't be Penny Wise & Dollar Foolish."

"With so many baby boomers retiring - 10,000 every day, according to Pew Research - we are at a point in history where an unprecedented number of individuals may really begin realizing their dreams."

It's not unheard of, for instance, to become a professional golfer in middle age or later, McNair points out, but it can't happen if you have to spend time in low-level jobs to make ends meet in retirement.

McNair offers tips on how to achieve financial independence in retirement.

• Design a lifetime income plan now! Simply attaining a minimum figure in savings probably won't work; such figures do not account for family emergencies, inflation, etc. Social Security does not cover what it used to, and its future is uncertain at best. You need to establish a laddered, inflation-adjusted income using safe and dependable accounts that will provide a check every month. This should be informed by a plan that maps out your lifetime income needs to ensure you do not outlive your money. For example, if you need $3,000 a month now, at a 4 percent inflation rate you will need $3,649.96 in five years. In 10 years you will need almost $4,500 per month.

• Is retirement still a few years away? Determine which 401(k) works best for you. Employer-based retirement plans are dominated by 401(k) plans, but a Roth 401(k), for example, may serve you better than a traditional 401(k) if you think you'll be in a higher tax bracket and/or have fewer tax deductions during retirement. But if you expect to be in a lower tax bracket during retirement, then deferring taxes by investing in a traditional 401(k) may be the answer for you.

• Worried about loss? Start with the "age 100" rule. When entering retirement, you are moving from the accumulation phase of life to the preservation phase. This requires that you begin allocating more money to safe, income-producing assets, such as property, and taking some of the risk off the table. Try using this simple calculation: Subtract your age from 100, and use the answer as the absolute maximum percentage of your assets that should be in risky investments. Your age, then, indicates the percentage that should be allocated in safe investments. This is only a guideline; if income is needed from your investments, you will need a more in-depth investment risk assessment.

"For most people, financial planning does not come naturally but neither does performing surgery on yourself! Do your research or seek trusted counsel," McNair says. "This is the first step to attaining your dream while in retirement."

About Andrew McNair

Andrew McNair is founder and CEO of SWAN Capital, specializing in Wealth Management and Retirement Income. After earning a degree in business administration/finance and with two books on his financial strategies already published, McNair launched SWAN later that year. At 22, he was hosting a radio show, What Your Money Would Say, which provides financial guidance to retirees. McNair is also the founder and CEO of the Veteran Benefit Project, which works with veterans and their families at no charge to ensure they receive all of the benefits to which they're entitled.

04 Mar 2014

MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: MARCH 3, 2014

By Brian Lavelle

MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: MARCH 3, 2014

 

THIS WEEK
Wednesday, March 5, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline

Missouri Mavericks vs. Quad City Mallards

 

Friday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.

iWireless Center, Moline

Arizona Sundogs vs. Quad City Mallards

 

Saturday, March 8, 7:05 p.m.

iWireless Center, Moline

Arizona Sundogs vs. Quad City Mallards

 

LAST WEEK
Wednesday, February 26
Quad City 5 Missouri 1

 

Friday, February 28

Brampton 2 Quad City 1

 

Saturday, March 1

Brampton 6 Quad City 5

Quad City
26-17-8, 60 points
7th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Missouri

35-16-2, 72 points
1st place
Coach: Scott Hillman

 

Arizona
25-24-6, 56 points

8th place
Coach: Kevin Colley

 

QUACK TRACKS
Last Week
The Brampton Beast swept a pair of games from the Mallards last weekend at the iWireless Center after the Mallards knocked off league-leading Missouri 5-1 last Wednesday.

Tight

Last weekend's back-to-back defeats left the Mallards in seventh place, one point behind sixth place Tulsa and three points behind fifth place Brampton.  The Mallards, who have played fewer games (51) than any other CHL club, have four games in hand on Brampton and Tulsa.

.500 February
With last Friday's loss, the Mallards finished February with a record of 7-7-0 for the month.

 

Home Sweet Home
The Mallards have gone 1-2-0 over the first three games of a seven game homestand- their longest of the season.

 

Busy

Last Saturday's game was the sixteenth in a stretch that sees the Mallards play 31 games over the final 59 days of the regular season.

Rough Road

The Mallards are also in the midst of a stretch that sees them play 18 of their final 30 games against the top four teams in the CHL- Missouri, Rapid City, Denver and Allen.

Balance
While the Mallards rank fourth in goal scoring (3.3 per game) only one Mallard- Jeff Lee who is tied for sixteenth- ranks in the top 20 in the CHL in point scoring.

General Lee
Lee matched a Mallard and personal single game season high by recording four points (one goal and two assists) last Saturday.  He has piled up 19 points (six goals and 13 assists) in his last 13 games.  He leads the Mallards in both goals (19) and points (47).

Nickel

The Mallards gave up a single period season high five goals in the second period last Saturday against Brampton.

 

First
Chris Greene scored his first goal for the Mallards last Friday against Brampton.

First, Take 2
Last Wednesday's win over Missouri was the Mallards' first in five tries this season against the Mavericks.

Between the Pipes

Thomas Heemskerk relieved Ty Rimmer last Saturday and suffered the loss in relief.  The defeat was Heemskerk's fifth in a row.  The losing streak is Heemskerk's first this season.  Rimmer has won five of his last six decisions.

Leaders
Heemskerk ranks fourth in goals against average (2.68), is tied for fourth in shutouts (2) and ranks seventh in save percentage (.910)... Rimmer is also tied for fourth in shutouts (2), ranks eighth in goals against average (2.84) and ranks ninth in save percentage (.907)... Among rookies, Thomas Frazee is tied for third in goals (15), ranks fifth in points (33) and ranks sixth in assists (18)...Among defensemen, Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel and Matt Duffy are tied for sixth in goals (9) while Dieude-Fauvel ranks eighth in assists (22) and ninth in points (31)...Mike Monfredo and Nicholas Rioux are tied for tenth among defensemen in points (24)... The Mallards have gone 0-1-2 against Arizona this season.  Andrew Engelage and the Sundogs blanked the Mallards 1-0 on January 11 in the only prior meeting between the two teams at the iWireless Center. All-time the Mallards have gone 5-3-4 against the Sundogs and have posted a 3-2-1 record at the iWireless Center against Arizona.  The Mallards and Sundogs conclude their season series this weekend.

Special Teams
On the season the Mallards have converted 14.7 percent of their power plays and rank ninth in the CHL on the man advantage.  The Mallards have gone 12-for-13 on the penalty kill in their last three games.  On the season they rank fifth in penalty killing (83.6 percent) and are tied for fourth in shorthanded goals (7).

Head to Head

With last Wednesday's win, the Mallards improved to 1-3-1 against Missouri this year.  The two clubs have split a pair of games at the iWireless Center.  The Mallards are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play nine of their final 30 tilts against the Mavericks.  Since entering the CHL in 2010, the Mallards have gone 15-15-3 against the Mavericks and have posted a record of 6-7-2 at home.  Lee (2-5-7) is the top point scorer in this year's season series...The Mallards have gone 7-1-3 against Brampton this season and are 2-1-2 against the expansion Beast on home ice.  The two clubs conclude their season series this weekend.  Gergo Nagy is the leading scorer (5-9-14) in the season series.  The Mallards this season have played four games that have ended in overtime- all against the Beast.  Brampton has won three of those four contests, including the last meeting between the two clubs on January 26 when Andrew Fournier scored in sudden death to give the host Beast a 4-3 victory.

Ins and Outs
Forward Gergo Nagy signed a professional tryout agreement with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League last Thursday, made his AHL debut yesterday in the Wolves' 4-0 win over the Iowa Wild and returned to the Mallards today...Forward Frazee (upper body) was activated from injured reserve last Friday and returned to the lineup that evening after missing six games...Forward Hellyer was placed on 14-day injured reserve retroactive to February 16 (upper body) and has missed the last seven games.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Wednesday, March 5, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Missouri
Wednesday's game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's.  Fans also have the opportunity to purchase $2 hot dogs and beer at iWireless Center concession stands during each Wednesday home tilt.  After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.

Friday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Brampton
$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday Presented by 97X
This Friday is this season's final $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X.  $1 hot dogs and $1 beers will again be available at iWireless Center concession stands this Friday.

Nana Meriwether, Miss USA 2012
Nana Meriwether will drop the puck for a ceremonial faceoff just before the 7:05 p.m. start of the game and will meet fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures during that contest.

Saturday, March 8, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Brampton

Genesis Health Jersey Auction
The Mallards will wear their special edition orange jerseys when they take on the Sundogs March 8. Immediately after the game those jerseys will go up for bid in a live auction to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation.

 

Replica Youth Jersey Giveaway
The first 1,000 fans age 12 and under arriving for Saturday's game will receive a free Mallards replica youth jersey.

Postgame Party- Bier Stube
Fans can join the Mallards at the Bier Stube in Moline for a postgame party after Saturday evening's contest.

ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games- including this Saturday's tilt- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  Audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com.  CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.  For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to http://myqcmallards.com/schedule/broadcast_schedule/.

 

TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

-### Quad City Mallards ###--
04 Mar 2014

Dr. Seuss, Spring Flowers, St. Patrick & Tech Help @ Your Library

By Lisa Lockheart

Join us for St. Patrick's Themed Super Saturday Fun on Saturday, March 8 at our Southwest Branch!

11:00 am- Saturday Storytime- Stories & fun on the color Green for birth to five

2:00 pm St. Patrick's Party-Games, fun, crafts for all ages.

Get your green on! Free - at our Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road

 

Knit for Peace - 6:00 pm, Tues., March 11, Main Library, 401 19th Street.

Join this group of knitters for your knitting or crocheting projects. The group brings their own projects or works on donations for the local hospitals and shelters.


And get set for spring, which can't come fast enough ....

Spring Gardening & Landscaping Series

6:30 pm, March 18

Attracting Bees & Other Pollinators to your yard.

6:30 pm, March 26

Teas Me: Growing, Harvesting & Enjoying Your Own Teas

Where? Main Library Community Room, 401

Morning Storytimes for birth to 5

10:30 am-Tues., March, 4 and 11, 30/31 Branch

Wed., March 5 & 12, Southwest Branch

Fri., March 7 & 14, Main Library



Evening Family Storytimes

6:30 pm, Monday, March 10, 30/31 Branch

Monday, March 17, Southwest Branch.

Finish your day with a fun story!

 

Lego Block Times

Develop your child's creativity and building skills.

4:00 pm on:

Wed., March 12 - Main Library

Wed., March 19-30/31 Branch

Wed., March 26 - Southwest Branch

 

Plus, mark your calendars for these free events during Rock Island/Milan school break!

Tech Fun-Making Videos with Animoto

6:00 pm, March 18

Main Library

Learn how to make a quick video using your own pictures. Bring a flash drive or disk with pictures.
Free-Registration required-call 732-7360
Grades 2 and up

 

Tech Fun-Using TumbleBooks & BookFlix

4:00 pm, March 27

Main Library Children's Room

Drop in and learn about all the fun you can have reading free animated books online.  TumbleBooks & Scholastic Book Flix are free library services. Parents, this is a great way to interest your child in reading!
Grades K-6 and families

 

Teen Iron Chef Contest

6:30 pm, March 10,

Main Library

Test your culinary skills against other teens for fun & prizes. Ages 12 to 18. Free!

 

Have a computer question? Get answers at the Main Library "Computer Help Desk" on the third week of each month. Drop in from 1 to 3 pm, Monday-Friday at the Main Library Reference Desk for questions about using Microsoft Office programs, Email or the Internet. 

Next "Computer Help Desk" is March 17-21.

Library staff can show you how to find a website, but cannot help you fill out forms, provide legal, banking or tax advice, or assist with entering personal information.

04 Mar 2014

Freedom Socialist Party National Convention

By Doug Barnes
Imagine Revolution: Freedom Socialist Party National Convention. Speakers from the United States, Latin America, and Australia will report on organizing in their countries and consider the subversive possibility of sharing wealth, power, art and leisure in a society run by working people. Strategy sessions and workshops will focus on how to keep the flame lit in a rekindled U.S. labor movement; taking action across national borders; the special issues and political contributions of young people; and building a socialist feminist alternative together with fighting for environmental sanity and justice for all. May 24-26, 2014, held at AFSCME District Council 36, 514 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA, 90020. Wheelchair accessible. Daily registration $20; students and strikers $10. Info 206-985-4621 or register at www.socialism.com.
04 Mar 2014

Reminder! Rivermont Collegiate Kindergarten Round-Up will be held this Thursday and is open to the Quad City community!

By Brittany Marrietta

When: Thursday, March 6th - 5:30 p.m.

Why:  Explore Rivermont Kindergarten! Meet teachers and experience curriculum with hands-on activities! Parents are encouraged to bring their future Kindergarten students. Childcare will be provided for siblings. This event is open to the community - join us!

Where:  Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive - Bettendorf, IA 52722 (located directly off 18th Street, behind K&K Hardware)

For additional information contact Karen Roebuck, Director of Admissions & Marketing, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or roebuck@rvmt.org
04 Mar 2014

CHILI FOR STUDENTS FUNDRAISER

By Brubaker Lodge

Brubaker Lodge # 675, Davenport, Iowa Fundraiser for Scholarship

WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 2014. Serving 5 to 6:30 PM

WHERE: The Masonic Center, 511 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Davenport, Iowa

COST: $5.00 Donation

Proceeds go to the Brubaker Lodge Scholarship Fund.

The members of Brubaker Lodge No. 675 want to WARM

your hearts with good fellowship and serve you a bowl

of chili; along with condiments of corn bread, cheese,

crackers, veggie tray. For soothing purposes, ice cream

and cookies for dessert.

Come one, come all. Open to the public.

04 Mar 2014

Area students named to University of Kansas honor roll

By Christy Little

LAWRENCE, KS (03/03/2014)(readMedia)-- Approximately 4,620 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the fall 2013 semester.

The students, from KU's Lawrence campus and the schools of health professions and nursing in Kansas City, Kan., represent 93 of 105 Kansas counties, 45 other states and 40 other countries.

Area honorees are as follows:

Joseph Boland, of Rock Island. He is the son of Mary Dewitte, Rock Island, Ill. Boland was named to the honor roll for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Rebecca Townsend, of Muscatine. She is the daughter of Betsy and James Townsend, Muscatine, Iowa. Townsend was named to the honor roll for the School of Music.

Rachel Rauch, of Leclaire. She is the daughter of Rebecca Rauch, Leclaire, Iowas. Rauch was named to the honor roll for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Caitlin Doornbos, of Dewitt. She is the daughter of William Doornbos, Dewitt, Iowa, and Shannon Stuckert, Hutchinson. Doornbos was named to the honor roll for the School of Journalism.

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in the schools of allied health; architecture, design and planning; business; education; engineering; journalism; music; nursing; pharmacy; and social welfare.

Honor roll criteria vary among the university's academic units. Some schools honor the top 10 percent of students enrolled, some establish a minimum grade-point average and others raise the minimum GPA for each year students are in school. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

04 Mar 2014

American Red Cross Blood Services milestones

By Ben Corey
1941

The Red Cross began collecting blood for the U.S. military with Dr. Charles Drew as medical director.

1943

March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month by Franklin Roosevelt. Every president since has honored Red Cross Month.

1948

The Red Cross implemented the first nationwide blood program for civilians. The first collection center opened in Rochester, N.Y.

1972

The Red Cross called for a national blood policy, which the federal government set up in 1974, supporting standardized practices.

1992

The Red Cross applied standardized tests to ensure the safety of blood products. Now about a dozen tests are performed on every blood donation.

04 Mar 2014

Celebrate Red Cross Month by getting involved

By Ben Corey

PEORIA, Ill. (March 3, 2014) – During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross invites everyone to make a difference in their communities by giving blood, volunteering, taking a class or making a financial donation. Those supporters enable the Red Cross to continue to help people in need like the Roux family.

Jenny Roux's son, Blake, was born with a rare and serious chromosome disorder that causes multiple abnormalities. Jenny and Blake both received two pints of blood the day he was born. For Blake, that marked the first of many transfusions. Jenny said she knew her time with him would be short, but she credits multiple blood transfusions with helping extend his life.

"Without the blood transfusions, I don't know that he would have even had the 10 months we had with him," she said.

At that point Jenny again turned to the Red Cross, and the organization's Service to the Armed Forces program provided emergency communications about Blake's death to her husband, who was deployed to Iraq.

Thanks to everyday heroes, the Red Cross was there for the Roux family in their time of need.

The Red Cross invites the public to discover their inner hero this month. To make an appointment to donate blood or for more information about other ways to get involved with the Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Clinton County

March 23 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway St. in Charlotte, Iowa

March 26 from 3:30-7 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1519 S. Washington Blvd. in Camanche, Iowa

Henry County

March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kewanee High School, 1211 E. Third St. in Kewanee, Ill.

March 25 from 1-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 214 N. W. Second Ave in Galva, Ill.

March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodhull Alwood High School Student Council, 301 E. Fifth Ave. in Woodhull, Ill.

Mercer County

March 18 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mercer County High School, 1500 College Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

March 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at VFW Hall, 106 SW Third Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aledo Genesis Medical Center, 409 North West Ninth Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

 

Whiteside County

March 19 from 2-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

March 19 from 3-7 p.m. at Abiding Word Church, 806 E. Lynn Blvd. in Sterling, Ill.

March 20 from 12-6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway in Morrison, Ill.

March 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.

March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

March 29 from 5:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.

March 29 from 7-10:30 a.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

 

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

###

04 Mar 2014

Experience "Cosmos" at the Putnam

By Putnam Museum

COSMOS - A SPACETIME ODYSSEY

Experience the grandeur of the universe on the

Putnam's Giant Screen in the highly

anticipated series premiere of

 

on Sunday, March 9 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

with our partners at: KLJB FOX 18

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