(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed Hannah Rens, a sophomore student at Sioux City East High School, to the Iowa State Board of Education. Rens will serve as the non-voting student member on the board for a two-year term.

"I'm pleased today to announce Hannah's appointment to the Board of Education," said Branstad. "Hannah's community involvement, including civic and extra-curricular activities, demonstrates that she possesses the leadership needed to excel on the board."

The Iowa State Board of Education works with the Iowa Department of Education to provide oversight, supervision, and support for the state education system that includes all public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies, community colleges, and teacher preparation programs. 

"I had the opportunity to meet Hannah, a member of the Mayor's Youth Commission, at the Siouxland Chamber's Day on the Hill, where we discussed her work on computer coding. Her dedication and drive is impressive, especially given her age," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "I'm confident Hanna will be a valuable member on the State Board of Education."

The governor's appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation. Rens' term will run from May 1, 2014 - April 30, 2016. She replaces Edgar Thornton of Iowa City, Iowa, who is graduating from Iowa City High School.

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3 Steps for Turning a Real Estate or Business Sale
into the Ideal Retirement
Financial Experts Share Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Throughout life, we encounter a number of "financial impact points" -- pivotal events with the potential to make our dreams come true, say financial advisors Chris Snyder and Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo, co-authors of "Exiting Strategies: The CEO's Seven Critical Steps To Cashing-Out of a Business, Managing and Preserving Wealth."

"The sale of a business or real estate is one of those," says Chris Snyder, co-founder with Ashoo of Pillar Wealth Management, (www.pillarwm.com). "With the right planning, it can become your ideal retirement."

Unfortunately, sellers often make fundamental mistakes: They underestimate how much money they'll need for their retirement; they overvalue their business or property; and they often fail to properly invest the proceeds in a diversified portfolio of equities, bonds and money markets for income.

How can you turn your business or property sale into your ideal retirement? Snyder and Ashoo offer these tips:

1.  Determine the retirement lifestyle you desire, and how much money it will cost.

If you don't know how much money you'll need, you can't identify how much you need to net from the sale, Ashoo says.
"How many homes will you have? Do you see yourself traveling? Creating a charitable organization?"

Create a detailed list. How much money will it cost you each year? If you retire at 55 or 65, odds are good you'll enjoy a 30- to 40-year retirement.How much will you need for that length of time?

"When you meet with your wealth manager, insist on running that number through 1,000 different 'launch' scenarios - what we call a 'space shuttle' analysis - to test whether it will meet your expenses under a wide variety of market and world conditions," Ashoo says.

"You can't rely on an Excel sheet analysis based on fixed rates of return and fixed expenses for the rest of your life. It's a sure way to financial disaster because there's no such thing as zero risk."

2.  Get an objective valuation of your business or real estate.

Very often, Snyder says, he and Ashoo work with clients who have a vastly inflated idea of how much their business or property is worth. When they decide to sell, they either can't because no one will pay what they're asking, or they get far less than they expected.

"People often attach an emotional value to the asset, particularly a business or legacy real estate," Snyder says. "Hire a merger and acquisition professional to provide you with a real market valuation for your business, or a real estate appraiser to do the same for property."

If the value isn't where it needs to be, you may need to make some lifestyle changes or hold onto the asset longer.

Another caution: "If you performed step 1 thoroughly and you are confident you need $15 million for your retirement and someone offers you $20 million, take it," Ashoo advises. "Don't hold out for $23 million just because you think that's what it's worth."

3.  Invest the proceeds prudently and in a way that will generate income.

Once your real estate or business is sold, you need to build a diversified portfolio of equity, bonds and money markets that will balance your risk and generate an income, Snyder says.

"Modern portfolio theory holds that 93 percent of the return on your investment is based on your mix of these asset classes," he says
Adds Ashoo: "But prudent investing entails not accepting more risk than is required to achieve your retirement lifestyle." Don't rely on a simple risk questionnaire to make that determination for you, the two say.

Again, have your wealth manager run your portfolio through a "space shuttle'' analysis to test how it will perform under many different conditions.

About Chris Snyder and Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo

Chris Snyder and Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo are co-founders of Pillar Wealth Management, (www.pillarwm.com), of Walnut Creek, Calif., and co-authors of numerous published works including  "Exiting Strategies: The CEO's Seven Critical Steps To Cashing-Out of a Business, Managing and Preserving Wealth," available as a free download at their website. The two specialize in customized wealth management advice to affluent families. Their unique five-step consultative process for new clients ensures they have a deep understanding of clients' goals. The two have a combined 51 years of experience.

IOWA CITY, IA (03/31/2014)(readMedia)-- Molly McDonnell, a native of Davenport, IA, is one of approximately 60 University of Iowa students to participate in the 2014 Hawkeye Caucus, held on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

The annual Hawkeye Caucus is a major gathering of UI students, university leaders, and state legislators, demonstrating the university's commitment to statewide service. The event connects UI students with state leaders while showcasing the people and programs from the UI that are making an impact across the state.

Reynolds to join Iowa Soybean Association on trade mission to encourage the purchase of Iowa soybeans, soymeal and other Iowa-made products

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, accompanied by Gov. Terry Branstad, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Director and soybean farmer from Maxwell, Iowa, Grant Kimberley, today announced that she will lead a trade mission to Thailand to encourage the purchase of Iowa soybeans, soymeal and other Iowa-made products. The trade mission was organized by ISA. The lieutenant governor and the Iowa delegation will depart Saturday, April 5, 2014, and will return Saturday, April 12, 2014.

"Last year, Iowa exported $5.6 billion in oilseeds and grains, and with new markets opening up in Asia, we want to encourage those markets to buy Iowa-grown soybeans and other Iowa-made products," said Reynolds. "Thailand, with a population over 69 million, has the largest and most sophisticated soy food industry in Southeast Asia. With Iowa producing more soybeans than most countries in the world, there is tremendous potential to increase Iowa's exports."

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The Iowa delegation will travel to Bangkok and Nakhon Rathasima, Thailand, for three days of meetings with industry leaders, site visits to processing facilities and feed companies, and talks directly with potential buyers. Reynolds will be accompanied by Kirk Leeds, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association, and Brian Kemp, ISA President and farmer from Sibley, Iowa.

"With 95 percent of the world's consumers residing outside the United States, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I understand the importance of creating and fostering global partnerships to increase economic development and job creation in Iowa," said Branstad. "With one in five Iowa jobs depending on international trade, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I are committed to promoting and growing Iowa's trade reach beyond our domestic borders."

Over the past three years, the Branstad-Reynolds administration has organized and led trade missions leading to impressive economic development in the state. Since January of 2011, the Iowa Economic Development Authority has assisted foreign direct investment projects that are expected to result in the creation of nearly 1,000 jobs and over $2 billion in capital investment for Iowa.

The visit to Thailand represents an important investment in Iowa's soybean industry.

"According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture report, at more than $30 billion, Iowa ranks second nationally for the total value of ag products sold, representing both crops and livestock and exports represent an important component. These trips are truly an investment; for our farmers and our state," says Kimberley. "And we can identify the return on these investments when we see shipments of U.S. soybeans to Thailand. These didn't exist just a few years ago. ISA understands the importance of connecting with our partners by visiting their facilities and businesses overseas and also hosting these partners at our own farms."

The Iowa Soybean Association is paying for costs incurred by the lieutenant governor during the trade mission.