For American companies, 100 percent is the new normal.

That's not a sales figure or a stock value.

That's the perfect score that 252 companies earned when we evaluated their workplace policies for LGBT employees in this year's Corporate Equality Index (CEI).

When we started the CEI 11 years ago, there were just 13 perfect scores.

So while the federal government and many state governments lag behind, American businesses continue to make great strides on LGBT equality. The result is a total transformation in the lives of millions of LGBT employees and their families.

Bring the CEI home by checking out HRC's 2013 Buyer's Guide - a helpful holiday shopping tool to see which brands are best on LGBT equality.

HRC's goal with the CEI has always been to provide companies with a roadmap to fair policies. As more and more businesses compete to retain top talent, LGBT-inclusive policies have become a corporate standard - just 11 years after our first edition.

There's a lot more good news out of this year's CEI. Here are some of the other amazing stats and what they mean for equality:

• A record 74 businesses actively and publicly supported pro-equality legislation at the state and federal levels. Without their help, victories like marriage equality in Washington may not have been possible.
• 2013 saw the largest growth in the survey's history, with 54 new businesses participating - up to 688 this year, more than double the number that participated in the CEI's first year.
• Last year, we insisted that companies include transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage if they wanted to earn a perfect 100 percent score. Now an impressive 42 percent of CEI participants offer it, up from 19 percent last year.

Enacting these company policies isn't just the right thing to do - it's good for business and makes an enormous difference in the lives of millions.

But there's still quite a bit of work left. While the average score of companies who participate in the CEI is 84 (in the green), the average score for corporations who chose not to participate in the CEI this year is a disappointing 11. And that's the biggest problem - a full quarter of businesses in the CEI are in the red, just because they didn't respond.

Now you can take part by downloading the 2013 Buying for Workplace Equality Guide that'll show you how your favorite stores and companies treat their LGBT staff. (There's even an app for that!)

Don't wait until you're finished shopping - check out the CEI and the Buyer's Guide online, by downloading the mobile app onto your iPhone, or by texting SHOP and the company name to 30644 today.

Thanks for taking a minute to look through and share this encouraging and great news.

The crash could start as early as the New Year - all because of a short-sighted law passed 38 years ago called ERISA.

And the scary part is, it doesn't matter if Congress compromises now or not. It's likely too late to stop it.

Here's what you need to know...

ERISA is a bill passed in 1974 that brought us IRAs and 401(k)s. And since then millions of workers have been stuffing money into these retirement accounts.

That's nearly 40 years of savings and wealth inside IRAs and 401(k)s. And almost half (48%) of that wealth is invested in the stock market.

Here's where it gets dangerous...

ERISA threatens retirees with losing 50% of their retirement account if they don't exit the stock market by age 70.

Once a retiree turns 70 and 1/2 years-old, starting the next April 1st they must start withdrawing at least the required minimum each year... or else pay a large penalty.

So what happens if a large demographic starts turning 70 all at the same time... like the baby boomers will in 2016?

They will leave and the stock market will tank. The sudden drop will cause more investors to leave the stock market, and the full-blown crash will be upon us.

Many baby-boomers, having passed age 65, are already retiring and taking their money out of stocks.

That's why many of the Ultra-Rich avoid the stock market altogether.

This free presentation reveals how they're investing instead. Including the one investment the top 1% are betting on right now.

In fact, just recently Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, referred to the stock market as a "platform for hackers" and a "recipe for disaster." That's another member of the Ultra-Rich jaded by the stock market.

To discover how the Ultra-Rich are choosing to invest instead - including strategies many in the middle class have never heard of - you need to watch this free presentation now.

Click Here to Watch Revealing Video

P.S. The MAJORITY of stock market trades are now made automatically by computers. The decisions are triggered by algorithms designed by companies like Goldman Sachs and "hackers" like Mark Cuban described.

That makes trading stocks like entering a lion's cage. Make sure to watch this free presentation to see what the Ultra-Rich are doing instead.

P.P.S. Did you know you don't have to invest your IRA and 401(k) in the stock market? There are ways to free the money inside and invest in safer investments like gold, income-producing real estate and more.

By: Alieta Eck MD, http://www.aapsonline.org/index.php/video/238

Imagine the amazement of an Ecuadorian Auca Indian on his first visit to a modern American grocery store. He described the wonder of walking down the aisles, filling his cart with his colorful choices. Once his purchases were scanned, his American host handed him a plastic card which he was instructed to give to the young lady at the register. Not only did the card allow him to take all the groceries "for free," but the clerk gave the credit card back to him! This visit to the store cost him absolutely nothing. America is a wonderful place!

Now it might be completely understandable that a man brought up in the jungles of South America might not comprehend the concept of credit, but when an American brought up in the US education system believes similarly, one must wonder what is in the curriculum. Our people have the idea that the government gives things out for free. But the stark reality is that credit cards come due, the balance needs to be paid, and our government simply does not have the money. Any wise consumer knows that borrowing money to buy groceries cannot go on for long.

Whatever happened to thrift, a solid work ethic, and living within one's means? In the past 50 years, the sense of responsibility of the American people has diminished, rewarding politicians who appeal to the childish sense that Big Brother has another program to meet their needs. Voters choose those who will promise more benefits from the public coffers. ObamaCare was touted as affordable or free medical care. Of course, it is neither.

In 1965, the era of massive "entitlements" began?some earned and some bestowed upon those who cannot or will not earn enough to live on. But, as Governor Mitt Romney candidly remarked,48% of Americans now receive a check or some other aid from the federal government? in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or other programs. This massive government spending has now reached the point where the government spends $1.40 for every $1.00 it receives in taxes. The nation cannot pay off its credit card each month as we borrow $188 million per hour. The majority of the American people do not think that this is a big deal. The only explanation is that they are thinking like children.

In February 2012, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned of the coming crisis. He said: "Under current law, on January 1, 2013, there's going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases." He has no solutions, and Congress can only spout the same tired remedies of taxing the rich more and eliminating fraud and abuse. Sensible thinking is not emanating from the White House.

Physicians and hospitals are gearing up to adjust to what is coming. Medicare is scheduled to lower the fees by 27%. Those practitioners who are heavily dependent on government money will face the greatest upheaval, and those who have managed to avoid the government programs will fare better.

The United States Treasury funds failed government programs and wasteful projects, hastening our arrival at the fiscal cliff where taxes rise and government spending falls. One solution is to stop inventing "green energy jobs" that give taxpayer money to friends and campaign donors. Another is to revisit the idea of making the safety net more comfortable and more permanent. This hurts taxpayers and recipients alike.

We taxpayers will need a game plan to tighten our belts and demand that the government treat our hard-earned dollars with respect. We must plot our exits from the bloated national programs that cannot live up to their promises. We must return to our noble roots of self-reliance and strong moral character, and plan as though the federal government programs will fail. We must and can nurture strong community roots where neighbor helps neighbor.

Tumbling off a cliff leads to great injury, but with some grown-up thinking, perhaps we can avoid it.

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You still have time to take advantage of the IAAP 70^th Anniversary Membership Promotion.  You can join IAAP for only $70 (+$15 processing fee).

Check out our website (http://www.iaap-quadcity.org/quadcity/wontyoujoinus ) for more information or contact me if you have any questions.

Who Are We?

IAAP is the world's foremost association of administrative professionals offering a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve professional, career and personal goals.

Membership in IAAP provides office professionals with opportunities for personal and professional growth, leadership training, and networking at the local, state and international levels. The Chapter also values its role as a community service organization, volunteering hours and supporting charitable endeavors in the area.

IAAP recognizes that by living in the Information Age, office professionals must stay in the forefront of current events and technological changes in order to increase their productivity. Members of IAAP receive the tools and knowledge necessary to become more effective contributors to their organizations, and the Quad City Chapter has accepted the challenge to provide these opportunities to our members.

Anyone currently employed as an administrative professional or other qualified office professional; holder of the Certified Administrative Professional rating or Organizational Management specialty; a full-time student in a business education program; or an employed teacher of business education is cordially invited to attend one of our monthly meetings.

Why Join?

Belonging to IAAP provides an opportunity to meet other office professionals, to discuss mutual concerns or just to make new friends. Membership provides stimulation and challenges to any career-minded office professional.

We provide continual learning processes to keep pace with new technologies and make required contributions to the office profession.

Benefit Include:

• Member discount on purchases through IAAP on education and professional development resource materials
• Discounts on registration of any IAAP sponsored international level training workshops, seminars, and conferences
• Discounts on registration for the Certified Administrative Professional exams access to research findings
• Subscription to OfficePRO magazine, OfficePRO Express, an e-newsletter full of research, trends and technology information, IAAP Connections, the association's monthly e-newsletter
• Full access to IAAP Website (www.iaap-hq.org)