Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers of Canada’s provinces will meet Wednesday evening after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a “Team Canada approach” is going to be vital in the face of sweeping new tariffs pledged by Trump. For the premiers, safeguarding their exports and economies is top of mind. Eric Johnson, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said some of Canada’s biggest provinces would have a lot to lose if the tariffs go into effect. “Ontario really does come to mind here. Alberta does as well,” he said. As of 2022, Canada’s biggest export to the United States in terms of value was crude oil, worth $152.6 billion. According to Statistics Canada, the U.S. accounted for 97.4 per cent of Canada’s crude oil exports, with Alberta contributing to 87.4 per cent of the total volume exported to the U.S. In her reaction to the tariff threat, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a social media post that the Trump administration has “valid concerns related to illegal activities” at the border, referencing Trump’s stated border security concerns. But she added that a vast majority of Alberta’s energy exports to the U.S. are “delivered through secure and safe pipelines,” which “do not in any way contribute to these illegal activities.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Trump’s proposal was the “biggest threat” from the U.S. administration in decades and that it’s “very, very hurtful to Canadians and Americans” on both sides of the border. “We love our American friends and they love us and this is no way to treat your closest ally,” he said. “I hope we can come up with a solution to support both sides of the border. We’re collaboratively in co-operation with the new administration, and I’m confident we will,” Ford said. Ontario is the highest-value exporting province to the United States, with its exports to its southern neighbour amounting to an annual $220.5 billion. Ontario’s highest-value export is motor vehicles, amounting to $36 billion, followed by gold at $17.66 billion. Johnson said tariffs could slow down Ontario’s investments in electric vehicles, battery production or critical minerals. “If these tariffs were to be in place for any meaningful amount of time, I do think that’s going to slow down some of that investment,” he said. Flavio Volpe, president of the Autoparts Manufacturers Association, said Canada’s auto sector is deeply linked with the United States. “Half of the cars that we make in Canada are American companies’ cars. Half of the components that come into all of the cars that get manufactured come from the U.S. and 55 per cent of the raw materials to make those components in cars come from the U.S.,” he said. Speaking to reporters in Quebec City, Quebec Premier François Legault said that everything must be done to avoid the tariffs, which could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs. Quebec exports $10.8 billion worth of unwrought aluminum every year, with the United States accounting for 73.9 per cent of its total exports. Jean Simard, president of the Aluminum Association of Canada, said the aluminum industry could be forced to pivot to Europe. “Everybody wants our metal, but Europe is certainly the key market. Europe is in an aluminum deficit, as the U.S. is,” he said. “We might decide to ship to Europe and they’ll take everything we can send there, especially since Russian metal has been sanctioned out of the market.” Quebec is not alone in exporting critical minerals to the United States. Yukon’s largest export is copper ore worth $163.1 million annually, with the U.S. accounting for 95 per cent of its total value of exports. When the first Trump administration announced tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber in 2017, British Columbia was one of the hardest-hit provinces. Experts said the B.C. industries that could be hit the hardest include softwood lumber, energy, electricity, mining, agriculture and fisheries. “Obviously, this will be devastating to workers on both sides of the border, both in the United States and in Canada,” Premier David Eby said on Tuesday. “The impact on families will be profoundly significant.” However, B.C.’s trade portfolio is relatively diversified compared with some other provinces, with exports to the U.S. amounting to 57 per cent of total exports. Asia is B.C.’s second-largest trading partner, with 35.5 per cent of the province’s exports heading there every year. “Pharmaceuticals is another industry that’s pretty export-reliant as well,” Johnson said. Manitoba is the province that stands to lose the most when it comes to pharmaceuticals, with medication export amounting to $2.7 billion a year as its biggest export. The U.S. accounts for 73.4 per cent of its exports. Wheat is Manitoba’s second-largest export, amounting to $1.6 billion. Farming groups are warning about adverse effects on agriculture, with the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) saying that 70 per cent of Canada’s grains are exported, with exports to the U.S. amounting to $14 billion. “The imposition of sweeping tariffs would create instability for farmers who are already facing tight margins due to rising input costs, changing weather patterns, and increased government taxation,” the group said in a statement. Prince Edward Island’s frozen potatoes and other vegetable exports amount to $490.9 million a year. Other agri-businesses and food businesses, such as Saskatchewan’s fertilizer industry and Nova Scotia’s seafood exporters, will likely be watching announcements from Washington and Ottawa as well. While Trump has proposed sweeping tariffs, experts say it is not yet certain he will go ahead with them. “The adage that you have to take Donald Trump seriously, but not literally, is very applicable here,” Johnson said. Tu Nguyen, an economist at RSM, said, “What is more likely to happen is that there will be trade negotiations between the U.S., Canada and Mexico rather than blanket tariffs. Tariffs on all goods coming from a country is actually very difficult to implement in reality.”OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton point guard Steven Ashworth likely won't play Tuesday in the No. 21 Bluejays' game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday, and coach Greg McDermott said he didn't know how long he would be out. “He stepped on a guy's foot on a 3-point shot and you're defenseless in that situation," McDermott said after the game. "He torqued it pretty good.” An athletic department spokesman said Monday that Ashworth's status was doubtful for the game against the Aztecs. Ashworth is Creighton's second-leading scorer with 16 points per game and leads the team with 6.4 assists per game. He also is 23 of 23 on free throws. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballIBD 50 Bitcoin Play Tops Buy Zone As Trump Favors Crypto
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Popular brunch spot, , in the west end of is looking for a new owner. The unit on Queen Margaret Drive in North Kelvinside is a local favourite, known for their tasty rolls. However, following the sad passing of owner Jenny earlier this year, her husband Chris has decided to sell the business and search for a new dedicated owner. Listed with Kirkstone Property Consultancy, offers in the region of £45,000 are expected, this includes the goodwill of the business, fixtures and fittings - with stock also available at valuation. The current lease is £11,000 per annum and will soon increase to £12,000 in 2027. The unit, situated in a busy prime location, is on the ground floor of a mixed use four-storey tenement red sandstone building and is accessed via a single aluminium framed and glazed door. Internally, the café is rectangular in shape with customers table and chairs to the front and serving counter to the rear. Behind the serving counter is the commercial kitchen which, as expected, is fitted out to a professional standard with extract ventilation and a range of stainless steel sink units, utility basins and fitments. A comprehensive range of floor and wall mounted style units are installed with appropriate worktops. The walls are covered in stainless steel and PVC splashbacks and the suspended ceiling incorporates LED lighting. Part of the listing description reads: "Comet Pieces is an established café / takeaway business which enjoys regular all year round trade from customers, such is the trading position. The bespoke menu the current operators offer is reflective of the success of the business and, in turn, benefits from high levels of repeat custom from locals. "The business trades Monday to Saturday from 9am to 8pm. The current operators have decided to sell the business due to a change in circumstance, thus creating an exciting self-employment opportunity. Proof of sales will be made available to seriously interested parties post viewing stage." For more information, click .Rays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on road
Aston Villa denied last-gasp winner in Juventus stalemateTWO of I’m A Celebrity contestant Coleen Rooney’s four sons have landed in Australia — and have been missing their mum terribly, according to their gran. Coleen’s mum Colette McLoughlin , 62, said one of the lads had been really down in the dumps without their mother around — but did not say which one. 4 I'm A Celeb star Coleen Rooney’s sons have landed in Australia Credit: Rex 4 Coleen’s mum Colette McLoughlin, who is also in Oz, said one of the lads had been really down in the dumps without their mother around Credit: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer She said: “One of them’s been really quiet and subdued. “They’ve been really good, to tell you the truth. I think it’s because they’ve been able to see her. "If they hadn’t been able to see her, it would’ve been different. Not much longer now.” Colette arrived at Brisbane Airport with eight-year-old Kit and Cass, six. READ MORE ON COLEEN ROONEY COLL-ED OUT I’m a Celeb fans 'work out reason’ Dean didn’t quit grim trial with Coleen They are expected to be part of an emotional special episode when campmates will be reunited with friends and family. Coleen, 38, and footie manager hubby Wayne, 39, are also parents to Kai, 15, and 11-year-old Klay. Meanwhile, Colette has praised her daughter’s sleuthing skills. Coleen earned the nickname Wagatha Christie after a 2019 social media post accusing her rival and Sun jungle columnist Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories to the press. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 letting loose Ruth Langsford flies to I'm A Celebrity in Australia as bosses sign her up MISSING? Moment Barry McGuigan 'goes missing' after TEN days in the I'm A Celebrity jungle clap back I'm A Celebrity star Dean McCullough's mum slams Ant for being 'too hard' on him jungle jinks I'm A Celeb star claims bosses edit show to make campmates look bad And she has continued to put her detective skills to good use in the jungle by rumbling the Jungle Junkyard lies being peddled by Maura Higgins and Rev Richard Coles . They had been living in luxury in a separate camp — but pretending to the other contestants that they were slumming it. Coleen figured out the deception after believing Maura and Rev Richard looked too content. Coleen Rooney opens up about forgiving Wayne for cheating ahead of I’m a Celebrity stint Colette said: “I’m not surprised at all. She’d figure anything out, yeah.” She also said she had been following Coleen’s rules on how to look after the boys while she is away. Before leaving for Australia, Coleen left two whiteboards filled with instructions. They resembled the football tactics-style boards that Wayne would use as boss of Plymouth Argyle. Colette said she would have got into trouble with Coleen for not following the strict rules her daughter had laid out. Read more on the Scottish Sun LOOKING UP I'm a four-time world champ but my eyesight is going so I've made crucial change ISLE SAY Stunning home with panoramic views for sale for just £135k - but there's a catch She said: “Oh, the whiteboard. I followed the whiteboard, all right. “I’m glad to see the back of the whiteboard!” 4 Wayne and Coleen Rooney with their four sons Credit: Instagram 4 The parents with Klay, Kai, Kit and Cass Credit: Refer to caption
Extending these benefits to maritime areas has been challenging, with coverage so far limited to coastal regions. To address this, the 5G-ROUTES project, coordinated by VTT, tested a multi-hop 5G solution extending coverage up to 10 kilometres offshore. The trials were conducted along the maritime route between Finland and Sweden. Anne Lönnqvist , Research Manager at VTT, described the trials as a significant achievement. “We conducted a pioneering 5G multi-hop test at sea. The project aims to solve the challenges of connectivity and capacity in maritime data transmission, enabling new services for passengers and the broader maritime industry.” The trials were supported by industry partners including Vediafin, Cumucore, and Airbus, along with major technology providers such as Ericsson, Nokia, Digita, DNA, Telia, and Goodmill Systems. Lasse Nykänen , Project Manager at Vediafin, highlighted the potential of the new system. “The tests at sea provided an excellent opportunity to develop new 5G applications for maritime use. The technology is ready, and the next step is to establish a commercial deployment model.” The system integrates public 5G networks, private 5G networks between ships, and satellite connections, ensuring seamless connectivity even when vessels are far from the coast. The multi-hop approach, using mid-band frequencies, enables high-bandwidth 5G links between vessels. Public 5G networks maintain connections to the coast, while private 5G networks handle ship-to-ship communication, with satellite links serving as backups. Kati Kõrbe , Project Manager at Ericsson Estonia, noted that the solution significantly enhances data services for vessels. However, she emphasised that regulatory limitations, maritime traffic density, and the availability of public 5G networks remain challenges for widespread adoption. Extensive testing was conducted on two vessels operating between Turku and Stockholm. A ship closer to the shore acted as a relay, providing connectivity to another vessel further offshore. This setup ensured continuous data transmission and reliable internet access for various applications, including real-time video communication, virtual reality tools, and online multiplayer gaming. Mika Skarp , Business Development Manager at Cumucore, described the solution as a major step forward. “The 5G multi-hop system significantly enhances the reliability and bandwidth of maritime communication networks, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even in the absence of satellite links. This scalable and flexible solution offers maritime operators a cost-effective way to boost operational efficiency and passenger experience.” The 5G-ROUTES project is funded under the EU Horizon 2020 programme and focuses on testing innovative 5G applications in cross-border road and maritime transport. The findings provide valuable insights into the integration of public and private networks in maritime contexts and open new possibilities for European shipping, particularly on routes like Latvia-Estonia-Finland. Improved connectivity promises transformative benefits for the industry, enhancing both operational performance and passenger services. HTTheir expectation levels may have been different, but neither Rutgers nor Seton Hall has had the most promising start to the season. New Jersey's two power-conference programs will try to author a signature win when the Pirates visit the Scarlet Knights for the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers (6-4) endured a three-game losing streak before picking up its first Big Ten win of the season Tuesday, 80-76 over Penn State. The Scarlet Knights have enjoyed plenty of attention thanks to five-star freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, but they've also put a loss to Kennesaw State on their resume. They'll try to assert their dominance over Seton Hall (5-5), which has lost to Fordham, Hofstra and Monmouth while fielding one of the weakest offenses in Division I. At 60.1 points per game, the Pirates rank sixth-to-last in the country, even as they limit opponents to 59.4 points per outing (the No. 11 scoring defense). Rutgers is 5-0 at home after leading by as many as 15 in the Penn State victory. Harper had 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists and Bailey produced 15 points and 15 rebounds. "They're like a sixth defender for us," Harper said of the fans. "We've been on the road for 20 days so seeing all of our fans, and seeing how loud they were, it meant the world to us." The student section will be especially fired up to see the rival Pirates, which could make free-throw shooting an issue for them. They rank No. 350 in the country at 60.3 percent from the foul line entering Friday. However, Seton Hall pulled out a road win the last time the game was played at Rutgers. In a defensive rock fight in 2022, the Pirates prevailed 45-43. Rutgers got revenge last season at Seton Hall's place, winning 70-63. But most players on both rosters are new and will experience the rivalry game for the first time. "I don't have a Jersey player on my team, right?" Pirates coach Shaheen Holloway told NJ.com . "So I have to get those guys to understand rivalries." Seton Hall will lean on Chaunce Jenkins (11.8 ppg) -- who was limited in the team's 85-76 loss to Oklahoma State on Sunday due to a knee injury, but is cleared to face Rutgers -- and Isaiah Coleman (11.7 ppg), one of three returning players from last year's team. For Rutgers, Harper is excited about the rivalry having grown up in New Jersey and watched his older brother, Ron Harper Jr., play in the game. At 23.4 ppg, Dylan Harper is the third-leading scorer in the country, and he adds 5.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest. Seton Hall leads the all-time series 42-32. --Field Level Media
Tarkett leads effort to renovate Chicago-area respite center as part of Tarkett Cares programThere were spells in this game when Club Brugge resembled a reincarnation of 1970 Brazil. As Cameron Carter-Vickers bundled home an embarrassing own goal to send the Belgians in front, it looked a matter of how many they would choose to score. The stars were in stripes. Celtic do not often suffer in this manner on their own turf. Celtic have no cause to care that they rather snatched a point. Indeed, Brugge’s profligacy should be of no concern whatsoever to Brendan Rodgers. This draw, earned courtesy of a glorious Daizen Maeda strike, leaves Celtic perfectly on course to reach the playoff round of the Champions League . This was an outcome which rather proved the beauty of football; Brugge’s style and swagger was ultimately matched by Celtic’s desire not to lose. Celtic continue to show they can compete when stakes are raised beyond their domestic domination. As the minutes ticked down, it was Celtic who looked the more likely team. Given what had come before, that was a wild scenario. Three games had seemingly extinguished years of frustration. Celtic’s thrashing of Slovan Bratislava , draw against Atalanta and excellent win over RB Leipzig triggered a sense of Champions League belonging. Seasons where the Scottish champions floundered at this level had suddenly been forgotten; expectations were high for Brugge’s visit. Even Celtic’s 7-1 reverse in Dortmund felt an afterthought before kick-off. Through the new Champions League format – and some fine performances – has come opportunity and a fresh mindset. Brugge arrived in Glasgow with a perfect understanding of how Celtic had suffocated Leipzig last time out. The Belgians started strongly, Ferran Jutglà curling narrowly wide inside five minutes. Celtic attacked more in hope than expectation. Jutglà chose to hit the ground rather than fire towards Kasper Schmeichel having outpaced Carter-Vickers to collect a through ball from Hans Vanaken. Brugge were the more coherent side by a considerable margin during the game’s opening quarter, a matter which owed plenty to Celtic’s malfunctioning midfield. Andreas Skov Olsen was next to flash a shot wide with Schmeichel stranded. Further, more meaningful, Celtic assistance was to come. Nicolas Kühn probably should not have been wandering back towards his own goal but will argue he had little choice, given Brugge’s aggressive press. The German passed to Carter-Vickers, who in turn tried to find Schmeichel. The problem was, Celtic’s Danish goalkeeper was 10 yards away from where Carter-Vickers played the ball. With Schmeichel unable to recover, Carter-Vickers suffered the ignominy of scoring into his own net. If not so serious for Celtic, it would have been a comedic episode. Carter-Vickers was woefully careless, the outcome painful. After the penalty fiasco against Aston Villa, Brugge are making a habit of benefitting from bizarre Champions League moments. Their lead, though, was fully deserved. Celtic needed the interval to draw breath. Brugge should have placed daylight between themselves and their hosts with their first attack of the second half. Instead, Schmeichel turned Maxim De Cuyper’s effort wide after the full-back had marauded through on goal. Celtic responded with Reo Hatate’s long-range attempt, which had Simon Mignolet struggling. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Brugge had doused the Celtic Park atmosphere. Rodgers had used pre-game media duties to ask that his players utilised the “power” of the stadium. Those in the stands were instead jittery. There was agitation that Celtic could gain no foothold in the tie with an hour played. Anxiety among Brugge’s noisy contingent was only because their side’s leeway felt disproportionate to the dynamic of the game. Skov Olsen should have altered that but blazed over from a wonderful De Cuyper cross. Celtic made the visitors pay for their wastefulness. Maeda, a hitherto peripheral presence, cut infield before beating Mignolet via the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. There was home disbelief mixed with jubilation. Maeda’s intervention was of stunning quality. Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'. If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version. In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications. Turn on sport notifications. Jutglà believed he had put Brugge back in front after Celtic failed to deal with a cross from their right flank. The striker was soon cursing the influence of the VAR, who correctly ruled out the goal for offside. This encounter was testing Brugge’s patience. Substitutions clearly disrupted the flow of the match. Celtic’s introduction of Adam Idah to spearhead the attack suggested Rodgers had aspirations of taking all three points. Hatate attempted an outrageous volley that was closer to the corner flag than the goal. Exhausted, Celtic made do with parity. Eight points from five games means respectability for Rodgers and his players. Brugge can scratch their heads all they like; for them, this was an evening of missed opportunity.
Palios: Takeover has 'not collapsed' and should happen by end of the seasonRachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery. Related Articles Business | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds Business | How to protect your communications through encryption Business | About 2.6 million Stanley cups recalled after malfunctions caused burns. Is your mug included? Business | Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases Business | Bank groups sue the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over a proposed cap on overdraft fees Whether you’ve been saving since your first job or you’re getting a late start, you can leverage expert-recommended strategies to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. And if you’re not quite on track, don’t sweat it — the experts we spoke to offered actionable tips to help you close the gap. You might have a general idea of how much money you need to save for retirement . A few quick calculations can give you an estimate, but to truly appreciate where you stand, you’ll need to dive into the numbers. Here’s how to get started. A good rule of thumb to estimate your retirement savings goal is the Rule of 25 . Simply multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25. The result is roughly how much you’ll need to save before hitting retirement. For example, if you plan to spend $50,000 a year, you’ll need about $1.25 million to make it a reality. The Rule of 25 is based on the idea that withdrawing 4% annually from your retirement savings should last you about 30 years. While it’s not an exact science by any means — health care costs and lifestyle changes can skew the numbers, for example — the Rule of 25 can be a good starting point to figure out how much you need to save. Fidelity Investments, a behemoth in the retirement planning space, offers savings guidelines to help you determine if you’re on track . —By age 30: Save 1x your annual salary —By age 40: Save 3x your annual salary —By age 50: Save 6x your annual salary —By age 60: Save 8x your annual salary —By age 67: Save 10x your annual salary For example, if you earn $60,000 annually, you should aim for $600,000 in savings by age 67. But like the Rule of 25, Fidelity’s guidelines offer a 10,000-foot look at retirement goals, and they’re not customized to your situation. Maybe you earned a low salary in your 20s, but you’re working hard in your 30s to make up for it. Use these estimates as a benchmark — but don’t get discouraged if you’re lagging behind. Now it’s time to zoom in a little. To get a clearer snapshot of your progress, use an online retirement calculator. These tools factor in your age, current savings, income and lifestyle goals to estimate whether you’re on track. You’ll get a more refined estimate without crunching the numbers yourself. Bankrate’s retirement calculator even lets you input different rates of return on your investments and accounts for estimated annual salary increases. Having a general savings goal is nice, but to avoid falling short in retirement, you’ll need more than a ballpark figure. Experts recommend creating a retirement budget to get an up-close-and-personal look at how much you’ll really need once you leave the workforce. First, estimate how much you’ll spend per month in retirement. While some costs will increase, like health care, others will likely decrease, like dining out and commuting. “Estimating expenses can be challenging for some people, so as a starting point, I often use your net take-home pay,” says Jeff DeLarme, a certified financial planner and president of DeLarme Wealth Management. For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $2,500 every two weeks from work, use $5,000 as your estimated monthly spending in retirement. “Assuming this was enough to pay the bills while working, we can use $5,000 a month as a starting budget to plan for,” says DeLarme. Next, map out your sources of income in retirement. Social Security is the largest income stream for most retirees, but don’t neglect other inflows, such as: —Workplace retirement accounts, like 401(k)s —Personal retirement accounts, like a traditional or Roth IRA —Pensions —Annuities —Selling your home or business —Rental income —Inheritance “If there’s a gap between your expected expenses and income, you’ll have a good idea of how much you need to save,” says Mike Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning. From there, you can adjust your savings and investment strategy accordingly. For something as important (and complex) as retirement planning, it pays to speak with a professional. Financial advisers can analyze your savings, investments and retirement goals to create a personalized plan. Advisers use special planning software that account for more variables than an online calculator, giving you a much more precise, granular look at your financial life in retirement. Many financial advisers can also help you optimize your tax strategy, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time. Make sure the adviser you hire is a fiduciary , meaning they’re legally obligated to prioritize your interests over their own. A fiduciary won’t push investments to earn a commission or recommend products that aren’t aligned with your needs. A certified financial planner is one of the most well-recognized designations for fiduciaries. You can use Bankrate’s adviser matching tool to find a certified financial planner in your area in minutes. Maybe you did the math and realized you’re not quite where you need to be. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Here are five strategies experts recommend to help you catch up on your retirement savings . Cutting expenses now frees up more cash to invest in your retirement accounts. Evaluate your budget and identify areas where you can cut costs, like dining out, streaming subscriptions or shopping. Don’t rule out bigger lifestyle changes either, especially if retirement is rapidly approaching. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people. Getting creative here can help amplify the amount you can sock away, says Joseph Boughan, a certified financial planner and managing member at Parkmount Financial Partners. It can also reduce your expenses in retirement, so you may not need to save as much as before. “Downsizing can be a great way to cut expenses,” says Boughan. “This can even free up cash if you don’t end up needing all that money for a new home.” Moving somewhere with lower property taxes or income taxes can also help bring your retirement plan back in line. And if you’re a renter, making tough short-term decisions, like taking on a roommate or moving to a lower cost-of-living area, can free up hundreds of dollars a month for your retirement. “Everyone’s plan is unique, so exploring all the options is important,” Boughan says. Joe Conroy, a certified financial planner and owner of Harford Retirement Planners, recommends taking a “retirement test drive” as you near your target date. “Start to live on what income you think you can afford in retirement and stash all the extra income into savings and investments,” says Conroy. “If you can make it through each month, you’re ready for retirement. If you run short, then adjust your plan accordingly.” Working a little longer can be a game-changer for your retirement nest egg. Not only does it give you more time to save, it also gives your investments room to grow. “Working longer or even just part time for a few years early in retirement is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you need to save,” says Hunsberger. Postponing retirement can also boost your Social Security benefits . “You can claim as early as 62, but your benefits will be reduced significantly,” says Hunsberger. Meanwhile, each year you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age , your monthly check will increase by 8%, though this benefit maxes out at age 70. So waiting can really pay off. It may seem obvious, but if you’re behind on retirement savings, you’ll need to boost your contributions as much as possible. Here are a few ways to make saving for retirement easier: —Increase your contribution rate: Allocate a larger portion of your paycheck to a workplace retirement plan. Even bumping up your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a huge difference down the road. —Take advantage of your employer match: Don’t leave free money on the table. Many employers will chip in between 3 and 5% depending on your plan, so make sure you’re contributing enough to take advantage of the benefit. —Use “unexpected” money to catch up: If you get a raise or bonus at work, funnel part of it directly into your 401(k). And if you get a refund at tax time, siphon some of it off to beef up your IRA. If you’ve been investing in low-risk, low-return investments, you may not be keeping up with inflation, let alone growing your nest egg. Reallocating part of your portfolio to stocks or low-cost growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is one way to get your money working harder. Higher-risk investments like stocks carry more volatility but also offer higher potential returns. Work with a financial adviser or use a robo-adviser to strike the right balance between growth and your personal risk tolerance. Contribution limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs are higher for people over 50. For 2025, employees aged 50 and up who participate in most 401(k) plans or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan can save up to $31,000 annually, including a $7,500 catch-up contribution . But thanks to SECURE 2.0 , a sweeping retirement law, a new higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 applies for employees ages 60 to 63. So, if you’re in this age group, you can squirrel away a whopping $34,750 a year during the final stretch of your career. Of course, you’ll need a big salary (think six figures) in order to take full advantage of such massive contribution limits. But if you can afford it, these catch-up allowances can put your plan back on track, especially if you struggled to save much early in your career. There’s no GPS to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. If you’ve veered off course or aren’t sure where to start, begin by getting a quick estimate of how much you’ll need before mapping out a retirement budget. And if you’re behind, don’t panic — adjusting your spending, boosting your contributions and speaking with a financial adviser can help you catch up. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Women investors in Indian mutual fund industry grow 2.5 times in 2024
Heartbreaking words of two-year-old girl who turned up at the border alone clutching just a piece of paper READ MORE: Two 'child rapist' migrants arrested hours after Laken Riley verdict Follow DailyMail.com's politics live blog for all the latest news and updates By NOA HALFF FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:04, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 20:03, 25 November 2024 e-mail 26 shares 183 View comments Video footage has revealed the heartbreaking words of an unaccompanied two-year-old girl who turned up at the border alone clutching just a piece of paper. The tiny two-year-old girl from El Salvador was found at the border in Maverick County, Texas , holding on to a piece of paper with a name and phone number while telling police she was searching for her mom and dad. The toddler, dressed in a bright pink jacket, was part of a group of over 200 illegal migrants - including a staggering 60 unaccompanied minors - who were detained on Sunday. In shocking bodycam footage shared by the spokesman with the Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez on X, the child's gives a heartbreaking answer when asked where she was going. 'With my mom and dad,' the girl responds, pointing to a small yellow paper she was holding with a name and phone number. When asked where her parents were, she said: 'United States.' 'This is a stark example of the precarious journey these children make from their home country and how criminal organizations traffic these children across the southern border and further into the interior,' Olivarez said on X. Video footage has revealed the heartbreaking words of an unaccompanied two-year-old girl who turned up at the border alone clutching just a piece of paper The toddler, dressed in a bright pink jacket, was part of a staggering group of over 200 illegal migrants - including 60 unaccompanied minors - who were detained on Sunday Read More Trump border czar Tom Homan says what will happen to states that don't comply with mass deportation 'Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks.' 'With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety & security of these children except for the men & women who are on the frontlines daily.' 'Despite the criticism over the years, the reality is that many children are exploited & trafficked, never to be heard from again. DPS has rescued over 900 children during #OperationLoneStar from abandonment & human smuggling.' This comes as Donald Trump's incoming border czar Tom Homan said it's guaranteed that the future president will pull federal funds from states that don't comply with his mass deportation plans . Homan, who served in the highest echelons of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Presidents Barack Obama and Trump, was recently tapped by the president-elect to serve as 'border czar,' a role tailor-made to carry out Trump's deportation mandate . The president-elect repeatedly claimed while campaigning that on day one he would pull off the 'largest deportation program in American history .' The tiny two-year-old girl from El Salvador was found alone at the border in Maverick County, Texas , holding on to a piece of paper with a name and phone number while telling police she was searching for her mom and dad Homan will be tasked with helping Trump make good on that promise. Speaking on Fox News with host Mark Levin on Saturday, the host suggested that the border czar has an important tool at his disposal to force states to comply with the mass deportations. 'Much like the Confederacy, they want to go on their own,' Levin said of states not wanting to enforce deportations. 'They want to do their own thing. To me, you got a powerful weapon among others, okay, no federal funds – boom – last thoughts?' Homan didn't waste a beat, confirming immediately that states and municipalities that don't 'cooperate' with federal immigration agents will have their federal funds restricted. 'That is going to happen,' Homan stated. 'I guarantee President Trump will do that.' Donald Trump Ice-T Obama Share or comment on this article: Heartbreaking words of two-year-old girl who turned up at the border alone clutching just a piece of paper e-mail 26 shares Add comment
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As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.Australia news LIVE: Bills on the brink in final sitting week of the year; Social media giants slam ‘rushed’ ban consultation
‘Close eye on it’: Local MPs pledge to keep watch on mayorRachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery. Related Articles Business | Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list Business | The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward Business | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds Business | How to protect your communications through encryption Business | About 2.6 million Stanley cups recalled after malfunctions caused burns. Is your mug included? Whether you’ve been saving since your first job or you’re getting a late start, you can leverage expert-recommended strategies to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. And if you’re not quite on track, don’t sweat it — the experts we spoke to offered actionable tips to help you close the gap. 5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement You might have a general idea of how much money you need to save for retirement . A few quick calculations can give you an estimate, but to truly appreciate where you stand, you’ll need to dive into the numbers. Here’s how to get started. 1. Use the Rule of 25 to get a ballpark number A good rule of thumb to estimate your retirement savings goal is the Rule of 25 . Simply multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25. The result is roughly how much you’ll need to save before hitting retirement. For example, if you plan to spend $50,000 a year, you’ll need about $1.25 million to make it a reality. The Rule of 25 is based on the idea that withdrawing 4% annually from your retirement savings should last you about 30 years. While it’s not an exact science by any means — health care costs and lifestyle changes can skew the numbers, for example — the Rule of 25 can be a good starting point to figure out how much you need to save. 2. Compare your savings to Fidelity guidelines Fidelity Investments, a behemoth in the retirement planning space, offers savings guidelines to help you determine if you’re on track . —By age 30: Save 1x your annual salary —By age 40: Save 3x your annual salary —By age 50: Save 6x your annual salary —By age 60: Save 8x your annual salary —By age 67: Save 10x your annual salary For example, if you earn $60,000 annually, you should aim for $600,000 in savings by age 67. But like the Rule of 25, Fidelity’s guidelines offer a 10,000-foot look at retirement goals, and they’re not customized to your situation. Maybe you earned a low salary in your 20s, but you’re working hard in your 30s to make up for it. Use these estimates as a benchmark — but don’t get discouraged if you’re lagging behind. 3. Use an online retirement calculator Now it’s time to zoom in a little. To get a clearer snapshot of your progress, use an online retirement calculator. These tools factor in your age, current savings, income and lifestyle goals to estimate whether you’re on track. You’ll get a more refined estimate without crunching the numbers yourself. Bankrate’s retirement calculator even lets you input different rates of return on your investments and accounts for estimated annual salary increases. 4. Map out your retirement budget Having a general savings goal is nice, but to avoid falling short in retirement, you’ll need more than a ballpark figure. Experts recommend creating a retirement budget to get an up-close-and-personal look at how much you’ll really need once you leave the workforce. First, estimate how much you’ll spend per month in retirement. While some costs will increase, like health care, others will likely decrease, like dining out and commuting. “Estimating expenses can be challenging for some people, so as a starting point, I often use your net take-home pay,” says Jeff DeLarme, a certified financial planner and president of DeLarme Wealth Management. For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $2,500 every two weeks from work, use $5,000 as your estimated monthly spending in retirement. “Assuming this was enough to pay the bills while working, we can use $5,000 a month as a starting budget to plan for,” says DeLarme. Next, map out your sources of income in retirement. Social Security is the largest income stream for most retirees, but don’t neglect other inflows, such as: —Workplace retirement accounts, like 401(k)s —Personal retirement accounts, like a traditional or Roth IRA —Pensions —Annuities —Selling your home or business —Rental income —Inheritance “If there’s a gap between your expected expenses and income, you’ll have a good idea of how much you need to save,” says Mike Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning. From there, you can adjust your savings and investment strategy accordingly. 5. Talk to a financial adviser For something as important (and complex) as retirement planning, it pays to speak with a professional. Financial advisers can analyze your savings, investments and retirement goals to create a personalized plan. Advisers use special planning software that account for more variables than an online calculator, giving you a much more precise, granular look at your financial life in retirement. Many financial advisers can also help you optimize your tax strategy, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time. Make sure the adviser you hire is a fiduciary , meaning they’re legally obligated to prioritize your interests over their own. A fiduciary won’t push investments to earn a commission or recommend products that aren’t aligned with your needs. A certified financial planner is one of the most well-recognized designations for fiduciaries. You can use Bankrate’s adviser matching tool to find a certified financial planner in your area in minutes. 5 ways to catch up on retirement savings Maybe you did the math and realized you’re not quite where you need to be. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Here are five strategies experts recommend to help you catch up on your retirement savings . 1. Scale back your spending now and in retirement Cutting expenses now frees up more cash to invest in your retirement accounts. Evaluate your budget and identify areas where you can cut costs, like dining out, streaming subscriptions or shopping. Don’t rule out bigger lifestyle changes either, especially if retirement is rapidly approaching. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people. Getting creative here can help amplify the amount you can sock away, says Joseph Boughan, a certified financial planner and managing member at Parkmount Financial Partners. It can also reduce your expenses in retirement, so you may not need to save as much as before. “Downsizing can be a great way to cut expenses,” says Boughan. “This can even free up cash if you don’t end up needing all that money for a new home.” Moving somewhere with lower property taxes or income taxes can also help bring your retirement plan back in line. And if you’re a renter, making tough short-term decisions, like taking on a roommate or moving to a lower cost-of-living area, can free up hundreds of dollars a month for your retirement. “Everyone’s plan is unique, so exploring all the options is important,” Boughan says. Joe Conroy, a certified financial planner and owner of Harford Retirement Planners, recommends taking a “retirement test drive” as you near your target date. “Start to live on what income you think you can afford in retirement and stash all the extra income into savings and investments,” says Conroy. “If you can make it through each month, you’re ready for retirement. If you run short, then adjust your plan accordingly.” 2. Delay retirement by a year or two Working a little longer can be a game-changer for your retirement nest egg. Not only does it give you more time to save, it also gives your investments room to grow. “Working longer or even just part time for a few years early in retirement is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you need to save,” says Hunsberger. Postponing retirement can also boost your Social Security benefits . “You can claim as early as 62, but your benefits will be reduced significantly,” says Hunsberger. Meanwhile, each year you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age , your monthly check will increase by 8%, though this benefit maxes out at age 70. So waiting can really pay off. 3. Save more It may seem obvious, but if you’re behind on retirement savings, you’ll need to boost your contributions as much as possible. Here are a few ways to make saving for retirement easier: —Increase your contribution rate: Allocate a larger portion of your paycheck to a workplace retirement plan. Even bumping up your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a huge difference down the road. —Take advantage of your employer match: Don’t leave free money on the table. Many employers will chip in between 3 and 5% depending on your plan, so make sure you’re contributing enough to take advantage of the benefit. —Use “unexpected” money to catch up: If you get a raise or bonus at work, funnel part of it directly into your 401(k). And if you get a refund at tax time, siphon some of it off to beef up your IRA. 4. Invest more aggressively If you’ve been investing in low-risk, low-return investments, you may not be keeping up with inflation, let alone growing your nest egg. Reallocating part of your portfolio to stocks or low-cost growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is one way to get your money working harder. Higher-risk investments like stocks carry more volatility but also offer higher potential returns. Work with a financial adviser or use a robo-adviser to strike the right balance between growth and your personal risk tolerance. 5. Take advantage of new retirement account catch-up contributions Contribution limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs are higher for people over 50. For 2025, employees aged 50 and up who participate in most 401(k) plans or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan can save up to $31,000 annually, including a $7,500 catch-up contribution . But thanks to SECURE 2.0 , a sweeping retirement law, a new higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 applies for employees ages 60 to 63. So, if you’re in this age group, you can squirrel away a whopping $34,750 a year during the final stretch of your career. Of course, you’ll need a big salary (think six figures) in order to take full advantage of such massive contribution limits. But if you can afford it, these catch-up allowances can put your plan back on track, especially if you struggled to save much early in your career. Bottom line There’s no GPS to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. If you’ve veered off course or aren’t sure where to start, begin by getting a quick estimate of how much you’ll need before mapping out a retirement budget. And if you’re behind, don’t panic — adjusting your spending, boosting your contributions and speaking with a financial adviser can help you catch up. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Butterball facing Thanksgiving turkey boycott as disgusting sex abuse allegations resurface By SONYA GUGLIARA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:53, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 19:55, 25 November 2024 e-mail 7 View comments Gut-wrenching footage of Butterball slaughterhouse workers torturing and sexually abusing turkeys has sparked outrage just before Thanksgiving as news of the horrific acts resurfaced on social media. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched an undercover investigation into Butterball's Ozark, Arkansas location between April and July 0f 2006. An undisclosed investigator revealed the alleged atrocities he witnessed - including sexual assault against the birds - as workers 'shackled and slaughtered' more than 50,000 turkeys each day, according to PETA . In the shockingly graphic video, the investigator claimed he saw a Butterball employee shoving his finger up a turkey's cloaca, or vagina, for 'fun.' Another worker allegedly 'humped' a turkey while it was restrained. The investigator recalled another haunting instance, when a 'worker was taunting another worker by holding a bird by the legs and jerking her back and forth. 'The second guy just grabbed the bird and punched her.' Footage showed workers aggressively handling multiple turkeys - throwing, striking and hanging them to death. Footage from the 2006 undercover PETA investigation showed suffering turkeys at an Arkansas Butterball plant A Butterball employee was recorded as he roughly handled a turkey. The investigator recalled several accounts of abuse and brutality The 2006 video has resurfaced just days before Thanksgiving, with many people expressing disgust and outrage. Some claimed they are returning their Butterball turkeys 'Nothing humane had ever happened in a slaughterhouse,' Amber Canavan, the Vegan Campaign Project Manager for PETA, told DailyMail.com. As written in the investigator's witness log : 'One worker took a live bird and stomped on her head, crushing her skull until her head exploded. He then laughed and wiped the blood from his leg. He also threw birds against the concrete and punched others.' Over his 40-day tenure at the gruesome facility, the witness workers would slam birds into metal bars and violently break their backs and legs. The investigator reflected upon birds' eyeballs popping out, exposed spines and ripped off limbs in the chilling video. 'The workers at this plant were clearly not trained in animal welfare - some workers even bragged about their abuse,' he asserted. Just days before Thanksgiving, the unflattering footage has caused social media users to wince in disgust - with some calling for a boycott. 'This breaks my heart,' someone commented on a clip of the video posted on TikTok . Another user chimed in: 'Just bought a Butterball turkey today & definitely returning it tomorrow first thing in the morning.' The invesitgation took place at Butterball's Ozark, Arkansas between April and July 0f 2006 Turkeys were allegedly shackles by their legs and the witness claimed that their limbs would be ripped off at times Read More EXCLUSIVE Slaughterhouses hired kids to clean 'head splitters' and other hazardous gear in graveyard shifts in Virginia and Iowa, leaving a 14-year-old mangled One commenter wondered: 'Why are people so horrible? I own turkeys and chickens and they are so sweet and loving.' In another TikTok post, the user declared 'Y'all better not eat no Butterball turkey this year' and called the company 'deranged.' 'That made me physically ill,' a viewer reacted to the gruesome video. Another added: 'My parents bought butterball turkeys for Thanksgiving. I will not be able to eat it.' Another video showed a woman 'on the way to return this Butterball Turkey after SA (sexual assault) allegations.' Someone reacted: 'I swear I'm going to buy one to bury it and cry. It’s so sad what those birds have gone through.' 'The response we are seeing from people online is exactly what any animal advocate wants to see right before Thanksgiving,' Canavan added. 'We're just seeing dozens and dozens of people swearing off turkey this year.' She emphasized the idea that it is 'easier than ever' to buy vegan alternatives that do not require 'animals to go through the tortures of the slaughterhouse.' Leading up to the holiday, PETA has been sharing social media content urging viewers to skip out on the poultry staple this year. More than 50,000 turkeys were 'shackled and slaughtered' each day, a witness recalled Read More Life after the lab: Patched-up Violet the hound was used as surgery practice, while cats Delilah and Petite survived cannibalism experiments - all three now have loving homes thanks to adoption 'It's never too late to go out there and grab that vegan roast,' Canavan said. 'Spare that turkey from the horrors of the slaughterhouse.' In response to the online backlash the company is receiving, a Butterball representative wrote to DailyMail.com: 'We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media. This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies. 'Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks. That means maintaining the health and well-being of our turkeys is an ongoing effort.' The spokesperson added that Butterball has yearly audits conducted by a third party to make sure facilities are complying with the '200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys.' She added: 'Butterball was the first and remains the only turkey company that is American Humane certified. We are proud to be 1 of every 3 turkeys on the table this Thanksgiving.' This month alone, Butterball has sold about 15 million turkeys across the country, Fleet Owner reported. PETA claims that its exposé from nearly two decades ago is not a one-off. 'PETA has conducted even more recent investigations that are still showing that abuse is rampant,' Canavan said. She pointed to another PETA investigation from 2021 into Plainville Farms , which 'also documented workers simulating sex acts on turkeys.' The undisclosed investigator said what he saw at the Butterball slaughterhouse was haunting As a result of the investigation, workers at the Pennsylvania facility faced several felonies and 141 charges. No charges against Butterball came from the 2006 investigation, but charges were brought against employees years later for a separate situation. In 2011, a North Carolina Butterball plant was raided after workers were caught abusing turkeys . In an investigation similar to PETA's, nonprofit Mercy for Animals went undercover and witnessed several instances of animal cruelty. Multiple workers were hit with charges related to the reported abuse. They were caught on video kicking and stomping on the helpless birds. TikTok Arkansas Share or comment on this article: Butterball facing Thanksgiving turkey boycott as disgusting sex abuse allegations resurface e-mail Add comment