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6 Signs You're Ready To Retire Early

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beach relax girlNo. 1: You are emotionally ready to quit working

Both the big picture and the fine details of your financial and emotional states are important to consider when assessing your readiness for early retirement. If you're not emotionally ready to quit working, you may not be ready to retire.

"What are you planning on doing that will continue to allow you to enjoy your life, allow you to stay active mentally, emotionally and spiritually?" asks Richard Reyes, a CFP professional and coach with The Financial Quarterback in Maitland, Fla. "In retirement, every day is Saturday."

Being ready financially is a no-brainer. Jeff Currie, an adviser with Icon Financial Services in Boise, Idaho, offers this quick assessment of financial readiness: "no debt, a good pension that includes health insurance benefits, good savings and low expenses. All of these factors can lead to a person retiring early. In most cases, the early 50s is about the most realistic and early I have seen. It usually involves an inheritance to boost a person's normal assets."

While some tend to associate retirement with a specific age, "It's really about getting your budget and liabilities under control, then having a clear understanding of the resources available to create the desired and consistent retirement income you need," says Sean Lee, a financial adviser with SPL Financial in Salt Lake City.

No. 2: You followed a retirement budget for 6 months

Expenses may drop in retirement, but not as much as you might think. That's why crafting a post-retirement budget and living off that budget for six months before you retire can help you decide whether your budget is realistic and whether you can stick with it.

Treat this exercise as a serious trial run, says Amy Rose Herrick, an investment adviser in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. "If you can't do this for six months without raiding savings or tapping credit cards to live, you are not ready yet," she says.

To put that post-retirement budget together, you need to understand what your cash flow will be like after retirement, says Helen Hogan, an investment adviser with Sunset Financial Services in Red Bank, N.J. "How much money do you need every month, including the quarterly and annual expenses, the unexpected and hidden expenses?" she asks.

It's important to factor inflation into your budget, says Jamie Patrick Hopkins, an assistant professor of taxation at The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pa. "Inflation is low now, but it could easily go up to 5 percent," he says. "Fifteen or 20 years of that type of inflation can really eat into savings and increase expenses."

No. 3: You have reliable health insurance coverage

Because Medicare doesn't kick in until age 65 and health insurance costs are rising faster than inflation, it's important to have a reliable, consistent source of health insurance. While health care reform will make health insurance more widely available, that coverage may get expensive. For many would-be early retirees, affordable coverage is most likely to come from a former employer.

"Having adequate health insurance and other insurance coverage including life, disability and long-term care is a factor in whether you can retire early," says Harrine Freeman, CEO of H.E. Freeman Enterprises in Bethesda, Md. A policy with low deductibles and copays that covers prescriptions, doctor visits, hospitalization, dental and vision will help keep out-of-pocket expenses as low as possible.

No. 4: Your children are financially independent

Children, especially in their college years, are expensive. To retire with children who are still financially dependent, there needs to be enough savings to cover college expenses, says Don Cummings, a financial adviser with Blue Haven Capital LLC in Geneva, Ill.

"Are there children with special needs who may be living in the household or perhaps on their own who will continue to be an expense?" he asks. "What about parents with similar needs?"

Hopkins notes that divorce can torpedo the most well-crafted retirement plan, leaving both parties with fewer assets, more expenses -- including legal fees -- and an extended period of financial uncertainty. While it's not possible to necessarily predict divorce, marital harmony about retirement dates, goals and spending lends stability to the family situation as retirement is contemplated.

No. 5: Your debts are paid off or nearly paid off

One big sign that you are not ready to retire early: You still owe money to creditors.

Paying debt from a retirement budget cuts into what you can spend in retirement on doing the fun things that you've waited years to do, not to mention paying for necessary items such as utilities, taxes, food and home maintenance.

"My guidelines for early retirement include asking clients first whether their home is paid off," says Curtis Chambers, a financial adviser with Chambers Financial Group in Clearwater, Fla. "If it is not, then retirement is not on the radar screen. Second, do they have debt? If they have debt, they are probably not ready to retire."

No. 6: Your portfolio is big enough to withstand losses

Because everyone's standard of living is different, there's no magic amount that automatically qualifies you for early retirement. That being said, a portfolio that is large and diversified by asset class can protect you in bad markets. If it's composed of different types of tax-deferred and tax-free assets, your portfolio is more likely to throw off enough income to sustain a long retirement than one that isn't.

"I tend to look at income that can be generated from a portfolio and use a 4 percent withdrawal rate. And I look at things like rental properties or business ownership that may generate other income," says Cummings. "In addition to that, we look at the potential for additional funds from business sales or inheritances and the size of the 401(k), deferred compensation plans, 403(b), pension, and guesstimate the amount of income that will generate when an individual turns 59 ½."

One gauge of whether or not you are ready to retire is the amount you have saved as a multiple of your income. According to Fidelity Investments, you should have saved at least eight times your pre-retirement income by age 67 to ensure a secure retirement. If you want to retire earlier than that, you should probably shoot for more.

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Animal Rights Activists Hack Foie Gras Supplier's Website And Publish Client List

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attached image

Earlier this week, animal rights activists hacked the website of Hudson Valley Foie Gras — a large U.S. supplier — and sent the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of their customers to animal rights groups.

The information was published on Wednesday, and is still online at the North American Animal Liberation Press Office.

There's also a note from the anonymous hackers explaining their motives:

For Earth Day we targeted Hudson Valley Foie Gras, the largest foie gras farm in the United States. Hudson Valley Foie Gras tortures birds and pollutes the earth. The company has been fined tens of thousands of dollars for violations of the Clean Water Act.

We temporarily took down their website and online store, and uncovered name/address/phone number/credit card details for over 1,200 customers who purchased foie gras and duck flesh products between June 2012 and April 2013.

The customer list included buyers in California, where the production and sale of foie gras is currently illegal. There are also chefs and private cooks on the list, some of whom have been harassed since their information went public.

"We are talking about ducks," Laguna Beach chef Amar Santana told the Orange County Register. "They are raised to be eaten. It is illegal to sell it or whatever, but you are telling me it is OK to blast personal information like that online? That is more illegal than anything else."

Foie gras has long been a hot button topic for foodies and animal rights activists. The former believe that gavage — the common practice of force-feeding the ducks to fatten their livers — is not stress-inducing for the animals, and no more upsetting than the mass-production of pigs, poultry, and cattle. Animal rights activists disagree, and say the production of foie gras is akin to animal cruelty.

SEE ALSO: This Farm-To-Table Mecca Is The Best Restaurant In America

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Martha Stewart Checked Out This Wall Streeter's Striking $30 Million Westchester Estate

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Bedford Hills Compound

Martha Stewart may be growing tired of her 153-acre Cantitoe Corners estate in Bedford, N.Y., because according to the NY Post, she checked out another amazing Bedford estate belonging to financier Marvin Schwartz.

Schwartz is a managing director and portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman. His eclectic house, known as Twin Ponds, is on sale for $30 million.

The place is called Twin Ponds  because one of the ponds is under the house. The 6 bedroom, 3,600 square foot house sits on 21.7 acres of land and boasts floor to ceilings windows, but it's really the grounds that will take your breath away.

The pool and massive wine cellar aren't too shabby either.

Sally Slater at Douglas Elliman has the listing.







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I Quit My High-Paying Wall Street Job To Work At Chipotle

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vijay tava indian kitchenTwo years ago, Vijay Brihmadesam had a cushy finance job at a private equity firm in Palo Alto, Calif. 

But that all changed after Brihmadesam ran into Jason Pate, a former classmate at Duke University. The two happened to be on the same plane and struck up a conversation about their dissatisfaction with their jobs.

"The economy was bad at the time, so we were happy for our jobs in finance," Brihmadesam told Business Insider. "But we wanted to be doing more than the rat race of Wall Street and start contributing to the community in a way that felt meaningful to us." 

The friends came up with an idea to open a fast-casual restaurant with Indian food. When Brihmadesam got back to San Francisco, he got another friend, Hasnain Zhaidi, on board. 

"There was no cheap, convenient, place to get healthy Indian food at the time," Brihmadesam said. "I wanted to serve Indian food in a casual setting that was like what I ate growing up." 

Thus, the concept for Tava Indian Kitchen was born. 

But before launching into a completely new industry, Brihmadesam and his two friends decided they needed some on the ground experience.

 And so the trio applied to work at Chipotle.

They were hired on the assembly line and worked there for several weeks. 

"Chipotle is great because they took authentic Mexican food and made it accessible to the masses," Brihmadesam said. "I wanted Tava to do that for Indian food." 

Tava also implemented some of Chipotle's ethical sensibilities. It gets its produce from local sources and only serves hormone-free meat.

Brihmadesam's colleagues in finance didn't hold a grudge: his first investment came from Bob Gay, the co-founder Huntsman Gay, Brihmadesam's former emloyer.

By February 2012, the trio opened the first Tava Indian kitchen in Palo Alto. Six months later, they opened a second store in San Francisco.  

The restaurant has become wildly popular in the Bay Area and has received rave reviews from hundreds of people on Yelp

Today, Brihmadesam and his partners are working with on a plan to expand Tava. 

He says he's thrilled that he took a risk two years ago. 

"A chance encounter changed the path of my life," Brihmadesam said. "Taking the risk was scary, but I couldn't be more thrilled with my career today." 

SEE ALSO: YOU VOTED: The Best Fast Food In America >

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The 20 Best Airlines In The World

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Cathay Pacific Airways

With high fares, costly fees, and now the prospect of endless delays caused by sequester-mandated FAA budget cuts, flying economy is often a horror show.

But not all airlines are created equal, and some treat all their passengers very nicely.

To find the best of the best for flying at a reasonable cost, we devised a ranking system based on the two most important factors for a pleasant trip: An enjoyable experience in the plane, and timely departure and arrival.

We looked at dozens of major international airlines that fly long-haul routes.

We valued in-flight experience based on ratings for seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, cabin cleanliness and condition, quality of meals served, and service efficiency, from leading airline reviewer Skytrax.

Flightstats.com provided the on-time performance figures (from February 15 to April 15) for each airline.

We then averaged scores for in-flight experience and the on-time performance of the airlines equally to come up with an overall score. Ratings are out of 100 points.

20. Etihad Airways

In-Flight Experience: 80

On-Time Performance: 74

United Arab Emirates-based Etihad is barely ten years old, but it is growing rapidly: It said its profits tripled from $14 million in 2011 to $42 million last year.

Its has been named the World's Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards for the past four years.

In-flight experience score is an average of ratings for seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, cabin cleanliness and condition, quality of meals served, and service efficiency, provided by Skytrax.

On-time performance is for February 15 - April 15, and is provided by Flightstats.com.



19. Lufthansa

In-Flight Experience: 80

On-Time Performance: 75

With hubs in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich, Germany's Lufthansa is the largest airline in Europe.

To compete in today's tough airline industry, the carrier has improved its business class seating, but economy is still excellent.

In-flight experience score is an average of ratings for seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, cabin cleanliness and condition, quality of meals served, and service efficiency, provided by Skytrax.

On-time performance is for February 15 - April 15, and is provided by Flightstats.com.



18. Air Astana

In-Flight Experience: 74

On-Time Performance: 82

Air Astana is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and started commercial flights in 2002.

It may not top our list, but it did win "Best Airline in Central Asia and India" at the 2012 World Airline Awards.

In-flight experience score is an average of ratings for seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, cabin cleanliness and condition, quality of meals served, and service efficiency, provided by Skytrax.

On-time performance is for February 15 - April 15, and is provided by Flightstats.com.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Sam's Club Vs. Costco: Which Is The Best Wholesaler For Your Wallet?

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I’ve been trying to decide whether I should renew my membership to my local discount warehouse club.

Now that I no longer have kids in diapers (hallelujah!) and don’t have any plans to buy a flat-screen TV this year, I had to figure out whether my annual membership fee pays for itself in savings or not.

Curious to know where I might score the best deals, I hit the big ones near me: Costco WholesaleBJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club to see how they compare and what they can save a regular family of four.

Here’s how things shook out:

 

Sam's Club vs Costco vs BJ's Wholesale Club
Membership fees:$40 a year$55 a year$50 a year
Thomas’ English Muffins9-count, $2.9818-count, $5.4918-count, $8.88
WINNER  
Yellow onions10 pounds, $6.9810 pounds, $6.295 pounds, $5.49
WINNER  
Bananas3 pounds, $1.463 pounds, $1.393 pounds, $1.49
WINNER  
Jumbo sheet cake$20.98$17.99$19.99
WINNER  
The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Cheese (.75 ounce servings)22-count, $8.9828-count, $9.9922-count, $8.69
WINNER  
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts$1.88 per pound$2.99 per pound$2.59 per pound
WINNER  
Take-and-bake pizza$7.99 to $8.87$8.99$7.99
WINNER 
Sabra Garden Hummus32 ounces, $6.4832 ounces, $5.9930 ounces, $5.99
WINNER  
Organic milkPack of 3 half-gallons (1½ gallons total), $10.98Pack of 3 half-gallons (1½ gallons total), $10.992 gallons, $6.79
WINNER  
Milk (non-organic)1 gallon, $2.961 gallon, $2.691 gallon, $2.69
WINNER 
Go-Gurt (2.25-ounce servings)32-count, $7.8032-count, $7.8932-count, $7.99
WINNER  
Unsalted butter4 pounds, $8.294 pounds, $7.994 pounds, $7.99
WINNER 
Snapple Diet Iced Tea24 20-ounce bottles (variety pack), $16.3024 20-ounce bottles (variety pack), $16.9924 20-ounce bottles(variety pack), $16.99
WINNER  
CheeriosTwo 20-ounce boxes, $5.78Two 20-ounce boxes, $6.29Two 20-ounce boxes, $6.29
WINNER  
Skippy Creamy Peanut ButterTwo 40-ounce jars, $9.16Two 48-ounce jars, $10.99Two 48-ounce jars, $10.99
WINNER
Coffee (house brand)Member’s Mark Breakfast Blend, 2.5 pounds, $12.20Kirkland Signature Starbucks Bean Coffee, 2 pounds, $10.99Earth’s Pride Organics, 2 pounds, $10.99
WINNER  
Starbucks Coffee32 ounces, $18.9840 ounces, $19.9940 ounces, $21.99
WINNER  
Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore TunaEight 5-ounce cans, $11.72Eight 7-ounce cans, $14.39Six 5-ounce cans, $8.99
WINNER  
Iams Adult Large Breed Dog FoodNot available at my location50 pounds, $39.9950 pounds, $39.99
WINNER 
Frontline Plus for Dogs (three-month supply, small breed)$38.10$37.99Not available at my location
WINNER  
Glad ForceFlex 13-Gallon Kitchen Trash Bags120-pack, $13.46130-pack, $14.99130-pack, $14.99
WINNER  
Ziploc Sandwich Bags500-pack, $8.98500-pack, $8.99240 snack bags, 250 sandwich bags combo pack, $9.99
WINNER  
Tide Liquid Detergent (170 ounces)$19.54$19.95$19.99
WINNER  
All Free Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent225 ounces, $13.98195 ounces, $12.99225 ounces, $14.99
WINNER  
Store-Brand diapers (size 4)Simply Right Baby Bare, 200-count, $35.38Kirkland Supreme Diapers, 180-count, $38.99Berkley & Jester, 140-count, $22.99
WINNER  
Huggies Snug & Dry Plus Diapers (size 4)168-count, $38.10180-count, $38.99168-count, $38.99
WINNER  
Huggies Pull-Ups (size 4T/5T, boys)72-count, $27.6672-count, $29.9972-count, $29.99
WINNER  
Tampax Pearl Tampons96-count, $13.8896-count, $13.9996-count, $14.49
WINNER  
Duracell AA Batteries48-count $18.9840-count, $14.9940-count, $14.99
WINNER 

What else to consider:

Got Gas?

On the day of my visit, Costco members were paying $3.69 per gallon for gas. Down the street about 50 yards, regular gas at another station was $3.75, meaning Costco members were savings 6 cents per gallon. Assuming you fuel up approximately 15 gallons per week, 52 weeks a year, that’s $46.80 a year of savings in gas—and double that for a two-car household. So if you are fortunate enough to live near a warehouse club with a gas station (not all have this), this is a major plus for you.

Go Big and Go Home (Think TVs and More)

When it comes to electronics, it’s worth a visit to your warehouse. It often has better deals on bigger-ticket items like televisions or computers as well as savings on swing sets and other backyard or home furniture pieces.

Alcohol and Medication

At my Connecticut Costco, anyone over 21 is allowed to shop in the well-stocked, stand-alone liquor store; you don’t have to be a member. The law on this varies state by state, so check your local regulations. However, all membership stores throughout the United States have to provide access to prescription drugs without requiring a membership. Which is good to know since they do provide some of the lowest prices on medications.

Do You Need All That?

Another big question is whether you have the pantry room to store the bigger sizes that warehouse stores offer. Remember: With fresh grocery items, you have to use them, freeze them or risk losing them to spoilage.

Fancy Feasting

One couple I interviewed insisted the meat was better at Costco. Another steak lover said he swears by the cuts at Sam’s Club. BJ’s had more organic offerings in the store I visited than the other warehouse shops (as well as the cutest refrigerated dog treats!), and I have heard from quite a few local moms that Costco’s cakes are the jam. If you are choosing from more than one club near you, it’s worth doing a walk-around before choosing which one most appeals to you. You’re welcome to visit; you just won’t be able to shop unless you join.

Paper Goods

So I tried to compare the cost of paper towels (Bounty) and toilet paper (Charmin), but the level of complexity due to one- versus two-ply, number of sheets, number of rolls and thickness was insane. Insane, I tell you! I’m going to call this a draw based on sheer exhaustion and a lack of a Ph.D. in mathematics. Sorry.

The Final Analysis

BJ’s: 8 wins

Costco: 15 wins

Sam’s Club: 13 wins

I was surprised at how close the price differences were between the three membership clubs. We’re talking pennies, not dollars. So it makes the most sense to join the club most convenient to you, or that offers the extras you want. And don’t forget that though Costco won our contest, they also charge $5 more than BJ’s and $15 more than a Sam’s Club membership.

I also walked around a few grocery stores and other non-membership big-box stores for further comparison, and the membership clubs were cheaper on almost every single one of the items listed above.

The Verdict

If you’re going to be doing a good chunk of your grocery shopping at a membership store, it is worth it.

Save Even More

Sam’s Club: Today through April 28, Sam’s Club is opening its doors to the public in 600 locations across the country to offers savings to non-members as well. Sam’s will provide complimentary food and beverage samples from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you miss this opportunity, you can get a free one-day pass to Sam’s Club with this printable coupon. To find a Sam’s Club nearest you, click here.

Costco: Save 25% on your first purchase with a Costco TrueEarnings American Express Card and find other Costco coupons here.

BJ’s: Get more savings with BJ’s coupons.

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The 25 Most Expensive Tasting Menus On Earth

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l'arpege oeuf a la coque

One of the best ways for foodies to truly experience the world's best restaurants is by ordering a multi-course tasting menu.

But these carefully crafted and elaborate meals can easily cost upwards of $150 a head, not including wine, tax, or gratuity.

And that's a modest estimate. Most of the 26 restaurants on this list blow that cost out of the water, with prices ranging from $200 to over $600 per person.

These are the 25 most expensive tasting menus we could find, but if you know of another, tell us in the comments!

NOTE: We calculated the cost of a meal for two people, and included the price of a wine pairing where applicable. Unless otherwise indicated, the listed cost does not include gratuity or tax. Foreign prices were converted at today's conversion rates.

23. (TIE) The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, Calif.

$450 for two people; 9-10 courses (wine pairing additional $225 per person)

And you thought bespoke was just for clothes. The Restaurant at Meadowood caters to every guest's individual preferences so that the tasting menu perfectly reflects your tastes.

And even though the dishes may vary from night to night (or customer to customer), they are all guaranteed to be presented and cooked by chef Christopher Kostow and his team with impeccable attention to detail.



23. (TIE) Minibar by José Andrés, Washington, DC

$450 for two people; 25+ courses (wine pairings range from $75-$200 per person)

With over 20 courses, one might think the tasting menu at José Andrés's Minibar could get boring. But dishes like sweet BBQ eel cocooned in peppery cotton candy or "dragon's breath" frozen popcorn that causes steam to come out of the diner's mouth keeps things different and exciting.

And the finale dessert is worth waiting for — coconut milk ice cream, frozen peanut powder, and lemongrass-tamarind gelee.



23. (TIE) Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, Brooklyn, N.Y.

$450 for two people; 20+ courses

No jeans, sneakers, flip-flops, shorts, or short sleeved shirts are permitted at Brooklyn Fare, Brooklyn's only three Michelin-starred restaurant.

But the 18-seat space is worth the dress code with its 20+ elaborate, bite-sized courses of fresh seafood made and garnished right in front of you by Chef Cesar Ramirez and his team.



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11 Excellent Cities For Financial And Emotional Prosperity

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empty wallet sad face guyCredit card search site CardHub.com is out with its Best & Worst Cities for Wallet Wellness study, in which it features places where consumers aren't just financially fit but mentally fit as well.

"You’re obviously not going to feel your best if you can’t find a job or you get stuck in traffic for hours on end every day" explains Card Hub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou.

For that reason, Papadimitriou and his team rated* cites based not only income and cost of living, but factors that can cost consumers in other ways –– namely, transportation, commute times and stress levels. Almost every city on the list has a commute time of less than 15 minutes, but keep in mind we're talking about residents living within city limits.

*Annual income is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis 2011 data. Cost of living is based on the 2013 ACCRA Cost of Living Index, which measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services. Stress and transportation rankings based on the American Psychological Association data and information from the Center for Neighborhood Technology’s Housing and Transportation Affordability Index.

11. Detroit, Mich.

Average annual personal income: $40,009

Cost of living index: 97

Stress scale (1-10 scale): 5.1

Rate of annual job growth: 0.72%

The average commute time in Detroit is quite low at just 10.5 minutes, but transportation costs are high at 34% of annual income.



10. Atlanta, Ga.

Average annual personal income: $39,713

Cost of living index: 97

Stress scale (1-10 scale): 5

Rate of annual job growth: 2.28%

Atlanta's commute time is just under 13 minutes, and transportation costs make up a hefty 36% of annual income.



8. Cincinnati, Ohio (tie)

Average annual personal income: $40,918

Cost of living index: 89

Stress scale (1-10 scale): 4.7

Rate of annual job growth: -0.35%

Cincinnati's average commute time is one of the lowest at 10.7 minutes. Transportation costs account for close to 35% of residents' income.



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You're Already Rich –– Here's How To Keep It That Way

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WealthyMost people believe that striking it rich will instantly solve all their financial problems forever. Yet as rich people know all too well, it can be just as hard to hang onto your wealth as it was to earn it in the first place.

There are countless stories of lottery winners, high-paid professional athletes, and celebrities showing that the trip from rags to riches often proves to be a round-trip back to rags.

If you have aspirations to get rich in the future or are fortunate enough to already be well off, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming another rags-to-riches-to-rags story. It mostly boils down to protecting your money from five common fortune killers.

Challenge 1: Fight Off the IRS.

The threat: High-income individuals pay the highest rates on their income taxes. Moreover, after you die, the IRS will be waiting to collect their share from your heirs, with estate tax rates currently as high as 40 percent for those with assets worth more than $5.25 million.

The solution: Take advantage of tax-favored retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s to shelter income from tax. In addition, consult an estate-planning attorney who can help you structure your legal affairs to minimize the amount of estate tax you'll owe. A good pro can steer you toward a combination of current gifts and complex financial strategies that will get as much of your money as possible to your loved ones.

Challenge 2: Steer Clear of Legal Liabilities and Fortune Hunters.

The threat: The richer you are, the more you have to lose from a potential lawsuit. Simple incidents like car accidents or household slips and falls can turn into a search for a target with deep pockets.

The solution: Be sure that you have adequate insurance coverage to handle the full extent of any damage award. At a minimum, be sure your auto policy gives you more than the legal minimum coverage for your state, and look at your homeowners' policy limits to make sure they're adequate. In addition, consider an umbrella liability policy to cover additional extraordinary claims.

Challenge 3: Don't Be Tempted by Exotic Investments.

The threat: Rich people often get access to high-risk investments that offer the promise of even greater wealth. All too often, though, these investment opportunities turn out to be overhyped or even fraudulent, resulting in big losses.

The solution: Trying to get richer is a hard habit to break, even for the wealthy. But if you have enough money to meet all your needs, it doesn't pay to take big risks with your portfolio. Rein in your risk-taking and give yourself a core of safe investments that will provide for your financial needs. If you have money left over and can afford to lose it, then dabbling in high-risk opportunities can let you stay excited about your investments without putting your lifestyle in jeopardy.

Challenge 4: Pay Off Those IOUs.

The threat: The way many people get wealthy is by borrowing money cheaply and making a bigger profit on it. Yet rather than paying down their debt once they strike it rich, successful people often keep using the same strategies to find even more wealth, taking out loans on their newly acquired assets and putting their entire fortunes at risk.

The solution: Reorganizing your finances once you're well off is essential to avoid losing everything you've gained. By paying down debt and establishing a baseline of wealth below which even the worst-case scenarios won't take you, you'll avoid the trap of using too much leverage and suffering big losses as a result.

Challenge 5: Plan to Live Forever -- or at Least to Stick Around for a Long While.

The threat: With life expectancies longer than ever and medical costs skyrocketing, even the well-off can outlive their money and end up spending all their assets on nursing homes and hospital care in their old age. Even the more basic living expenses often rise after you retire, and if you overspend early in retirement, you can end up in a downward spiral and run out of money.

The solution: A combination of strategies can help you preserve at least a baseline of income no matter what the future brings. Long-term care insurance specifically addresses nursing-home and home-health care costs, while buying an immediate annuity converts a lump sum of wealth into regular monthly income that's guaranteed to last the rest of your life.

Don't Blow It

As hard as it is to get rich, staying rich is no easier. But by taking these simple steps, you'll put yourself in the best position to hang onto your wealth as long as you can.

SEE ALSO: 21 clever uses for household items >

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The True Cost Of Buying A Super-Luxury Home Around The World

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Buying and selling expensive properties can be extremely expensive.

Just how bad it gets in major cities was analyzed more thoroughly than ever before in a report by property developers Candy & Candy, Deutsche Bank and real-estate brokers Savills.

In London for instance, stamp duty land tax and legal fees will cost the buyer an average of 7.1% on top of what they're already paying for the luxury property. The seller would also take a hit in the UK for getting the pricey home off their hands thanks to 0.6% in legal and agency fees, totaling on average over $90,000.

In NYC, it's the seller who eats it, paying an average of $1.15 million on taxes and fees for a $15.5 million dollar home, while the buyer pays less than $220,000.

And this doesn't even take into account what you'd be paying each year in property tax.

Moral of the story: Know the true price of your home before you commit to that penthouse.

Check out more in the infographic:

Candy GPS Report expensive homes infographic

SEE ALSO: Monaco Penthouse Concept Could Hit The Market For $280 Million

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Zsa Zsa Gabor's $14.9 Million Mansion Is Back On The Market

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Zsa Zsa Gabor Bel Air Mansion

The 96-year-old actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and her ninth husband Prince Frédéric van Anhalt have had quite the real-estate year.

First they found a buyer for their Bel Air mansion and the property went into escrow.

Then a judge decreed earlier this month that the couple — behind in their mortgage payments — could stay in the home for three more years or until Gabor's death, Reuters reported.

Now, it seems the property is back on the market, for $14.9 million through Rodeo Realty, according to celebrity real estate blog The Real Estalker.

The couple had recently turned to renting out the place as a film set to help pay for Gabor's medical costs. The 8,900-square-foot property appears in "Argo" and "Behind The Candelabra," an upcoming HBO film about Liberace, according to Reuters.

Zsa Zsa Gabor has lived in this Bel Air mansion for the last 40 years.

Source: IMDb



Gabor has hosted Ronald Reagan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Queen Elizabeth in this home.

Source: Rodeo Realty



It has 8,878 square feet of space.

Source: Rodeo Realty



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Scientists Spent Weeks In The Desert Pretending They Were On Mars

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8640525885_078573744f_b

The San Rafael Swell in central Utah is a massive dome of layered rocks, surrounded by a Delaware-sized maze of deep canyons and multi-colored cliffs.

More than a decade ago, Robert Zubrin, author of "The Case for Mars," whom we spoke to over the phone, recognized the potential of this environment — and several others around the globe — to serve as a testing ground for manned Mars missions.

[See photos of the Mars Desert Research Station]

Aside from an interstate that slices through the scenic landscape, this patch of desert sits virtually untouched.

The region's terrain and remoteness makes it one of the best analogs for Mars that exists on Earth.

Zubrin founded the Mars Society in 1998, of which he is currently president, and built two simulated Mars exploration stations — one in the Canadian Arctic and one in Utah. The Arctic location is more "Mars-like," but has taken a backseat to Utah's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), where it is less expensive to live and conduct experiments.

For two weeks at a time, a six-person team composed of scientists and students cuts ties with civilization to don bulky spacesuits, zip around on all-terrain vehicles, and collect rock samples.

The idea is for team members to operate as if they were really bopping around the Red Planet, from the clothes they would be required to wear outside of their spacecraft to the foods they would eat.

This is a dress rehearsal for sending humans to Mars, Zubrin told Business Insider, quickly brushing off the suggestion that it sounds an "awful lot like space camp with fancier equipment." 

"It's not that at all," he said.

This is not space camp

In 2004, Jack Jones, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory worked with Zubrin on a solar-heated balloon designed to land on Mars. Although the space agency decided not to fund the project, Jones described Zubrin as an "extremely enthusiastic, creative, and talented engineer."

As for Zubrin's latest project, the Mars research station "sounds like a fantastic simulation of an actual manned Mars planetary mission," Jones told Business Insider.   

Zubrin, 61, grew up during a period when America's leadership was engaged in a fierce competition to dominate space exploration.   

"I was 17 when we landed on the moon, and if anyone had told me then that I'd be 61 and we'd have not landed on Mars — or even that people were not going to the Moon anymore — I would have thought they were nuts," said Zubrin. "We were on the brink of opening up space, and we just stopped."

Several companies are now betting on sending the first humans to Mars by the end of the century. Recent space initiatives like NASA's Mars Curiosity rover and plans to mine an asteroid have opened the door to a new era of deep space projects.

The case for Mars

People don't need to visit Mars. Then again, Christopher Columbus didn't have to risk his life to sail across the ocean in search of new land. But he did, and our global perspective expanded because of it.

Mars Desert Research Station

Humans are naturally curious. By exploring space, we not only fulfill an innate human desire, we also help society evolve by gaining information about the diversity of life in the universe.

Plus, Earth won't be around forever. If we challenge ourselves now, then "200 years from now there will be branches of a new civilization on Mars," said Zubrin.

A dry run for Mars

Beyond safety, staying true to the simulation has been Zubrin's main priority since he commanded the very first desert Mars crew about 10 years ago.

That means crew members cannot step outside of their cylindrical "space habitat" without the proper gear and air supply packs; they must repair their own equipment; handle fieldwork and lab work; grow their own food; and communicate with remote science teams.

"My main thing is figuring out how to conduct an effective field exploration while handling all constraints you would find on Mars," he said. "If you could get a really valuable sample by taking off the glove, I would say 'no, we'll come back tomorrow with the right tool to gather the sample with our space glove on.'"

It's about answering all the "what ifs?" that might pop up in a foreign and likely hostile environment.

For example, what are the most useful pieces of field equipment? An enclosed SUV that offers protection against the elements, or an open vehicle that requires the driver to wear a spacesuit, but provides the flexibility of being able to reach down and pick up a sample? And, do you put the whole crew on one rotation or on watches so they are up at different times?

Each team goes for two weeks at a time and sets their own goals. Some teams are less concerned about mastering the art of human space exploration; they would rather break character for the sake of science.

"Those are two different methods," said Zubrin. "If one team needed to stray from the simulation in order to test ground-penetrating radar, for example, they would do it."

The human challenge

Isolation, boredom, decreased activity, and lack of sleep are all concerns in sending astronauts on an exploration of deep space. 

A 520-day simulated Mars mission conducted between 2010 and 2011 by Russian scientists found that being cooped up for that long made the six-man crew sleepy, slow, and grumpy— not good traits for astronauts.

NASA, too, has long claimed that the most formidable challenge humans would face on Mars would be isolation and boredom.

That's a complete mistake, says Zubrin. If you look at human history, there are plenty of instances where people were far more isolated than they will be on a trip to Mars. 

NASA's finding was largely based on human factor studies of U.S. Navy enlisted men on a base in Antarctica.

"Those guys were bored," said Zubrin. "They didn't want to be there. They wanted to be in San Diego where they can go out on the pier on Friday night and pick up girls."

Test runs at Mars Society's research station in the Arctic, on the other hand, have found that overwork, not boredom, is the key challenge.

The Arctic team was primarily composed of scientists who were very driven. These researchers had waited a long time to be placed in this environment to do their research. They were so overzealous that they had to be ordered to stop working at night. 

The Mars mission is "not about sitting in a room playing chess waiting for your 500 days to be up," said Zubrin.

The perfect crew

Mars Desert Research Station

The reality is that a Mars mission would take at least two and a half years, not a brief two weeks in the remote desert.  

If the desert research station was playing by those rules, however, then the base would have been home to just four crews in the last decade, as opposed to 127.  

Zubrin argues that if the goal is make general inferences about how humans interact with each other under trying circumstances, then you need larger numbers of people. Otherwise, the data could be seriously skewed based on who was picked for the crew. 

There are plenty of instances, he said, where a person performed well in one crew and bad in another.

To get involved, individuals or groups, typically from a university or foreign country, can respond to an annual open call for volunteers.

Although the society provides food, housing, and equipment, accepted applicants will have to shell out $1,000, while students pay $500.

Explorers have come in all different shapes and sizes: all men crews, all women, all Austrian, all American, mixed international, young crews, and old crews. The purpose is to find the ideal combination of age, race, skill, and personality types to make up the first human team that blasts off to Mars. 

Zubrin acknowledges that MDRS is not the final word in Mars research. It should be supplemented by insights and studies from organizations, like NASA. 

Based on that information, Zubrin believes the next step would be to pick four very promising crews based on different principles.   

It then becomes a game of survival of the fittest — placing crews under the most Mars-like environment for at least one year and enforcing the most Mars-like rules.

The team that performs the best, is the the crew you would want to send to Mars.

SEE ALSO: What America Will Look Like Under 25 Feet Of Seawater

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This Is How Seriously The French Take A Baguette Competition

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Two hundred and three Parisian bakers entered the Best Baguette of Paris 2013 competition. Wrapped in white paper with identification numbers, the entries were tasted, sniffed, weighed, and measured to determine the winner.

Fifty two entries were disqualified for not meeting the strict guidelines of measuring 55-70 centimeters long or weighing 250-300 grams.

The baguette is a cultural symbol of Paris, so it's no surprise they take their baked bread very seriously.

This year's winner was baker Ridha Khadher. His prize: The privilege of baking bread for the French President, François Hollande.

See pictures from the competition below.

Baguette Competition 2013

 

Baguette Competition 2013

 

Baguette Competition 2013

 

Baguette Competition 2013

SEE ALSO: The 25 Most Expensive Tasting Menus On Earth

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Professional Celebrity Impersonators From Around The Globe

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Elvis impersonator

On Tuesday, charges were dropped against professional Elvis impersonator Paul Kevin Curtis after he was falsely accused of sending letters containing "a suspicious granular substance" called ricin to President Obama, a senator and a judge.

The bizarre news story brought a sometimes-forgotten profession into the forefront of people's minds: celebrity impersonators.

From Elvis and Michael Jackson to Kate Middleton and Brad Pitt, many make their living simply because they resemble a famous face.

Elvis Presley impersonator Jesse Garon performs in Las Vegas.

 


Dads del Rosario and Joseph Tuazon get ready in a bathroom in the Philippines before an Elvis impersonation contest to mark the 30th anniversary of the singer's death.

 
 


Singer Grahame Patrick performs dressed as Elvis during a show in Berlin.



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Air Travelers Shouldn't Stop Whining About The Pains Of Flying

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flight delays airport security

THERE IS no doubt that air travel is cheaper and safer than it was decades ago. But some of us, particularly on this and similar blogs, continue to complain.

Boarding is chaotic and takes too long. Airport security is a mess. There are too many delays. Add-on fees are annoying. Et cetera.

Matt Yglesias, Slate's "Moneybox" columnist, has had enough of everyone's whining. He makes the case that "flying is safer, cheaper, and better than ever", and "luggage fees are great":

"American commercial passenger aviation is pretty amazing. It’s time for the flying public to cut the airlines some slack and show a little appreciation."

Mr Yglesias's column is a response to a series of posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) by James Fallows at the Atlantic. But it does not acknowledge the fact that it's possible to celebrate the improvements in air travel while also pushing for more.

There is celebration of air travel. The travel press gives airlines credit where due, and although no array of statistics will comfort nervous flyers, American airlines' impressive safety record over the past decade has received a lot of attention. Similarly, nothing is going to stop people from whining about shelling out a few hundred bucks for an airline ticket, but the fact that more and more are buying suggests that there's some public understanding of how cheap air travel has become. And things like Louis CK's famous routine about the baseline greatness of flying through the air at extreme speeds helped spread the gospel of air travel, too.

Air travellers complain about airlines because their gripes are often effective at forcing improvements in service. In recent years, their complaints have resulted in a new FAA rule that all but eliminated long tarmac delays. Passenger frustration with bag fees keeps Southwest's no-bag fee policy viable. The best way to get an airline to apologise and compensate you for bad service is to take your complaint to a journalist like Mr. Fallows, who has a national audience.

Air travellers know they aren't going to be able to force the entire industry and its associated regulatory bodies to change overnight. But lots of complaining can help force small changes that can make a big difference. Old people do not have to take off their shoes at airport security. Kevin Drum may soon be able to bring his pocket knife on board. Airlines have to be less deceptive about their marketing practices.

Whiny air travellers know that they have it pretty good. They just want things to be a bit better. It's a reasonable request.

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How North Koreans Celebrate The Lives Of Their Leaders

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North_Korea Reportage Wolf_Nitschke www.wolfnitschke.com 0421As the current North Korean crisis unfolds, I am reminded of a feeling I got when I visited the DPRK during the “100th birthday” celebration of Kim Il Sung.

It is a feeling of being stuck in an ever-climatic plot, with no beginning or resolution. Yet in times when the ever-watchful state does look away, one can see glimpses of hope and change. The best way to explain what I mean is via two stories:

The first story is about theatre,
the other is about a song.

Upon entering North Korea, a giant stage is revealed for visitors. Whatever you do, you are constantly observed and followed by two guides. They control you, the people around you and importantly, they also control each other. They know when you wake up, they know when you go to sleep — and they make sure you know that they know.

Take a tour of life in North Korea >

When I was there, I focused my camera on the totalitarianism of the place. A socially "perfect" environment, clean and controlled, North Korean children both intelligent and artistic — that's what they want you to see. However, most striking of all is the emptiness of spaces, the darkness at night, and the artificiality of everyone and everything you encounter. All this adds to the overall feeling of being on a giant movie set, filled with background actors, while you, as the visitor, are the star of the show. Everything is guided and directed by an invisible Director — there is no room for improvisation.

And even though the scenes that unfold have no script, the people you are allowed to see all behave in accordance to a way of thinking — acting out a story with a perpetual climax yet no ending, a plot based on war that is long gone. Whereas we, outside of Korea, only see glimpses of the climax flare up every now and again, people in North Korea are forced to remain in a wartime climax, stuck in 1953.

With the "Juche" philosophy and the bashing of American-Japanese Imperialism, repeated to you on every occasion, you slowly start to not only understand, but to comprehend the immensity that is North Korea’s propaganda. How impossible rational thought is, when as a North Korean, you are being told the same thing over and over and over again. Your whole life.

The most absurd scene, one that is almost "Malcovichian," occurred during a walk through the mountains near the "International Friendship Exhibition" halls of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung (these halls in themselves were quite remarkable, filled with absurd gifts from world leaders and business men — gifts ranging from German Kuckuck’s clocks to stuffed alligators carrying plates with wine glasses).

As we were walking through the woods, we encountered what can be described as "spontaneous" celebrations and singing in the forest. Our guide excitedly explained to us, that this is proof that on the "Great Leaders’ birthday" people would celebrate not only in the cities, but also in the forests.

Certainly. They also compliantly started to dance every time I pointed the camera at them, stopping only when you stopped aiming. This then turned into a bit of a game — up, dance, down, no dance. For a short period of time I became Craig the puppeteer in "Being John Malcovich." The theatre obeyed me, it became “interactive." But then I stopped, and realized that what I was doing was actually incredibly unfair to these poor people, and that in fact, for a short period, I became the regime’s director of theatre.

But the most mind-boggling and unexpected thing happened as we were climbing up a beautiful mountain, within a beautiful forest, embedded within an unspoiled nature reserve. We were alone with our main guide Mr. Park (name changed). The other guide had to stay back to guard the bus and Mr. Park, it seemed, realized his new found "freedom" from state observation, if only for a few minutes.

At that moment he decided to open himself up a little to us, and to express himself almost freely. With an almost perfect American accent, although retaining a distinct Korean slant, he started to sing his very own favorite song:

Frank Sinatra’s “My Way."

I barely comprehended what was happening when it started, but as the seconds passed I noticed the irony growing as he sang the lyrics pertaining to freedom and individuality.

In that sense, North Korea not only told me about its absurd terror state, but also about the dreams of its people, even if I only saw glimmers of it.

And when I returned home, I also understood what freedom and self-expression meant. What it means to be able to decide what to do next and to be able to say the things you want. The moment I touched-down outside of the DPRK, I was, dare I say, rather euphoric.

A tram drives by the lit Monument to the Foundation of the Worker's Party. Other parts of the city are pitch black.



Kim Il Sung had a soft spot for the arts, and thus included a brush with hammer and sickle. Bushes are lit by fairy lights at night, which adds to the overall feel of artificiality.



Kim II Sung Square at night. The principal place where parades, political events, mass demonstrations and meetings take place.



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10 Of The World's Best Parks For Enjoying Spring Weather

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Park Guell_Business Insider

If you’re backpacking, or on a leisurely vacation, chances are you want to experience the destination in all its glory.

Often the first places that enthused travelers are itching to check out are historical monuments, museums, clubs, bars, and restaurants.

However, there is one destination that is truly underrated: parks.  

All across Europe and the U.S. breathtaking parks are open to the public. Visiting these parks allows one to experience serene, natural, beauty and provides an idyllic getaway to the craziness that sometimes consumes traveling and exploring.

Vondelpark, Amsterdam

If you’re looking for outdoorthings to do in Amsterdam, there’s nothing like grabbing a bottle of wine and some snacks for a visit to Vondelpark, the biggest park in the city where you can experience live music and theater performances on the weekend.

This park features lakes, wildlife, and rose gardens away from the canals and restaurants.



Park Güell, Barcelona

One park in particular that is both inspiring, as well as an adequate exercise is Park Güell in Gracia, Barcelona.

Get a unique, art-fix here while adventuring through the windey trails you will encounter various Gaudi designed statues, foundations, sculptures, pillars, and of course the famous gingerbread houses that bring you back to your childhood memories of playing Candy land.



The High Line, New York City

Considered an educational hotspot, with its nature and art tours, The High Line park in New York was once an old, abandoned railroad track.

Today however, it has been transformed with lush grasses, trees, flowers, and bushes, additionally, the original railroad tracks have been incorporated into the design.

The concrete slants and various artist booths alongside extravagant plants and trees is a unique experience you can’t pass up.

The High Line starts at Washington Street and Gansevoort Street, and 10th Avenue at W. 14th Street in New York City.



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McDonald's Is Entertaining The Idea Of All-Day Breakfast

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mcdonald's fast food breakfast

Is McDonald’s about to offer all-day breakfast, borrowing a page from Denny’s, Jack in the Box, and IHOP?

Could be.

The question is getting some big buzz because McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson said he’s entertaining the idea.

And, well, when this mega restaurant chain is involved, it’s also because there are a lot of people out there who might like to order a McMuffin or a Sausage Burrito at noon or at dinner time.

But for those who might be salivating at the thought, don't hold your breath.

Mr. Thompson, the company’s chief executive officer, didn’t bring the topic up on his own. It came up when he was asked during a CNBC interview Friday:

“Yes we would consider it,” was his reply.

He followed up by saying the company needs to focus on making the most of its existing menu, that it offers all-day breakfast in some global markets, and that it’s looking into “innovative” ways of expanding breakfast hours.

So all-day breakfast is on the company's radar. But it’s been that way for some years now.

Marketing blogger Joseph Yi, at RewardMe.com, recently explained why it might not be in McDonald’s best interest to make pancakes and other items available all day: “The Law of Scarcity states that when a person perceives that something ... they want is in limited quantity [then] the value of the object will be greater than if it were to be abundant.”

Maybe McDonald's could sell more Egg McMuffins by offering them all day, Mr. Yi says. But in the process, it might lose some cachet as the go-to place in the realm of hot fast-food breakfasts. It would give customers less reason to visit a restaurant by 10:30 a.m. (or 11 a.m. in some places).

That doesn’t mean McDonald’s won’t make the all-day plunge. But it may explain why it hasn’t happened yet, and why Thompson didn’t answer the question with a simple “yes” or “I’m lovin’ it.”

Thompson did say the company is trying to be faster on its feet regarding business opportunities.

The company reported a rise in earnings for the latest quarter, but weak revenue growth disappointed investors.

At the company’s innovation center near Chicago, Thompson said “we socialize” ideas that are emerging from markets all around the world. Those include everything from menu options to delivery methods and how to use things like mobile apps and social media to connect with customers.

Globally, breakfast items are a big opportunity.

In a recent conference call with investment analysts, Thompson pledged to “feature even more compelling new products in the United States especially in our four key growth categories of chicken, premium beef, breakfast and beverages.”

He cited breakfast item Egg White Delight, as well as premium McWraps and a Blue Berry Pomegranate Smoothie, as promising menu additions.

Thompson dropped another intriguing hint: He said offering home or workplace delivery is a "big, big opportunity."

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22 Amazing Destinations You Can See With Google Street Views

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google street view great barrier reef

WHOA, this week you have the least money in your bank account that you’ve ever had. You can literally only afford three things at the 99¢ Store.

That trip you’d been thinking about is so far down the horizon, you can barely make it out.

To top that off, your passport expired three months ago, you have a whopping credit card bill, and you need to pay a parking ticket. You are eternally trapped here, but through the power of The Internet you can make a fake escape.

Google Street View is like a momentary free vacation (if you go full screen). You can even explore regions that’d be inaccessible even if you did have some money (but aren’t a member of the 1%.) Street View recently added hard-to-reach destinations you can use to simulate hiking Everest, exploring Arctic territory, and adventuring through the radiation-laced streets of Fukushima.

More from Matador Network:

Antarctica: See those tuxedo birds up close.

See Antarctica here >



Great Barrier Reef, Australia: The sea turtles are everywhere, and you can still breathe oxygen.

See the Great Barrier Reef here >



Fukushima, Japan: Discover the post-nuclear-meltdown abandoned towns in northern Japan while avoiding radiation.

See Fukushima here >



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The 10 Most Socially Advanced Countries In The World

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The Social Progress Index is a new metric that measures progress through fulfillment of basic human needs rather than traditional indicators of economic growth.

social progressThe index, designed by a team led by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, ranks countries on social and environmental measures that underline wellbeing and opportunity.

“The Social Progress Index shows that countries with similar levels of GDP can have very different levels of social progress,” Michael Green, Executive Director of the Social Progress Imperativesaid.

One example: The U.S. leads OECD nations in total spending per capita on health care, but ranks only 11th of the 16 OECD countries in the Social Progress Index on health and wellness.

10) You can excel in Spain (if you can find a job)

Social Progress Index: 10th

Spain ranked 5th in Air, Water, And Sanitation but 27th in Shelter and 41st in Ecosystem Sustainability.

The country shined in regards to Opportunity, where it ranked 6th overall, 4th in Access to Higher Education, and 3rd in Equity and Inclusion.

The big issue for Spain is that 57.2% of under-25s are out of work, which means that frustrated youths are leaving in droves. 

 

 


9) France is above-average all around

Social Progress Index: 9th

France ranked 7th in Air, Water, And Sanitation but 14th in Shelter and 36th in Ecosystem Sustainability.

The country has middling ranks for Opportunity, where it ranked 11th overall. It ranks 8th for Personal Freedom and Choice and 11th for Personal Rights, but 15th for Equity and Inclusion and 14th in Access to Higher Education.

France's social policy lurched forward this week when the country legalized gay marriage after a harsh debate.



8) The Japanese feel safe and sheltered

Social Progress Index: 8th

Japan ranked 1st in Shelter and 4th in Personal Safety, but lagged in Air, Water, and Sanitation (10th), Nutrition (12th), and Health and Wellness (10th). It also ranked 40th in Ecosystem Sustainability.

The country performs well in Personal Rights, where it ranked 8th, but ranked 26th in Personal Freedom and Choice, 20th in Equity and Inclusion, and 15th in Access to Higher Education.



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