The most common treatments for cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery can be used to remove cancer from the body. The doctor may also remove all or part of the body part where cancer is affected. In breast cancer, part (or all) of the breasts can be removed. In prostate cancer, the prostate gland can be removed. Do not use surgery for all types of cancer. For example, medications are the most effective treatment for leukemia-like leukemia.

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to destroy cancer cells or slow their spread. Some chemotherapy treatments are given intravenously (intravenously with a needle), while other birth control pills are given. Chemotherapy drugs can reach almost every part of the body and are suitable for spreading cancer.

Radiation is also used to destroy cancer cells or slow their reproduction. This treatment may be used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is like taking an x-ray. Treatment is sometimes given by placing a "seed in cancer" to apply radiation.

Whatey helped me back out to see the big picture. The answer to my questions made me make a good decision. I did what I wanted to do and what I needed. I didn't do things that make me feel good, not what others thought would make me feel good. Kevin, cancer survivor.

Types of cancer treatment
What treatment is right for me?

Cancer treatment depends on what is good for you. Some types of cancer respond better to surgery, while others respond better to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Knowing which type of cancer you have is the first step in knowing which treatment will be best for you.

The stage of cancer will also help your doctor determine the most appropriate treatment for you. Stage III or IV cancers respond better to treatments that treat the entire body, such as chemotherapy.

Your health and preferred treatment play a role in the decision making process for cancer treatment. Not all treatments are appropriate for your cancer. So ask for your options. In addition, treatments have side effects. Therefore, ask what to expect from each treatment.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. You have the right to know which treatments are most appropriate and what are the side effects.
The words of cancer that you may hear

These are the words you can hear from the cancer treatment team.

Benign / benign: a non-cancerous tumor

Biopsy: Take a piece of tissue to see if it contains cancerous cells

Cancer: the word that describes more than 100 diseases in which cells multiply or have a tumor

Chemotherapy: Use of drugs that treat the disease. This word often refers to the use of drugs to treat cancer. Sometimes it can be shortened to "chemo .."

Malignant / malignant: cancerous

Malignant tumor / malignant tumor: cancer cells reach the distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or blood circulation

Oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer patients

Radiation therapy: the use of high-energy rays such as X-rays to treat cancer

Stage: The word that indicates whether cancer has progressed, and if so, the degree of progression
How can I learn more about cancer?

If you have any questions about cancer or are having difficulty finding resources in your area, please contact Neolife Medical Center.

Cancer screening is important for early diagnosis of cancer

Diagnosis of cancer in the first stage usually provides the best chance for recovery. With this in mind, talk to your doctor about several types of cancer, studies have shown that screening tests can save cancer early and save lives. Screening tests for other types of cancer is only recommended for high-risk patients.

Many health organizations and patient support groups have cancer screening recommendations and advice. You can check various guidelines with your doctor and determine the best method for you according to the cancer risk factors that apply to you.
Cancer screening

Cancer screening is important for early diagnosis of cancer.
Cancer diagnosis:

Your doctor may use one or more methods to diagnose cancer.

    Physical examination. Your doctor may examine different areas of the body to look for lumps that may indicate a tumor. During a physical examination, your doctor may look for abnormalities that indicate the presence of cancer, such as discoloration of the skin or growth of an organ.
    Laboratory tests: Laboratory tests, such as urine and blood tests, can help your doctor determine the anomalies that can be caused by cancer. For example, in patients with leukemia, a commonly used blood test, also known as a complete blood count, may reveal an unusual number or type of white blood cell.
    Imaging tests. Imaging tests allow your doctor to examine your bones and internal organs non-surgically. Imaging tests used to diagnose cancer; computerized tomography (CT), bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scan, ultrasound, x-rays and other methods.
    During the biopsy, the doctor will collect samples of your cells for examination in the laboratory. There are several methods of sampling. The procedure for your biopsy depends on the type and location of the cancer. In most cases, biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer.

In the laboratory, doctors examine cell samples under a microscope. Regular cells appear uniform and show similar size and regular structure. Cancer cells appear less uniform, vary in size, and do not show a specific structure.
Stages of cancer:

Once the cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will try to determine the stage of the cancer. Your doctor uses the stage of cancer to determine treatment options and your chance to recover.

Staging tests and procedures may include imaging tests such as bone and x-ray examination to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

The stages of cancer are usually indicated in Roman numerals - from the first to the fourth - and the higher numbers indicate more advanced cancers. In some cases, the stage of cancer appears using letters or words.
The cancer that suits you.

Could a Self-funded Benefits Plan be Right for You?

In today’s business climate, employers need benefits solutions as resourceful and cutting-edge as the organizations they run. Companies of all sizes are looking to mold their plans around the requirements of their businesses, and pre-packaged, fully-insured health plans might not be providing the greatest value.

There are many reasons employers might want to forgo a traditional plan system.

Small and mid-sized employers might want to avoid risk charges and state premium taxes.
Large employers may want to administer their benefits plans themselves and grow their cash flow by holding reserves in an interest-bearing account.
Multi-state employers might want to free themselves from the burden of complying with the insurance regulations of multiple states.
Employers of young, healthy workforces may be looking to capitalize on their advantages by saving on health insurance.
Because each business is unique and requires its own set of insurance solutions, diversity in benefits plans is needed. And for many employers, self-funding could be a better option.

Here’s a quick example from one Raffa Financial client:



Fully-Insured Renewal:                                 $ 887,257

Partial Self-Insured Projected Cost:          $ 684,927

Partial Self-Insured Actual Cost:                $ 558,056



The worst case scenario would have saved the client over $200,000. In actuality, they ended up saving $329,000!

Now that’s one happy client.

Self-funding Advantages
A self-funded group health plan is one in which the employer eliminates obligations to a health plan provider by assuming the financial risk for providing health care benefits directly to its employees.

While experienced, successful business managers are experts at mitigating risks, many will gladly take on risk exposure if the probability is good for a high payout. There are numerous well-documented advantages to self-funding for employers that manage risk well, including:

Reduced insurance overhead costs. Carriers assess a risk charge for insured policies, but self-insurance removes this charge.
Reduced state premium taxes. Self-insured programs, unlike insured policies, are not subject to state premium taxes. The premium tax savings is about 2 to 3 percent of the premium dollar value.
Avoidance of state-mandated benefits. Self-insured plans are exempt from state insurance laws, subject only to ERISA compliance.
Choosing benefits services à la carte.
Flexibility in plan designs, administration and offered services.
Customizable stop-loss insurance to reduce the risk associated with high claims.
Improved cash flow. Self-insured employers do not have to pre-pay for coverage, and claims are paid as they become due.
Additional cash flow if reserves are held in an interest-bearing account.
Complete Customization
One of the greatest assets offered by self-funding is the complete freedom to structure benefits according to needs of your company. Employers can choose what benefits they want to offer, while opting to insure individual benefits through traditional means or forgo offering them altogether.

The following benefits may be self-insured:

Health care (indemnity, PPO, POS and HMO)
Dental
Short-term disability
Prescription drugs
Vision care
Employers can also make the final call on important variables, such as:

Eligibility
Exclusions
Cost-sharing
Policy limits
Retiree benefits
Most advantageous to employers worried about the potential for large claims is the ability to acquire stopgap insurance, allowing managers to determine their total amount of yearly costs with 100 percent certainty.

At Raffa, we know certainty is hard to come by these days. If you’re looking for ways to find more of it, get in touch. We’ll help you evaluate your current plan designs and map out a plan to keep (or get) you moving in the right direction.



We help clients identify organizational challenges, create big picture strategies, and put customized solutions in place. If you’re looking for a corporate employee benefits consultant who is a true business partner, Raffa is here for you.

Learn About Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents

Protecting intellectual property has become one of the most important practices in today's business world. To this effect, the United States has a robust system for the legal safeguarding of ideas and creativity. The principal options available for intellectual property protection are copyrights, trademarks and patents.

Copyright

All works of intellectual property have an inherent principle of copyright by virtue of authorship, but registration gives a legal and documentary basis to protect the expression of original works. The Copyright Act of 1976 directs the Library of Congress to administer the U.S. Copyright Office, which is a massive registrar of original works such as writings, video and audio recordings, drawings, multimedia productions and many others. Through registration, the copyright holder has the right to reproduce, display, perform, and distribute original works.

Trademark

The unique source of goods and services can be properly identified and distinguished by special names, words or symbols registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In essence, this agency provides a way to legally protect a brand and to prevent others from appropriating the goods, services and branding of other entities. Trademarks also offer protection against the use of words, names or symbols maliciously designed to be strikingly similar to those used by competitors. In recent years, the importance of trademarks has been underscored by an increasing wave of organized counterfeiting around the world.

Patent

Individuals and business entities can enjoy exclusive rights to their inventions for a period of 20 years through registration in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Patents can be obtained through an application process that includes an exhaustive search of all other registrations. Holders of patents are granted property rights over their projects, which means that they can legally impede others from trying to capitalize by means of using, manufacturing, implementing, importing, and otherwise selling the inventions. Patents do not necessarily have to be invented in the U.S.; the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will accept applications for inventions that were conceived abroad through a process of importation. The rights granted by a patent registration can only be enforced in the U.S. and its territories.

What Is Civil Court?

Most courts in the United States are either civil or criminal. In criminal courts, people who have been accused of breaking a law are tried. Civil courts are where a plaintiff may sue a defendant. The manner in which a civil matter is tried, and the punishments that may result, is quite different from what happens in a criminal court.

Types of Civil Cases

In a civil suit, a plaintiff sues an individual or entity that they believe has harmed them. This could be a matter in family court like a divorce or custody hearing. It may also be an eviction or a matter where one person sues another because of injuries sustained in a car accident. Bankruptcy cases and lawsuits against debtors are also heard in civil court. Groups or individuals who believe that their civil rights have been violated may also sue in civil court.

How Is a Civil Case Won?

Most people are familiar with the term, "beyond a reasonable doubt." However, that is a criminal court concept. Civil courts are concerned with a "preponderance of the evidence." Essentially, it is up to each of the plaintiff and the defendant to prove that they have the stronger case through the presentation of evidence. Just because the plaintiff brings the suit does not guarantee victory. Decisions in civil court are made based solely on the evidence.

Possible Civil Court Outcomes

Unlike in criminal court where a guilty verdict likely means going to jail, the outcomes of civil matters are quite different. In civil lawsuits, the plaintiff asks for a form of relief, which may be either monetary or equitable.

Monetary relief is asked for when a cash award can repair the damage suffered by the plaintiff. Monetary relief may include back pay for an employee who was wrongfully terminated. Another form of monetary relief is called compensatory damages. This is money paid to address non-economic harm like a damaged reputation or emotional distress. Punitive damages, designed to punish the defendant, may also be ordered. In many cases, the plaintiff may also ask that the defendant pay their attorney's fees.

Equitable relief concerns asking the other party to either perform an act or to refrain from performing an act. Being granted equitable relief may mean that the other party must abide by the terms of a contract. Usually, equitable relief is granted only when monetary relief is inadequate compensation.

Why do policemen touch a tail light when they pull you over?

People often wonder why police officers touch the tail light of a vehicle when they are pulled over. This practice sprang from the risk that police officers are exposed to when on the road to implement traffic laws.

In general, police officers touch the tail light of the vehicles in order to leave their fingerprints on it. This is to secure proof that the officer did approached the vehicle. In case the officer finds himself in a dangerous situation while pulling over the subject vehicle, fingerprint evidence would prove that he was present in the scene and that evidence will lead investigators to the vehicle and to the owner thereof. This safety precaution has been practiced by police officers in the country for decades.

Another reason for this practice is to provide initial shock or surprise to the person inside the vehicle. This is done in order for the driver of the vehicle or for any passenger inside the vehicle to prevent from hiding malicious or prohibited items, such as guns, ammunition, drugs, and others in the vehicle. The continuous practice of this surprise tactic proved to increase the arrest of intoxicated drivers, sellers of prohibited substances, people found in possession of unlicensed firearms, and other road related offenses.

However, there were instances that proved that the practice of touching the tail light of vehicles put our police officers in a risky situation. This is because this practice exposes the police officers' position making them susceptible to attack.

At present, due to the advent of new technology that aids our law enforcers in the maintenance of peace and order in the society, the practice of touching the tail light of vehicles by police officers was set aside. Also, due to the rampant crimes that happens on the road, our police officers have been exposed to greater danger than in the past decades.

In lieu of this practice, our law enforcers, instead, modernized and adopted innovative technology in implementing traffic rules. Now, we have security cameras installed on almost every corner of the road and on police cars themselves.

source: https://thelawdictionary.org/article/why-do-policemen-touch-a-tail-light-when-they-pull-you-over/

How to Write an Affidavit

Affidavits are prevalent in law, business, finance, and more. They can be used in situations such as child support claims in court, to affirm your authority to act for a corporation, or to confirm your identity.

Despite their widespread, frequent use, many of us don’t know what an Affidavit is, how they are used, or how to write one. In this post, we dive into the purpose of Affidavits and provide a simple guide on how to write one for your situation.

What is an Affidavit?

An Affidavit, sometimes called a sworn statement, is a statement of facts written under oath. They’re written by someone who has knowledge that something is true and are often provided as evidence to support some type of assertion.

For instance, an Affidavit could:

• Detail an event (like if you were sexually harassed by a coworker) that you wish to submit as evidence for a court case
• Establish your right to an inheritance
• Verify your residential address
• Formally record financial aspects of your business
• Confirm you served (or were served) with legal documents

Statutory Declarations are similar to Affidavits in that they outline facts for a certain institution (like a bank) but are often used for matters outside of court (for example, if you need to provide a statement for your immigration visa application).

How Do You Write an Affidavit?

Although there isn’t just one way to write an Affidavit, they are commonly styled and structured in the same manner.

In many instances, Affidavits are like stories told from your perspective. They use “I” statements and full sentences to outline facts, such as “I worked for this company for four years”.

Your statement will often begin with a brief background about yourself and the reasons you are creating your Affidavit.

For example, if you are writing an Affidavit to support your claim for alimony, pertinent background information would be how long you were married, how long you and your spouse lived together, your age, what you do for work, and other similar details depending on your relationship.

After your background information, you lay out the important facts in chronological order. A good approach is to include one fact per paragraph. This will make it easier to discuss a particular section, if and when you’re required to.

The number of facts you include is based on your situation.

For example, if you are simply confirming your identity, you probably won’t need four pages of facts. On the other hand, an Affidavit relating to child custody might require multiple pages of information.

If you have additional proof of your situation (like a bank statement or an email), you can include it as an exhibit, which is affixed to the end of your document just like an appendix.

After your Affidavit is written, depending on your jurisdiction and the purpose of your Affidavit, your document is commissioned or notarized and then ready to use or file.

What If Someone Lies in Their Affidavit?

You could be wondering, if Affidavits rely on someone submitting personal knowledge as true facts, what stops someone from lying?

Submitting false facts under oath is perjury and could result in financial penalties and even jail time.

A prominent example of perjury is when rapper Lil’ Kim, as a witness to a gunfight, lied about who was involved in the situation. Once security footage determined she lied about what she saw, she was sentenced to one year in jail and asked to pay a $50,000 fine.

As you can see, there are consequences to lying in your Affidavit, so it’s important to be truthful in order to avoid fines or conviction.

Writing Your Affidavit for Your Situation

Now that you have a grasp of what an Affidavit is and how they are written, you’re ready to create yours.

Remember, no two Affidavits will look the same, so just make sure yours contains all the information it needs for your situation. If you’re unsure if you’ve written your document properly, be sure to get it reviewed by a local attorney.

How to Purchase a Cemetery Plot

It’s not something we like to think about, but when the times comes to purchase a cemetery plot it’s best to be as informed as possible.

From the types of plots you can choose from, to the costs associated with burial sites, we’ll take you through some of the basics of purchasing a cemetery plot in this post.

How Much Does a Cemetery Plot Cost?

The base cost of a cemetery plot can vary widely from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the location of the cemetery and available space, as well as how the remains will be buried (such as in a crypt, mausoleum, or columbarium).

Extra costs, like grave liners for caskets and receptacles for cremated remains, should also be factored into the overall cost of the plot.

Types of Cemetery Plots

There are several different types of burial plots available to you when planning a funeral depending on you and your family’s preferences and budget.

A single-depth burial space is meant for one person, and can be marked with either a flat or upright grave marker depending on your preference and the cemetery’s rules.

A double-depth burial space is used for two people, such as married couples or siblings.

A family lot is used for multiple people, and the amount of spaces needed can be customized depending on your needs and what the cemetery has available.

A lawn crypt is similar to a single- or double-depth burial site (where it is designed for one or two individuals) but the casket or caskets are encased inside a concrete (or another material such as steel, bronze, or marble) grave liner.

A mausoleum crypt is usually found under a church or other building, but can also be a separate building in a cemetery. A mausoleum crypt can be designed to accommodate a single-depth burial for one casket, a side-by-side burial for two caskets, or a family burial for multiple caskets.

A columbarium is a wall structure that has space to store the remains of multiple people. Because the space for each plot in a columbarium is limited, it generally houses cremated remains only.

A private estate is also offered by some cemeteries, and is a private space reserved for one family. A private estate can consist of multiple burial sites within an area, or a designated building designed to the family’s specifications.

Veteran Cemeteries

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides burial benefits for veterans at no cost to their family. The benefits include a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a burial site at one of the department’s 135 national cemeteries. Veterans can also choose to be buried in a private cemetery.

Additional costs for burial sites

Depending on the cemetery and your state’s laws, you may need to consider additional costs beyond the price of the plot itself.

For instance, most cemeteries require that you purchase a grave liner if a casket will be placed in the ground. A grave liner can be made of various materials (such as concrete or metal) and cost between $700 to over $10,000. Some cemeteries may even give discounts if multiple plots are purchased at one time.

Since there are a multitude of different options for burials, it’s important that you research each one carefully, and consult the cemetery of your choice to see if they can accommodate what you are looking for.

Can I Pre-Purchase a Burial Plot?

Although the thought of purchasing a cemetery plot for yourself can seem a little macabre, it can lessen the burden on your loved ones later on.

Cemetery plots can be pre-purchased at most American cemeteries and included in your or your family’s funeral plans.

Tt may be wise to pre-purchase a burial plot, especially if you wish to be buried in a specific cemetery. As an example, Ed Koch, a former mayor of New York City, pre-purchased a grave for himself at the Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan as prices for plots are on the rise due to the shrinking amount of available space.

If you’re considering pre-purchasing a cemetery plot, remember to include all the additional fees and costs that may come with it when calculating the final purchase price.

How Long Do You Have Your Burial Site for?

In the United States, once you have purchased a burial site it is yours indefinitely. However, some states have stipulations that say if the site doesn’t see any activity for a significant amount of then it can be reclaimed by the cemetery. However, the laws for each state and jurisdiction can vary.

As an example, a Florida statute states that if the owner of a burial site (which would be the remaining family) fails to provide the cemetery with a current residence address for a period of 50 consecutive years, and the cemetery is unable to contact the burial site owner(s) by certified letter mail, then they can begin the legal process of reclaiming the site.

Buying a Burial Plot

Cemetery plots have a plethora of purchasing options that can seem overwhelming, but nonetheless, considering your burial preferences is an important part of a family or individual’s estate plan. Awareness of the costs associated with burial will help you and your family prepare for the future.

8 Screening Questions for Potential Tenants

The application and screening process for tenants is important for landlords because it allows them to find ideal renters. An ideal tenant is typically someone who has a steady income, pays rent on time, and is respectful of the property and other tenants. The last thing a landlord needs is a tenant who causes trouble in one way or another.

One of the best ways to screen tenants is to have them fill out a Rental Application. This can act as a preliminary qualifier before you interview them. It should be noted that you are not required to formally interview tenants. You can accept their application, show them the property, and allow them to move in if they meet all your requirements. However, landlords can benefit from being more thorough.

In this post, we’ll discuss questions you can ask that will allow you to weed out unsuitable tenants, as well as questions that could get you into some legal hot water.

Good Questions to Ask Prospective Tenants

Regardless of how many stages are in your vetting process, these are some questions that you can ask on a Rental Application or in an interview with potential tenants:

1. Why are you leaving your current residence?
2. When do you plan on moving in?
3. What is your monthly income?
4. Can you pay move-in costs once you’ve signed the lease?
5. Can you provide references from your employer/previous landlord(s)?
6. Will you agree to a background and credit check?
7. How many people will be living in the unit?
8. Do you have pets? Do you want them in the future?

These questions cover the applicant’s income, ability to pay rent, and some basic information, and they also give you access to other vetting avenues. For instance, the reference check from employers or past landlords will likely give you the most insight into what kind of person the applicant is.

Other great avenues for you as a landlord are the credit and background checks, which will show you if the tenant is good at paying bills and if they’ve ever been convicted of a crime. Keep in mind, you can’t ban a tenant from housing based on them being convicted of a crime, except for sex offenses, arson, and the manufacturing and/or distribution of illegal drugs.

Questions You Can’t Ask Potential Tenants

It’s also important to discuss the kinds of question you can’t ask potential tenants. These are mostly questions that discriminate against specific people. It’s a good idea to review them because the last thing you want is a fair housing violation that leads to a lawsuit.

Essentially you can’t ask anything that violates the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act keeps protected classes from discrimination when it comes to housing, which means you can’t bar a prospective tenant’s application based on certain characteristics.

These characteristics include:

• Race
• National origin
• Skin color
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status (e.g. married or single tenants, tenants with or without children)
• Disability

You might have noticed that sexual orientation and gender are not part of these characteristics. This is because technically sexual orientation and gender are not protected under the FHA. However, in 2012, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued the Equal Access Rule which expanded protections for these two categories under the law’s “sex” protections. The rule frames the protection under discrimination based on gender nonconformity and discrimination in the form of sexual harassment.

Some states, cities, and counties have laws that include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes, so it’s best to review the laws specific to your property’s location. Additional information can also be found on HUD’s LBGT Housing Discrimination page.

Fair Housing and Fair Screening

As a landlord, you want the best tenants, and the best way to find them is to use the exact same screening process for every single tenant you’re in contact with. What tends to get landlords in trouble is changing up their processes and questions for particular people; that opens them up to liability and fair housing violations.

If you can stick to the same list of questions for everyone and avoid questions that violate fair housing protections, you should have no trouble finding upstanding tenants while ensuring you aren’t asking anything that could be considered discriminatory.

link:http://blog.lawdepot.com/8-screening-questions-for-potential-tenants/

How Do I Write an Executive Summary for a Business Plan?

Creating a Business Plan is a fundamental step when starting a business of any size. When you’re looking for investors to help finance your business, it’s very likely that they’ll ask to see your proposal so they can determine whether they can trust you to provide them with a return on their investment.

Typically, the front page of your Business Plan should be an executive summary, which is essentially a detailed table of contents and elevator pitch for your plan. Investors tend to be busy professionals, so you need to hook them by describing the benefits of investing in your business as concisely as possible.

Below, we’ll discuss the main things you should include in the executive summary of your Business Plan and ask some questions to help get you started.

If you’re looking for advice on writing a full Business Plan, have a look at our Top Six Tips for Writing a Business Plan to help make yours the most captivating.

What Should Be Included in an Executive Summary?

You should break your executive summary into sections. Create succinct, easily understood headers that are relevant to each topic or section in your Business Plan and write three or four clear sentences with pertinent information.

A good strategy is to think like your investor. Consider a few questions that you’d want the answers to if you were the one investing and base the content in each section on those answers.

The headers should match up with the sections in your business proposal, which will likely include:

1. Company goals: Think about what your company can realistically achieve. What do you want to accomplish in the next 12 months? In the next 5 years? What are your sales forecasts?
2. Timeline for achieving those goals: Show you’re a visionary and a realist. When will planning be complete? When will you hire employees? When will your product or service be available for sale? If you’re a brick-and-mortar establishment, when will you open your doors?
3. Personal information: Describe yourself as a business owner. Do you have experience in your industry? What are your qualifications? Why should you, and not someone else, run this business? What’s the company structure?
4. Product and/or service information: Sell the investor on what you anticipate to be your bestseller(s). What separates this product/service from your competitors? If it’s a unique product/service, how will you garner interest and awareness? Do you have plans to develop new products/services to stay relevant a few years down the line?
5. Your customers: Demonstrate you’ve conducted consumer research. Who is your target customer? How will you reach them? How will you advertise to them?
6. SWOT analysis: Show that you’ve done a thorough competitor and market analysis. What are your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? What’s your competition like? How are you planning to out-perform your competitors?
7. Capital requirements: Demonstrate financial competency. How much have you invested? How much do you need to borrow? Where is the money going? How will you pay it back?

Pitch the Positives of Your Plan

The aim of the executive summary in your Business Plan is to hook an investor. As long as you can highlight the best aspects of your plan and present them in a concise manner, it’s likely that your reader will take the time to evaluate your plan in full.

You don’t have to exaggerate or lie in your summary to overshadow any risks. Just whittle it down to the gems, and let your plan speak for itself.

link:http://blog.lawdepot.com/write-executive-summary-for-business-plan/

Hand Sanitizers Boost Wellness, Productivity at Work

Hand sanitizers have become trendy since last year's swine flu scare, and dispensers pumping them out have cropped up everywhere from airports and office buildings to restaurants and stores.

But new research has taken the sanitizer craze a step further, claiming that the alcohol-based variety can improve on-the-job productivity and reduce the number of days employees are out sick.

A research team from Germany led by Nils-Olaf Hubner found that absenteeism among public administrations due to colds, fever and coughs dropped dramatically when hand sanitizers were used by staff.

The authors of the study, published in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases, looked at the data on sick days and health symptoms for 129 participants. Subjects were divided into two groups, with those in the control group told to keep up their usual hand-washing rituals and those in the other group instructed to use hand sanitizer at least five times during the workday.

The researchers urged those given the disinfectant to use it liberally -- particularly after activities likely to expose them to germs.

"Our study found that hand disinfection reduced the number of episodes of illness for the majority of the investigated symptoms," Hubner wrote, according to a bulletin about the research.

Researchers saw fewer symptoms of common illnesses even during periods when participants weren't out sick. They surmised that those results translated into a rise in at-work productivity and wellness.

Hubner did not respond to AOL Health's requests for comment.

Prior studies have documented the positive effects of hand sanitizers in hospitals, child care centers and other public places where bacterial infections and viruses thrive.

But the disinfectants' link to employees' health in the workplace and their performance on the job hadn't previously been examined.

"Hand disinfection can easily be introduced and maintained as part of the daily hand hygiene, acting as an interesting and cost-efficient method of improving workforce health and effectiveness." Hubner concluded.

11 Ways to Pick Out Healthy Food

Although VitaminWater sounds healthy (and it says so on the label), a federal judge recently begged to differ. The drink doesn’t meet the FDA standard for labeling, he ruled.

It’s a common ploy. You can walk down any grocery store aisle and be bombarded with "all natural" and "immunity boosting" claims touted on boxes, bags, and bottles.

With so many enthusiastic labels shouting out to you, how can you tell which packages are healthy and which ones are nutritional nightmares? Here's how to break down the nutritional information and ingredient list for 11 common food buys.Most cereals are similar in serving size and calories but differ in fiber and sugar content, says American Dietetic Association spokesperson, Keri Gans, RD.

Buy those with at least 5 grams of fiber per serving and less than 12 grams of sugar per serving. The only way sugar in cereal is good for you is if it comes from dried fruit, and not in the form of high fructose corn syrup, molasses, or honey, Gans says.

In general, the fewer the ingredients the better (for example, shredded wheat is usually just that). Stay as close to 5% of your age group’s recommended daily allowance (RDA) of sodium as possible, and definitely don’t consume more than 20% with your cereal.Look for bread with no more than 100 calories and 150 milligrams of sodium per slice, and at least 3 grams of fiber (which rules out white bread).

And not all wheat bread is healthy. "Just because something says it might have whole-wheat flour in it doesn’t mean it’s 100% whole wheat," says Gans. Instead, look for breads that say, "100% whole grains."

And it’s worthwhile to read the ingredient list. Whole wheat, oats, or other whole grains should be the first ingredient, as opposed to refined flours. If whole-wheat flour is listed first and followed by other flours, that bread will be lower in fiber. Limit molasses and other sweeteners too.

Snack bars

Pay attention to the protein content, along with the calories, fat, sugar, and fiber, in these portable noshes. The best buys have at least 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, less than 10 grams of sugar, and no more than 200 calories, if it’s a snack.

It can contain 300 calories if it’s a meal, says Gans, and 8 to 10 grams of protein is fine, but 20 grams is probably too much. Limit yourself to about 10 grams of total fat, and no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, but also check where the fat is coming from. "Nuts are the best source of fat in a snack bar," Gans says.

Microwave meals

Even low-cal options can contain more than 30% of your daily sodium. “You need to compare brand to brand, because most frozen dinners are going to have more salt than they should,” Gans says. “Look for the ones with the smallest percentage of daily value.”

Also, fat and calorie content is an issue with these meals. They can include unsaturated fats from olive oil and salmon but not saturated fat from cream or butter. Also aim for less than 500 calories. And since this is a meal, make sure you have 10 grams of protein or more per serving.

But bear in mind that you’re probably not going to get enough veggies from a frozen dinner, so enjoy a side salad too.

Just 5 Minutes Outside Boosts Mental Health

A new study published in the American Chemical Society's "Environmental Science & Technology" says just five minutes of "green exercise," such as a walk in a park, working in a backyard garden or hiking on a nature trail will benefit your mental health.

Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Environment and Society and Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex in Colchester, England, define green exercise as "physical activity in the presence of nature." Previous studies have shown that outdoor activities decrease the risk of mental illness and improve self-esteem, but until now, there were no specifics on how much time you should spend with nature to reap these rewards.

The authors analyzed 1,252 people of different ages, genders and mental health statuses, during activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming. Results showed that, although everyone benefitted in some way from the green space, the greatest health changes occurred in the young and mentally ill participants.

"So we believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with green exercise," Barton said.

Pretty also noted that all natural environments were beneficial, but green areas with water seemed even better for health. Overall, the study showed that the largest positive effect on self-esteem came from a five-minute dose.

"We know from the literature that short-term mental health improvements are protective of long-term health benefits," Pretty said.

Significant Number of Dads Experience Postpartum Depression

The after-baby blues aren't just a mom phenomenon. Turns out, dads also get postpartum depression, the Journal of the American Medical Association is reporting.

About 10 percent of fathers feel depressed either before their babies are born or after, with rates peaking in the three-to-six-month postpartum period, according to an analysis of previous research published in the mental-health-themed May 19 issue of JAMA.

Researchers call the findings significant.

"There are many implications of these findings," the authors write. "The observation that expecting and new fathers disproportionately experience depression suggests that more efforts should be made to improve screening and referral, particularly in light of the mounting evidence that early paternal depression may have substantial emotional, behavioral and developmental effects on children."

The report's co-authors, James F. Paulson, Ph.D., and Sharnail D. Bazemore, M.S., of the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, conducted a meta-analysis to measure rates of paternal prenatal and postpartum depression, as well as its link to mothers' postpartum sadness.

Researchers included studies documenting depression in dads between the first trimester of pregnancy and the first year after the baby's birth, identifying 28,400 participants from 43 different surveys to take into account for their own article.

They estimated that the overall rate of paternal depression was 10.4 percent, compared with a 4.8 percent rate of depression in the course of one year among the general population.

There was also marked variety in the timing of fathers' baby-related depression, with the highest rate, 25.6 percent, occurring three to six months after birth and the lowest rate, 7.7 percent, happening in the first three months after birth.

American Schoolchildren Smoking Less, But Tobacco Use Decline Is Losing Steam

The number of middle and high school children who use tobacco products has dropped since 2000, but the decline has been slowing down in recent years, says a CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report calls for laws that require more impacting health warnings on tobacco packaging and advertisements, as well as greater funding for anti-tobacco programs.

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) informs that tobacco consumption is still the single leading preventable cause of death and disease in America. Over four-fifths of all regular adult smokers started smoking before they became adults.

CDC analyzed data from NYTS (National Youth Tobacco Survey) for the period 2000-2009. NYTS is a school-based survey which gathers data on tobacco use and related behaviors and attitudes among middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (9-12) pupils. The 22,679 study participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires annually from 2000 to 2009.

Number of Women Without Children Reaches All Time High

The number of American women without children has risen to an all-time high of 1 in 5, a jump since the 1970s when 1 in 10 women ended their childbearing years without having a baby, according to the Pew Research Center.

About 1.9 million women aged 40-44 -- or 18 percent -- were childless in 2008, an 80 percent increase since 1976, when just 580,000 -- 10 percent of those in that age bracket -- had never given birth, the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey shows.

Childlessness has increased across racial and ethnic groups and most education levels, but has dropped among women with advanced degrees in the past decade, according to the research.

Part of the reason for the rise in the number of childless women is an overall pattern toward delaying marriage and having kids, the research showed. Experts say that a drop in societal pressure to be a parent is also responsible for the trend, along with an increase in career opportunities and an improvement in birth control options and effectiveness.

"People put off getting pregnant," said women's health expert Dr. Laura Corio, a member of AOL Health's Medical Advisory Board. "Even when they're married they're putting off getting pregnant. Then they wake up one day and they're 40 and they want to have a child. It's like, hello?"

Explanations for the trend vary, but for some, the reason behind delaying parenting is a simple joie de vivre.

"They're freer. People are enjoying their lives: they're traveling, shopping, eating out," Corio told AOL Health. "Putting a baby into the situation is going to change everything."

Though the most educated women are still among those most likely to never give birth, there was a 31 percent decline in those aged 40-44 with master's, doctoral or professional degrees who had not had babies between 1994 and 2008, when 24 percent of women in that category were childless.

The data represents combined statistics from 2006 and 2008 (referred to as 2008 in the study) and from 1992 and 1994 (referred to as 1994).

White women remain the most likely not to have had a child, but the childless rates have grown more quickly for blacks, Hispanics and Asians over the past decade, according to the figures.

Never-married women still had the highest incidence of childlessness, though those rates also have declined over the past 10 years. By comparison, the childless rates have increased for those who are married or were at one time -- referred to as the "ever-marrieds."

"A lot of women can't find someone, or they're very picky or very educated," Corio said. "Contraception is also better. A lot of pregnancies in the past may have been accidents where they decided to keep the baby. It's also money -- they think, we're not in the financial situation [to have children]."

Among the women aged 40 to 44 without children, the number of those who didn't want to have children equaled the number of those who did but weren't able to conceive, according to figures from the National Survey of Family Growth.

In 2003, about 6 percent of women in that age group were voluntarily childless, 6 percent were involuntarily childless and 2 percent didn't have children but wanted them in the future.

Along with the population changes have come shifts in attitude, with public opinion showing more acceptance of women without children, Pew Research reported. Most adults -- 59 percent in 2002 -- said they disagree with the statement that people who don't have kids "lead empty lives," compared to only 39 percent who didn't agree with the statement in 1988.

Similarly, a 2007 Pew survey showed that 41 percent of adults believe children are important for a successful marriage, down from 65 percent who expressed the same views in 1990.

About 46 percent of people said the trend has no bearing on society, according to a 2009 Pew survey, but 38 percent said it was bad for society -- up from 29 percent in 2007.

9 Reasons Not to Ignore GERD Symptoms

For most Americans, heartburn is just an occasional problem. Sixty million people get it at least once a month.But for the 19 million people who have a chronic form of heartburn known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), untreated symptoms can lead to a variety of health complications.If you experience frequent or extended heartburn (twice a week on a regular basis), see your doctor. Here are nine reasons why you shouldn’t ignore signs of GERD.

It's estimated that 60 to 70 million people in the U.S. are affected by a digestive disease. While that includes everything from chronic constipation to inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis, research shows that acid reflux is the most commonly diagnosed of all. And whether it's due to a physiological reason or the fact that women are more diligent about visiting the doctor, women are diagnosed with GI conditions—including acid reflux—more often than men.

The proper name for acid reflux is gastroesophageal reflux (GER). GER happens when your stomach's contents move back up toward your esophagus, causing an array of uncomfortable symptoms. It's extremely common for anyone to experience this on occasion, according to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. But if it happens regularly—more than twice a week for a few weeks—it could be a sign that you have a chronic condition called GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD affects 20 percent of the U.S. population. It's caused by a malfunction in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is supposed to close after allowing food to pass through to the stomach, but when it doesn't, stomach acid can flow back up where it's not supposed to be. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus, including precancerous changes, or lead to respiratory problems like pneumonia, laryngitis, and asthma, so it's important to get treated.

Though some people are most at risk—pregnant women, smokers, and those who are overweight or obese—acid reflux and GERD can happen to anyone. Here are the most common signs to look out for.

Live Healthy, Live Longer

Making just a few changes in your lifestyle can help you live longer. A recent study found that four bad behaviors—smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not exercising, and not eating enough fruits and veggies—can hustle you into an early grave, and, in effect, age you by as many as 12 years. Fortunately, you can do something to correct these and other unhealthy behaviors. Adopt the following nine habits to keep your body looking and feeling young.If you want to live to 100, leaving a little bit of food on your plate may be a good idea. Author Dan Buettner, who studies longevity around the world, found that the oldest Japanese people stop eating when they are feeling only about 80% full. St. Louis University researchers have confirmed that eating less helps you age slower; in a 2008 study they found that limiting calories lowered production of T3, a thyroid hormone that slows metabolism—and speeds up the aging process.Too much time in front of the boob tube can take a serious toll on your health. In fact, a 2010 study found that people who watched four or more hours a day were 46% more likely to die from any cause than people who watched less than two hours a day. Even cutting back a little can help; each additional hour you watch increases your overall risk of dying by 11% and dying from heart disease by 18%.

Dancing With the Stars: The Workout

Most of us weren't born with the flexibility of an Olympic gymnast—and that includes ABC's Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke. "I am not one of those girls who can just land in a split," says Cheryl, 28. "I need to warm up to be flexible." Before you launch into a dance workout, Burke recommends doing this eight-minute warm-up routine, which stretches and strengthens the muscles surrounding the hips, thighs, and ankles. Three days a week, begin with two minutes of jumping jacks and dive into these moves. DWTS-style heels—strictly optional!Benefit: Strengthens and stretches thighs, hips and glutes How to do it: Stand with feet a bit wider than hip-width, toes turned out. With hands on hips and back straight, lower butt toward ground until you feel a stretch in thighs. Pulse, moving ever so slightly up and down, for 10 counts. Rest for 30 to 60 seconds; repeat.Benefit: Stretches and strengthens feet and ankles How to do it: Extend right leg, point toes and "write" the entire alphabet in lowercase letters, using right leg as the "pen." Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat alphabet using uppercase letters and a larger range of motion. Repeat with left leg.

8 Recipes for a Healthy Taco Night

Before you roll up your sleeves and dive into these tasty taco-night recipes, you have an important decision to make: hard taco shells, or soft? For soft tacos, wrap 24 corn tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and microwave for one minute and 30 seconds. To make hard shells, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Loosely fold tortillas in half and overlap on a baking sheet. Bake until just crisp, 8 to 12 minutes.Ingredients: Ground turkey, tomatoes, onion, chipotle chiles, ground cumin, fresh oregano, olive oil, salt, pepper Calories: 185