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Advisers Help navigate Course to Retirement

(NAPSI)-Most people never would consider installing a new transmission in their car by themselves. They don't have the time or skills, so they hire a mechanic for peace of mind. Many of today's investors take the same approach to investing and get expert advice from an experienced financial adviser.

The 77 million Americans who are preparing to enter retirement want to ensure their savings won't run out. The average investor, however, doesn't understand market fluctuations or complex financial products. Studies show that those who seek the advice of a financial adviser are more confident about their financial futures. But how do you find the right person for the job?

1. Identify your needs. Whether you need assistance with retirement planning or saving for your children's education, you should define your financial objectives before you begin your search for an adviser.
2. Ask friends, family and co-workers to make recommendations. Your financial adviser should be someone you trust - you're putting your hard-earned money in their hands.
3. Interview at least three advisers before making the final selection.

During the interview process, there are many factors to consider. Look for an adviser who has extensive experience in multiple areas, including investments, insurance and retirement planning. You also will want to inquire about the adviser's licensing - he or she should have a Series 6 or 7 registration in good standing. You can check an adviser's record by contacting the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) at 800-289-9999.

Once you've confirmed that the adviser has a good track record, it's time to delve deeper into his or her personality. A good adviser will consider all aspects of your financial situation and design a customized plan to help you achieve your goals. He or she will provide the same level of service to all clients, regardless of how much they invest. It's also critical that your adviser's "investment philosophy" is consistent with your own. For example, an adviser who favors risky strategies is not a good match for a conservative investor.

If you're ready to take control of your financial future, the representatives at National Planning Corp., Member NASD/SIPC and a Registered Investment Adviser, can help design a comprehensive solution to meet your retirement needs. To find a representative, call 888-711-6721 ext. 7816, or visit www.natplan.com and click on Investors.

Battling Identity Theft

(NAPSI)-Identity theft is a growing problem that consumers no longer can afford to ignore.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2003, consumers in the United States alone lost $5 billion to identity theft while the problem cost businesses a whopping $48 billion. On average, people who experienced identity theft that year had to spend $1,495 and 607 hours to resolve their cases.

The federal government is taking decisive steps, including enactment of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, which requires retailers to properly dispose of and destroy sensitive consumer data.

While this is a positive step, what if there was a way in which consumers and merchants could help prevent identity theft from happening in the first place?

Research by the FTC indicates that identity thefts increasingly are fueled by customer information found in the trash.

One simple way for independent merchants to rectify the trash issue is to automate their point of sale with software technology such as that from Microsoft Corp.

Retailers who choose technology wisely can offer their customers some peace of mind by helping to prevent highly confidential and potentially damaging information from getting into the wrong hands.

By using software technology, account numbers associated with credit and debit cards never need to be committed to paper. Instead, the computer system manages the transaction, masking the data associated with the transaction so full credit card information is more secure.

By automating the point of sale, retailers also are able to help control which employees have access to customer information, and customer data can be deleted once a specified period has passed.

While the benefit for customers is clear, there are considerable advantages for the retailer. As the experience of many independent merchants proves, automating at the point of sale also helps improve other areas of customer service and saves time and money - all of which, of course, are good for business.

Point-of-sale software technology certainly is not the only solution to the growing problem of identity theft, but it can help small merchants offer greater peace of mind to their customers.

More information on point-of-sale-specific technology can be found at www.microsoft.com/pos.

Find Relief from Headache Pain

(NAPSI)-Millions of people may be relieved to learn their chronic headaches can be cured by specially trained dentists.

"By far the most common causes of headaches are dysfunctions of the muscles and joints of the head, face and neck," according to New Jersey-based Ira Klemons, DDS, PhD, president, American Board of Craniofacial Pain and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

About one in four Americans suffers with these conditions, which can cause headaches, migraines, pain in the eye, ear or face, dizziness, or ringing in the ears. Some become depressed as a result.

Many researchers believe that most craniofacial pain is caused by trauma, such as a fall, sports injury or an automobile accident. But because the pain sometimes develops long after the accident, it's often hard to tell the cause. It can be so difficult to diagnose that some people battle these headaches for years, or even most of their lives.

That's one reason diagnosing and treating craniofacial pain requires a specially trained dentist or a physician with advanced training in dealing with joints and muscles.

Fortunately, a growing number of dentists have gained specialized training in diagnosing and treating headaches and facial pain and have demonstrated success rates of more than 90 percent because of their significant experience resolving problems with head and face muscles and joints.

Many of these dentists belong to the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, which recently conducted a nationwide survey and discovered:

• More than half of headache sufferers report adverse effects on their work, family and social lives as a direct result of their headaches.
• Among those taking prescription drugs for their headaches, narcotic analgesics are most common (45 percent), with 88 percent of prescription users also taking OTC medications for headache. People with the most frequent headaches are twice as likely as less frequent sufferers to combat their problem with prescription drugs.
• People with chronic headaches are so severely affected that they would be willing to pay more than twice their income for a cure.
• More women than men and more adults than children are treated for craniofacial pain but it can happen to anyone.

Treatment commonly employs painless procedures that help stimulate muscles and joints to heal and function normally.

To learn more or to find a list of healthcare professionals trained in treating headaches and facial pain, visit www.aacfp.org.

Ninety percent of headache and facial pain sufferers can obtain relief from specially trained dentists.

Maggie's Laundry Room Madness

You've got the laundry room questions, she's got the answers. Don't throw that stained shirt or garment away before checking with our "Domestic Diva," Maggie. In months ahead, she'll continue to answer as many reader questions as possible. If you have a question for Maggie, you can e-mail her at comments@alliancels.com.

Dear Maggie,

One word - chocolate. My girlfriend's Valentine's Day gift was a large box of chocolates. I love the sweet treats, but I noticed a couple chocolate stains on my favorite dress shirt. Any ideas on how to attack them?

Rich,
Omaha, Neb.

Dear Rich,

Next time give your girlfriend the box of chocolates and let her deal with the stains. To get the stains out of your favorite dress shirt, first rinse it with cold water. Rub detergent into the stain and soak the shirt in cold water. If a greasy stain remains, sponge the shirt face down on paper towels with a pretreat product. If traces of the stain remain, wash in hot water and chlorine bleach (if safe for fabric).

Maggie

Dear Maggie,

My son decided the best way to dry his wet sneakers was to toss them in the dryer. While his shoes certainly got dry, the inside of my machine now has scuff marks all around the cylinder. I'm afraid I'll ruin a load of whites if I put them in, but I'm not sure how to clean the inside of the machine. Help!

Eileen,
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear Eileen,

It's great to see your son taking on domestic responsibilities - his wife will appreciate that some day!! To make their marriage last, you should introduce him to the optional drying rack to dry those shoes in the future.

To take care of the current scuff marks, wipe the interior surfaces using a soft cloth and household cleaner or a non-abrasive paste of powdered laundry detergent and hot water, followed by a short heat cycle with a load of rags. If the interior is still scuffed, contact the appliance dealer. DO NOT use any chemicals or chlorine bleach in the dryer!

Maggie

Melt Away Stress with Aromatherapy

(NAPSI)-One pleasant way to deal with daily stress and fatigue is to massage it away. For thousands of years, holistic therapies such as aromatherapy massage have been used as a way to refresh and recharge the senses.

A daily massage with scented oil can help dissolve accumulated stress and toxins. The benefits to be expected from this calming daily ritual include:

• Increased circulation, especially to nerve endings
• Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology
• Calming for the nerves
• Lubrication of the joints
• Increased mental alertness
• Improved elimination of impurities from the body
• Softer, smoother skin
• Increased levels of stamina through the day
• Better, deeper sleep at night.

A favorite scented oil used for aromatherapy massage combines olive oil and orange blossom. Olive oil is well known for its healing properties, both when taken internally and used to lubricate the outer body, while orange blossom oil is a scent that has been used as a stress reliever for years.

Together, olive oil and orange blossom offer luxurious skin conditioning with the added benefit of soothing stress-reduction.

Described as a delicacy for the skin, combinations of these oils such as those found in the Olive Oil and Orange Blossom Collection by Caswell-Massey offer benefits to the mind, body and soul.

The collection includes a body oil in this scent that can be used as a massage oil, but also can be used to maintain healthy skin tone on a daily basis.

You can extend the benefits of the aromatherapy by using other products that contain the scents. These products might include a bath and shower gel, a moisturizing bath oil, a cleansing bar, body butter, moisturizing oil that also can be used as a leave-in conditioner, and scented candles. Even applying a scented lip balm can offer a way to de-stress.

That way the scent stays with you throughout the day, reminding you to relax. For more information on aromatherapy, visit www.caswellmassey.com or call 800-326-0500.

Owners Love Their Pets

(NAPSI)-Pet owners aren't like other people. For many, the love they have for their four-legged friend is demonstrated by their care for his or her well-being. This is a very personal practice that some take to more of an extreme than others.

Dogs are more than just man's best friend; most dog lovers say choosing the right dog is a lot like finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. In fact, 82 percent of dog owners claim it was love at first sight when they laid eyes on their pooch. Moreover, nearly 60 percent admit they are as picky when selecting a dog as they are when searching for their perfect mate, with personality, physical attributes and pedigree taking top honors as the crucial criteria against which to measure their match.

Pushing their love to the limit, if trapped on a desert island, nearly 60 percent of those surveyed would want to have their dog there too, far outranking significant others, parents, siblings and friends as companions of choice - a good thing, since 55 percent of owners think their pet exhibits jealousy if they direct their attention to someone else.

Move over dear, the dog needs more space. According to those surveyed, dogs are often the proverbial kings and queens of their castles, sharing many everyday experiences right by their owners' sides. In fact, 54 percent of those surveyed let their dogs sleep with them in their beds and 24 percent of dog owners said they even allow their dogs to eat off of their plates.

One thing that's increasingly apparent: Dogs are part of the family. Seventy percent of owners refer to themselves as their dog's "mommy" or "daddy," while more than 40 percent admit to having considered caring for their dog a dry run for caring for a child. In addition, more than half of dog owners (62 percent) clearly feel it is socially acceptable to feature their dog in family photos or holiday cards.

Social circles are as important to dogs as they are for people. Forty-five percent of dog owners claim their pooch has a regular group of playmates, while 52 percent of those coordinate play dates at least once a week. And if the sky was the limit for dog owners, Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and Brad Pitt top the list for dog-loving celebrities, who, along with their dogs, they'd love to meet for an afternoon play date.

Nowadays, celebrities often are seen gracing the pages of magazines with their dogs in tow. From pocket-size pooches to two at a time, stars are a high-profile example of the joys of dog ownership. So does all that star power influence the way everyday dog owners treat their pets? More than 50 percent say no way - at least not when it comes to dictating choice of breed - and a whopping 85 percent claim the way celebrities care for their canines has absolutely no impact on the way they treat their own.

For pet food and pet care information, visit www.pedigree.com.

The Best Snacks Come in Bright Packages

(NAPSI)-Good news for people hoping to control calories - the key could be your favorite snacks; as long as they've been portioned into 100-calorie or less packages.

Convenient, portion-controlled packages are new to the market, but you don't have to buy processed foods to take advantage of this healthy trend.

For example, if sweet and juicy appeal to your taste buds, consider the orange. With only 80 calories, oranges are naturally portion-controlled, ready-to-go, juicy and refreshing. What's more, because of their high fiber and water content, oranges contribute to the feeling of fullness, which suppresses appetite and helps prevent overeating.

Citrus is a great-tasting way to make calories count by getting more nutrition in fewer calories.

Introducing kids to fruits and vegetables early in life shapes their behaviors so they choose these foods throughout life. A child who grows up nourished with wholesome fruits and vegetables will learn to prefer such foods.

That's why Sunkist partnered with Sesame Street's "Healthy Habits for Life" initiative. They encourage young children and their families to establish an early foundation of healthy habits.

Children and adults need a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Getting the proper number of servings is easy if you fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal and make them your first choice as snacks.

You can learn more facts about fruits and vegetables and find great recipes online at www. sunkist.com and at www.5aday.org.