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Bernard Madoff, convicted of running an $65 billion Ponzi scheme, was sentenced to 150 years in jail. What’s your take on his punishment?

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By Knight Kiplinger

The Kiplinger Washington Editors

July 2, 2009

By year-end or so, Congress will give the nod to a major rewriting of the nation's financial regulatory system. This week’s Kiplinger Letter explores whether the package will do more harm than good and what lawmakers are likely to include.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: The Economy, Business Costs, Taxes, Supreme Court, Energy, Workplace Regulations, Climate Change, Health Care Legislation and Foreign Policy

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I just attended a franchise seminar. The speaker represents a few hundred franchises that (he says) are hand picked. He has the prospect (aka victim?) answer some questions about themselves then he makes recomendations - based on your personality, capital situation, etc.. If you pick a franchise, then he does some due dilligence for you. If you both decide it's a good idea, he helps you get started. He says he offers this service free of charge, which means he gets a commission if he's able to sell you a franchise. Has anyone done this? Successfully? Unsuccessfully?

-- fender

Older Workers Might be a Better Bargain than You Think

Older workers may be the cure for companies tired of help-wanted signs hanging for months—and may come cheaper than employers fear.

Worth Reading: The Quick Take from Kiplinger

March 2007

Alicia H. Munnell

Center for Retirement Research at Boston College

Alicia H. Munnell is the director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (CRR) and has served on the President's Council of Economic Advisers.

Steven A. Sass

Center for Retirement Research

Steven A. Sass is the assistant director of CRR and is the author of "The Promise of Private Pensions: The First Hundred Years" (Harvard University Press, 1997).

Mauricio Soto

Center for Retirement Research

Mauricio Soto is a senior research associate at CRR and is a teaching fellow at Boston College.

Increasing numbers of experienced, older workers and new retirees are thinking about delaying retirement or rejoining the workforce.

But despite growing problems finding experienced help, employers see older workers as a mixed bag, according to a survey by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Over 80 percent of employers said older workers were “as attractive” or "more attractive” than younger employees. The big draw is productivity: Employers believe older employees know their work and how to do it well.

What's the hesitancy? They fear older workers also cost more in pay and benefits. What to do? The key finding of the survey is that an aging workforce can be a good thing for both employers and employees. Given money saved by a highly productive worker, employers appear willing to hire older employees and may be willing to pay more. And senior workers, especially those out of work, may be willing to accept less pay.

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POSTED BY: Jerry (April 04, 2007 06:22 AM)
AMAZING that companies would admit this! Not sure sure but I smell a hint of discrimination here?

POSTED BY: LS (June 24, 2007 01:44 PM)
Both my sister and sister-in-law, white-collar professionals in their fifties, spent fruitless years trying to replace lost positions. They both ended up working for hourly positions at a huge loss of income.

POSTED BY: Ernst (June 27, 2007 10:36 AM)
My wife (52) had a very senior position in South Africa. Coming to the USA she decided not to accept such a senior position, but to enjoy working. The company she is working for is so thrilled having her there with that wealth of knowledge, It is a win win situation.

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