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Dennis Dachtler Discusses the Ups and Downs of 2012

November 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dennis Dachtler

Dennis Dachtler

Dennis Dachtler is a respected financial planner, managing more than $150 million in assets. As he reviewed the reports on the second quarter of the year, Dennis Dachtler made a few observations about the economic outlook for the country. Recently, Dennis Dachtler talked to Interviewing Experts about the results of the past quarter.

Interviewing Experts: Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. To begin with, are you concerned that the stock market was down in the second quarter?

Dennis Dachtler: Well, overall the Dow was up 5.4% when you look at the entire first half of the year.

Interviewing Experts: But economists are concerned, based on what happened last year at this time, aren’t they?

Dennis Dachtler: Yes, that is true. However, there were several factors present last year that aren’t present this year.

Interviewing Experts: Those factors are…?

Dennis Dachtler: Among other things, there was a Congressional standoff last year regarding the debt ceiling.

Interviewing Experts: What are you thoughts about the upcoming election–do you expect that to have a negative impact?

Dennis Dachtler: It’s not completely clear, however I will point out that we aren’t operating under the same chaotic uncertainty as last year at this time.

Interviewing Experts: What about the instability of current policy?

Dennis Dachtler: Economists are worried about inflation. What the public needs is more clarity on policies to help boost confidence and, subsequently, spending, which has previously led to financial growth.

Interviewing Experts: How are things looking for the rest of the year?

Dennis Dachtler: Recovery has been incredibly slow since 2009 and this isn’t expected to change during the remainder of this year.

Interviewing Experts: What is causing the persistently high unemployment rate?

Dennis Dachtler: The theory of many economists is that the lack of predictability on policy is to blame.

Interviewing Experts: What is your perspective on this?

Dennis Dachtler: What creates uncertainty is not sticking to policy. Many economists believe consistency is key to building consumer confidence.

Interviewing Experts: How can Congress accomplish that?

Dennis Dachtler: Rules-based policy can help provide the basic guidelines consumers and business need to succeed.

Interviewing Experts: Some people feel that too many rules take away freedom.

Dennis Dachtler: Well I tend to believe quite the opposite. The laws should be built to preserve and encourage freedom. Laws must first be in place before there can be freedom.

Dennis Dachtler runs Dachtler Wealth Management, a financial management firm that focuses on helping clients find financial freedom. In addition to debt and asset management, Dennis Dachtler also helps clients with retirement planning and investing. Learn more at www.dachtlerwealth.com

 

Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC).  Member FINRA/SIPC.  AIC and Dachtler Wealth Management are not affiliated.  Additional products and services may be offered through Dennis Dachtler or Dachtler Wealth Management that are not offered through AIC.

This is not an offer of securities in any jurisdiction, nor is it specifically directed to a resident of any jurisdiction. As with any security, request a prospectus from your Registered Representative. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.  A Representative from Dachtler Wealth Management will contact you to provide requested information.  Representatives of AIC do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding your situation. Securities products are currently limited to residents of AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NM, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT & WA.

 

Filed Under: Finances Tagged With: , , ,

Mendel Mintz – Chabad Community Center Offers Adult Education Classes

November 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Mendel Mintz

Mendel Mintz

Rabbi Mendel Mintz is an active part of the Aspen community, where he serves as executive director of Chabad Community Center. The center celebrates Jewish history and tradition, combining it with modern-day Jewish teachings, according to Mendel Mintz. Recently, Mendel Mintz spoke with the staff of Interviewing Experts about the adult education courses offered at Chabad Community Center.

Interviewing Experts: Are your adult education courses geared toward converting non-Orthodox Jews to Orthodox thinking?

Mendel Mintz: Not at all. At Chabad Community Center, we strive to provide Jews with an open forum to learn about a wide variety of topics of concern to the Jewish community. Most of our participants are not Orthodox, actually.

Interviewing Experts: What is the focus of many of these courses?

Mendel Mintz: The Torah, the greatest gift to humanity, is at the core of all of our teachings.

Interviewing Experts: You teach your members to read Hebrew. How many lessons does that usually take?

Mendel Mintz: Our “Read Hebrew” course is six simple lessons that help participants learn this 5,000-year-old language.

Interviewing Experts: Does someone have to learn Hebrew?

Mendel Mintz: No, but the lessons can help someone better understand what we’re going over during services.

Interviewing Experts: It might also help if someone is planning a visit to Israel.

Mendel Mintz: Yes, definitely. It can help with everything from reading street signs to understanding menus in restaurants.

Interviewing Experts: But doesn’t a foreign language take a while to learn?

Mendel Mintz: Most do, but the basics of reading Hebrew can easily be learned during these six lessons.

Interviewing Experts: What if someone learned Hebrew in school?

Mendel Mintz: Our six-class lesson can be a great refresher course.

Interviewing Experts: How much does it cost to register for this course?

Mendel Mintz: Our Hebrew adult education class is only $50.

Interviewing Experts: What other courses do you offer at Chabad Community Center?

Mendel Mintz: We offer classes in mysticism, Jewish history, or any other subject someone might be interested in learning.

Interviewing Experts: Does someone have to be a member to enroll in class?

Mendel Mintz: No, classes are open to all , even if they’ve never visited Chabad Community Center.

Mendel Mintz welcomes visitors to Chabad Community Center, which is located in Aspen, Colorado. For those interested in learning more about Chabad Community Center, Mendel Mintz invites them to come by and check it out or visit the center’s website at www.jccaspen.com.

 

Filed Under: Religion Tagged With: , , , , ,

Respond to America’s “Cry for Health” with DR Marketing Group

November 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A pioneer in Branded Entertainment, O2 Media™ has a long history of success in Direct Response (DR) Marketing.  Working on DR campaigns for brands such as Black & Decker, Magic Juice Filter and the Infrawave Speed Oven on HSN has positioned O2 Media™ and DR Marketing Group as experts in the DR industry.

The DR Marketing Group at O2 Media™ is a turnkey marketing agency. DR Marketing Group is focused on developing and implementing brand integration and direct-to-consumer strategies.  With core competencies in direct response television production, branded entertainment, online & mobile marketing, and product distribution, DR Marketing Group groups is able to respond quickly and efficiently in order to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Currently, the DR Marketing Group at O2 Media™ is working on campaigns for brands whose products offer some sort of ‘healthy’ advantage or alternative.  Products such as vitamin supplements have been featured by DR Marketing Group and even glass products that offer the durability of plastic in order to follow the health trend of avoiding BPAs.

DR Marketing Group offers clients a highly experienced campaign management team that has run campaigns that have grossed billions. DR Marketing Group has an award-winning production staff and consumer products & packaging services division spearheaded by a leader in the consumer products space for over 30 years.  DR Marketing Group provides detailed strategic planning & consulting to some of the industries top decision makers.

“Direct Response is still an incredible marketing and sales tool and we are starting to see a trend in products that offer healthy benefits & healthy alternatives.  The products are new, innovative and should do very well with the DR Campaigns we are developing and initiating for them,” says Doug Campbell, Executive VP of Programming and Founder of O2 Media™.

If your company offers products or services that provide healthy advantages or alternatives to consumers, Direct Response may be the perfect platform for it in today’s marketing environment.  The trends speak for themselves and O2 Media™ and DR Marketing Group are ready to help you.

To get more information about O2 Media™ and the DR Marketing Group, send your inquiries to: Brandutainment@o2mediainc.com

DR Marketing Group, based in Pompano Beach Florida, is a wholly owned subsidiary of O2 Media Inc, and the sister company of Quorum Productions Inc., BrandStar Entertainment and O2 Production Studios Inc.  DR Marketing Group is a turnkey marketing agency focused on developing and implementing brand integration strategies. With core competencies in direct response (DR) television production, branded entertainment, online & mobile marketing, and product distribution, DR Marketing Group is able to respond quickly and efficiently in order to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive marketplace. For more information about DR Marketing Group, please visit www.drmarketing.com or contact Christopher Seega, Vice President of Brand Development and Marketing, at 954-691-1102.

Filed Under: Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

Kale Flagg Shares how True Belief Can Make it Happen

November 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Kale Flagg

Kale Flagg

Kale Flagg is a longtime developer and businessman in Nevada, where he currently is a General Partner in the American Redevelopment Fund, LP.  A graduate of Yale University, Kale Flagg gained experience in sales and business ownership early in his career. Recently Kale Flagg gave the staff at Interviewing Experts his thoughts on the value of believing in oneself.

Interviewing Experts: You use the analogy of a famous tightrope walker in the 1800s.

Kale Flagg: Yes, Charles Blondin. He wasn’t just a tightrope walker, though.

Interviewing Experts: He crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope, didn’t he?

Kale Flagg: In 1859, he crossed Niagara Falls—1,100 feet across—not just once but several times in a row.

Interviewing Experts: And there was a crowd watching?

Kale Flagg: He’d put an ad in the New York Times that managed to draw a crowd in the thousands.

Interviewing Experts: Each time before he crossed, he asked the crowd if they thought he could do it.

Kale Flagg: Yes, and each time he amazed them! He crossed pushing a wheelbarrow, he crossed blindfolded, and he crossed on stilts. Each time, the audience cheered and by the time he crossed on stilts, they seemed to be convinced. But then…

Interviewing Experts: But then…?

Kale Flagg: He asked the big question. He asked for one volunteer from the crowd to cross the tightrope on his back. None of the onlookers who came because of the ad stepped forward.

Interviewing Experts: But they’d just watched him cross on stilts.

Kale Flagg: They believed he could do it. But they didn’t believe enough to put themselves at personal risk. That would have been true belief.

Interviewing Experts: How does true belief translate into everyday life?

Kale Flagg: With true belief, you not only say you believe but your actions show it.

Interviewing Experts: For the people at Niagara Falls, though, it was a huge risk, even though they saw that the tightrope walker was capable.

Kale Flagg: Yes, but they’d seen him attempt the impossible not once, not twice, but three times. Each time when he asked the crowd if they thought he could do it, they applauded. But when it came down to proving they thought he could do it, nobody was willing. None of the onlookers had true belief.

Interviewing Experts: So, exactly how does this translate to the business world?

Kale Flagg: When I make major business decisions, I do it based on true belief. That blind faith that doesn’t say that I think I’ll succeed…it says I know I will succeed.

Interviewing Experts: You also ask your clients and colleagues to have the same belief, correct?

Kale Flagg: Absolutely. I strive for my clients to have the same belief in me…so that we can cross that tightrope together.

Kale Flagg is a respected entrepreneur who holds business seminars throughout the country. After beginning his career on Wall Street, Kale Flagg built a succession of accomplishments that led him to his current position with the American Redevelopment Fund.

Filed Under: Finances Tagged With: , , ,

Direct Media Power – Complaints to BBB are Key to Keeping Businesses Honest

November 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Direct Media Power Complaints

Direct Media Power Complaints

Says Illinois-based Direct Media Power, complaints to the Better Business Bureau often capture the attention of business owner when personal contact has not. Here, the Direct Media Power Complaints Response Dept. answers questions about the procedure and why it’s important to speak up.

Q: I know customer service is important in your industry and Direct Media Power has a reputation of providing the best service around. What exactly does your company do?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: We offer radio marketing services. Essentially, we provide pay-per-call services where we foot the bill for our clients’ ad production and airing costs and they pay only for leads generated from the ads.

Q: That sounds like a win-win situation. So can you explain why the BBB is so important for businesses?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: The BBB, or Better Business Bureau, is a not for profit agency founded in 1912. The Bureau helps ensure marketplace trust by providing a neutral platform for consumers and businesses to settle disputes.

Q: Why is that important?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: When a consumer complains to a company, a few things can happen: the company can be proactive and rectify the situation, they can choose to ignore it, or they can disagree with the consumer.

Q: And when they ignore it or disagree, does the BBB step in?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: Yes, if the customer contacts them.

Q: Does the Better Business Bureau deal mostly with the public?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: They are a kind of liaison between the public and the business population.

Q: What kinds of businesses does the BBB mediate for?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: Virtually all. The do not, however, intervene with medical or legal disputes or issues that have already gone to litigation.

Q: How much does it cost to file a complaint with the BBB?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: It is free of charge.

Q: Why is it so important to have an organization like the Better Business Bureau?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: Any time you have an outside, neutral party that both parties trust for guidance, there is a greater chance for an acceptable outcome.

Q: So the customer remains happy?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: That is important but also so that the business can maintain their reputation, if they are a good company.

Q: So would you say that the Better Business Bureau is a trusted source for researching businesses?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: Absolutely, yes. When a consumer has a legitimate complaint, the BBB is usually the first place they turn.

Q: What about sites like pissedconsumer.com?

Direct Media Power Complaints Dept: These sites say that they were designed as a platform to warn other consumers about bad business practices. The problem is that they are so anonymous that anyone can say anything about another. For instance, a fired employee may bash his former place of work, pretending he or she is a customer. It makes the company – who has often done nothing wrong – look bad and can put hard working folks out of business.

The Direct Media Power Complaints Dept. takes a proactive approach to customer service. Direct Media Power can explain the entire pay-per-call radio advertising process to current and prospective customers in order to circumvent any potential misunderstandings. By doing so, says Direct Media Power, complaints about their services are limited. The company has maintained positive relationships with clients since their inception.

 

Filed Under: Media Tagged With: , , ,

Joanna A. van der Vant Provides Advice on How to Prevent Fraud

November 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Joanna A. van der Vant

Joanna A. van der Vant

Joanna A. van der Vant has several decades of experience in accounting and real estate spanning the globe. Formerly, Joanna A. van der Vant served as vice president of the Warsaw Association of Realtors in Poland, where she helped start a multiple listing service. Today, she is an accountant for Chicago’s Sol Property Management. Today, Interviewing Experts talks with Joanna A. van der Vant about her thoughts on preventing fraud in corporations and businesses.

Interviewing Experts: You’ve spoken of the importance of controls in an organizational structure. What exactly do these controls protect against?

Joanna A. van der Vant: In many cases, controls are put in place to avoid unintentional errors made by workers. But in some cases, those errors are through fraud on the part of the employee.

Interviewing Experts: Is it hard to detect fraud when committed internally?

Joanna A. van der Vant: Fraud can be very difficult to detect and, in some cases, the controls can be more costly than the errors themselves.

Interviewing Experts: Isn’t cash the most common type of internal fraud?

Joanna A. van der Vant: It’s certainly the most publicized, but what many people don’t realize is cash theft is actually infinitesimal when compared to other types of fraud.

Interviewing Experts: What are some of the other types of fraud in the business world?

Joanna A. van der Vant: For businesses that provide expense accounts and credit cards for workers, it’s important to have controls in place to monitor fraud in those areas. Receipts can be faked and double reporting of expenses can easily slip through.

Interviewing Experts: What about theft of computer equipment, like laptops and smart phones?

Joanna A. van der Vant: Yes, it’s easy for items to “walk away,” as they say, and this can be especially hard to police. I recommend businesses purchase insurance and closely monitor and inventory all devices regularly.

Interviewing Experts: Office supplies can easily disappear.

Joanna A. van der Vant: Yes, and this can be even harder to monitor. I recommend blocking off supply areas so that only authorized workers can access them.

Interviewing Experts: What about kickbacks and gifts from suppliers?

Joanna A. van der Vant: While it might not seem like a company can lose money on this, if your purchasing department is choosing vendors for personal motives, you may be paying more than you have to for your inventory and supplies. Put policies in place to make it clear to workers your views on this sort of thing.

Interviewing Experts: Do you believe that fraud easier to commit in some companies than others?

Joanna A. van der Vant: Sometimes, yes. For instance, a company that constantly puts pressure on staff for profits can result in falsification of financials. Companies with very high turnover can also pose a problem.

Interviewing Experts: Are controls always the answer?

Joanna A. van der Vant: No. In some instances, the control is simply too expensive compared to the risk of loss. Each CFO must weight this out.

Joanna A. van der Vant is currently pursuing a Master degree from Keller Graduate School of Management. A certified bookkeeper, Joanna A. van der Vant also obtained her MBA from Leon Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management.

Filed Under: Finances Tagged With: , , , ,

Phil Melugin: When is it Time to Seek Home Health Care?

November 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Phil Melugin


Phil Melugin

Phil Melugin began his career in healthcare shortly after obtaining his Master of Education in 1990. Today, as president and founder of Phoenix Home Care, Phil Melugin oversees an organization that helps thousands each week, with 2,400 employees and growing. Recently, Phil Melugin spoke to Interviewing Experts about a question that’s facing many senior citizens and their families: when is it time to seek home health care?

Interviewing Experts: Does Phoenix Home Care mostly help elderly clients?

Phil Melugin: We serve a wide range of ages, from infants to those who are nearing 100 years of age. There are times when a client simply needs in-home care, whether it’s due to being rendered incapacitated due to surgery or injury or a result of a more long-term illness.

Interviewing Experts: What if I can’t afford in-home care?

Phil Melugin: In many cases, your insurance, Medicare, and/or Medicaid may pay. Your insurer should be able to let you know if in-home care is covered.

Interviewing Experts: Will my income be taken into consideration when I apply for this type of assistance?

Phil Melugin: Yes, if you or your loved one is applying for State assistance, you will have to be below the income limit to qualify.

Interviewing Experts: At what point does someone know it’s time to seek in-home care?

Phil Melugin: Often, home care can be just a temporary solution, for someone recovering from surgery or an injury that is unable to leave the house. But for a loved one with a long-term illness, it can often be difficult to decide when to make the transition to in-home care.

Interviewing Experts: It can become difficult for family members to provide around-the-clock care.

Phil Melugin: In some situations, in-home care is requested during the day, while the family is at work. If a patient is bedridden, it can become difficult for someone to be there 24/7 to take care of everything.

Interviewing Experts: When I decide to find in-home care, what type of agency should I choose?

Phil Melugin: Compassion and a commitment to customers is priority. You want a firm that puts clients first and has a good reputation in the community.

Interviewing Experts: Is Phoenix Home Care’s assistance limited to only healthcare needs?

Phil Melugin: Phoenix Home Care can provide a wide variety of services, including personal grooming, light housekeeping, and even assistance for new moms who need help with breastfeeding and learning to change a diaper.

Interviewing Experts: What about small children with injuries or developmental disabilities?

Phil Melugin: We have specialists who can care for children with a variety of conditions. We provide rehabilitative and education, among many other services.

Interviewing Experts: Where are Phoenix Home Care’s services available?

Phil Melugin: Our healthcare providers work in homes throughout Kansas and Missouri.

Interviewing Experts: How do I contact Phoenix Home Care?

Phil Melugin: You can visit our website at http://phoenixhomehc.com/ or call 417-881-7442. Our toll-free number is 855-881-7442.

Phil Melugin is a respected home healthcare administrator who has served on several boards, including a term as president of a statewide industry organization. Prior to founding Phoenix Home Care in 2011, Phil Melugin was president and co-owner of Integrity Home Care in Springfield, Missouri.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , ,