By Compiled from Times wires
Published September 7, 2003
Look for the next wave of retirees to live in style. A consultant who studies the retirement home market tells BusinessWeek he figures that 3.5 percent of the 5.5-million people expected to retire this decade will opt for $1-million-plus trophy homes with spas, exercise rooms and home theaters.
Companies and researchers have been trying for decades to determine what motivates shoppers to buy. Now the quest is turning scientific, Forbes reports. The magazine says neuroscientists are monitoring subjects' brain signals to try to find the answer and pass it along to marketers.
Here's a sobering thought for employees at companies shedding workers: Layoffs are more likely in the final third of the year. The culprit is next-year planning, when tweaking budgets and business plans often dictates staffing levels, according to a review of job-cutting data from 1995 through 2002 by Chicago outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Student loans can be a financial burden for years after graduation. But many people overlook one source of cash to retire student debts - Uncle Sam. All branches of the armed forces offer programs for paying back college loans if you enlist after graduation. The Army, for example, will pay up to $65,000 for three years of service, according to Young Money magazine.
Bosses should take a lesson from standup comedians. The witty executive gets bigger bonuses and better performance ratings, Harvard Business Review says. Humor, used skillfully, relieves tension, improves morale and helps communicate difficult messages. But beware: The boss who tries to be funny but isn't can undermine his leadership.
