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 | In this Issue |  | | | | Did you know? | |  Workers Looking for New Jobs More than four in 10 workers (41%) are looking for new jobs, including 17% who are actively looking and 24% who are passively looking (posting a resume online that wasn't for a specific job, or listening to a job offer that comes their way). ~ Saurage Research | | | Links | | | | | | | | | Welcome to the September Edition of
View From the Ridge!
September has always felt like the beginning of the year. Maybe it's my "inner child's" cellular memory of when summer ended and I headed back to school with a new routine and new experiences. It's always been one of my favorite months. It has evolved into an ideal time to reevaluate where we are and refresh the goals we defined earlier in the year. We can begin what hasn't yet been started while we still have enough of the year to make a difference, hopefully armed with a little more information and insight. Secrets to finding good employees and understanding annuities may seem unrelated, but they both offer some new ideas to support that mid-year review of the health of your workplace and financial well-being.
Early this summer, Cypress Ridge Solutions surveyed you, our readership, to determine the top Human Resources issues you are most concerned about now. The top concerns were: - Finding and hiring the right people (72%)
- Keeping employees engaged and motivated (38%)
- Management Development tied with Cost of Benefit programs (31%)
We tackle the issue of finding good employees with several great ideas to help you develop new candidate sources. The article on annuities is in response to clients asking for alternatives, in executive (or personal) financial planning needs. If you'd like more information or want to share your thoughts on this, please email Cherryll at csevy@cypressridgesolutions.com or call 408.294.3431.
Cypress Ridge Solutions,
creating real solutions for real people. | | | | | | | 
Downsizing, outsourcing, and an emphasis on leaner, more efficient organizations, make every employee very important. Our clients continually report hiring good employees as their greatest people challenge today. Here are 3 secrets to finding well-qualified individuals who contribute and thrive in your organization. - Hire "A" players and do not settle for less.
Unless you have a business plan to fail, you do not want today's under-qualified people trying to meet tomorrow's challenges. Hire for personal competencies, such as judgment, common sense, ability to work with others, good communication skills, versatility, initiative, self- discipline, etc. Individuals strong in these skills can learn just about anything, but a great technical person who doesn't show up to work on time or get along with others will do far more damage long term in your organization or with customers. Additionally, having to fire someone after months of trying to make it work, or continuing with an underperforming employee, is expensive and exhausting, plus you will need to find a replacement. Next Step: Understand what an "A" player means to you----create a good job profile, define the personal traits needed in that role, and understand clearly who thrives in your organization.
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With everyone concerned about rising taxes, falling investments, and retirement not far off for many of us, this is a question we have been asked quite often in recent months by both Human Resources Managers and individuals.
An annuity is a long-term savings plan that can be used to accumulate assets on a tax-deferred basis for retirement and/or to convert retirement assets into a stream of income.
If you (or your employees) are already contributing the maximum to an IRA, your 401(k), or any employer-sponsored retirement plan and need to save more for retirement, a deferred annuity may be the answer to your retirement savings need.
On the other hand, if you're at or near retirement, an immediate income annuity can be used to convert existing retirement assets into a lifetime income.
Depending on the investment objectives and risk tolerance, there are a variety of ways that one can choose to invest their annuity premiums: - Fixed Interest Annuities
A fixed interest annuity pays a fixed rate of interest on the premiums invested in the contract, less any applicable charges. The insurance company guarantees* it will pay a minimum interest rate for the life of the annuity contract. The company may also pay an "excess" or bonus interest rate, which is guaranteed for a shorter period, such as one year.
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In the Press
Cherryll was featured in the Business Forum International, August 2008 magazine, Clique.
Read her interview here!
Speaking Events
 "Finding and Keeping Talented Employees."
NAWBO-Silicon Valley-South County Luncheon, November 5, 2008
For more info, go to the NAWBO-SV web site
If you would like more information on speaking topics, click here for a video demo and to see a list of presentations Cherryll is currently making to groups. | |
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