Archive for July 2011
‘Classy’ Casey’s looks good for the long haul
Dear Mr. Berko:
While traveling by car, we stopped in Chanute, Kan., for gas and a cold drink at Casey’s General Store. We also bought some fresh pizza, which was heavenly. We stopped at another …
Read MoreVariable annuity comes at a cost
Dear Mr. Berko:
Three years ago, I invested $44,000 in a variable annuity that is now worth $36,000. I was making a 10th annual $44,000 deposit at Bank of America from a piece of property …
Read MoreBroker’s Copano recommendation gets a thumbs up
Dear Mr. Berko:
My broker recommended that I buy 700 shares of Copano Energy, a master limited partnership dealing in natural gas. Tell me what you think. However, I’m not comfortable taking $15,000 from the …
Read MoreTRANSITIONS: Changing light bulbs is difficult for some
The government is starting to phase out incandescent light bulbs, and a recent NPR story quoted a woman who said she objected to the government telling her what she can and can’t buy. Objected vociferously.…
GUEST OPINION: Ways to tame your digital jungle
OMG, it’s just TMI. Technology-driven information is flooding our consciousness in ways we are not emotionally, psychologically or anatomically equipped to handle. And we’re learning that the influx of information coming in at a rate …
AmeriCorps Health Corps to target youth obesity in Iowa
AmeriCorps volunteers don’t just fill sandbags or help to rebuild tornado-damaged homes. This fall, they’ll also be working to address a potential public health disaster – the youth obesity epidemic.
The Iowa Public Health Association …
Read MoreGuideOne debuts on Ward’s 50 list
GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co., a West Des Moines-based property and casualty insurer that specializes in providing coverage to churches, has been included for the first time in the Property-Casualty Ward’s 50 list of top-performing insurers. …
A Closer Look: April Schmaltz
What brought you to Iowa?
At the time, I was working for a brain injury rehabilitation center called ResCare Premier. That’s an interesting story simply from the fact that I was planning on going to …
Read MoreOn target
Cafe di Scala had a specific target audience in mind when it decided to try advertising with Facebook Inc.
The restaurant’s owner, Anthony Lemmo, last year wanted to get more private parties in the form …
Read MoreTargeting your audience: What you need to know to create your business’s Facebook ad
Set it up: Setting up an advertisement is a simple process. “Honestly, my 18-year-old daughter could do it,” said Drew McLellan, CEO of McLellan Marketing Group. To create an ad, users log onto www.Facebook.com and …