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Insurance

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Principal plans to acquire Chilean pension company

Principal Financial Group Inc. signed an agreement to acquire AFP Cuprum SA, a leading pension manager in Chile.

The agreement requires Empresas Penta SA and Inversiones Banpenta Limitada to sell their 63 percent ownership in …

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Wal-Mart, American Express team up on mobile payments system

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and American Express Co. are teaming up to offer customers an alternative to debit cards and checking accounts, Reuters reported the companies as saying today. 

A product called Bluebird will allow for …

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Open and closed on Columbus Day

The U.S. Postal Service and federal government will take the day off today to celebrate Columbus Day, maybe by taking in a sale. It’s business as usual for state and local governments. Some banks are …

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United Health will buy Brazilian insurer

UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. health insurance company, agreed to pay about $4.9 billion to buy 90 percent of Amil Participacoes SA, a Brazil-based insurer and hospital chain, Bloomberg reported. The deal values Amil …

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BERKO: Fooled by Facebook, or a fool?

Dear Mr. Berko:

I bought 500 shares of Facebook Inc. the day it came out and paid $44.25 a share because I didn’t have the contacts to buy it at the $38 initial public offering …

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BERKO: Burger King Worldwide

Dear Mr. Berko:

Please give me your honest opinion on Burger King Worldwide. Is it a good growth stock investment for a 53-year-old postal worker’s individual retirement account? I hope to retire next year after …

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BERKO: Income portfolio

Dear Mr. Berko:

We sold our home in 2007 and took back a five-year, $48,000 balloon second mortgage at 8.5 percent. It’s now due, so we have $48,000 to invest in dividend stocks. Our broker …

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Principal to report financial health on Oct. 25

Principal Financial Group Inc. will release its third-quarter financial results on Oct. 25 after markets close.

Larry Zimpleman, chairman, president and CEO, and Terry Lillis, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will discuss the …

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West Bank parent to discuss earnings on Oct. 26

West Bancorporation Inc., parent company of West Bank, will report its third-quarter results before markets open Oct. 26. The West Des Moines-based holding company will have a conference call at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 to …

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Consulting group aims to ‘kick’ high group health rates

Rick Riley knows that, when it comes to group health insurance rates, small and mid-size groups can often feel like sitting ducks when it’s time to renew policies. For many companies, premium increases at renewal …

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