401k Rules FAQ - 401k Contribution Limits

While 401k investment plans are a nice way to save money for retirement, there are certain 401k rules on how much you can contribute to all of your plans collectively in a given year. The maximum 401k contribution limits change from one year to the next and apply as one figure for all of your plans, so your total must fall below the limit each year.

The maximum amount allowed to be contributed is different every person, depending on two different numbers. First, you have to determine what percentage of your income your employer's plan will allow you to invest. This will be in percentage form. For example, someone who makes $45000 a year and has a plan that states they can contribute up to 10% of their income would be allowed to contribute up to $4, 500 in 2009.

You have to find out this amount from your employer, but it is not necessarily going to be your personal maximum contribution. The IRS also sets a maximum contribution which no one in the country can exceed. This is just one number that applies to everyone, but it is aimed more at those who make in excess of $100, 000.

The IRS 401k rules mandated 401k contribution limits for the current year at $16,500.

In our example above, the $4,500 set by the employer is lower than the IRS mandated number. This would mean the IRS number does not apply and the employer's limit must be followed.

If you are over the age of 50, you also have the option of participating in an optional catch up contribution. This allows you to contribute up to $5,500 extra since you are closer to retirement age. Once again, this amount has to be reached collectively across all of your 401k and Roth 401k accounts.

The current year's 401k contribution limits are a direct reflection on the standard cost of living in the country. This rate changes every year, so it is important to keep up with it to ensure you are contributing the right amount to all of your accounts.

The Amazing Benefits of Today's Acupuncture

Some people do not consider acupuncture to be a real form of medical treatment. Many doctors even scoff at its use but it has been in use for thousands of years and it has always produced real results.

Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine which uses very thin needles to adjust the meridians of the body. The needle is inserted at a designated point on the body and seated with a tap to the top. It is used successfully in the treatment of chronic pain, arthritis, headaches, ulcers and more. It has even been used instead of anesthesia in some circumstances. Because acupuncture doesn't raise the blood pressure or stay in the blood after the procedure is finished, it is the choice in childbirth and some kinds of surgery where the patient needs to be awake and alert.

Acupuncture does not work in a manner that is easily figured out. The person doing the acupuncture might insert needles in the rim of a person's ear to treat an entirely different part of the body. It is supposed to allow the chi force of the body to move freely through the different parts of the body. When chi is blocked, a needle is inserted to open the pathway. The chi flows through meridians of the body and can be positive or negative. Beyond this, western medicine thinks that acupuncture releases endorphins and that this stimulation of these chemicals relieves pain. Western physicians also think that the use of acupuncture does something to the pituitary gland so that it releases anti inflammatories. Leave it to us to try to re-think something that has worked perfectly well for thousands of years.

Acupuncture began to be an accepted practice in the 1970's and there are now many schools that teach and license the procedure. Of course, though western physicians have begun to accept and even use acupuncture, they still call it a placebo effect; typical.

Electro acupuncture has been found to reduce the inflammation in ALS. ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the scientific name for Lou Gehrig's disease named for the famous ball player who had it. This disorder paralyzes the nerves and muscles in the body causing degeneration of the motor neurons. Eventually a person with ALS loses the ability to speak, move, swallow, and even breathe on his or her own. In a word, it is a horrible death but an even more horrible way to live.

Where formerly patients consulted their chiropractor for acupuncture treatments and he or she billed them as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture is now being accepted as a treatment by mainstream medicine. It is now described as a complementary medicine and even most insurances will allow for a certain number of treatments per year.

It is important when consulting a person who practices acupuncture that the patient is certain that the person uses new sterile needles with each treatment and disposes of them immediately afterwards to prevent infections.

New Orleans in Pictures

We have all become more acquainted with New Orleans, Louisiana in the last few years, some of us have visited the city prior to 2005. Perhaps, you went to visit during Marti Gras or visited during a convention. But have you really enjoyed its sights, sounds and history? Have you ever gotten to know the City of New Orleans on a personal basis?

Have you visited its museums, been part of its culture, have you looked through one of those picture books lately? If not, well, I'd certainly like to turn you on to one of the best books that any tourist could ever hope to own;

"New Orleans; a Photographic Journey" by Suzi Forbes; Crescent Books, New York 1991.

This is by far the neatest photographic picture book of New Orleans that I have ever seen, and it was produced well before the 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season that produced Hurricane Katrina, which caused the levee on Lake Ponchatrain to fail and flood the city into ruin. The first 10-pages of the book tells the complete story of how New Orleans came to be in the first place. The entire story of how the French built the city and how the French Quarter became legend.

The influence of Spain was also quite interesting, actually the entire history and the Spanish, French and United States influences have made a fascinating blend of culture, architecture and sights. You will not believe the pictures in this book. Perhaps, it's why this book is one of the pictorial books in the series called; "A Photographic Journey" and it definitely is one of the best too.

Distance Learning Specialists and Reality Check

Distance Learning theory is failing the American People their government and the US Military. In fact it is looking like quite a waste of money. We have IT people that cannot get their act together hundreds of consultants Globe Trotting on the American Taxpayer's Dollar.

We have academia theory running it and putting the liberal spin on all the courses. In fact remember the FEMA issues being late to Hurricane Katrina and then later we find out that there was a whole class, which was business in Atlanta finishing up their training so they were not allowed to go? There training was the last course on Sexual Harassment while Americans were stuck on their rooftops in floodwaters? Are you kidding me?

This is just one example of the waste these distance-learning consultants produce. If they really had their act together all these folks would have been pre-trained online before even entering advanced training. The fact is we have a bunch of PC morons running the show by the book and will not budge to reality. Treating smart humans like they are morons and stupid humans as if they learned men that actually are comprehending what is being taught.

We have spent too much money on distance-learning initiatives. The concept is great the implementation is lousy and we need to address the issues as to if anyone is actually learning anything, but how introduce bureaucracy into their endeavors. Think on this in 2006.

Agent Marketing Minute: Email Signatures

Maximize your signature. Add a timely or seasonal message to your signature. Time to spring ahead, change your clocks on April 10th, Be extra alert it's back to school. Add a testimonial from a client, Thank-you for all your help in the purchase of our new house,your experience and patience was invaluable. The Smiths, 123 Main Street, Anytown USA. Congratulate local sports teams on winning, go Wildcats on another winning the championship! Promote an upcoming non-profit benefit, Breast cancer walk on October 1st, if you want to donate or walk, contact me.

Or think about including a definition of the week, utilize real estate terms and designations, earnest money deposit: The money given to the seller at the time the offer is made as a sign of the buyer's good faith. Do a fast real estate fact from local, state or national real estate associations, such as the average homeowner stays in their home 5.7 years according to the The National Association of Realtors(R) 2005 profile of home buyers and sellers. Add value to all your email correspondence, and always take the time to spell check your signature, it is worth the time to make sure you send the right impression.

Got Migraines? Hidden Ingredient in Your Food May Be the Culprit

Those who don't suffer from migraines don't understand how the blinding pain and associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, etc.) can be debilitating. Migraines often result in the inability to work, or even move from a quiet, dark room for the duration of the migraine episode. If you are one of the more than 28 million Americans plagued by migraines, pain relief may be as simple as a change in your diet.

Neurologists specializing in migraine treatment have noted a correlation between monosodium glutamate (MSG) and migraines. Patients of such noted neurologists were able to decrease their number of migraines to a minimal amount after being placed on a MSG-free diet.

What is MSG?

MSG is an additive added to food to enhance flavor. Glutamate is an amino acid (which is a building block of all proteins), and can be found naturally in some foods such as tomatoes, grapes, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and spinach. These foods rich in glutamate naturally have enhanced flavor, which is why you often find them in many meals and recipes. MSG is the synthetically manufactured version of natural glutamate. MSG is then used as an additive to increase the flavor in a variety of foods including soups, sauces, meats, Asian cooking, and snack foods.

How does MSG work?

Naturally occurring amino acids interact with brain cell activity. When MSG is added to food, it changes the normal brain chemistry to make the food taste better. Your tongue has several receptors which help identify tastes such as sweet, sour, etc. Free glumatic acid registers with your taste buds to signal the presence of protein. MSG, therefore, tricks your tongue into thinking the food in your mouth is both a protein AND nutritious. Unfortunately, it also changes your tongue's ability to recognize nutrition in future foods as well (your tongue will register nutrition in food that may not have nutritious value). This also allows portions of real, nutritious food to be replaced with MSG and significantly bring down the cost for food manufacturers. As a result of ingesting MSG the pancreas is stimulated to increase insulin production. The insulin flood causes a drop in blood sugar, and you're hungry only an hour after you've eaten. This is a definite plus for food manufacturers and restaurants.

How does MSG affect migraines?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates there is a portion of population that may be sensitive to MSG. The Journal of American Medical Association identifies MSG as a trigger for migraines. There is scientific evidence that MSG can cause a migraine attack, while other evidence goes further to suggest MSG actually affects the way serotonin functions normally in the brain. Serotonin is an important part of understanding migraines, because serotonin is a "brain chemical" that calms overreacting brain cell activity. MSG excites the brain cells. If MSG affects serotonin's ability to pacify overreacting brain cell activity, while simultaneously exciting brain cells further it is easy to understand how quickly a migraine would develop.

What can I do?

Unlike other migraine treatments in which you are given a drug and simply have to wait to see if the drug provides migraine relief, you can do something about your migraines right now! Just by reading this article you are one giant step closer to getting your migraines under control. You have the power! MSG is a common migraine trigger for many, many people suffering from migraines. Now that you know about MSG you have the power to remove the trigger from your diet. You can begin avoiding foods with MSG in them, and begin MSG-free living and pain free!

This can be a little intimidating at first, because MSG hides under many different names in products: hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPT), "natural flavoring", BHA, BHT, maltodextran, modified food starch, whey protein, glutamate or glutamic acid, carrageenan, and caseinate are examples. There are large amounts of MSG in soy products, so you'll want to avoid all soy products (including soy sauce and products containing soy lecthin). These can be large changes in diet, but for those suffering from the agony of migraines it is often a small exchange to make for pain free living.

It is so important to be an informed consumer. Reading labels on your next shopping trip may be a bit intimidating, but can also be very empowering. You will be amazed at the vast number of products containing MSG, and the large amounts of MSG you've been consuming without even realizing it! Your local health food store or coop can make shopping a new pleasure, as these markets offer a variety of products without MSG. Keep a "headache journal," or daily log in which you record what you eat, how you feel (any headaches, migraines, etc.), and what medications you take. Notice patterns and positive changes in your migraines the longer MSG is absent from your diet.

The headache journal is a very resourceful tool for both you and your doctor. Make sure and take your journal with you to all your doctor appointments. If you know other migraine sufferers, please share this information and article with them! It is unfortunate how few migraineurs are aware of the MSG-migraine connection. No one deserves the debilitating pain of migraines, and for many simply eliminating MSG from their diet is the difference between a lifetime of migraines and pain free living.

Bicycle Parts and Accessory - Getting The Right Suppliers For Your Bicycle Parts Needs

When it comes to bicycle parts and accessory, finding the right suppliers for those bicycle parts may be an expensive journey. For the most part, getting these supplies online may be the cheapest route. eBay should be the first place that you try searching in order to get an idea of how much the supplies are going to cost you. One main thing that you should do when going the eBay route is to closely examine the seller's feedback. Look to see if they had sold other cycling products and if their feedbacks are positive.

There are certain times when it is best to go to a local brick and mortar bicycle dealer and parts supplier in order to suffice your needs. Whenever, you are going to these local shops you should ask them or get answers to the 5 crucial questions.

The 5 questions that you should ask your local bicycle parts and accessory dealers or suppliers are:

1) What are the return policies?

2) Are the products carried by the local dealers or suppliers original equipment manufacturer (OEM)?

3) What are the warranties?

4) How many of the specific item(s) you want, has the supplier sold?

5) How many years has the local supplier been in business?

In order to save yourself some money and heartache later, it is best to ask these 5 questions before you make your first purchase. Many cyclists that I know don't ask these questions ahead of time and are now regretting it. Be a smart cyclist consumer and get to know the 5 crucial questions.

Having a Photography Website is Easier Than You May Think

There are people that would like to have a photography website but they feel as though it would take a lot to get one up and running. In the world of photography marketing it is easier than you may have thought. You can start out with not more than an internet connection, a computer, which you probably already have.

You can put up a simple web page on a free website to start out with. If you go this route you will be able to learn how to publish and market your work without spending a great deal of money. Once you know what is going on you can upgrade, which is something that I think you should do. Free websites are OK to start with but they can hold you back. The paid service can offer you quite a bit more as far as functions and dependability.

When you do decide to upgrade you will need to have a name for your website. This is referred to as your domain name. To have a good domain name is to have one that includes one or more of the keywords that your site is aimed towards. Considering that this name is basically your company name you will want to think of something that will catch the attention of people as well as the search engines.

When you are planning out your website you will need to think about what you want to say and who you want to say it to. It is best to be straight forward and speck in a natural way. Be clear on what your website has to offer. Remember that people like to buy from people so just be a person. If you understand the websites objective and who your audience is when you are designing your website you will be just fine.

If you are having trouble with the planning of the website you may want to check out other peoples websites that are related to the same subject as yours. This way you will be able to see what you like and also what you may not like. If you like a certain part of a website chances are that others will to.

Sci Fi Writers

Sci fi writers are in great demand because sci fi as a genre has millions of fans world-wide. Most writers and readers enjoy the fine blend of fantastic imaginings rooted in science. Such writers should make sure their stories are believable and plausible.

The best way to gain a strong grip on becoming a science fiction writer is to reads tons of literature based on the genre. Be it in the form of reading novels, short stories, screenplays or watching movies and television programs, they all educate the aspiring writer to hone his proficiency. Sci fi writers explore the condition of human beings but from a different perspective, imagining strange opportunities and challenges to give a deeper insight into human nature.

Watching and analyzing science fiction movies and reading such screenplays, short stories, and novels will help writers with their own creation. The writer should practice the art form by composing as many stories as possible, each time receiving feedback from reliable sources and improvising accordingly. You can submit your best works for potential publication, making sure the story does not have any logical flaws.

One of the most prestigious awards that sci fi writers can be awarded is the Hugo Award, which is presented by the World Science Fiction Society. The other accolade that can be won for outstanding work in the field is the Nebula Award given by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America on the basis of votes by the community and authors. Sci fi screenplays of exceptional standard can aim for the Golden Brad Award.

Since the competition is fierce, sci fi writers have to be methodical and creative when crafting stories that are 'simply out of this world'-- literally and figuratively. The setting and the characters are limited by imagination alone. The creation of these writers encompasses a sense of wonder. Sci fi writers must be daring and know what they want to write.

The one advantage of being able to edit is that the writer can write just anything, however absurd it may seem at first, knowing that he can make necessary alterations later on if need be. Once the rough draft has been written, it is necessary to gain feedback from professional writers. This will help because they can point out what works well as well as areas that can be improved upon. Alternatively, some writers choose to collaborate or hire a ghostwriter.