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Some interesting stats...

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Education & Training with Agape Long Term Care/Agape Real Estate 590513

 

14...Percentage of loans between family and friends that end up in default, versus less than 3 percent of consumer bank loans (Money magazine)

3.5...Billions of dollars paid out by LTC insurance policies in 2007 (American Association of Long Term Care Insurance)

375...Estimated billions of dollars in unpaid help given by 34 million caregivers to family and friends in 2007, not counting "opportunity costs" of foregone employment (AARP)

77...Number of consecutive years GM was the world's largest automaker before relinquishing that title to Toyota in 2008 (Wall Street Journal)

51...Percentage of people who think it's a good time to buy a home, versus 32 percent who believe it's a good time to buy stocks (Citigroup)

2...Trillions of dollars wiped out in definedcontribution plans and individual retirement accounts from October 2007 to October 2008 (Boston College)

370...Price per pound in dollars of a 282-pound premium tuna sold to two Japanese sushi bar owners (Associated Press)

Recession Severs Heartstrings...
The worldwide recession has taken a bite out of not only 401(k) accounts but the relationships of couples. A survey by PayPal found that one-third of couples worldwide and 43 percent of U.S. couples say the stress of the recession has caused them to argue more, mainly about finances and household chores. Part of the cause is that 10 percent report that the role of the primary breadwinner has shifted in the past six months due to job losses or salary decreases. Money is the number one source of arguments among U.S. couples (31 percent) versus sex (15 percent). Ten percent of couples worldwide say they've ended their relationships due to money problems, but the rate in the United States and Mexico ranked the highest at 14 percent, with the Netherlands the lowest at 5 percent. More couples are also hiding purchases from their partners: 28 percent in 2009, versus 18 percent in the 2008 survey. Interestingly, the countries with the least financial troubles, such as the Netherlands, are where couples tend to avoid  discussions about money. The countries where couples were most likely to openly discuss their finances, the United States and Mexico, report the highest rate of financial difficulties in the relationship. 

Source: Journal of Financial Planning/April 2009

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