Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn’t float too well. —Craig Stadler Good Agents Help Seniors (NAPSA)—Despite the availability of the Internet and new directselling options, it can still take a good insurance agent to provide valuable help to America’s seniors as they plan for the future. “There’s no replacing the agent when it comes to finding solutions for your financial needs,” says Scott Perry, president of Bankers Life and Casualty Company, a national insurance company specializing in serving the needs of seniors. “Plain and simple, insurance can be complex and confusing. Not getting qualified help can be costly—not only for you but for your family as well.” Good agents can provide value to seniors with their: Insight. Agents can help you confront life’s realities and determine the insurance products that best meet your needs. Knowledge. Agents, especially those who have expertise with seniors, are uniquely equipped to understand your distinct lifestyle and changing financial and health care needs. They can help you easily understand and evaluate options, saving you from having to research products and obtain premium rate quotes yourself. Ongoing assistance. Relationships with good agents can not only pay off now, but in the future, too. After the purchase, agents can assist with policy questions and claim matters. Through regular reviews, they can ensure that your insurance coverage keeps pace with your changing needs. Good agents are out there “It’s not hard to find a good agent,” adds Perry, whose com- Obviously a deer on the fairway has seen you tee off before and knows that the safest place to be when you play is right down the middle. —Jackie Gleason pany has a nationwide career agent force. “However, consumers should carefully consider their choices to ensure a good fit and to get the maximum benefit from the relationship.” The Insurance Information Institute notes that good agents are key to buying the right amount and type of insurance at a rate that fits your budget. Among the things on the Institute’s list that signal an effective agent: Solid background—Your agent must be licensed by the state insurance department. Understanding—Your agent should ask the right questions to understand your financial situation, including your attitudes about risk, as well as personal situations that might impact decisions about your financial goals. Easy to work with—The agent should explain, in terms you easily understand, issues, options and how the coverage complements your financial program. You should never feel pressured into making a decision. Instead, your agent should work with you until you’re ready to make a decision that’s right for you. For more information, visit www.bankers.com and click “Senior Resources.” Think Safety First For Ultimate Roadster Ride (NAPSA)—When it comes to sports cars, even those drivers with a need for speed are starting to brake for safety. An estimated 34,000 people are killed in auto crashes in the United States each year. And whereas sports cars are most often associated with sleek exteriors and hip convertible tops, some of today’s roadsters offer the most sophisticated, reliable safety features on the market—to ensure your drive is as good as it looks. Two Sides Of Safety Safety has two sides—passive and active. Passive safety provides protection at the time of a collision. It begins with a chassis designed to properly absorb an impact and further protect occupants with two important features: dual front and side airbags and a protective safety bar—necessary should a rollover accident occur. Active safety helps you avoid a collision. It also begins with a well-conceived chassis and can be greatly enhanced by the intelligent application of modern technology, such as anti-lock disc brakes for increased stability; an Electronic Stability Control System (ESC), which takes over if a car’s sensors detect a loss of control; and horsepower, to help the driver accelerate away from danger. Balance is also important, with the weight ideally being distributed evenly between the front and rear, giving the car maximum agility. What To Look For There are certain questions to consider when shopping for a sports car. For example: The reason the golf pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can’t see him laughing. —Phyllis Diller The person I fear most in the last two rounds is myself. —Tom Watson Everybody has two swings—a beautiful practice swing and the choked-up one with with which they hit the ball. —Ed Furgol Always throw your clubs ahead of you. That way you don’t have to waste energy going back to pick them up. —Tommy Bolt It’s nice to have the opportunity to play for so much money, but it’s nicer to win it. —Patty Sheenan Golf is an ideal diversion, but a ruinous disease. —Bertie Forbes The Porsche Boxster’s mix of safety and style makes for a great sporty ride. • Does the car offer consistent and predictable handling, which can help you avoid an accident? • Does the car have big disc brakes front and rear to provide short stopping distances? • Does the car have a safety bar and a wind blocker to reduce wind noise? • Are the seats comfortable, and will they hold you in place in tight turns? Comfort Meets Style Whether you’re driving crosscountry or simply commuting to work, you want to minimize fatigue while traveling. This is where style makes its move from exterior to interior, with features that bring you comfort behind the wheel. Among true sports cars, the Porsche Boxster and Boxster S are excellent examples of style, comfort and safety combined into one smooth joy of a ride. And as proof of its quality and design excellence, the Boxster was ranked highest in the Compact Premium Sporty Car segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.porsche.com. Putts get real difficult the day they hand out the money. —Lee Trevino Golf is twenty percent mechanics and technique. The other eighty percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness, and conversation. —Grantland Rice Victory is everything. You can spend the money, but you can never spend the memories. —Ken Venturi 8 Whole-Grains For Healthy Hearts (NAPSA)—“Lower your cholesterol.” If this is a phrase you’ve been hearing from your doctor, you may like to know that a healthy diet is the first step toward lowering your cholesterol. Fortunately, the American Heart Association has tools that can help you quickly and confidently find heart-healthy foods when grocery shopping. Whole-grain foods that are high in fiber are an important part of a cholesterol-lowering diet. However, shopping for whole-grain foods can be confusing. That’s why the association added the whole-grain category to its Food Certification Program. “This simple whole-grains certification mark is an easy and reliable tool for consumers,” said Penny Kris-Etherton, R.D., Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. “In fact, I use it myself.” The heart-check mark is the first third-party symbol that requires a whole-grain product to be at least 51 percent whole grain by weight and meet minimum daily dietary fiber content criteria, as well as be low in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. Free Grocery List Builder You can save time shopping by first visiting heartcheckmark.org to use the free grocery list builder tool. Click on “My Grocery List” and browse through approximately 800 foods certified by the American Heart Association. Products are organized by food manufacturer and by categories such as breads, dairy case, frozen foods, fruits and vegetables, meats, snacks and more. Heart-Healthy Eating Tips • Emphasize high-fiber foods such as whole wheat, oats and oatmeal, rye, barley and corn. Also include popcorn, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat, bulgur (cracked wheat) and millet. • Choose breads and other foods that list whole grains as the first item in the ingredient list. • Aim for about 25 grams of fiber each day. • Select foods low in arteryclogging saturated and trans fat, as well as dietary cholesterol. • Include five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. • Focus on lean meats, poultry and low- or no-fat dairy products. • Eat fish twice a week. • Know how many calories you need. To learn more about reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke through healthy lifestyle changes, visit americanheart.org or call (800) AHA-USA1 for a free copy of the “Shop Smart with Heart” brochure. (NAPSA)—A program called WiLD, run by the world hunger organization Heifer International, provides impoverished women with livestock; microcredit loans; and training in strategic planning, reading and math, and sustainable agricultural practices. Visit www.heifer.org. Taking Provigil (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV] from Cephalon, Inc. is the standard of treatment for excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. More information can be found at www.Provigil.com or 1-800-896-5855. Nickelodeon offers a program called the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge to help kids make their lives healthier. To date, more than 260,000 kids have pledged to “go healthy,” by registering on the Web site. For more information, visit www. nick.com/letsjustplay. According to the experts at HouseMaster, leaders in the home-inspection industry, making the house appear occupied, even when away, can enhance home security. Learn more at www.housemaster.com/homede fects. Medications should always be kept in carry-on luggage to avoid the possibility of them getting lost with checked baggage. For more information, visit www.medco.com. You can get unlimited Carfax Vehicle History Reports for 30 days by entering a used vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) at www.carfax.com. The reports may indicate if a car has been in an accident or flood, provide vehicle safety information and can help buyers avoid odometer fraud. Eileen Howard-Dunn, vice president, CVS/pharmacy, said: “We introduced the PLAYSKOOL Baby Care line so that moms can save time by getting everything, from their prescriptions to their baby care needs, all in one convenient and accessible place.” Learn more at www.cvs.com. With its aggressive and performance-oriented styling, a new “crossover SUV” successfully combines vibrant design and innovative technology for the driver seeking both a fun and functional car. To learn more, visit www.nissanusa.com. If you’re renovating or building a home, consider using environmentally friendly materials. CertainTeed’s DryRight insulation can be an easy and cost-effective way to conserve energy. Plus, the insulation helps guard against the moisture that can lead to damaging mold and mildew. Visit www.cer tainteed.com for more information.
