Products June 10, 2009

Genworth Unveils Web Site with LTC Information

Genworth Financial created the Let's Talk campaign, designed to give families the right resources to have productive conversations and successfully plan for long-term care needs.

Reported by

The campaign includes a Web site (www.caringtalk.com), featuring downloadable long-term care information. The information includes ways to break the ice with family members, guidance from experts, helpful do’s and don’ts, and advice from people who have already been down this path, according to a press release from Genworth.

Genworth said that the cost of long-term planning is on the rise, making the conversation more of a necessity for families (see “Retiree Health Care Estimate Jumps 6.7%,” “Americans More Worried about Covering Medical Bills in Retirement,” “Long-Term Care Costs Put More Retirees at Risk“).

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“There’s nothing golden about silence on this issue; these family discussions take time. Understandably, many people are reluctant to have a frank conversation about the future,” said Colleen Goldhammer, senior vice president of Long Term Care insurance at Genworth, in the release. “However, the right planning is crucial for two reasons: It helps create a secure future for our loved ones, and it helps families avoid the financial, legal and emotional strain that results when a crisis erupts and there’s no plan in place.”


Data & Research June 10, 2009

Last Call for Retirees

As companies have to slash retirement benefits in these tough times, a Canadian company will stop giving free beer to retirees.
Reported by

Molson Canada has had to cut its unique benefit: It will no longer supply its 2,400 retirees with free beer, according to a news report by Reuters. Turning off the tap for retirees will save the company about C$1 million ($900,000).

Current workers will still receive free beer, but will see cutbacks from 72 dozen bottles a year to 52 dozen, according to the news report.

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Brews in the News

The Molson retirees might not be happy about having to buy beer, but sales show that many others are.

Despite the financial downturn, beer sales are up. MillerCoors, the second-largest brewer in the United States, saw beer sales growth slow less rapidly in the downturn than wine and spirits, according to Reuters. Early in May, MillerCoors said first-quarter net sales rose 3.8% to give a net profit for January to March of $68.5 million. As some consumers traded down to more economical brands like Miller High Life and Keystone Light, those brands gained maket share.

Beer after Exercise

In other beer news, a recent study suggests that beer has the power to rehydrate after a workout better than water. Researchers at Granada University in Spain studied 25 students over several months and found that, after exercise, those who were given beer were slightly better rehydrated than those who were only given water. The researchers believe it is the sugars, salts, and bubbles in the beer that might help people absorb fluids more quickly (similar to some ingredients in a sports drink).

Want Cheese with that Beer?

As Father’s Day is around the corner, an online cheese retailer wondered if fathers prefer beer with their cheese. Fathers might enjoy a nice cold one, but most of them still choose wine over beer when eating gourmet cheese, according to the survey by The Cheese Ambassador. However, more than a quarter (27%) of surveyed dads would choose beer with their gourmet cheese, most likely reaching for imports or domestic craft beers.

Whichever you would choose, cheers!

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