BI -WEEKLY Vol ume 24, Number 31 - Jul y 22, 2011

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College graduates:
Six Financial
Survival Tips for the
Working World
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College graduates: Six Financial Survival Tips for the Working World
(ARA) - Despite a turbulent job market and economy, if
you are a recent college graduate, there is much to be opti-
mistic about as you leave campus and head out into the real
world. No one ever said life on your own would be easy,
but post-graduate fnancial bliss can be a reality.
These six tips from Thrivent Financial offer a starting point
for recent graduates who are ready to put their education to
work for a secure fnancial future.
Get real about your paycheck
Compared to the minimum wage jobs you survived on
through college, the annual earnings at your frst post-grad-
uate job may give you dollar-sign eyes. Dont be fooled
though; after taxes, benefts, living expenses and student
loan payments, your remaining monthly spending money
could amount to less than half of your gross income. Being
realistic about your paycheck doesnt mean you cant have
any fun, though. That new car may have to wait a while, but
with smart budgeting you can still enjoy some of the fner
things in life with a clear conscience.
Your credit score matters
Thought you were done worrying about test scores? Think
again. Whether you want to get an apartment, mortgage,
car or a new job, your credit score says a lot about you and
can make or break you when trying to move forward with
these important steps. Free credit reports are available at
www.annualcreditreport.com, and for a small fee you can
also obtain your credit score. Examine your report regu-
larly for accuracy, and pay off any existing credit card debt
as soon as possible. Credit card interest is wasted money,
and outstanding debt can hurt your credit score.
Look out for yourself frst
After expenses and taxes, your paycheck may look too
slim for comfort, but protecting your assets, health and in-
come with insurance is worth the additional cost. If you
have an apartment, renters insurance is a relatively inex-
pensive way to protect your possessions. Health insurance
is also a must, whether you get it through your employer or
stay on your parents plan. Your paycheck is worth protect-
ing, too. Disability income insurance is not just for those
with physically demanding jobs, as most benefciaries are
on disability from illness, not injury. Preparation for the
unexpected comes at a small price considering the costs
associated with the alternative.
Save for the fun stuff
Again, being responsible with your fnances doesnt mean
you cant have any fun. You have worked hard to start your
career, and deserve to reward yourself. The best way to
spend smartly is simply to spend less than you have. Dili-
gent saving allows for the occasional splurge without hav-
ing to feel guilty or anxious about your decision to spend.
Consider directly depositing a certain amount from your
paycheck into a savings account for a fun fund.
Save for the grown-up stuff, too
Your parents nagging may start to quiet now that youve
graduated, but their retirement planning advice is worth
listening to. Start investing now; you wont regret it. As
you barely scratch the surface of your career, retirement
seems a long way off, but successful investors understand
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that the longer your assets remain invested, the greater their
potential for growth. The cash you forfeit now will pale in
comparison to the amount youll end up getting back at the
end of your career if you start as early as possible.
Dont pass up free money
Many employers offer pretax savings through their re-
tirement accounts. Because your retirement contributions
come out before taxes, your taxable income is decreased,
saving you money. For example, a $100 contribution from
your earnings to a pretax retirement account would reduce
your paycheck by only $75 if youre in the 25 percent tax
bracket. If your employer matches a percentage of your re-
tirement contributions, it is wise to contribute the maxi-
mum amount of their match so as not to pass up on free
money.
Money is just one of many aspects of adulthood that col-
lege graduates must meet head-on to start living indepen-
dently. Personal fnance may seem daunting, but dont be
discouraged. The above-mentioned tips boil down to com-
mon sense: spend less than you earn, stay protected through
proper insurance, maintain good credit and save for the
short and long-term, and you will be off to a great fnancial
start in the next chapter of your life. For more fnancial tips
and advice, visit www.thrivent.com.
College graduates: Six fnancial sur-
vival tips for the working world
(ARA) - Despite a turbulent job mar-
ket and economy, if you are a recent
college graduate, there is much to be
optimistic about as you leave cam-
pus and head out into the real world.
These six tips from Thrivent Finan-
cial offer a starting point for recent
graduates who want a secure fnan-
cial future.
Get real about your paycheck
After taxes, benefts, living expenses
and student loan payments, your re-
maining monthly spending money
could amount to less than half of
your gross income.
Your credit score matters
Your credit score can help you get
a job, an apartment or a car. Know
what yours says at www.annualcre-
ditreport.com.
Look out for yourself frst
Protecting your assets, health and
income with insurance is worth the
additional cost.
Save for the fun stuff
Diligent saving allows for the occa-
sional splurge without having to feel
guilty or anxious about your decision
to spend.
Save for the grown-up stuff, too
Successful investors understand that
the longer your assets remain in-
vested, the greater their potential for
growth.
Dont pass up free money
Many employers offer pretax savings
through their retirement accounts so
be sure to take advantage.
For more fnancial tips and advice,
visit www.thrivent.com.
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How to Market Your Online Portfolio so it Gets Noticed
(ARA) - You have an online portfolio, but
you arent sure if its working for you. Be-
cause a good online portfolio is an asset in a
job search, its important to know how to get
it in front of the right people.
There is no one, magic resource that will
market your work and who you are as a pro-
fessional, says Marc Scoleri, director of
Career Services at The Art Institute of New
York City. To develop a targeted plan, con-
duct research to determine where your audi-
ence is looking for the skills you offer. In
addition to your portfolio site, attempt to
combine LinkedIn, industry sites, social me-
dia and networking.
Here are some suggestions on how to market
your online portfolio from Scoleri and Juliane
Pelfrey, director of Career Services from The
Art Institute of Ohio-
Cincinnati, a branch of
The Illinois Institute of
Art-Chicago.
Industry sites and other
portfolio sites
Whether youre a bud-
ding professional or a
skilled expert, content
is important to sites that
host portfolios because
content generates traf-
fc and attracts employ-
ers. Pick sites that have
higher traffc, are more
visible than others and
best ft your skill sets. In
addition to your offcial portfolio site, look
for other portfolio sites or industry-related
sites like FilterFoundry.com, Behance.com
or Art Directors Club adcglobal.com. Get
these industry sites to feature you by enter-
ing their contests, volunteering for pro-bono
work, etc.
LinkedIn and social media
Scoleri recommends LinkedIn as the best use
of professional online networking. You can
create a company profle from within your
personal LinkedIn profle. Connect with other
professionals and ask for recommendations.
While other social media sites can assist in
your marketing efforts, its not necessary,
Scoleri says. If you plan on using Facebook,
Twitter or blogs, use them so that they link to
your offcial portfolio site.
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Page 11
Search engine optimization
Include keywords on your site that employ-
ers are using to search for talent. Include
these keywords in your online portfolio,
blog, LinkedIn page, etc. If you are looking
for freelance or contract work, you may want
to look into paying for Google AdWords.
Go mobile and keep up with technology
Theres nothing worse than a missed oppor-
tunity. A portfolio site should easily load on a
mobile device. Take your site to networking
events via an iPhone or iPad. Show up in per-
son when networking at industry events. Pull
out your iPhone and show your work when
appropriate. Get others to view your site
quickly by placing a Quick Response code
(QR code) on your business cards
that links directly to your portfolio
site.
Marketing promotional slicks
A marketing slick or a promotional
slick is like a teaser ad, says Pelfrey.
The slick is a self-promotional
document, perhaps in PDF format,
that includes your top two, and no
more than four pieces of work with
short descriptions and a link to your
online portfolio site should they
want to see more, she says. Pelfrey
recommends that you keep the slick
to the standard 8.5-by-11 inch docu-
ment size to facilitate viewing and
printing. Send the promotional slick
with your resume.
Is your site marketable?
The online portfolio lacks human
interaction, Pelfrey says. You
have to convey who you are and what you
can do through pictures.
Before you market your online portfolio,
make sure it is:
1. Updated
An online portfolio site is similar to a resume.
Make sure your links, contact information,
biography, list of accomplishments, etc. are
current and active.
2. Tailored
Show your potential employers that you can
do the type of work that they are looking for
and need. Employers need to be able to di-
rectly relate to your work.
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3. Professional
Be selective when featuring work that por-
trays extreme religious beliefs, sexual orien-
tation, political stance, ethnic background or
violence. If you do include images that elicit
a strong, emotional response be sure it serves
the purpose of your ultimate goal.
4. Your best
Only include your best work. Ask a colleague,
an instructor or a friend. They can give you
their best recommendations.
Brand yourself and consider yourself a com-
pany. Try to keep your look and feel con-
sistent. Use color, font or a logo to create a
common thread between your portfolio site,
business card, blog, etc.
To learn more about The Art Institutes
schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz/.
Page 13
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Avoiding Summer Brain Drain In Your Kids
(ARA) - The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here
and for kids that means time out of the classroom and out
of doors. While school may be out for summer, you dont
have to succumb to the summer brain drain that affects
children each year.
Research shows that many students may lose as much as a
few months worth of learning in the summer. A 2007 study
by the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity found a direct link between summer learning loss
and the achievement gap.
Typically, teachers spend the frst week to the frst two
months of the school year trying
to bring student knowledge up to
a specifc level in order to advance
their learning, says Debra Hill, as-
sociate professor in the College of
Education at Argosy University,
Chicago and president-elect of the
Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development. This
is found most commonly in math,
where review can last through the
frst full semester in some grade
levels.
So when all your kids want is down time, how do you keep
their minds tuned up?
While proactive summer learning can certainly improve a
childs retention rate, the way that they learn in the summer
may be different from how they learn while in the class-
room. Learning is an ongoing, lifelong activity, says Hill.
A mental break for your kids in the summer should occur
not based on learning, but based on the activities students
engage in related to learning. Summer should be about
more reading for fun, exploration, communication and ap-
plication of what they have learned.
Since students do not often practice by doing or by teach-
ing others, it would follow that the application of what
they have learned in school through hands-on activities in
the summer will assist in retention in the fall, says Hill.
Hands-on experiences, conversation, physical activity
will help kids continue to be mentally active. Providing
students with opportunities to participate in activities they
consider fun will not lessen the learning.
The more you can keep your students accessing previous-
ly learned knowledge in a new and practical way, the more
it is likely to get implanted and permanently ingrained in
their brains, says Kevin Yeoman, an instructor in the Game
Art & Design program at The Art Institute of Fort Worth.
Family meals, trips to the store, collecting shells on the
beach, heading to sports camp and most any other activity
can have a learning component if parents engage in con-
versation with their kids about the activity. Learning a
new skill, or about a new place, or a different way of doing
something, or meeting new people
are ways of studying. There will not
be a test, yet the new information
contributes to the overall mental
growth of the individual, says Hill.
Keep your students actively en-
gaged in the world, says Yeoman.
The more they can apply their book
knowledge to new experiences
and activities they enjoy, the more
learning will take place.
You dont want to create a resistance to learning by forcing
your child into the same types of activities they do during
the year, says Yeoman. Instead, take the lessons theyve
learned in school and apply them to everyday situations.
Whether its having your child map out the route to the
grocery store or use basic geometry to create a sandcastle,
youre providing them the opportunity to apply their book
knowledge in a new way.
And that can even hold true with video games. There are
excellent technology tools such as video games and online
projects that are educational and engaging, says Hill. The
key is balance and not encouraging kids to focus most of
their time on their electronic toys.
Ask kids what they like and want to do, encourages Hill.
As an adult, examine what learning can take place when
your child gets to select the activities they participate in.
Talk to your kids, ask questions, provide problems to be
solved, give them opportunities to explore and model what
its like to be a life-long learner.
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3.99%and $33.69 at 12.99%. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride.
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f or l ocal , st at e, r egi onal , nat i onal and i nt er -
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