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Millionaires worry about heirs
How will you spread the wealth?
That's what some affluent Americans are asking themselves, as they debate whether to leave their fortune to their kids, charity or in some cases the government.
JPMorgan Private Bank interviewed 350 clients with $25 million or more, and found that more than a quarter said they didn't know how much money is too much to leave to their children.
About 30 percent said their greatest fear was family conflict over how investable assets were split, while nearly 40 percent were afraid of financial predators.
"What concerns parents the most about leaving money to the next generation is the risk associated with predators, and the climbing divorce rate adds to that fear," said Len Adler, wealth adviser for JPMorgan Private Bank in Palm Beach, Fla. "They're also worried about their children or grandchildren losing the incentive to work hard or go to school."
The interviews also revealed that only 9 percent thought it is appropriate to pass on a hefty inheritance to children under 30, while more than half would leave their riches to two or more generations.
About a quarter of the millionaires interviewed said they signed a will less than two years ago, while 6 percent said they have never signed a will and another 6 percent said they signed one more than 15 years ago.
Stimulus checks boost adult sites
ATLANTA » Seems Uncle Sam's economic stimulus checks are boosting an unlikely part of the economy.
Adult entertainment Web sites began seeing a spike in business shortly after the first wave of checks went out in mid-May, according to Adult Internet Market Research Co., a New York firm that tracks the adult online world.
The checks paid up to $600 to individuals and $1,200 to married couples.
The online spike is unusual since the warmer months - beginning in May - tend to be slow for the adult online entertainment industry, said Kirk Mishkin, director of the market research firm.
The market research firm was alerted to the increase by one of its for-pay Web sites.
"Thirty-two percent of respondents referenced the recent stimulus package as part of their decision to either become a new member or renew an existing membership," said Jillian Fox, a spokeswoman for LSGModels, the company that tipped off the research firm.
The market research firm polled the rest of its 800 pay site members and 4,000 affiliates sites, and found similar results after compiling data over seven weeks.
Some 20 percent to 30 percent of the people who responded said the stimulus checks were an incentive to go onto the sites, Mishkin said.
The surveys didn't ask how much of the stimulus checks went to online visits, Mishkin said, but purchases tend to be around $50 for a monthly membership.
How to conduct 'cubicle warfare'
Textless keyboards. Bottomless paper clip holders. Sticky notes blanketing the entire cubicle.
Most who've worked in an office can say they've either terrorized their colleagues with office pranks or been the victim of at least one hoax. Now, all the Dwights in the corporate world can get their revenge.
John Austin, a former toy designer, has written a manual of sorts for tricksters called "Cubicle Warfare" with instructions and illustrations for practical jokes.
The tools required for some traps include Velcro, fishing line and inflatable dolls.
"The office prank is like a gift -- sometimes you receive them and sometimes you give them," said Austin. "As long as they are lighthearted and not malicious -- and you don't try them on people that are up the ladder -- it can take the edge off of work a tad to bring in a little bit of the playground and some horsing around."
To avoid becoming a target, Austin said, employees should avoid letting co-workers know if they have "a case of the Mondays," and keep personal items on their desks to a minimum.
Austin's favorite prank?
"There's an episode of 'The Office' where Dwight's wallet is stolen, and he has to buy it back from the vending machine," he said of the NBC television show. "But of course he had to borrow a dollar from someone first."
Tuesday is most productive day?
Thank goodness it's ...Tuesday?
A recent telephone survey found that 57 percent of executives found Tuesday to be the most productive day of the week for employees. Monday was the second most popular answer, but only 12 percent said so compared with 26 percent in 2006.
The survey of 150 senior executives including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments also found that only 3 percent said Friday was the most productive day of the week.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of "Managing Your Career for Dummies," said that Tuesday often serves as a catch-up day.
"Many view Tuesday as an opportunity to focus their efforts and establish momentum for the rest of the week," Messmer said.
BUSINESS PULSE