The words corporate and blog are going together more and more these days.  Companies like Kia Motors, which has one of the youngest demographics in the industry, are hoping blogs become an effective way to reach and interact with their customers.  Being that more than 80-percent of Kia’s sales occur in overseas markets, the new blog will cater to international buyers by communicating in English only.  Click here for the full story. 

The new site will feature a number of Kia employees from varied departments within the company, including design, environmental management, product planning, marketing, after sales service, and, to make matters more interesting, direct communication with top level management. Topics will range from products to industry trends, and upcoming events.

Companies are being advised to learn the risks and opportunities associated with marketing pharmaceuticals in Asia.  See the complete story here.   According to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the pharmaceutical companies need to get established in Asia to really understand the market and its dynamics.

In addition to this call to have an on-the-ground presence, protecting intellectual property is still a valid concern as more government regulation and protection is needed.   Governments are issuing various incentives to promote regional investment by pharmaceutical companies.

With an opportunity this great, how can a publicly-held pharmaceutical company not try to navigate the risk for its shareholders?

According to a recent report based on Thrivent Finanacial’s nationwide survey of 2,500 people out of the Boomer generation, Boomers are looking forward to a retirement they cannot afford. Only 20 percent feel they are in a better financial position to retire than their parents were. You can read more by clicking here.

The reason is a simple lack of money and yet almost 60 percent have not done any formal financial planning.

It is no doubt obvious to everyone that one cannot just put money in a bank and watch it grow to one’s advantage. A well thought out balanced portfolio is needed which delivers competitive opportunities and a safety net if the wheels come off the market. The troubling result out of this lack of planning could mean an incredible financial burden on their adult offspring.

A person does not need millions to retired, but one does need a plan.

According to a Diamond Management and Technology Consultants study, there is a $40 billion opportunity in health care being created over the next 5 years.  This include opportunities in the following areas; integration and infrastructure, planning/decision support, payment processing, supplemental coverage and consumer health care financing.

Everyone knows that health care is a problem, what has always been the challenge is roping in the opportunities.  Click here for the full story.

Individuals must plan for a 20 year, 25 year or even 30 year retirement period. That’s the results of a recent research report on wealth management. In some cases, financial planners are looking out to a 40 year horizon or beyond that needs to be funded out of retirement savings - Click here for full article.

In addition to planning to fund a 30 year membership at the golf course, retirees need to start looking closely at tax implications and complex investment decisions. Wealth management is getting more complex. What percentage of workers have factored much of this into their current financial thinking?

Recent research indicates that consumers feel on-line banking has been the single biggest impact to them from the Web at making the lives easier.  In some cases, up to 5 hours a week has been saved by conducting banking online.  Some respondents saw online banking as meaning little need to go to the bank at all - see Full Article.

Clearly banks and security companies have a vest interest in stressing their offerings but there’s no doubt online banking has provided a very clear productivity boost for most consumers.  How do the shopping networks feel about this one?