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Term life insurance is a relatively easy to understand concept. Term life insurance policies stay in effect for a predetermined length of time (the term). During the term of the policy, the insured pays a regular premium. If, at any time during the term, the insured should die, death benefits are paid directly to the designated beneficiary.

Unlike other insurance policy types, term life insurance policies offer limited flexibility. Additionally, they do not create any residual or cash value. When the term of a term life policy expires, the policy just ceases to exist-it has no additional value to the insured.

Considering some of the advantages offered by other insurance solutions, some wonder why term life insurance is attractive to many consumers. Despite its limitations and simplicity, term life insurance is actually a very sensible life insurance option for many.

For those needing temporary life insurance protection, a term life policy makes perfect sense. Often, an individual may be “between” policies due to changing career circumstances or some other reason. During the period of time when they would otherwise not be covered, a term life policy can fill the gap, providing them with a means of protecting their family’s financial interests. Others may need life insurance protection for only a designated period of time due to unique financial situations. Again, term life insurance provides a wonderful means of securing coverage over that period of time.

In other cases, one may need a hefty amount of insurance despite having limited budgets. In these cases, the relatively low premium costs associated with term life products provide a solution. One can secure significant benefit levels with premium costs that are far lower than what would be required under a whole life or other life insurance policy. This is why term policies are often popular among younger working people with families who are not yet able to invest in more expensive policies but recognize the need to protect their loved ones until their earning potential is realized.

Term life insurance can also work as supplementary protection in conjunction with another policy. For instance, an immediate need for assets may lead some to with universal policies to temporarily decrease their benefit amount or a specific period in one’s life may seem to warrant protection above and beyond that provided by existing policies. An additional term life policy can be used to increase the available benefit level at a minimal expense during these time periods.

In some cases, others will have a vested financial interest in another person for a specified period of time and may find taking out a term life insurance policy on that person provides them with necessary protection. Insurance companies, for instance, have stated that term life can be of value to employers who need to cover the life of an important employee who has a specific number of years until they retire.

Despite its limited flexibility and failure to yield investment value, term life insurance can be an ideal product for many people. There are a variety of situations that clearly justify the purchase of a term life insurance policy.

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Exploring the Health Savings Account; is it right for you?

The healthcare insurance marketplace, working with the federal government, has recently begun to offer an alternative to traditional health insurance. This new option, known as the Health Savings Account, is designed to give consumers more control and accountability for their health care spending and to ease the burden on employers who have been struggling under the continually increasing cost of healthcare.

The Health Savings Account (HSA) is a savings account that accepts pre-tax dollars designated for healthcare expenditures only. You are entitled to establish and use an HSA if you are enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP). An HDHP is a health insurance plan where there is a high deductible (the minimum deductible to qualify as an HDHP is $1,000 for individuals; $2,000 for families in 2005). In general, these HDHPs have significantly lower premiums, freeing money that can be placed in the HSA for later use.

The theory behind the HSA/HDHP is several-fold. 1. If consumers are aware of the cost of their healthcare, as they will be with a high deductible, they will buy more prudently. Prudent purchase means being able to keep money saved toward healthcare costs in another year, or, eventually, drawing down the funds and paying regular income tax on it, something like a 401(k) plan.

2. Employers are relieved of the burden of high cost premiums and can choose to place some or all of the savings into HSAs on behalf of their employees.

3. HSA funds can be rolled over from year-to-year, allowing you to build a medical nest egg.

The HSA option was signed into law in 2003 and made available in 2004. The major impetus for the HSA approach was the continued rise in healthcare premiums. Premiums for employer-provided health insurance have risen 59 percent since 2000, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Employer health insurance premiums increased by 11.2 percent in 2004, nearly four times the rate of inflation, according to the National Coalition on Health Care. Mellon Human Resources and Investor Solutions in May conducted a study that showed 7 percent of the over 360 employers surveyed already offer HSA plans to employees and 32 percent plan to offer them in 2006.

These rapid changes have left many people wondering if they should agree to an HSA option. The answer to that question rests with an analysis of your individual situation. You must balance:

1.)the cost of your share of the premium; 2.)the savings that you will roll into the HAS

with the likelihood of spending that money and/or more on healthcare costs. If you are like more than 70% of Americans and spend less than $500 out-of-pocket on healthcare annually, there may be a substantial savings for you in the HSA. If, on the other hand, you or your family use a lot of medical resources or are at-risk for larger medical expenditures, or do not have cash readily available for unexpected expenses, the HSA could be a very difficult option.

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Kids today face an ever growing number of temptations ranging from drinking and smoking, drugs, gambling and pre-martial sex. Unfortunately, due to their youth and inexperience they fail to realize that what they do in their youth can have a great effect on their quality of life as they grow older.

On the other hand, as people grow older and approach retirement age they begin to realize that the carelessness of their youth did have a profound effect on the quality of their life but now they are ready to do whatever it takes to remove as much risk as they can. As a result, an ever increasing trend has been the purchasing of long term care health insurance as one way of reducing the financial risk a prolonged illness poses.

Long term health insurance is one the best ways to reduce whatever fears you may have in terms of how you’ll be able to take care of your health after (and in some cases at a much younger age if you are the victim of an untimely accident) retirement as well as ensure your family (your spouse, children and even your grandchildren) that they won’t get saddled with the potentially huge amount of debt that can result from the high-cost of medical care. Long term care health insurance is one of the best ways to guarantee that not only will you receive higher quality care but that you won’t lose a lifetime worth of savings in the process.

Because health care costs continue to rise at dramatic rates nearly every year, it’s becoming increasing advisable to begin coverage much earlier in life. Traditionally, individuals wouldn’t even consider long term care until nearing retirement or even until after retirement but you may want to reconsider your thinking if that’s been your plan. A few big reasons you may want to consider looking into long term care health insurance as early as your mid 50’s are premiums and approval. Policies taken out when someone is in their early 50’s (this is still seen as a favorable age group ) is much less expensive then one initiated in their early to mid 60’s and the older you get the higher the premiums.

However, if you take out a policy when you are younger you will continue to pay the same premium even as you get older. Sure, you may pay for 10, 15 or 20 years before you need it but when you do need it you’ll have much better coverage.

Another big reason you may want to consider taking out a policy earlier in life is that you greatly increase your odds of getting approved with no riders or other exclusions. Once you get hurt or sick and realize you need long term health insurance then it’s too late to get coverage because no insurance company will issue you a policy - at any price.

If you’re currently a little older and you have other income besides your Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and you absolutely have no trouble paying for your daily needs and all your monthly expenses then you should definitely look into a long term care health insurance plan.

Once you make the decision to look into purchasing a long term care health insurance plan you need to be aware that whatever company you talk too will assess your health and you current state of life before issuing you a policy. That will assess your ability to handle the Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

These so-called Activities of Daily Living are activities like: taking a bath, continence, dressing yourself, eating by yourself, going to the toilet (without any help from others) and getting yourself in and out of bed. If you can’t most if not all of these activities you change of getting approved and a policy issued is greatly reduced.

On the other hand, different companies use different approval criteria and there are different types of policies you can apply for. Some policies are geared towards home health care or having a personal home nurse while others are designed for care to be received while staying in a long term care facility. You will be given the option to choose the type of plan you would like when you apply but like most things, you pay for what you get and different plans come will different price tags. Just make sure you thoroughly understand all your options first and if you feel pressured and uncomfortable then politely move on to the next company to apply.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For more of his articles visit: Long Term Care Insurance | Short Term Health Insurance | Social Anxiety Disorder

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25 years ago the world was a different place. Ronald Reagan was starting his first term as President, MTV had not yet forged its way into America’s living rooms and information technology was another way of saying “can you pass me that floppy disk?” 25 years ago when other innovators were creating hair gel and unique flavored ice cream Robert Tulio of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was putting his expertise in computer technology to work for health plans and benefit administrators. Twenty-five years ago RAM Technologies, Inc. was born.

Over the last quarter century a lot has happened. The information technology industry has experienced a growth spurt of exponential proportions, Generation X has let go of their skateboards and guitars in lieu of ThinkPad’s and iPods, and the whole world has plugged in, or so it would seem. Today, after the devastation of hurricanes and other natural disasters, information technology has become the pulse of the healthcare industry. Emergency health records, automated claims adjudication and e-health are today’s innovations, building blocks founded on the groundbreaking technologies developed by innovators at RAM Technologies.

2006 marks the 25th Anniversary of RAM Technologies providing information technology products and services to the healthcare industry. Established in 1981, the supplier of advanced applications has grown into a leader in the industry of healthcare software solutions. The first managed care system vendor to utilize relational database technology based on the ANSI X12 standards, RAM Technologies continues to bring leading-edge technologies to the healthcare industry by developing the most advanced J2EE applications. RAM offers two proprietary healthcare software products HEALTHsuite® and eHealthsuite.

RAM Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1982 as a C-Corporation within the state of Pennsylvania. Until 1995, the Company was engaged primarily in the design, development and support of customized business software solutions for clients in the healthcare industry. In addition, RAM also provided consulting services, project management and computing administration to various clients.

In 1995, RAM Technologies established a Healthcare Products Division. 1995 also marked the launch of the first of RAM’s proprietary products HEALTHsuite®, a leading edge management information system designed for health care organizations. HEALTHsuite® is a core health care/benefits administration system with a full complement of functionality necessary to administer health benefits.

Recognizing the need in the health care market for Internet-based technology, RAM embarked on a major enhancement project in late 1999, to transition HEALTHsuite to a Java-based thin client solution. This effort was completed ahead of schedule and today RAM focuses on the sale and implementation of their innovative healthcare product offerings. Today, HEALTHsuite® continues to meet the needs of the health care industry with the release of version 6.0.

RAM Technologies has been dedicated to advancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare industry. In 2000, with the goal of helping health care organizations turn Internet opportunities into reality, the consumer-driven Internet application eHealthsuite was introduced. eHealthsuite is an e-health solution that provides real-time self-service capabilities via the Web allowing health plans to improve productivity and increase return on investment.

The accomplishments of Mr. Tulio and RAM Technologies have not gone unnoticed. As an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) in the mid 90’s, RAM Technologies was recognized by IBM as a leader in the field. Awarded IBM Business Partner status in 1995, RAM Technologies has continued to evolve and is presently an IBM Premier Business Partner, an IBM ServerProven® affiliate and an IBM Industry Optimized Independent Software Vendor.

IBM Premier Business Partners is an exclusive group of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who have a proven record of successful product development and outstanding customer service. To achieve IBM Premier status, a company must demonstrate excellence in their industry and maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Premier level participation for ISVs is by invitation only and is reserved for the top three percent of IBM Business Partners.

RAM Technologies achieved “IBM Industry Optimized Status” as an advanced member of the IBM network. This relationship allowed RAM to leverage the many resources available within IBM’s programs to better serve their healthcare clients. RAM joined a select number of Business Partners worldwide who have achieved this level of involvement. Over 1,100 IBM Business Partners from around the world are engaged with IBM’s Healthcare and life science Partner World Industry Network. Of these 1,100 organizations, 340 have achieved Advanced membership status and only 29 of the Advanced members have earned the Industry Optimized moniker. These companies now have access to IBM’s rich set of technical and go to market resources.

Long before the Internet was a staple household service, long before every home had its own computer, RAM Technologies was bringing information technology to the forefront of the healthcare industry. For 25 years RAM Technologies has instilled their unique innovations to leading software solutions that serve health plans and benefit administrators. With a growing client base and an exhausting pursuit of excellence, RAM Technologies continues to forge ahead, building on the successes of its first 25 years and looking forward to continuing the tradition.

For more information on RAM Technologies you can visit on the web at www.ramtechnologiesinc.com or call (215) 654-8810.

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When we talk about insurance the thing you have to remember is that always the price of your house must be higher then the value of the mortgage. This is not a hard thing to take care of if you like your house and care about the quality of your life. In case something goes wrong and a disaster struck you’ll have to pay a lot of money for it and keep in mind your house is probably the best asset you own.

Don’t get scared now and run to insure everything you own, you must take your time and take a smart decision considering what are the things that deserver this because is some cases the damages aren’t so bad and it really doesn’t worth it. When you buy a house you buy both the land and the structure so this is the two most important things you must consider in when you think of house insurance.

The land is an important part but it really doesn’t need a lot of monetary protection. When you bought your property you surly used the professional help of a surveyor .In case of an eminent danger he will let you know so this can be taken care of right from the start. But not everything is so easy to handle. Some misfortunate accident can happen and a hot summer can produce a dry land and the big and beautiful trees that you liked so much at the beginning can contribute to this. So if you decide not to insure the land make sure you are talking good care of your surroundings.

The main problems are however the fires, theft and different perils and this are the real thing that your insurance policy should really take care of. Don’t include the land value when you decide on you insurance. This is the best advice you can receive.

Another great tip that deserve taken into consideration is that if you are a loyal customer to an insurance company after several years you can receive some special consideration. You may receive premiums as high as 5-10% if you are truly a good customer.

If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://www.1insurance.info where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Andreea Dinescu.

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Acquiring ladies lingerie is defiantly 1 of the most overwhelming errands for you to do. If you don?t find the right facts or have some prior experience acquiring women’s lingerie, it may perhaps be quite nerve-racking and baffling. Primarily there is a considerably broad group of women’s lingerie products to go for, with differing varieties, styles, colours & sizes & 2nd, you would without doubt have to put up with lots of hassle and uncomfortable instances trying to check all lingerie product that takes your liking. Lastly, if you don’t get the appropriate info in purchasing lingerie, especially above all designer women’s lingerie, its extremely feasible that you will spend too much for one single lingerie item that maybe would not look ideal on them. Find affordable, gorgeous and stylish sexy knickers from designers such as Simone Perele, State of Undress, Kalita, Sielei, Mimi Holliday and Sista Shei.

So, before you go dashing off to your nearby womens lingerie retail outlet, here are various very helpful tips that would unquestionably make shopping for women’s lingerie a great deal easier.

It is always wise to check that you note down their body style and lingerie size prior to going to the stores. The most appropriate way to identify what the best products are designed for them is to learn about their body style so that you know what brand of lingerie would help them to highlight the attractive elements of their body and keep everybody’s stare away from particular parts of theirs body that make them feel anxious.

There are generally 3 lingerie sizes: thin, medium and size plus. The lingerie size that would best suit a person depends on their body form. Their body size would additionally help determine the specific selection of saucy lingerie that would be just right for them, for example a garter set for an individual who has slender, narrow hips & small busts alternatively a halter bra for somebody who struggles with tiny breasts.

It is sensible to know ahead of going to the shops the precise spots of their body that they would want enhanced or accentuated with a particular women’s lingerie item. For example push-up pads for the corsets or bra would support an individual who wanted their bosom to look considerably bigger, whilst a person with a pair of beautiful long legs would look wonderful with long stockings.

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Here is a useful guide to life insurance. Simply put, a life insurance policy provides a lump sum payment upon death of the policy holder.

In exchange for regular premiums, a life insurance company will insure your life so that when you die, the policy should pay out to protect your dependants from the extra pain of financial hardship.

This is particularly important when buying a house, or when you or your family takes on a large, long-term financial commitment. In the event of death, for example, the payment from a life insurance policy can be used to pay off a mortgage.

Policies can be arranged on either a single or joint life basis. Depending on the type of policy you choose, your insurer will pay either a lump sum or a regular income which you could use towards meeting any outstanding debts and trying to ensure your family is able to maintain its standard of living.

How much they receive depends upon the ‘guaranteed sum assured’, the amount for which your life is insured.

Many people first come across life insurance when they take out a mortgage, as lenders often insist on it to make sure the loan is repaid if you should die still owing them money.

However in some circumstances, only having enough life insurance to repay the mortgage is insufficient to fully protect dependants. If you have a partner who would suffer financially if you were to die or if you have young children who depend on you, then life insurance is very important.

Life insurance can be used in many ways, not just to protect a young family or repay a mortgage. It can be used to pay Inheritance Tax or protect business against the loss of a key individual.

You can increase or decrease your cover at any time, add another life onto the policy and add other elements to the plan such as critical illness cover, income protection or mortgage protection.

If your circumstances change you can increase your cover to make sure your family is protected.

Life insurance creates an estate for your heirs. After your debts and expenses are paid, there may not be much left over for your family but life insurance can automatically provide assets for them after your death.

There are several kinds of policies that may be available to you, if you are healthy enough.

Smoking is detrimental to health and is a leading cause of life threatening illnesses. As a result smokers pay higher premiums than non-smokers as the risk of them dying early is greater. I f you smoke and do not declare the fact, you run the risk of invalidating your policy if you have to make a claim.

It is a known fact that women tend to live longer than men. A female who insures herself using a ‘level-term’ policy is likely to have lower premiums than a male. This is based on the fact that females live longer and are less likely to claim during the period insured.

Age is a factor in the successful application for a life policy. Most insurers have an age bracket of seventy-five for the provision of insurance. If you are over the age of seventy-five it is unlikely you will be able to find cover.

Finally, the older you are the greater the risk to the insurance provider so the higher your premium will be.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

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The road to saving on auto insurance is something that every consumer travels at one time or another. And the quest is really not as difficult as it may appear. Saving on auto insurance can be a snap if you know the right places to look, and the best avenues to shop around.

Here is a great way to save of auto insurance: driving safely. Driving with caution is one of the number one ways to keep those rates on the lower end. Insurance companies do not take too kindly to traffic tickets and auto accidents because they only increase their costs.

Keep your credit in good standing. Some auto insurance companies will use your credit rating score in calculating your rates. So, if youve got a less than stellar credit rating, watch out! You may be dishing out more for your auto insurance than is actually worth it.

Some insurance companies will give a price reduction in premium if your vehicle is equipped with the most current safety equipment such as air bags and automatic seat belts. By investing in car alarms or other various security devices such as a car tracking system, you may be eligible for a discount.

Unfortunately, saving on auto insurance does mean that you will have to make a few sacrifices. Cars that have more expensive parts, or are sportier are equipped with higher insurance rates. Buying a less expensive car will cut down on your insurance and liability coverage costs.

Auto insurance companies vary on their discounts and savings, so it is a good idea to check with your agent or customer service representative to verify what is applicable in your area. There are guides offered by each individual states insurance department that will supply you will all the information available about auto insurance savings in your vicinity.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount auto insurance, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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Don’t let your vet burn a hole in your pocket Most pet owners treat their pets like their own family members. So, when their pets fall ill, they do not hesitate to pay any amount of money to get their pets on the road to recovery.

Most often what happens is that our pet’s medical treatment ends up burning a hole in our pockets and most of the times it is the unforeseen illnesses and accidents that shoot up the medical bills. The only way in which we can prevent our pet’s medical expenses from eating into our savings is by getting a pet insurance.

There are two types of pet insurance that you can avail:

Accident Insurance :

This insurance cover will compensate for the medical expense that you incur when getting your pet treated for injuries received during some accident.

Accident and Illness Insurance :

This insurance cover will cover all expenses and costs that you incur when your pet suffers from any illness or accident. This is of course a little more expensive than the first one.

The total cost of your pet insurance however will depend on various factors. The age of your pet, its susceptibility to diseases and accidents, previous medical records are all taken into account. In certain cases the breed of your pet is also considered before deciding the premium on your pet insurance policy.

When it comes to getting the best and the cheapest pet insurance policy, the age old mantra of shop, compare and choose still works. You must compare offers from different insurers so as to ensure that you get the best deal. These days you can even ask for a no obligation quotes for your pet insurance policy via the Internet.

However, while comparing several offers you must compare like with like. Also, you must not completely rely on premium alone; you must look into other factors as well. You must read the fine print carefully and ask questions to clarify your doubts. Remember, an insurance company will always formulate a plan keeping in mind their own profit. There are some insurers that do not cover certain diseases or breeds. So, you must read every clause of the document before signing it.

Still confused about whether you should get a pet insurance or not? Check out these figures: Every 2 out of 3 pet owners in the UK have admitted to have gone overdrawn to pay up for their pet’s medical expenses. So, it makes sense to get a pet insurance today and save yourself from the agony of paying those huge medical bills.

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Life insurance is one of those taboo subjects for normal, casual or friendly conversation. Whenever people, however, develop a life threatening illness, have a close encounter with another vehicle on the highway, or otherwise find themselves in a situation where they are likely to be rated or declined by an insurance company, they suddenly develop a desire for a good life insurance policy. To give credit where credit is due, there are some thoughtfully disciplined people who give their portfolios regular review and make certain they have adequate coverage at all times.

I want so much for all people to think like the disciplined ones. In my career as a life insurance agent I bent backwards to persuade such people to keep their life insurance up to date. I have seen the difference between an adequately insured breadwinner at death, and one who barely had enough life insurance to bury him. The latter situation is quite painful to observe.

I, therefore, think it is imperative that everyone take the time to evaluate and understand what life insurance really can do. Ask yourself this question, “do I need life insurance and why do I need it.”

If someone, be it your wife, your children or your business partner, depend on you in any way that can be seen as a financial dependency, then you do need life insurance. In the case of premature death your family will need money to pay your last expenses, like outstanding bills, funeral expenses, attorney’s fees, medical bills and estate taxes. The businessman will need life insurance to fund a “buy sell” agreement, to pay off outstanding debt, or may be to keep the company afloat while they find a replacement for a deceased valuable employee.

I implore you to look at the following situations which will help you decide whether or not you need life insurance. So just try to relax and objectively as you can evaluate the situation for yourself.

One Parent Only Working

The most devastating situation occurs when one parent works and the other stays at home. Should the working parent die at a time when there are insufficient funds for the survivors to continue living in the manner to which they have become accustomed, then they may have to sell the house. The comforts which they had enjoyed for years would totally change. The minimal requirement is sufficient funds which would allow the survivors to adjust their lifestyle.

The ideal situation is to have sufficient funds which would allow the surviving parent not to work at all, during the formative years of the children. They can live in the same house, they can continue in the same school, and when the time comes to enter college, they go to the college of their choice.

A good insurance policy is an excellent tool that you can use to take care of these things.

Both Parents Working In todays world, in most families, both parents work and share the expenses. If one parent should prematurely die, would the income earned by the surviving parent be sufficient for the family to live on? Probably not. In anticipation of that possibility a fund could be set up, through an Insurance policy, to replace, totally or in part, the deceased parents income.

Single Parent In the case of a single parent, all the financial responsibilities for the family may lay on his or her shoulders. If that parents died while the children are still in school, how will the children survive?

Partnership Or Corporation

Let us look at the situation where you own your own business. You have one partner or several partners. One partner dies. Is it not fair that the surviving partners should own the business and the deceased partners family receive full value for his or her stock? Adequate Insurance coverage can take care of this eventuality also.

It may be desirable by all parties concerned that the beneficiary of the deceased partner become a full and active partner, if this is the situation then the funds can be used as a cushion while the new partner or shareholder learns the business and adjusts to his or her new role.

Key Employee Some employees are difficult to replace. It may take some time to get a replacement up to the production level of your long time, well seasoned and highly efficient employee. If your business depends a great deal on a particular key employee, would it not be wise to insure that employee in case he or she should die suddenly? The company would receive the death benefit in this case, and the money would be used to keep the company afloat, while a replacement is found and trained.

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