SBJ Buzz

Free quiz rates investor risk tolerance

Weiss Ratings Inc. is offering a free investor profile quiz to help investors select mutual funds based on their personal tolerance for risk. The four-page self-scoring quiz is designed to help mutual fund investors take an objective approach toward assessing risk tolerance based on such factors as

age and number of years to retirement;

income level and tax rate;

other existing investments and personal net worth; and

expectations about investment performance.

The investor's risk tolerance is classified by the quiz score into one of five risk categories: very conservative, conservative, moderate, aggressive or very aggressive.

The quiz is available online at www.weissratings.com/riskquiz.

Weiss also lists the top performing mutual funds within each of the five risk categories. These range from the very conservative MSDW Prime Income Trust, rated A+ by Weiss with a one-year return of 7.08 percent and a three-year annual return of 7.09 percent, to the very aggressive PBHG Select Equity Fund, rated E- by Weiss with a one-year return of 220.28 percent and a three-year return of 62.85 percent.

E-Risk' focuses on electronic exposures

Companies wary of viruses, hackers and other risks online might want to check out The National Underwriter Company's new book, "E-Risk: Liabilities in a Wired World." "E-Risk" focuses on both the risks of the electronic age and what to do about them.

Topics include hacking, internal and external security, emerging and traditional liabilities, business interruption, credit card and password theft, patent infringement and viruses, among others.

Advice and information are offered in the areas of exposures to risk, privacy, global ramifications, internal and external security, and reliability of service providers.

The book is co-authored by seven risk specialists including Scott K. Lange, developer of Microsoft's risk management program, who gives an overview of the key risk factors in the wired world.

Julie K. Davis, technology risk management specialist, addresses intellectual property and the internal threats posed by employees, contractors and consultants.

More information about the book, which sells for $30, is available online at www.nuco.com.

Small business pension plan on the move

Congressman Roy Blunt's proposal to make it easier for small businesses to create pension plans passed the House July 19 as part of the Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2000, HR 1102.

The act comprises a package of incentives to encourage retirement savings and includes more than 50 distinct improvements to existing federal law governing pensions, according to a press release from Blunt's office.

One provision sponsored by Blunt increases the maximum amount an employer can contribute to the retirement fund of an employee from 15 percent to 20 percent of the employees pay.

Other provisions in the larger reform act include:

Shortened vesting requirements for employer matching contributions.

Increased portability of retirement plan assets making it easier to roll over assets when employees change jobs.

Increased contribution limits for traditional and Roth IRAs to $5,000.

Business plans topic of programs at SBDC, HBBO

Writing a business plan is a hot topic in early August.

The Small Business Development Center at Southwest Missouri State University will present How to Write a Business Plan Path to Success 6-9 p.m. Aug. 1 and 3 at SMSU's Glass Hall, west entrance.

Instructors Rayanna Anderson and Linda Gerardo will provide a practical approach to business planning via examples and worksheets.

The fee for the six-hour course is $115 per person, $65 for a second person from the same business. The fee includes the book "The Successful Business Plan: Secrets and Strategies" by Rhonda Abram.

For more information or to register, call the SBDC at 836-5685.

Meanwhile, Betty Neal, CFP, with Edward Jones and a SCORE counselor, will address the members of Home Based Businesses of the Ozarks at HBBO's monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell.

Neal's presentation will include the basics of doing a business plan.

For more information, contact Bruce Helm at 886-4356.