Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Online Security: Cyber crime How companies are hit by email scams

Fraudsters are using clever impersonation techniques to siphon millions from unprotected businesses

When Keith McMurtry, corporate controller of Scoular, a 124-year-old US grain-trading and storage company, was asked by his chief executive to wire $17.2m to an offshore bank account, he did not question it.

Chuck Elsea told Mr McMurtry in a top-secret email that Scoular was in talks to acquire a Chinese company. The chief executive instructed him to liaise with a lawyer at KPMG who would provide the wiring instructions to an account in China.

“We need the company to be funded properly and to show sufficient strength toward the Chinese. Keith, I will not forget your professionalism in this deal, and I will show you my appreciation very shortly,” Mr Elsea wrote in an email in June 2014. Over three transactions, Mr McMurtry transferred the $17.2m to an account in the name of Dadi Co at Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, according to an affidavit signed by an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and filed in a Nebraska court.

The email was a fraud. Criminals impersonated Mr Elsea by creating a phoney email account in his name. They also set up fake email and phone numbers in the name of a real KPMG partner, who later said he had never heard of Scoular. US authorities have traced the emails and phone number to Germany, France, Israel and Russia.

Scoular, which is ranked 66th on Forbes’ list of the US’s largest private companies with revenues of $5.9bn, is one of several thousand companies that have fallen victim to a new type of fraud known as business email compromise schemes which have netted $800m in the past six months.

In January 2015, Xoom, an international money transfer company bought for $890m last July by PayPal, a pioneer in digital payments, said an employee in its finance department was duped into transferring $30.8m in corporate cash to an overseas account.

Ubiquiti Networks, a US manufacturer of wireless networking products, disclosed that its finance department was targeted last June by an imposter and transferred $46.7m to overseas accounts. After discovering the fraud the company began legal proceedings and has recovered $8.1m.


More than 12,000 businesses worldwide have been targeted by the scams, also known as CEO email schemes, between October 2013 and this month. The transactions have netted criminals $2bn, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, an intelligence and investigative group within the FBI that tracks computer crimes. Companies large and small, across 108 countries, have been hit and the threat is growing, law enforcement officials say.

“It has gotten quite out of hand,” says Mitchell Thompson, a supervisory special agent and head of the financial cyber crimes task force in the FBI’s New York office.

The criminals are “becoming more brash”, he says, by introducing third parties, such as law firms and consultants, to carry out the fraud. They have also become more sophisticated about how they troll potential victims.

“They’re using social media a lot against us. They might send a spam email intentionally to see that the executive is out of the office, [making] it prime time to target. They might look on Facebook and see that [the chief executive is] travelling to Europe or Australia so they know you’re in the air for a certain amount of time” and have a window to strike, Mr Thompson says.

Tricking people using the internet to steal money is hardly new. There have been criminal groups taking advantage of users of dating websites and fundraisers for disasters or terrorist attacks. A decade ago authorities were flooded with complaints of bogus Nigerian email scams and false lottery winners.

Criminals use a variety of tactics. Sometimes they gain access to executives’ emails by hacking into the accounts using phishing emails. The accounts of chief executives can also be spoofed by changing a letter or replacing a company’s official email service with a Gmail account. The phoney account created to mimic the KPMG lawyer used the suffix @kpmg-office.com, a fake address convincing enough to trick someone who is not checking carefully.

The criminals usually impersonate the executive and order the transfer, often through a second account they secretly control, such as the one said to belong to the KPMG lawyer. The money is sent to accounts in Asia or Africa, where it is harder for authorities to recover. By the time the company realises it has been duped, authorities say, the money has long gone.

Mr McMurtry told the FBI that he was not suspicious of the transfers since Scoular was discussing an expansion in China and he had been working on an annual audit with KPMG, according to the FBI affidavit. Mr McMurtry, who is no longer with Scoular, did not respond to requests for comment. Scoular also declined to speak.


The scam began simply enough. Mr McMurtry received an email purporting to be from Mr Elsea. “I have assigned you to manage file FT-809,” the bogus email said. “This is a strictly confidential operation, which takes priority over other tasks. Have you already been contacted by Rodney Lawrence [the KPMG lawyer]?” It went on: “This is very sensitive, so please only communicate with me through this email, in order for us not to infringe SEC regulations.”

The following day “Mr Elsea” sent another email stating that the transfer was urgent and he should “proceed asap with the wire to the same beneficiary and bank account as yesterday”.

FBI agents traced the phoney email account in Mr Elsea’s name to Germany. The KPMG email name was linked to a server in Moscow. The phone number provided was traced to a Skype account registered in Israel.

Scoular’s lawyers told the FBI that Wells Fargo said Dadi — the name on the account in Shanghai where Mr McMurtry sent the money — manufactured army boots. Dadi claimed to the bank that the wire transfers were part of a sales contract for the manufacture of boots, according to the FBI affidavit. Scoular said it did not purchase boots.

Mr Lawrence, the KPMG lawyer whose identity was used in the email scheme, is the global leader of KPMG’s international tax services. When interviewed by the FBI he told them he was not familiar with Scoular and had not spoken with anyone at the company, according to the affidavit.

The FBI obtained a court order to seize the funds held at Shanghai Pudong Development Bank but was told that the account had been closed and the funds transferred.

Business email compromise crimes are “a huge” problem, says Austin Berglas, head of cyber investigations at K2 Intelligence and a former chief of the FBI’s cyber branch in New York. Executives are so reliant on email they do not pick up the phone to confirm the transaction and “there is no second check,” he adds.

Some of the email scams are similar, suggesting they come from the same criminal organisation.

The FBI and US Justice Department have several investigations under way. Over the past 12 months the FBI has put more intelligence analysts on the case and have liaised with law enforcement agencies worldwide. “We will open cases this year and we will make arrests this year,” says James Barnacle, chief of the FBI’s money laundering unit.


Glen Wurm, director of accounting at AFGlobal Corp, which makes products for the aerospace, oil and gas industries, received an email in May 2014 similar to that sent to Scoular.

Purportedly from Gean Stalcup, the company’s chief executive, it said: “Glen, I have assigned you to manage file T521. This is a strictly confidential financial operation which takes priority over other tasks. Have you already been contacted by Steven Shapiro [attorney KPMG]?”

Mr Wurm was told not to speak to anyone and was directed to wire $480,000 to an account at the “Agriculture Bank of China”, according to legal documents. The hacker mimicked the tone Mr Stalcup used with Mr Wurm, according to a lawsuit that AFGlobal filed against its insurer Federal Insurance.

Six days later, Mr Shapiro contacted Mr Wurm confirming he had received the transfer, adding that he needed another $18m, according to a lawsuit. At this point Mr Wurm became suspicious and said he could not send so much money without alerting senior executives.

It was too late: the bank account had been emptied. AFGlobal is suing Federal Insurance and Chubb, its parent company, seeking more than $1m for allegedly breaching its contract by not covering the claim. Chubb has declined to comment.

Mr Thompson has declined to discuss either scheme but says criminal groups copy successful tactics. While some schemes have been as large as $90m, the average loss is $120,000.

“The ones you don’t hear about are the smaller corporations that send $50,000. They’re saying, ‘I’m not going to make payroll, we’re going to close our doors’ as a result of the fraud,” Mr Thompson says.

There is little that companies can do to recover the funds. Banks are not required by law to reimburse a company that makes a transfer. Cyber insurance policies might not cover a fraud against a company if its network has not been hacked.

“The bank will look at the totality of what the company has done to protect itself and whether or not they’re adhering to the agreement that the company has signed associated with the initiation of any of these wires,” says Doug Johnson, senior vice-president of overseas payments and cyber security at the American Bankers Association. One good practice is requiring the approval of two people, he says.

That practice is not fail-safe, however.

Like AFGlobal, Medidata Solutions, a clinical technology company, fell victim to email fraud in September 2014.

An employee in accounts received an email from an executive requesting a money transfer, according to a lawsuit filed in a federal New York court against Federal Insurance. The email included an image of the executive’s face and his signature.

Like the other alleged scams, the email included the name of a lawyer, who would act as a liaison for the employee. The employee told the lawyer that he needed the approval of two others before a $4.7m transfer could be made.

The fraudsters had a solution, though. Later that day, two employees with authority to sign off on the transfer were emailed instructions, purporting to be from the chief executive of Medidata, telling them to approve the wire to a bank account in China.

The transfer went through. Two days later, an email from the lawyer told the same employees to initiate a second transfer of $4.8m. One of the employees had grown nervous and called the executive direct — stopping the fraud and saving millions for the company.

Yet law enforcement officials say companies need to be more vigilant to guard against a crime that has become simpler to commit. “It’s easy,” says Mr Barnacle. “All you need is a computer.”

Friday, November 18, 2016

Bricon Associates Pte Ltd - Health Insurance


Health Coverage from:
AXA Health Insurance


Raffles Health Insurance

Health insurance is a true necessity in today’s modern world. If you’re worried about the cost of health insurance then there are a number of schemes designed to help you pay. It’s a lot cheaper than the costs you can accrue when you don’t have health insurance. Our health insurers are Raffles Health Insurance and AXA. With these we offer a broad range of healthcare policies.


Health insurance covers medical costs, dental bills, and covers you in case of accidents and things of that nature. How much your health insurance costs depends on things like pre-existing conditions but, if you have pre-existing conditions, it becomes all the more important for you to pick up health insurance today.



Tuesday, November 1, 2016

SC Advisors Real Estate Development Owner’s Representation



Amway 
Center

Citrus
Bowl

Moss
Park

Community 
Venues

 City 
Commons 

Over the past 30 years our team has been committed to serving Principals and Owners in all types of real estate projects and transactions. Founded in 2005, SC Advisors has continued to build on that commitment to serve with a singular objective to understand and deliver for our clients. We are recognized for our rich history of signature projects and our ability to create and execute complex development plans and assignments. Our company's core disciplines include:

+ Owner's Representation (Development)
+ Owner's Representation (Design/Build)
+ Public/Private Development
+ Acquisition & Disposition
+ Investment/Trust Advisement

Contact SC ADVISORS
545 Delaney Avenue, Building 3 || Orlando, FL  32801 || 407-447-2620

Copyright © 2016 SC Advisors || site credits

Sunday, October 23, 2016

New Mothers Support Group Singapore on Blue House Playtime at the weekend

Enjoy our new weekend event at Blue House UE square. Check out the new location at UE Square for an afternoon of soft play in a beautiful sunlight filled Reggio Emilia inspired space.

You can take advantage of a discounted rate of 15$ (instead of 25$) for 1 hour of free play and exploration. As a NMSG member, you get complimentary membership (U.P. $50) to Blue House.

New Mothers Support Group Singapore look forward to seeing you there and enjoying this regular event.

Please register your attendance with us via Meetup​

Blue House, 83 Clemanceau, 01/35 UE Square, Office Tower
www.bluehouseinternational.com

Time 3.00pm to 4.30pm

Dates 2016

Saturday 12 November
Saturday 10 December

Organizer:

Louise Montefiore

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Pro Axia Consultants Business Consulting Group in Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Japan: The Role of Management Accounting in Decision-making

The role of management accounting in decision-making is crucial. As a business owner, you are expected to face a lot of decisions every day, thus you need to improve your decision-making. You can do this by understanding the great importance of managerial accounting information, which provides data-driven input to those decisions. Businesses could be more successful if small business managers use this powerful tool and learn how management accounting can benefit common business decision contexts.

Management accounting can pave the way to relevant cost analysis. It entails the managerial accounting information used by the company management to determine what should be sold and how to sell them. One example is when an owner is uncertain on where to put his/her marketing efforts. Relevant cost analysis is a process that involves evaluating this decision through the accounting manager's assessment of the costs which differ between advertising alternatives for each product. This technique is taught in basic managerial accounting courses. Through the same process, adding product lines or discontinuing operations can also be determined.

Management accounting can also conclude activity-based costing techniques. The next step after finding what products to sell is deciding to whom to sell the products by determining which customer are more or less profitable. Such techniques can also help small business management to assess the required activities in producing and servicing a product line.
Make or buy analysis is achievable with management accounting. It allows you as the owner to decide whether to make or buy a component needed to manufacture your products. This analysis should only be considered as a factor in making your decision because there are possible non-financial metrics that were not part of the analysis that could be considered significant.

Management accounting can also bring forth data utilization. Managerial accounting information can help you acquire a data-driven look at how to develop a small business. Information on budgeting, financial statement projections and balance scorecards can help management guide the future of the business. Depending on the smart analysis of the company data, managers can aim for constant improvement.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Top 5 bizarre interview questions and how to answer them


There’s an apocryphal story that has been bandied about for years, about an interview where the interviewer asked a candidate: “Do something to surprise me”. The interviewee got out his lighter and set fire to the interviewer’s newspaper. It’s not an action we would advise emulating, but very definitely comes under the heading of utterly incomprehensible interview questions.

Why do these questions get asked?

"Why do these questions get asked" is a tricky question to answer, but as it appears to have started in Silicon Valley during the tech boom its roots are likely to be found in the free-thinking, mould-breaking philosophy that many of the tech pioneers applied to their businesses. Ultimately for some interviewer it’s about unearthing someone who offers more than just “can you do the job”. Wall Street soon followed suit and the practice has become more commonplace. The question for most of us is not why are they asked but how do I answer them?

First and foremost you should remember there isn’t a right answer, depending on the nature of the question, which these questions are about your thought processes, your coolness under pressure, your personality and your approach to problem solving. What you don’t do is say, “I don’t know”, or “that’s a good question” and stare off into space. Let’s take the question: “How many cricket bats are there in the world?” You could either pluck an answer out of thin air: “Three million?”, or go about figuring out how to work it out. “Well, if the population of the sporting public in the UK is X, and a tenth of them play cricket, then that’s XX for the UK, plus another X for the cricketing population in India…” etc. This is the sort of approach the employer would be looking for.

Five types of questions you might encounter

1. Lots of these questions fall along the lines of if you were a colour/an animal/a garden gnome/a car/a food/a computer application (yes, really) what one would you be and why? Try to think of the qualities of the object and how they might relate to your skills or character.

2. What are all the different uses you can think of for a lemon? Apparently asked during an interview for an airline pilot, this type of question is designed to find out how much of a creative thinker you are.

3. Who would you invite to a dinner party/what superhero/movie character would you be/who is your role model? In other words, what character traits do you most admire in other people and why? Think about what specific things they have achieved and what it is about those achievements that you admire so much.

4. How many people will be on Facebook in New York on a Friday afternoon? There are a raft of questions that are much more technical in nature and much more aligned to the role you are seeking. This question was aimed at a marketing executive, and was probing how well they understand the use of social media around the world.

5. Tell me a story. This is a firm favourite, and represents a golden opportunity for you to tell a work-related anecdote that is also relevant to the role in question and also illustrates how you see other people and the world around you.

Preparation, preparation, preparation

This is the key to a good interview. However, these questions are not something that you can easily prepare for. If your job is a technical one, brush up on your technical knowledge. If it’s a creative role, keep a clear head and try to analyse how you would approach some of these types of questions. Above all, expect the unexpected!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Mossack Fonseca on Panama Seeks to Develop its Own Version of FATCA

Mossack Fonseca on Panama Seeks to Develop its Own Version of FATCA

Panama has asked the Group of 20 States (G20) to acknowledge its right to develop its own model for the automatic exchange of information―without involving adverse actions―based on the sovereign right of each country to adopt a position relative to its unique situation―even if such position is not the same as that of the majority of the jurisdictions.

The request made by Panama to the G20 occurred prior to the scheduled meeting of the finance ministers of the G20 to be held February 26-27 in Shanghai. The deputy vice minister of foreign affairs, Farah Diva Urrutia, met with the ambassadors of the G20 countries who are stationed in Panama.

According the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Panama is proposing to develop its own, unique model of information exchange. This model will be based on the condition of reciprocity, protection of the basic guarantees for users of the Panamanian platform of services, mutually beneficial tax agreements, and the existence of a legal framework protecting confidentiality and assuring that the information is used in a proper manner―similar to the FATCA program instituted by the United States.

International organizations such as the G20 and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have put pressure on Panama to sign a multilateral exchange of information agreement. To date, over 90 countries have committed to exchanging information with each other, but, at the same time, several have not agreed to multilateral, unrestricted exchanges.

Panama’s position on the exchange of information was set forth by Juan Carlos Varela, the President of Panama, at the UN General Assembly last year. President Varela stated that Panama is committed to the exchange of information by means of bilateral (not multilateral) exchanges (with certain conditions), and he reserved its right to choose with whom to negotiate such agreements.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Two decades of prime orthopedic surgical care - Howard Marans MD

For many years now, people in Southern California trust and respect Dr. Howard Marans’ specialty, along with his incredible effort in providing quality orthopedic surgical care. He’s one of the most distinguished orthopedic surgeons in Orange County, and his team delivers expert medical care in a warm setting in the heart of Southern California.

Surprisingly, Sarah Hammer, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist, has been his patient. Along with Sarah, a lot of patients have made Howard their personal physician because of his safe and prompt care. He often treats conditions of the upper and lower extremities.

With his help, patients can return to their daily activities as soon as safely possible. He can discuss with the patients the nature of their injury, and impart methods on how to prevent it from happening again.

Howard also offers pain management to his patients. As we all know, pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort caused by injury, illness or emotional disorder. Diseases and inflammations are some of the causes of severe pain.

He’s a man of dedication. He always makes sure that he’s giving his best in giving a precise diagnosis, a comprehensive explanation of treatment options and expectations, and proper execution of the chosen treatment whether non-surgical or surgical. With this, it’s apparent that he has a busy practice for more than 20 years. His commitment to the field is beyond compare.

Howard Marans MD provides prompt care utilizing established orthopedic treatments and innovative surgical and arthroscopic procedures. You can be sure that you’ll get back to your softball league or return to play on your school team with the help of his expertise.

Importance of Orthopedic Surgeons

Most people suffer from various problems on their musculoskeletal system every year, which were rooted from an injury or a disease. This then results to a slow down and restriction of movements.

Therapy and non-invasive treatments can be done on individuals with minor disease or injury since these methods are more than enough to treat the problem of the musculoskeletal system.

In order to repair the problem of people suffering from an acute injury or fighting a serious disease, a surgery is needed. Orthopedic surgeons are responsible for manipulating the musculoskeletal system in the human body and repairing the injuries, as well as fighting the diseases that attack it.

The musculoskeletal system is composed of bones, muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues that allow the body to move. Orthopedic surgeons dedicate their time treating this particular system of the body. Sports injuries, degenerative disease, and congenital diseases are mostly the culprits in attacking the musculoskeletal system. As mentioned earlier, these could make an individual suffer a loss of range of motion or experience limited mobility.

There’s a battlefield waiting for you if you’re an aspiring orthopedic surgeon. You’re advised to be completely prepared in order to conquer this endeavor. You must not give up despite the unimaginable difficulties because it’ll be all worth it in the end, once you’re rewarded with a degree and licensure for practicing in this highly competitive field of medicine.

The standard education system for an orthopedic surgeon includes four years of undergraduate study culminating in a bachelor’s degree, usually in biology, chemistry, or another field of science; four years of medical school training that includes two years of pre-clinical courses and an internship; and residency training.

Orthopedics has one of the longest residency training programs among other medical fields due to its intricate nature. Just imagine what Dr. Howard Marans and other orthopedic surgeons have been through. Orthopedic surgeons have to take five years residency program with one year of general surgery training followed by four years of training in orthopedic surgery. More than 600 students complete residency training programs every year in the United States.

Some orthopedic surgeons continue their training in a sub-specialty within orthopedic surgery, which includes foot and ankle surgery, hand surgery, musculoskeletal oncology, orthopedic trauma, pediatric orthopedics, shoulder and elbow surgery, spine surgery, surgical sports medicine, and total joint reconstruction (arthroplasty).

Orthopedic surgeons can specialize in various sub-specialties, but first, Howard Marans MD wants you to remember two important things:

1. Sub-specialties normally require additional training in a fellowship program, which
lasts 1-2 years (depending on the research requirements) after the completion of a residency.
2. An individual who specializes in one of those sub-specialties isn’t always considered an orthopedic surgeon. For example, neurologists specialize in spine surgery, but they’re not orthopedic surgeons.

Howard agrees that orthopedic surgeons are, indeed, true warriors. The path to becoming an orthopedic surgeon has a lot of obstacles and hardships, and without serious dedication and strong will, an individual might fail to succeed in this field of medicine. Orthopedics has a long and difficult educational program, but for those who survived this battle will find themselves in a well-paid, highly competitive field with a first-class group of peers.

There are more than 20,000 practicing orthopedic surgeons and residents, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and they represent only 3-4% of all practicing physicians. There are several factors that contribute to the salary of an orthopedic surgeon, it includes the location of his workplace, years of experience, and the size of the business, which are often similar to any career field. Each year, an orthopedic surgeon in the U.S. could earn around $440,979, which is considered as the median salary.

Howard Marans MD specializes in arthroscopic surgery, open reduction and internal fixation of fractures, sports medicine, and the treatment of arthritis. His team can take good care of you if you have any problems with your shoulder, knee, hand, wrist, elbow, or ankle. He serves more than 20 cities in the entire Southern California and Fountain Valley.


A lot of people in the region choose Howard as their personal surgeon because they strongly believe that he’s the most capable physician to perform a surgery on the injured part of their body. He’s also working very hard every day to give his patients a quality orthopedic surgical care, so all the recognitions he’s receiving right now is a strong testament that he’s doing an excellent job in orthopedics.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Mission, Vision, Values & Quality Policy at Mossack Fonseca


MISSION

To deliver quality, reliable and comprehensive services to our worldwide clients in the legal, trust, investment consultancy** and digital solution fields through our group´s firms, our global network of offices, our highly skilled staff and the cutting edge technology we have always embraced, meeting client needs by generating value while being able to compensate our shareholders, our employees and the society at large in a responsible manner.

**Entity Regulated and Supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama. Licensed to operate as an Investment Adviser. Resolution No. 94-06 of April 26th, 2006.

VISION

To be the leading local and international group in the provision of legal and trust services, as well as investment consultancy** and digital solutions, known for our prestigious firms and our commitment to service and excellence.

**Entity Regulated and Supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama. Licensed to operate as an Investment Adviser. Resolution No. 94-06 of April 26th, 2006.

CORE VALUES:
·         Customer Service Excellence
·         Commitment
·         Discipline
·         Responsibility
·         Honesty
·         Loyalty
·         Innovation

QUALITY POLICY

Mossack Fonseca & Co. is committed to offering quality legal and trust services in order to satisfy our clients, under a continual improvement scheme and with competent personnel.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Howard Marans MD: Huntington Beach’s Top Rated Orthopedic Surgeon



Orthopedic Surgeon Huntington Beach

From participating in local sports or just walking along a shoreline, the beautiful seaside city of Hunting Beach offers various events and activities for people to enjoy on a daily basis. Being in pain from an injury or a disease places limits on a normal active lifestyle. A top rated Orthopedic Surgeon Huntington Beach will work with a potential patient on an individualized basis to provide an optimal outcome for the medical condition.

Orthopedic Surgeon Huntington Beach


An orthopedic surgeon focuses on the medical issues of the musculoskeletal system. The treatment approach may be either surgical or non-surgical depending on the degree of injury or disease degeneration. The orthopedic specialist will work with each patient to provide high-quality medical treatment to preserve and restore function to joint, bones, tendons, ligaments and other relatable ailments. The orthopedic surgeon Huntington Beach also works with patients with birth defects, traumas, tumors and sports injuries.

Finding the Best Orthopedic Surgeon Huntington Beach

Each orthopedic surgeon receives extensive training prior to receiving board certification. As a potential patient, feel free to ask for credentials and educational background. Under most circumstances, the information is available on the orthopedic surgeon’s website. Begin researching reviews and asking for referrals to find the best surgeon to meet specific medical issues and concerns.

·         Begin by asking family and friends for referrals
·         Ask co-workers and peers
·         Research online reviews from various websites
·         Check out the surgeon’s websites
·         Research hospital affiliations where the surgeon performs on a regular basis
·         Contact health insurance provider
·         Ask the family doctor for a referral

Each resource is valuable in finding a top-rated orthopedic surgeon Huntington Beach. Gathering names will aid in narrowing down the search to find the best specialists.

Characteristics of a Top Orthopedic Surgeon

Credentials and education are only part of what makes a top rated orthopedic surgeon Huntington Beach. The surgeon should have other qualities to make the patient feel comfortable.

·         Treats each patient as an individual, not a symptom
·         Begins by taking a full medical history followed by a physical exam and testing to allow for an accurate diagnosis.
·         Creates a treatment program with both surgical and non-surgical options
·         Explains the reasons for the type of treatment needed
·         Answers all patients questions and addresses concerns with everyday language to help the patient understand the treatment process
·         Follows the patient’s progress through each step of the treatment process

Every patient’s medical needs are different. A top rated orthopedic surgeon Huntington Beach should provide an accurate diagnosis for an optimal outcome to allow the patient to return to a normal active lifestyle.


In Huntington Beach, Dr. Howard Marans is a top rated surgeon who strives for the best possible outcome for each situation. With over twenty years’ experience in a consistent location, Howard Marans MD record speaks volumes for the high standard of caregiving to patients. He begins with an accurate diagnosis with a complete explanation of the desired outcome of the treatment program. Dr. Marans and his courteous staff accept PPO and will work with other insurance companies to provide the highest level of care without creating a financial burden.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Meir Ezra - Leadership Success

You are a leader, even if not officially. People follow your example, learn from you, want to know your opinions and so on. Constantly improving your leadership skills is essential to your success.

Most people have the wrong idea about leadership. For example, car salesman Jim was promoted to the Sales Manager position. During his first week as manager, he decided to show everyone who was boss.

Jim cracked the whip. He held a meeting and told the other sales people, “I want 10 cars sold today or someone will get fired!”

The sales people ran around looking busy and avoiding Jim. Everyone tried to force customers to buy cars, but car sales dropped.

Jim yelled even louder. “You can’t sell cars by pressuring customers, you idiots! Now get out there and sell these stupid cars!”

After a month of this, his two best sales people quit. Sales dropped even further.

Jim said, “I can’t believe this! What am I doing wrong?”

Five Bad Leadership Attitudes

Like many new managers, Jim had these five wrong ideas:

1.      “Because I’m the manager, you better respect me . . . or else!”
2.    “People are lazy; I have to force them to work.”
3.    “I’m superior to everyone. I can do anything I want.”
4.    “If you work for me, you need to kiss my butt.”
5.     “If you don’t like how I run things, you can leave.”

Because of these attitudes, Jim’s sales people were selling fewer cars and looking for other jobs. If Jim did not change his attitude, he would also be looking for a new job soon.

Just in time, Jim learned this vital fact about management.


A Key to Leadership Success

“I believe that to command is to serve and only gives one the right to serve.” — L. Ron Hubbard

At first Jim said, “What? I’m supposed to serve others? How ridiculous!”

But then he thought it through. A lightbulb above his head flashed on.

“If I SERVE my staff members by teaching them about sales and cars, they know how to sell better.”

“If I SERVE my staff members with kindness and courtesy, they treat customers better!”

“If I’m here to SERVE my team, I don’t force them to make sales, I help them make sales.”

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Establisher by Meir Ezra

Imagine a car that can go 230 mph, but has a governor keeping it to 110 mph. Imagine a business that could easily be generating a million dollars in profit per year, but it is stuck at just under 100 K – or is even in debt. Imagine an individual with a power level potential of 10, but who operates at a usual 6.

These “ceilings” or blocks are apparent all around us. It’s a problem that people don’t always know how to fix and so get comfortable in. But that’s not good enough at all…!

This seminar will teach you how to get your people producing at their highest level of efficiency with no effort.

Business is generally simple if each person produces what he is supposed to produce and if he delivers what was produced at the correct place on time.

Yet, most businesses are a hectic mass of people doing things that create more things to do that bring about a need to get more people that will do more things BUT without an actual increase of profit.
The reason is simple.

It is hard to believe or confront, but the reason for ANY lack of prosperity in an organization is internal. Nothing to do with the market, clients etc. Just like a car, the issue is internal. If you can take out the governor from within, you can zoom to new speeds.

While the manager is busy handling the day to day work, he has no time to train his crew and actually resists and resents anyone who thinks about getting time off to get trained.

This brings about internal disagreements and inhibits the efficient creation of results.

Money is the result of results that have been exchanged for money.

If your team is not fully trained, the outcome will not be lack of results, but destruction - as no one is just sitting there doing nothing - so if what they are doing is not constructive, it’s destructive. If they don’t bring results they destroy. And yes, it is another one of those “not easy to confront but true” scenarios.

In this seminar

You will get the tools that will allow you to create the cohesive team you need to run an effective business. You will learn how to train people and how to debug people’s problems. You will learn how to handle the day to day emergencies so they reduce and so that you have time to train your staff.

You will get specific tools to handle ANY difficulties a team member may have. Essentially, you will learn how to get everyone producing.


And the results – money - lots of money flowing in to your organization… and to YOU.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Administrative Services of Mossack Fonseca & Co.

· Preparation of accounts, financial records, financial statements and tax returns.
· Registered Agent Service, Directors and provision of physical office space.
· Maintenance of legal documents and corporate records.
· Compliance with local and international laws in the jurisdictions where operations.
· Continuous customer in relation to methods of notification and information for each case or proceeding having us link.
· Virtual Office Service

Opening bank account


We assist our clients in opening bank accounts for individuals and companies. We closely follow the opening process for all necessary documentation is processed with maximum efficiency. Our independent banking advisers can also help you choose the most suitable and in the most appropriate place according to their individual needs bank.

The service includes opening bank accounts:
· Assistance with the application for bank account in the most prestigious financial centers.
· Deposit accounts with various interest rates
· Current accounts
· Brokerage accounts (stock brockerage accounts)
· Credit and debit cards

Asset and fund management
· Authorized signatory
· All managed funds are subject to our risk controls.

Shoulder Impingement Surgery Cost by Dr Howard Marans

Prior to shoulder impingement surgery, other treatments may be used to reduce symptoms while alleviating pain. The costs of these non-surgical methods will slowly add up over a period of time, which will continue to raise the total of the overall medical expenses.
  • Rest may seem like a free approach to a non-surgical treatment option. However, if the patient is required to spend time resting. Work and other routine activities may have to be delayed or eliminated which can result in loss of wages.
  • Use of braces may help ease the pain while resting the arm and shoulder to promote healing. The brace is usually under $100. The cost is relatively low for the actually brace. However, limiting the range of motion can decrease activity which may result in having to take time off work.
  • Physical therapy sessions may be required. Depending on the severity of the shoulder injury, physical therapy may last weeks. The sessions can help reduce the progression of symptoms through a variety of exercises. Prior to beginning physical therapy, the patient may be required to have an ultrasound to verify the damaged area. The ultrasound and physical therapy session can be costly.
  • Over the counter and prescription drugs may be used to reduce inflammation and pain. In the beginning, the pain relievers may be a low cost option. Over time the costs will continue add up.
  • Cortisone or other type of steroid injection may help in reducing the symptoms of the shoulder impingement. The injection can reduce the inflammation and irritation, which may feel like a quick fix.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

The Petersen Group: What to Do Before Buying a House

My partner and I had just moved in to our new home a year ago after a long renting scheme but it was almost 2 years since we had actually bought the house. We underwent a lot of paper works and legalization processes before finally reaching a final decision. As first time buyers, we have consulted a lot of advices and reviewed countless of guide articles on what initial steps to take before buying a house.

After meeting with Mark, an agent working with The Petersen Group which we hired as custom home builder, we have learned a few friendly tips which really helped us in choosing the best home for us:

1. Think of the Long Term Circumstances

If you are living together like me and my partner, you should ask yourself of your plans for the future which, in time, is inevitable. Are you planning to have kids? Are you expecting family members and friends to stay over every now and then? You may be planning to stay in your new home for only a few years. If the time comes to sell your home, who is your target audience? What are the key areas around which are accessible?

2. Make a list

When buying a pre-furnished home, you may not agree with one design but like how the placement of things is in the other room. Make sure to list your preferences before visiting houses. You can just cross out your list and compare later on which house is the most compatible with your likings.

3. Consider the Expenses

It makes a lot of difference if you are planning to buy a house in the developed city of Los Angeles, California than a house in Jakarta, Indonesia. When budgeting for the house, don't stop with principal, interest, taxes and insurance; add in utilities, cost of commuting and upgrades.

4. Better to Buy in Cash


One of the advantages of cash is you get discounts but it fairs more than that. In today’s competitive market where buyers are getting aggressive to owning a house within prime locations, purchasing a house in cash gives an edge in securing the home before any competitor can. Bottom line is, a seller wants to know how quickly they can gain money and paying in cash assures faster processing. However, you don’t have to force yourself if you don’t have ready cash or you’ll end up with bank complaints.  

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

5 Things to Know about the Cost for Knee Surgery by Dr. Howard Marans

Howard J. Marans, MD, discusses the cost for knee surgery.


1. There are two main type of knee surgery: open knee surgery and arthroscopic knee surgery.

2. Open knee surgery is most commonly used to treat more extensive knee problems, such as total knee replacement for arthritis.

3. Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive form of surgery that can be used to treat less extensive knee problems, like meniscus or ligament tears. It is preferable to use arthroscopic knee surgery whenever possible, due to its lower risk factors, shorter downtime and lesser costs.

4. There are several factors that can influence the cost of knee surgery:
  • How high the local cost of living is
  • Whether or not open knee surgery is used
  • Whether or not a hospital stay is required
  • How long it takes to perform the surgery
  • How many resources the surgery takes to perform
  • What the individual surgeon's rates are
5. Insurance covers orthopedic knee surgery costs because knee surgery is only used in cases where it is medically necessary, but the different insurance policies vary widely in the terms of their coverage.





Monday, January 4, 2016

Exclusive Online Services at Mossack Fonseca

CLIENT INFORMATION PORTAL
The Mossack Fonseca Client Information Portal is a secure online account that enables you to access your corporate information anywhere and everywhere, with real-time updates of your ongoing requests.

Our exclusive online portal offers clients these features:
• FIND updated information on your Company Formation requests through the Case Information Service panel, as well as digital copies of Corporate and legal paperwork.
• FOLLOW UP on your cases and receive notifications by email whenever one of your cases is updated.
• SEARCH and RESERVE Shelf Companies online.
• VIEW your price lists.
• PAY your outstanding invoices
• REQUEST for certificates, reactivations and order forms
You can access all of these features from any place in the world in a safe environment in real time! Ask for your log in at: portal@mossfon.com

Find the following applications:

1. CASE INFORMATION SERVICE (CIS)
The Case Information Service (CIS) is a tool which tracks the progress of client requests and ongoing cases.
• The CIS enables you to:
            • Contact our staff around the world
            • View digital copies of documents as soon as they are received in our office
            • Receive automatic email notifications every time one of your cases is updated (optional)

2. ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM (OPS)
Mossack Fonseca Client Information Portal offers a complete account management system where you can keep track of all your outstanding or paid invoices.
• The OPS will allow you to:
            • Generate account statements with real-time information
            • Pay your outstanding invoices online or by credit card
            • Take advantage of our debit account application
            • Choose our Batch Payment option that facilitates bank transfers and cheques for settlement of invoices

3. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY SERVICE (EDS)
Mossack Fonseca guarantees the most rapid and secure delivery system for your Annual Invoices and Account Statements. This Electronic Delivery System (EDS) eliminates delays due to the air-mail service. We avoid the use of paper, and it allows you to have more time to collect bills from your clients and send payments before deadlines.

4. ONLINE WORK REQUEST (OWR)
Through this new application you can access these documents easily and quickly, and all in one place!
• Incumbency Certificates
• Good Standing Certificates
• Reactivation of one or more companies
• Order Form
Discover these and other website features NOW! Subscribe us here!