Junior Uranium Companies 'Not for Sale'

On the heels of SXR Uranium One's announcement to acquire UrAsia Energy, one might conclude this could spawn the beginning of widespread consolidation in the uranium sector. In the early morning hours after the $5 billion deal was announced, SXR Uranium One chief executive Neal Froneman emailed StockInterview writing, "Our focus on the U.S. has not changed." In previous interviews, Mr. Froneman has kindly been transparent in his intentions to not only build up his uranium assets in the United States, but to pursue a senior stock exchange listing, presumably the New York Stock Exchange.

On Tuesday, the Financial Times (UK) reported that investors wanting high-quality exposure to the uranium bull market are basically limited to buying shares in Cameco Corp. Froneman told the newspaper, "The new Uranium One will provide an alternative to Cameco." He's right, but there are also two mid-size uranium producers - Denison Mines and Paladin Resources - with sufficient market capitalization to acquire one or more of the smaller uranium juniors. Widely respected Justin Reid, uranium analyst at Sprott Securities, told the Financial Times, "for them to retain market share, they have to do something aggressively, and they have to do it now."

Justin Reid's recent thesis, 2007 - Uranium Equities, is appropriately sub-titled, "The Sector Moves Towards Production & Consolidation." His dual theme for uranium mining stocks in 2007 is consolidation and U.S. uranium miners offering a security of supply. Reid wrote in his February 14th report, "We expect that the acquisition parade has just begun and will become a common theme in 2007. Moving forward we suggest that the U.S. will be a focus, as security of supply, aggressive development plans, and a large resource base waiting for exploitation should be attractive to companies looking for production visibility within a stable political climate."

As an aside, we phoned Justin Reid to congratulate him on his brilliant and comprehensive 120-page uranium mining report. We also wanted to thank him for joining the growing minority of analysts who view the numerous advanced uranium exploration companies, developing their U.S. assets, as one of the more promising and safer havens for investors - the dominant theme in our articles over the past year. After all, the United States presently operates more than 23 percent of the world's nuclear reactors and annually consume about 55 million pounds U3O8. By contrast, U.S. uranium production has only recently risen to about three million pounds of mined uranium oxide. U.S. utilities need reassurance there will be security in future supply so this market remains the premier country for uranium mining production for at least the next decade.

Who's on the Menu?

On Thursday, TheInvestar website reported, "... it must be noted that our uranium index for Canada, as well as Australia, has closed at a record high for the past three days. The juniors are showing strength across the board as well as across continents." Investors have been phoning their favorite companies, since Monday, asking if the company is on SXR Uranium One's, or another's, radar. The record uranium price of US$75/pound has helped enhance the currency of not only the potential acquiring companies, but also those on their menu.

In a recent telephone survey with four potential and often-discussed takeover candidates, we found reluctance, not eagerness, was the common thread.

"We are not for sale!" Uranerz Energy Dennis Higgs told us. His company recently acquired additional property in Wyoming's highly promising Powder River Basin. Higgs told us there has been strong interest in his company, but he's not taking any offers seriously at this time. "Because of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines about resources, we are probably undercapitalized with regards to our peers." Because his company only trades in the U.S. market, it is not required to file a National Instrument 43-101 technical report on its uranium resources. Higgs also pointed to his company's management team - one of the company's attractive qualities, and told us, "If management doesn't bless the deal, it won't happen."

Uranerz continues to build value in the company as is the case with the other junior near-term producers we interviewed for this report. We asked Uranerz chief executive Glenn Catchpole why his company spent about 25 percent of the company's cash on the recent property acquisition. To which an otherwise poker-faced Catchpole responded, "We spent $3.12 million for properties which may host about four million pounds of U3O8." Not a bad deal - about $1.28/pound.

Another company which threw us for a loop is Strathmore Minerals. While we believed the company would be acquired in 2006, based upon retaining National Bank Financial to help them evaluate and negotiate in the acquisition process, recent company developments suggest otherwise. "Right now, we are doing a lot of work on our properties," Strathmore Minerals chief executive Dev Randhawa told us. "We have begun to maximize our shareholder value by spinning off our assets and doing joint ventures. By joint venturing some of our assets and having partners, we are showing the market these properties have more value than the market has been giving those properties."

Randhawa told us the market has been giving some of the non-core assets zero value. It is something he appears to be in the process of remedying. Recent analyst ratings by Sprott Securities' Justin Reid (Speculative Buy, Target Price: C$4.70) and Raymond James' Bart Jaworski; Target Price: C$5.00) reflect the company's present strategy. In Reid's Wednesday report, he remarked that Strathmore broke out of a large trading base dating back to early 2006, targeting C$6.25/share.

Strathmore has about 20 uranium projects in three countries (U.S., Canada and Peru). And the company has been busy. Over the period of about two weeks, Strathmore announced its intention to form a joint venture with Yellowcake Mining on a Wyoming property, a proposal to spin off its Canadian mineral properties into a new exploration company, and an exclusivity agreement with Fortune Global 500 company to develop its Roca Honda (New Mexico) property and construct a uranium mill in the area.

It appears as a uranium company approaches near-term production, the company must also develop a stomach for responding to investor inquiries about takeover speculation. One chief executive weary of takeover rumors is UR-Energy's Bill Boberg. "Potential opportunities have been discussed since early last year with a number of companies," he told us. "There is nothing to be said at this time." Personally, we believe UR-Energy is too busy, as are the others mentioned here, moving their projects forward. In a recent audio interview with Boberg, he explained the step-by-step procedure his company has been taking in advancing through the permitting process so he can bring the Lost Creek and Lost Soldier properties (Wyoming) into production.

In other discussions we've had with Bill Boberg, we believe he is completely determined to become Wyoming's first uranium miner in the new uranium bull market. As with other companies mentioned here, he has strong faith and loyalty for his team. Mark this one as another company unlikely to sell out in the near future. Sprott's Reid wrote that UR-Energy remains in an uptrend and has been forming another base since November, targeting C$6/share.

One surprise was the emailed comments from the vice president for strategic initiatives at Energy Metals Corporation. Farhad Abasov wrote, "Energy Metals has been aggressively building up its uranium property portfolio in the US via two-pronged growth strategy: organic, staking properties and corporate acquisitions. In the last 13 months Energy Metals completed the acquisition of 3 uranium companies in the US. Now we are gearing up for the first production in Texas in 2008. The company controls over 250,000 acres of land in the US. We will continue scanning the market for good and synergistic acquisition deals. At the same time we are open to opportunities on the other side of the M and A that will enhance our shareholders' value."

During a phone conversation, nearly a year ago with chairman Bill Sheriff, we asked him whether his company was open to be taken over. At the time, Energy Metals traded for about one-quarter of its present market price. Sheriff snorted in response, "No way!" Asked at what price he would consider an offer, he answered, "At $20/share, maybe, but I doubt it." For now, Energy Metals is safely below $20, but perhaps not much longer. Reid wrote that Energy Metals is making new all-time highs and that he foresees a potential toward the upper end of the stock's trading channel - about C$15+ per share.

Conclusion

Thanks to the steady upward uranium price climb, now being heralded as likely to be one of a top-performing commodity in 2007 - and with some analysts calling for US$100 uranium per pound, the sector has attracted several hundred players and want to-be players. The majority will vaporize as many industry experts quietly, and not so quietly, predict. As Justin Reid accurately points out, the uranium sector is fragmented. It is more fragmented in the United States than elsewhere, aside from Australia. In Namibia, the uranium rush forced the country to re-evaluate its issuance of exploration licenses. Lucky stars for Paladin Resources and front-runners in the horse race, such as Forsys Metals and UraMin.

Fragmentation will eventually lead to consolidation. Those with the currency of their market capitalization have the most confidence from their bankers. And the most clout to advance additional consolidation in this sector.

Ultimately, the game boils down to negotiations. In January, SXR Uranium One chief financial officer Jean Nortier had complained about the high price of uranium assets around the world. In the all-stock transaction to acquire UrAsia, both parties agreed the uranium price should continue rising. And as long as this remains the case, further acquisitions should be expected - whether the targets are reluctant or not.

And the next very big deal will probably take place in the United States. Whether the acquirer would be SXR Uranium One or the alternatives in Paladin Resources or Denison Mines is not known. Reid did make Denison his Top Pick, probably to the chagrin of uranium guru James Dines. Sprott Securities terminology for "top pick" is "our best investment ideas, the greatest potential value appreciation." With this strong backing, Denison's currency might improve and provide them with more clout to build their uranium asset base through another acquisition.

Strathmore Mineral's Randhawa best summarized what makes U.S. uranium companies appealing, "By acquiring U.S. uranium assets, those companies with foreign assets also get an insurance policy when they make a deal." Until then, the junior uranium companies continue to move their projects forward, and at some point, the time will be ripe. But not now.

COPYRIGHT © 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. His focus on the uranium mining and nuclear fuel sector resulted in the widely popular “Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market,” which is now available on [http://www.stockinterview.com] and on http://www.amazon.com

Top Companies Paint a Picture of Prosperity

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty traveled New York recently to tout the Canadian economy to potential investors.

As the recovery rolls forward, Canada's surging dollar and its comparatively low debt-to-GDP ratio, has given the country a "competitive advantage," Flaherty boasted to guests at a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Association of New York.

"The fact that we weathered the storm without having to put any taxpayers' money into the financial system or any of our financial institutions impresses a lot of people," he said.

The Canadian government's conservative management and policies have spared it from the types of recessionary damage that hit Europe and the United States. And as a result, Canada's economy has become a model for other countries, and a success story that Flaherty enjoys telling over and over.

Canadian businesses also have been generating plenty of good stories for Flaherty to spread. The five companies that head up Forbes' list of Canada's Top 40 have been awash in good news and numbers since the start of the year.

BIG BANKS THRIVING

The Royal Bank of Canada, which has the No. 1 spot on the Forbes list; and the Bank of Nova Scotia and Toronto-Dominion Bank, which are third and fourth, posted steep profit increases for the first quarter.

Royal Bank reported a profit of $1.5 billion, up $387 million or 35 percent from last year. It was the second highest quarterly profit in the bank's 146-year history. Much of the credit goes to the bank's business and consumer lending departments which generated much of the growth.

"These results reflect the strength of our Canadian businesses and demonstrate the value of our diversified business model," said Gordon Nixon, president and CEO.

It also puts the bank in the lead in terms of growth potential. With the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shutting down U.S. banks every week, Royal Bank has expressed an interest in acquiring several ailing U.S. institutions. In 2001, Royal Bank bought Centura Bank in Georgia, and in 2006, it took over FlagFinancial in Atlanta. Two years ago, the bank bought AmSouth Bancorp's 39 branches in Alabama. This time, however, the Royal Bank is holding back, waiting to see if U.S. lawmakers make good on a promise to tighten regulations and limit investment opportunities for lenders, a change Royal Bank managers oppose.

Scotia Bank's first quarter profits also added to Canada's overall picture of economic health. The bank reported a profit of $988 million, up $146 million or 17 percent from last year.

"We are still in the early days of the recovery, and we continue to carefully manage our businesses in order to achieve solid earnings and maintain a strong return on equity," said President and CEO Rick Waugh who added that Scotia Bank's greatest growth was in Canada and international retail and small business portfolios. Scotia Bank has been able to focus on strategic acquisitions while still delivering dividends, said Waugh.

The story is even more impressive at Toronto-Dominion Bank, which posted a record profit of $1.3 billion for the first quarter, nearly doubling last year's earnings. Canadian personal and commercial banking through TD Canada Trust jumped 23 percent while U.S. personal and commercial Banking rose five percent.

"These results display the earnings power of our Canadian retail business," said Ed Clark, President and CEO. "The record performance at TDCT shows that this incredibly resilient franchise is thriving despite the headwinds that continue to linger in the economy."

OTHER INDUSTRY LEADERS

The banks weren't the only businesses to do well in the first quarter. Manulife Financial Corp., North America's largest insurer, posted profits of $868 million and investors earned 51 cents on shares of company stock.

Although those figures were on the lower end of Manulife's forecast, they were in range, and more importantly, they were in black. In 2008, Manulife lost $1.8 billion, mainly with the U.S. arm of its insurance business.

"We have improved margins, balanced our product portfolio and demonstrated good investment results in the face of challenging market conditions," said CEO Donald Guloien. Manulife is now building its Asian market to ensure long-term growth.

EnCana, the largest producer of North American natural gas and the fifth company on Forbes Top 40 list, earned $1.8 billion in profits in 2009 despite the fact that natural gas prices were stuck at a seven-year low.

In November 2009, the company was split into two separate businesses: EnCana, which has announced plans to double natural gas production over the next five years; and Cenovus Energy, an integrated oil production company.

"While we recognize that the abundance of North American natural gas likely heralds a future of lower and less volatile gas prices, our operating practices, technologies and increasing efficiencies position us to continue to capture strong margins and to thrive in a competitive price environment," said Randy Eresman, president and CEO.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Flaherty will head next to London to try and drum up investment capital for Canada. Despite his boundless confidence in the country's economy, he acknowledged there are challenges ahead. Unemployment is stuck at 8.2 percent and the national debt now stands at about $55 billion. Still, with Canada's wealth of resources, its banks and its businesses, Flaherty predicted a return to a balanced budget by 2015. "I don't like running deficits," he said.

Barb Taormina is an editor for Business Review Canada, a pioneering digital media site exploring energy issues and opportunities facing top executives, with revealing, intelligent news delivered daily. Among Business Review Canada's suite of media brands is the Business Review Canada magazine, an all digital publication that busy, on-the-go executives turn to for their monthly dose of thought-provoking, rich and meaningful reading.

Ten Highest Yielding Life Insurance Companies

There was a lot of negative news affecting banks, mortgage companies and to a lesser extent, investment brokerage firms, such as sub-prime debacle, rising mortgages, rising interest rates, and an excess inventory of real estate.

However, in the financial services industry, there has been a group that is somewhat overlooked, life insurance companies. There is obviously some exposure to the sub-prime problems, but not as far banks and mortgage companies. Fortunately, there are about ten life insurance companies to pay dividends of more than 1%.

The following are the top ten ranked performance from highest to lowest:

Prudential plc (PUK), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the London-based insurance and financial services company, not to be confused with that of americas-based Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU). Prudential plc is principally involved in the business of life insurance, pensions and annuities, but also offers mortgage banking services. It has a P / E of 39, a PS of 0.97 and a yield of 3.1%.

Presidential Life (PLFE), which is listed on NASDAQ, is a Nyack, New York-based company that offers various types of insurance products including graded benefit life insurance, universal life, whole life, term life , Of single premium annuities, single premium deferred annuities, single premium immediate products, annuities and flexible premium group annuities terminal funding. It has a P / E of 9.95, and a yield of 2.9%.

Sun Life Financial (SLF), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is a Canadian-based life and health insurance company which also provides savings, retirement and pension products. It has a P / E of 14.35, a price earnings to growth ratio of 1.29, and a yield of 2.4%.

Lincoln National (LNC), is another NYSE trading life insurance company that offers a yield of 2.4%. It has a P / E of 12.18, and a PEG of 1.13.

Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC), is a life insurance company to be listed on the NYSE. The population is generating a yield of 2.1%. It has a P / E of 15.62, and a PEG of 1.25.

Protective Life (PL), is listed on the NYSE, and produces a yield of 2%. The P / E of this life insurer is 10.6 and the PEG is 1.26.

American National Insurance (ANAT) is a NASDAQ listing insurance company that has a yield of 1.9%. It has a P / E of 14.99.

Nationwide Financial Services (NFS), is a supplier of various types of annuity, along with life insurance products. The NYSE trading company has a P / E of 11.5, a PEG of 1.37, and a yield of 1.7%.

FBL Financial (GTF), offers life insurance, annuities, and property and casualty, insurance products. It has a P / E of 13.09, a PEG of 1.3 and a yield of 1.3%.

Genworth Financial (GNW), provides life, health and long-term care insurance products, along with investment products. The population has a P / E of 11.28, a PEG of 0.93, and a yield of 1.1%.

Waldo Bardado writes for Whole Life Insurance [http://www.surelife.biz]. provides detailed information on Life Insurance, Life Insurance Companies, Life Insurance News and more. please visit www.surelife.biz [http://www.surelife.biz].

Are Insurance Companies Exempt From Anti-Trust Laws?

There are some very interesting antitrust laws on our books that protect certain industries from dealing with such obtuse and onerous regulations. Some believe that healthcare insurance companies are totally exempt from antitrust rules and regulations. Whereas, there was some legislation some 70-years ago, it hardly protects insurance companies today, from antitrust regulations.

Meanwhile, it appears that insurance companies need the antitrust laws enforced on the United States government, which feels it can come in and take over private enterprise like this. It is interesting that the United States government feels itself is not subject to antitrust laws as it nationalizes all of the largest money producing industries in the US.

For those that don't think that socialism is on the march, or that this Congress and administration are not socialist leaning in their legislation and focus, I'd like to say to them; you must be wearing blinders. Further, on this topic of insurance companies and exemptions from antitrust laws I'd like to say;

For those who think that insurance companies are exempt from our antitrust laws, obviously they do not recall Elliot Spitzer's shake-down of the industry, ousting Hank Greenberg, which by the way led to the new CEO allowing their London Office to get into trouble insuring credit default swaps and mortgage bundles.

In fact, the world global economic crash may not have occurred had the prostitute hiring Elliot Spitzer had not used his authority to shake-down AIG. Think about it, and why not do some research; why not go read DiLorenzo's book on "How Capitalism Saved America" or the Business Side of "Government by Smoot." Why not read some of Milton Friedman, and Ludwig van Misses too.

The reality is our antitrust laws in the United States have always been used in a way that is against capitalism, rather than for what is right. Other nations are now following suit, and using antitrust regulations to help their state owned companies compete against free enterprise companies. This is a terrible slippery slope that we have created, and we will be very sorry in the future. I am not pleased.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes we need a reality check before nationalizing anymore industries.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

Demented Producer Hates Insurance Companies

I know most people hate, even loathe, insurance companies. Most especially, the Health Insurance Companies. They are a necessary evil in our day and age, with the ridiculous rise of heath care costs, but many consider them to be a loathsome boil on the butts of America. They purport to be the protectors of the individual wealth, saving us from economic ruin as a result of catastrophic medical expense. Yet two and often, three times a year they announce more rate increases.

As if that were not enough, they also consistently reduce the actual benefits with ever expanding exclusions and limitations. Yes, I too, hate health insurance companies...most of them anyway. Quite by accident, I discovered affordable health insurance plans offered by a company that is actually reducing their rates to their members and increasing their benefits.

How is that possible you ask? Well, several years ago some really smart, ethical people decided to try to do something about this mess and they formed a not for profit organization. They in turn offer the opportunity to their members to obtain Association Sponsored health insurance from companies rated A- (excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Because this membership is one of the largest in the nation it has tremendous purchasing leverage. This enables them to offer Fortune 500 style group rates on individual policies.

I have heard that many people are saving from 17 to 50 percent off their premiums and reducing their out of pocket exposure! When was the last time you heard of anyone doing that? Not only that but you actually get a real person to answer the phone any time you have a question or concern, and a real face to face consultation from an expert to help you custom tailor a health insurance plan that meets your needs, your budget, and your lifestyle.

In this day of self service everything, it is refreshing to have someone who actually cares about you to help you year after year. By now you are probably asking yourself who is this organization? How can I get in on this deal? [http://www.tucson-health-insurance-plans.com] Well now, hold on...not everybody qualifies. Although, most people do. We are still dealing with an insurance company at some point right?

Yes, eventually, you get to choose which one, in fact, you get to choose everything. But there is still the necessary underwriting that must take place. The best way to ensure accurate information gets to those underwriters is to have a state licensed insurance producer consult with you and assist you in the application process.

You would not try to perform dentistry on yourself would you? Of course not! You would go to a skilled professional who is educated and trained in all the latest procedures and has all the proper tools and facilities. To perform self dentistry would be sadomasochistic and so is trying to buy insurance online by yourself.

Buying insurance is a complicated process that involves various aspects of contract law, highly verbose legal terminology, interlaced with loopholes, exclusions and limitations. It really does make sense to have someone on your side with a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that what you get is suitable, prudent, and proper coverage at a price that is affordable. That is the role of a good state licensed insurance producer. It also happens to be my career. So if you want to find out about this terrific company and how you can get in on this incredible deal, click on this link to my website. You will be real glad you did.

I am Brian Diggins and I provide personal service in the general area of Tucson, Arizona.

If you want to find out about this terrific company and how you can get in on this incredible deal, click on this link to my website. You'll be real glad you did.

[http://www.tucson-health-insurance-plans.com]

Insurance Companies Listings and Ratings Guide For Insurance Agents & Brokers

Here is the newest, revised version of the best insurance companies listings. These are compiled in a top 100 ratings guide format. The listings are in alphabetical order helping insurance agents & brokers locate an insurer. Find out how your opinion compares. How can you possibly rate an insurance company? I will mention briefly the various ways, show you the method I is used for this article, and why.

BY NUMBER OF AGENTS

This ratings guide listing method evaluates the insurer by the sheer number of insurance agents & brokers currently licensed and under contract. with carrier. I feel this evaluation to be worthless for a multitude of reasons. First of all there are a number of career health and life insurance agencies that have thousands of representatives. However, of these,up to 80% of the total agents are relatively new in attempting to establish credibility in the industry. Four years down the line only 6% of many an insurance company agency force will maintain enough production to stay career representatives.

Moreover, my findings uncover inaccuracy of this method due to licensing renewal process state insurance departments impose on the insurer. Most state departments of insurance send the renewal report forms on a yearly basis. There is a fee to be paid by each ins agent renewed. What makes it difficult is the variation of different paperwork procedures by individual states for removing non-active ins reps. The paperwork consists of costly, time consuming forms and procedures for the insurance company to make any changes. Renewing all the sales representatives is often cheaper, and thus the route the insurer frequently takes. This also gives the insurance company bragging rights to how many sales people write for them.

Personally I was shown in state insurance department records as licensed for 11 years after I wrote my last case.

INSURANCE CO FINANCIAL RANKING LISTINGS

There are four or five top independent firms that employ this insurer rating of a company based on a multitude of financial factors. A lot has to do with projecting the financial stability of the insurer. This is accomplished by closely dissecting past and present financial history. It covers how the insurer investments perform, and the rate of return. An insurance evaluation also takes in consideration the amount of cash on hand, and how much exists in reserves to pay present and future claims.

There is a consensus among life insurance association members into believing that the highest rated insurers are the best of the bunch. Yet association members make up less than 12% of the total producer base. The other insurance agents and brokers, (the majority), do not agree that these are always the best ones to use for their client's needs. Logic tells you that a newer quality insurer does not have past history to start out top ranked. In my situation, clients bought what I presented them. Nearly half the time it was NOT the highest rated company by the rating firms. I however sold the client what their emotional needs demanded. Many past insurance companies with rankings in the best 100 later financially failed, and still frequently do in today's world.

BY RANKING OF PREMIUMS COLLECTED

This is a very common type of insurance company listing & ranking to produce. Insurance companies are rated by total number of premiums they collected that year. It seems rather unfair to mix annuity premiums in with all dollars collected. Producers know it is easier to sell a $20,000 annuity than a $20,000 premium term insurance policy. The other fault I find with using total premiums collected is with who actually contributed a chunk of the premiums collected. With some companies an enormous amount of these premiums were not collected by the average sales person. A lot of institutional buyers directly bought hundreds of thousands of dollars of annuity premiums.

BY RATINGS IMPORTANT TO HEALTH & LIFE SELLERS

This is my way. As fair and balanced from an sales representative perspective as feasible. Premiums are collected from the 1,500,000 agents, trying to make a living by selling insurance policies in this industry. Often these sales are done one by one. Plus, of this 450,00 independent brokers, semi-independent agents and some career reps write, depending on which company, 50% to 100% of that insurance co business.

This rankings method is imposed because I find the insurance companies listing is intended to be a beneficial directory. One that independent brokers, semi-independent representatives, along with some career reps can turn to. This is a guide directory to other insurers that you may consider writing production for.

The insurance companies listing and ratings guide to the top 100 is purposely placed in alphabetical order instead of by premium or financial data. You may not agree completely with the listing, because we have left in some companies with a strong percentage of business sold in annuities, and investment products.

In the eyes of a typical health and life broker, this guide is of health and life insurance companies is about as accurate as possible.

1. Aetna 2. AIG Life Insurance Company** 3. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America 4. American Family Life Assurance Co of Columbus 5. American Fidelity Assurance Company 6. American General Life and Accident INS Co** 7. American General Life Insurance Co** 8. American Income 9. American Memorial 10. American National Life 11. Americo Financial Life And Annuity 12. Anthem Blue Cross 13 Aurora National Assurance 14 Aviva Life and Annuity Company 15. AXA Equitable 16.Bankers Life and Casualty Company 17. Banner 18. Beneficial Life 19. C.M. Life Ins 20. Colonial Life & Accident 21. Columbus Life 22. Conseco Life 23. Farmers New World 24. First-Penn Pacific 25.Forethought 26. General American 27. Genworth 28. Gerber 29. Great American 30. Great-West Life & Annuity 31. Guardian 32. Hartford Life and Accident Ins Company 33. Hartford 34. Homesteaders 35. Indianapolis Life 36. ING 37. Jackson National 38. John Hancock 39. John Hancock Life Insurance Company USA 40.. Kansas City Life 41.. Lafayette 42.. Liberty Life Assurance Co of Boston 43.. Liberty National 44.. Life Ins Company of North America 45. Life Ins Company of the Southwest 46. Life Investors Ins Co of America 47. Lincoln Benefit 48. Lincoln Heritage 49. Lincoln National 50. Massachusetts Mutual 51. Metropolitan 52. Midland National 53. Minnesota Life 54. Monumental Life 55. MONY - America 56. MONY - New York 57. National Guardian 58. National Life 59. New England Life 60. New York Life Ins and Annuity Corporation 61. New York Life 62. North American Co for Life & Health Ins. 63. Northwestern Mutual 64. Ohio National Life 65. OM Financial 66. Pacific Life 67. Penn Mutual 68. Phoenix Life Ins 69. Primerica 70. Principal 71. Protective 72. Provident Life and Accident 73. Pruco 74. Prudential - America 75. Reassure America 76. Reliance Standard 77. ReliaStar 78. Riversource 79. Security Life of Denver y 80. Standard 81. Stonebridge 82. Sun Life and Health 83. Sunset 84. Surety 85. Symetra 86. Transamerica 87. Transamerica Occidental 88. Trustmark 89. U.S. Financial 90. Union Central 91. Union Security 92. United Healthcare 93. United Ins Company of America 94. United Investors 95. United of Omaha 96. United States Life 97. Unum 98. West Coast 99. Western and Southern Life 100. Western Reserve Life Assurance Co of Ohio Note: Sagicor Life, Foresters, and Illinois Mutual should appear on the bottom 3 listings, replacing the companies listed above as #6, 2, and 7.

**AIG Life Insurance Company, American General Life, American General Life and Casualty Comments

This group of companies USED to be one the highest premium generating, and highest ranked insurance companies in the United States. Still, after two massive Federal Bailouts, the future is uncertain. Therefore, AIG Life is no longer deserving of being on this top 100 list guide.

GUIDE TO QUESTIONABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LISTINGS

The following insurance companies listings often could be included in different types of some top 100 Life ins company rankings IF you were evaluating premiums written. Sometimes the premiums consist of considerable amounts of annuity premiums. Also counted in would be insurers where a large portion of sales do not come from representatives and sales people. Instead it is written by security stock brokerage firms, and independent broker-dealers of variable investment contracts not governed by insurance departments. In other cases, products may be directly strictly toward teachers, the military, or credit unions. In a couple cases, there are companies with pending litigation. A representation of this mix of insurers is listed below:

1. Cuna Mutual 2. Genworth Life and Annuity 3. Harford Life and Annuity y 4. John Hancock Variable Life 5. Mayflower National 6. Metlife - Connecticut 7. Metlife Investors USA 8. MML Bay State 9. Nationwide 10. Nationwide Life & Annuity 11. NYLife of AZ 12. PHL Variable 13. Sun Life Assurance Co of Canada 14. Teachers Ins and Annuity Assoc of America 15. USAA 16. Shenandoah -- financial difficulties

There is a grand total of over 600 Licensed Life/Health Companies "active" in every state of the United States. However, some are not currently writing new business. In addition, there are many active in only one or a few states, so you will find them missing from the top insurance company listings. Most states have a true actual listing count of 220 to 330 life and health home offices currently accepting new cases from licensed agents & brokers.

Advisor's predition. If I choose from the provider listings above, Foresters would be my top pick as the next rising star. Its innovative niche products are starting to create a high demand. Also watch Genworth, its stock value has zoomed and the company is very adaptive to market opportunities.

Well published author, Don Yerke likes to concentrate on what you don't know or what no one else dares to print. Therefore, he enjoys telling it like it is.

Watch for his new paperback book debuting on Amazon early this summer. It is loaded with great insurance marketing. brokerage, and recruiting information.

Come and get your FREE "Think and Grow Rich" Ebook by Napoleon Hill instantly. The website address is [http://www.agentsinsurancemarketing.com]

National Marketing Companies - The 3rd Rail of Insurance

Many people are fully aware of insurance agents and brokers and what they do. They meet with clients and explain potential coverage and service existing business. People also know who and what insurance companies are. When you sign the dotted line, you are purchasing coverage from an agent who represents that company. However, there is a 3rd rail to the insurance system and they are called National Marketing Organizations or NMO's.

National Marketing Organizations (NMO) are known by a few other names.

Field Marketing Organization (FMO)

Internal Marketing Organization (IMO)

National Marketing Organizations are "middle men" who promote and train agents and brokers on insurance products. They constantly recruit independent insurance and promote insurance products to them. When an agent writes business, the NMO receives an over-ride on commissions. The more agents they recruit, the more money they make.

Independent Agents

NMO's recruit independent agents who are not contracted or captive agents with one insurance carrier. Think Allstate, Farmers, American National, North Western Mutual and MetLife agents. Independent insurance agents are often times referred to as insurance brokers. They are able to place business with any company they choose that fits their client's needs and are not required to sell only one insurance company's products.

Over-rides are Less Expensive

All but a hand full of insurance companies require agents to contract with a NMO instead of contracting directly with the insurance carrier. The Insurance Company wants agents to be trained and serviced through a 3rd party which creates competition among NMO's for agent's business. It is less expensive for the insurance industry to pay over-rides to marketing companies for training and servicing agents than it is to hire a few thousand home office people who have to train, service, and market these very same products. When business is down, the insurance company does not have to constantly hire and fire people according to fluctuations in business.

Time to Sell

National Marketing Organizations get contracted with multiple insurance carriers for annuities, life, disability, and long term care insurance. Some NMO's like the one I used to work for started out just wholesaling annuities and eventually added life insurance to the mix. In order to keep contracts with insurance companies, the NMO has to submit a minimum amount of business or production to have that insurance company available to sell to their contracted agents.

Insurance Hierarchy

Insurance Company (s)

NMO, FMO, or IMO

Agent

Or

Insurance Company (s)

NMO, FMO, or IMO

Broker Dealer/ Insurance Agency

Agent

Agent Commissions

Sometimes an insurance agency or a Broker Dealer is located in the commission hierarchy. Sometimes the agent will receive a cut in their street commissions or will be placed in a lower commission level. A street commission level is also referred to as the General Agent (GA) level and this means that they are receiving the highest level agent commission without taking a portion of the commission from their NMO.

NMO Commissions

Marketing companies receive an over-ride when an agent's policies issue and pay out. The agent and the NMO are paid directly from the insurance carrier according to their respective levels. Agents and NMO's can also be eligible for insurance company incentive trips, bonuses, and deferred compensation plans. Some NMO's give their top performing agents additional compensation in the form of.25%-1% for their production. The reason why a NMO would do this is for a few reasons:

Something is better than nothing

It is better to have a big producer under your organizations instead of your competitors

A big producer can help a NMO achieve bonus levels with insurance carriers

Things to Look For when Choosing an NMO

· Training from sales people (Not Home Office People)

· Marketing and sales ideas

· Case follow up

· Technology

· Good Contracts

· Lead Systems (Most leads are horrible)

If you are an independent agent and are looking for a new or additional NMO to work with you should make sure the NMO will give you a release of your contract at any time. Make sure to get this in writing before you contract with them.

I cannot tell you have many times over the years that an agent could not move over to my old company because their current NMO would not release them. A NMO will essentially hold that contract as long as they can. Meanwhile, you will have to sell a different company that may or may not exactly be best for your clients needs.

National Marketing Organizations are necessary for the fluid movement of day to day insurance transactions between clients, agents, and insurance companies. Without NMO's, business would not be placed in a timely manner and agents would not get the correct training on products to show to their clients. NMO's are truly and asset to the industry.

Visit http://www.annuitycampus.com for more Annuity and Life Insurance Tips and Tricks.

Call Robert Eldridge directly at 800-643-7544.

Robert Eldridge holds over a decade of experience as a multiline agent in multiple states and currently serves on the membership council of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

Local Agents in Insurance Companies

The local agent represents a carrier in a given city or town. He will ordinarily represent more than one carrier: he may represent both stock and mutual companies. The commission received by the local agent naturally is less than that paid to general or regional agents. The local agent performs little technical insurance service.

These services are performed by the true regional or general agent, or by the branch or home offices. The local agent is principally a salesman; his job is to acquire business and to give home insurance quotes to his clients.

However, for fire insurance, he is usually a recording agent; that is, he prepares and countersigns policies in behalf of his companies. In casualty insurance, he is often no different from the regional or general agent, except that his commission rate is less and he writes less business.

Attached to the home office, branch office, or general agency may be found a representative who solicits exclusively for a given carrier or general agent. He is known as an "office agent." Although he is considered an employee of the carrier or office, his only pay is a commission for the business he produces, generally at the same rates as are offered a local agent.

The office agent, however, may have a better net income than the local agent, since his office, office supplies, and other services are furnished to him. An office agent may ask for and obtain permission to write business in companies other than that of his benefactor.

Not all private health insurance providers are anchored to companies by agency contracts or by employer-employee relationships. Some are freelance operators who shop around to find the best type of coverage possible for the insurance buyers who are their clients.

These producers are called "brokers." Theoretically, brokers are agents of insurance buyers and not agents of the companies in which they place their business. Nevertheless, they are paid by the companies in the form of a commission.

The clients they serve are not required to pay the broker a cent directly. Of course, the premiums they pay for their insurance are "loaded" to take care of all commissions. So, indirectly, the client pays the commissions of both the agent and the broker.

The broker's commission is usually a little less than that of the agent. This allows the agent to accept business from a broker and still retain a slight margin of profit. Brokers, however, may place their business direct with the company rather than through an agent.

Some insurance brokers operate solely as insurance salesmen, providing no technical insurance service. They depend upon the companies to provide these services for their clients. Other brokers maintain a staff of engineers to help their clients obtain the best rate possible for their cheap homeowner insurance. These engineers check the exposures of their clients and the rating procedure of their companies. They also advise on loss-prevention activities.

Brokers are more prominent in metropolitan areas, operating extensively among business corporations with large exposures. They may become virtually insurance managers for some corporations. Some insurance brokerage firms are national in scope; a few are even international.

Brokers are not prominent in life insurance but are very important in the fire and casualty lines; they are most important in the field of marine insurance. Some producers may be both agents and brokers, operating as brokers in a metropolitan area and as agents in their suburban home communities. Some function as agents for life insurance companies but as brokers for fire and casualty insurance.

A final type of producer is the solicitor. He usually cannot bind the company or write policies. He simply finds prospects for insurance and then handles the business through a local agent, broker, or company branch or service office.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in financial planning, business finance, and different types of insurance, including private health insurance and cheap homeowner insurance. For a wide variety of affordable insurance policies, check out http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/.

Coffee Service Companies

Coffee has continuously ranked high among other beverage choices since its discovery in Ethiopia on the 9th century. The great number of companies providing coffee services can attest to that. Several important factors must be considered before deciding for the right coffee service for the office.

An efficient office coffee service builds productivity of the employees and impresses visiting clients. Begin planning with the size and location. Some companies offering coffee service operate nationally while others serve regional locations. Some particular office coffee vendors limit service to those offices with 20 or more personnel.

Consider the level of service too. A number of coffee service providers supply the equipment and coffee. You must handle the stocking, cleaning and managing orders when they provide the coffee and equipment. Full service companies also provide sales representatives that take care of most of those needs.

Cost is a very important factor in selecting the right office coffee service company. It is a good to first compare the services with the cost and also weigh the costs versus the services provided by different companies.

Do not forget the coffee brew itself. Coffee brewers may come in pot, single cup, glass and metal type models. The coffee is packed in cans, pods, bags, and other various packages. Similarly, selection of coffee ranges from supermarket varieties, specialty coffees to premium brands.

You will be presented with various machines when offering services of coffee in an office environment. You may consider buying a standard office coffee machine if you want to offer just a regular brew.

A machine producing the same amount of coffee as the one used in most home is a good choice, considering the number of your office employees. The coffee machine that makes a larger amount is also an interesting option. While you do not necessarily need to purchase such coffee machine from company that specializes in that field, doing so can be a helpful choice especially when you are looking for the one that brews a larger quantity of coffee at one time.

The espresso machine is another option. More people are preferring espresso over regular coffee nowadays. Some machines are designed for brewing both regular coffee and espresso.

Another good option is to buy a vending machine which will offer an array of coffee products and other varieties of hot and cold beverages as well. These may provide hot chocolate, espresso, and also hot water for steeping tea. We can usually find these machines in most large office settings. They are made to satisfy different tastes and preferences.

Here are some successful companies offering coffee services. The Wagner Coffee Service has been in the business since 1978. They have been providing excellent service and good quality of coffee to restaurants and offices in the Baltimore Washington area. They are a member of the National Coffee Service Association and strive to be the leader in this industry of the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Canteen Refreshment Services offers a complete customized menu. They deliver a coffee program suitable to the workplaces and different tastes. They serve Folgers, Maxwell House, Starbucks and other well-respected brands in single cups, glass pots and air pot brewers.

ARAMARK Refreshment Services is considered as North America's leading refreshment service provider with 89 office coffee service locations. They serve billions cups of coffee annually.

For more information on Cream & Sugar Sets and Milk Frothers please visit our website.

World's Uranium Companies Heading to U.S. Stock Exchanges

Three years ago, one could only find Cameco Corp (CCJ) trading on the New York Stock exchange. As of late November 2006, Energy Metals Corp (EMU) began trading on the NYSE ARCA. Energy Metals is currently developing their Texas uranium in situ recovery mine for production in either late 2007 or early 2008.

One tier down on the American Stock Exchange is the Fronteer Group (FRG), which is a hybrid gold company holding uranium-mineralized assets. A recent entry to the American exchange is first pure-play uranium company to trade on this exchange: Uranerz Energy (URZ). Uranerz is now the second publicly traded company, after Cameco Corp, in which investors can also trade stock options. The announcement was made at the end of January.

After those, there are a number of different companies with some prospects better than others. However, before reviewing those, let's look at what could well become the world's second largest uranium company, by market capitalization, after Cameco Corp. On early Monday morning, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper published a report that Johannesburg- and Toronto-listed SXR Uranium One (TSX: SXR) planned to acquire TSX- and AIM-listed UrAsia Energy (TSX: UUU) for approximately $3 billion. In what has been announced as a friendly take-over, SXR Uranium One plans to issue some $3.1 billion in stock to buy UrAsia. Before the announcement, SXR was valued at less than CDN$2 billion.

In previous interviews with SXR Uranium One chief executive Neal Froneman, he has repeatedly told us he wishes to list on a U.S. stock exchange. If and when the acquisition closes - it was announced that it should by mid May of this year - the new Uranium One would hold uranium properties on four continents: Africa, Australia, Asia and North America. SXR's Dominion uranium mine should begin producing this March. UrAsia Energy is currently producing in Kazakhstan. SXR's Australian 'Honeymoon' in situ leach uranium operation is scheduled to start producing in early 2008.

According to Canada's national newspaper, the combined companies have the potential to annually produce some 19 million pounds by 2012. That's about what Cameco Corp's Cigar Lake was expected to produce before the mine flooded this past October. Since then, Cameco has delayed in announcing when the company believes its uranium mine will actually be in shape to produce uranium.

Based upon our conversations with Neal Froneman, and in light of this new business combination creating the world's second largest uranium mining company, it shouldn't be too far into the future when Uranium One announces it plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange. The headline of their February 12th news release announced, "Uranium One and UrAsia Energy Announce Combination to Create Emerging Senior Uranium Company." Aside from Cameco Corp, there really is no other senior pure play uranium company.

As for the rest of the companies now trading on the over the counter bulletin board, we have reviewed two which offer hope to investors. Uranium Energy (OTC BB: URME) plans to mine uranium using the in situ recovery (ISR) method. Chief operating officer Harry Anthony appears to be one of the boys in the ISR club with decades of experience behind him. He lives and works in south Texas.

After extensive interviews with Mr. Anthony - which we used in our publication "Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market" in explaining the ISR method of mining - it became evident to us that if Anthony couldn't get an ISR operation functioning in Texas, that no one else on the planet was likely to do so. From what we understand, Uranium Energy could be producing uranium by 2009 on its Goliad property.

Another newcomer seems to be doing very well, Yellowcake Mining (OTCBB: YCKM). While it appears to be a 'new company,' the company's property is not. Yellowcake Mining acquired the Juniper Ridge (Wyoming) property from powerhouse Strathmore Minerals (TSX: STM; OTC: STHJF) on January 30th. Previous drilling through 1979 outlined up to 15 million pounds of uranium. Plans were made in that year to build a 2000-ton/day mill. But, that was the year when uranium demand fell off, and the mill was never built. With the uranium price continuing to head higher, Yellowcake Mining stands to benefit from uranium-friendly Wyoming and some of Strathmore Mineral's expertise in the form of David Miller.

There are two other major uranium companies, both with market capitalizations in excess of C$1 billion: Denison Mines (TSX: DML) and Paladin Resources (TSX: PDN). Both are producing uranium companies and highly respected in many circles for their separate achievements. The business combination of International Uranium Corporation and Denison Mines has gone smoothly so far. Dissatisfied with producing in just Namibia, Paladin now hopes to mine uranium elsewhere in Africa and possibly in Australia. Both foreign companies could be candidates for future U.S. stock exchange listings.

In 2006, uranium prices nearly doubled. While 2007 has seen uranium slowly creep higher - now at US$75/pound, many analysts believe uranium could trade above US$100/pound before this year ends. If that's the case, then we might expect a number of uranium companies pursuing a listing on either the New York or American stock exchanges over the next few years.

COPYRIGHT © 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. His focus on the uranium mining and nuclear fuel sector resulted in the widely popular “Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market,” which is now available on [http://www.stockinterview.com] and on http://www.amazon.com

Realtor Marketing - How a Single Realtor Can Beat Out National Companies at Internet Marketing

Many people think a single Realtor or small realty company is unable to compete online against large real estate companies. This is not true.

It is true that the majority of high real estate search engine (Google) rankings are held by large companies. But this is only because Realtors and realty companies don't know how to beat them at the internet marketing game.

The truth is that with a cutting edge internet marketing program the little guys can beat the big guys, and start getting the lions share of free internet leads. This is done through search engine optimization (SEO) and advanced internet marketing techniques.

Within the past year Google, Yahoo and Bing have all changed the way they present their search results, and this favors small companies and individuals. Instead of competing globally or nationally for search engine rankings, you now compete only within your local geographical area.

The so called "Local SEO" changes are tailor-made for Realtors who almost always work within small geographical areas. I personally have researched the new rules on Local SEO and determined that in almost every geographical market there is an opportunity right now for small companies to get the top search rankings.

This window of opportunity will not last forever. The winners in the future will be those Realtors and realty companies that act now to set up Local Search listings and do SEO.

You should immediately set up business listings within the Google, Yahoo and Bing local business centers. You then must optimize these business listings to get the highest possible Local SEO rankings.

Because of the massive numbers of home buyers who use the internet to search for homes to buy, a top ranking within the Local Search Engines can vault an average Realtor into the Top Producer category in just a few weeks.

If you want to be the Top Producer in your area, then get started today to take advantage of the new rules for Local SEO.

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Leo Vidal is an internet business expert, and a former Realtor who has been helping small businesses for over 20 years be more profitable using the internet to generate leads, listings and sales.

Knowledge Economy Rule Number One - Only Smart Companies Win

There have been three economic paradigms in recent history. They started when there was a break from things made on a small scale. They started when the things made and sold by artists, craftsmen, masters, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, family farmers, merchants of handmade goods, etc. were replaced by things that were mass produced and mass consumed.

The key point is that mass production is the cornerstone of all modern economic paradigms.

First it was food that was mass produced. So the first economic paradigm was the Agricultural Revolution.

For the first time in history, many people had enough to eat. They stopped worrying about food, did not farm their own crops nor raise and slaughter their own livestock. The mass production of food marks a turning point in history. It gave people something they never had as hunter-gatherers: free time. The ability to move about and travel, even live in new places. Leave the farms and come to what were becoming the first cities.

Owning land became the key to wealth, since land used to grow food was the key to the Agricultural Economy. Land Barons were born. The landed gentry was created. Kings gave land as the highest boon for services rendered. Kings were kings because they owned all the land which is why they could give some of it away. Private property was born. My land was fenced off from your land. New nations opened up huge tracts of land because they knew that making that land productive was the key to prosperity. We managed muscles because farming was a hard, back-breaking job, even for the oxen and horses.

Next came the Industrial Economy. I believe it started with the printing press in the mid-15th century. I also believe it created a period of transition that has occurred with each new economic paradigm.

The Incunabula

The incunabula was a period in which the church still controlled the written word and, until the printing press was invented, 'books' were in limited supply. The idea of providing the masses with ideas was heretical. So the church decided that it would use the printing press for God's work and take the illuminated manuscripts from the Scriptoriums in the monasteries, where all bibles were created and print out the words and send these first 'forms' back to the Scriptoriums for illumination. So the monks took the forms and added colorful pictures of devils and angels, ivy and floral scroll work, visual 'job aids' for learning about right and wrong and what happened to you if your strayed from the path of righteousness.

The pictures were important because most people alive then could not read. These first printing press books are called incunabula. They represent a paradigm shift that ultimately effected everything - your work, your play, your family, your thoughts, your life.

Once the Industrial Economy really started to steam ahead, again it was all about mass production, only this time it was the mass production of things. We managed hands.

The first things to become 'industrialized' were farming tools - cotton gin, land tillers, tractors, and more. Other things began to become mass produced as well. Cars. Trains. Ships. Stuff people needed and bought out of the Sears catalog. Typewriters, a personal printing press when you added carbon copies (the origin of cc). And so much more stuff that we not only became consumers of food but consumers in general.

The capitalist world was all about moving capital around to further the production of things (including the industrialized production of food) in order to create wealth. The wealth of nations, as recorded by

Adam Smith, was built upon a culture and political system that supported mass production and mass consumption of things.

Owning the means of production was the key to wealth. The great wealthy dynasties of the industrialized world were created at this point in time. If you look at America, you see people with names like Ford, Dupont, Getty, Rockefeller, Kennedy ad infinitum owning the means of production and becoming the industrialist kings of this era.

It also meant we needed to make sure the culture of mass consumers was healthy and working. According to John Taylor Gatto, public schools were created for this very purpose. We did not want a critically thinking, independent population focused on anything other than acquiring things. Work to spend. Spend more and work harder. Make the rich richer while you enrich your life with things. Towards the end of this economic paradigm, we invented the credit card, one of the greatest boons to mass consumption imaginable.

Since we had, in the countries that had embraced and were in the lead in these economic paradigms, all the food we could want (can you spell obesity?) and all the things we ever hoped for, we were ready to move on into the next economic paradigm.

And the Knowledge Economy was born. Peter Drucker in the late 20th century, was prescient enough to see what was coming next and named the people who labored in this new economic paradigm Knowledge Workers. What they mass produced was Knowledge. New ideas. Innovations. Know-how. They spent their days thinking, writing, communicating, meeting, disseminating, rethinking, researching, creating, innovating, designing, reading, listening to the ideas of others, sharing, collaborating. We are managing minds.

The Knowledge Economy is so new that I think we are in that incunabula period of changeover, when we know that there has been a sea change, and most of us are just not sure what it is.

I say most of us. Not, for example, Bill Gates. The mass production of software is knowledgework. The people who make it are not producing food or cars or toasters (unless they are flying across your PC and I assume you are reading this on your PC). They write code. The meet and talk about features and functions. They compile code. They debug code (or let you play with it and debug it for them). Bill Gates is the richest man (so far) in the new Knowledge Economy because he either smart enough or knew in his gut that they key to wealth in this economic paradigm was the mass production of knowledge and the tools that enabled as many people as possible to produce knowledge for a living.

Several years ago I gave a presentation to the annual gathering of CIO's at Boeing in Southern California. As the top CIO was leading me into the conference room she told me that the building itself has an interesting history. Originally an orchard grove for oranges, the building was first used as a giant manufacturing facility for the production of airplanes. When the demand for planes was reduced, the building was divided into floors, offices and cubicles and people spent their workdays in front of computers producing, refining, defining, revising, discussing, an communicating ideas. Ideas for new planes. Ideas for improving production of planes. Ideas about related projects that had something to do with planes. One piece of land, three economic paradigms.

The point is all they did all day was produce ideas, work with ideas, think about ideas, write and talk about ideas. There were still a small group of people who ultimately made those ideas into things - planes. But they were followed by the people who had more ideas about how to market it, sell it, teach people to fly it and so on and so on. So the Knowledge Economy is all about the mass production of ideas. Success in the Knowledge Economy is the ability to sift through all those ideas to come up with the ones that can be produced and sold. Turning ideas into money.

Now I wonder myself why is this any different that the previous Industrial Economy? Someone had the idea for the Ford. Someone had the idea for the mass production line. Someone even had the idea of the color choices of the Model T - black. Why were things and the mass production of things the underpinning of the Industrial Economy? Because it only took a few ideas to make a lot of things. And once we all had, in the advanced and advancing industrialized countries, all the things we needed, ideas became the currency of choice. Ideas for new ways of doing things. Ideas about ways to employ new technologies which were new ideas in their own right. Ideas about how to 'converge' the things that were created as a result of the new ideas. Ideas about how to change the old analog world into a digital world.

Here's another example of ideas becoming wealth in the Knowledge Economy. Steve Jobs and iTunes. Technology changes everything and digital technology changes everything faster. So someone(s) had the idea for the iPod and someone(s) else has the idea that music consumers really wanted to have the choice to only buy the music they wanted. This was a whole new idea from the old model. The old model, from the Industrial Economy, forced music consumers to buy the thing, the CD, with lots of tunes they did not want and only a few they really wanted.

The new digital model was one tune at a time. No CD. Download it directly. Pay as you go. Music on demand. A 1:1 relationship between the consumer and the producer. Only on a scale that was mass. So an entire industry was reshaped by an idea. It's happening to television, photography, medicine, and other industries that are artifacts of the Industrial Economy.

So if you want to be wealthy in the Knowledge Economy you need to be able to produce great ideas, or have people working for you who can produce great ideas. Then be able to make them real products or services, or have people who can help you make them into products or deliver them as services. Then market and sell them. And, according to Thomas L. Friedman, since the world is now flat and becoming flatter, and ideas know no boundaries, need no passport, travel in the air without wings, and can just pop into anyones brain anytime and anywhere, being able to compete in this new Knowledge Economy is not easy. The brains of creative people are the key in this new paradigm. And the brains that take what they imagine and turn it into some thing or some service (or some experience as the Disney Imagineers do with Disneyland and Disneyworld) are the wealthy. They own the mass production of ideas.

David Grebow

KnowledgeStar ([http://thefourthwave.typepad.com/knowledgestar])