Reader Responses November 16, 2015

SURVEY SAYS: How You Spend Your Commute

Commuting from work can range from a few minutes to a few hours, and can include driving, riding, biking or walking. Whatever your commute is like, you are likely doing something else during that time.
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Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “How do you spend your time on your commute to work?”

But first, I asked how much time respondents had to spend on their commute to work. Three percent said they telecommute, 1% said the time varies, and 10% spend less than 15 minutes commuting. Thirty percent commute between 15 and 30 minutes, 39% indicated their commute is 30 minutes to an hour, and for 15%, it is between an hour and two hours. One percent commute for two hours or more.                

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As for what responding readers do during their commute (they could choose more than one activity), the greatest percentage (48%) indicated they listen to music. More than one-third each listen to news or talk shows (36.7%) or just think (33.7%). Only 16.3% said they just drive, ride or walk.

Sixteen percent listen to a book, 14.3% read, and 8.2% work while commuting. Six percent each talk to children, spouse, and fellow commuters; sleep; or catch up on social media, personal emails. Four percent each do a crossword, word search, Sudoku or other game; eat; or catch up on personal calls and making appointments. One percent put on makeup.

Aside from talking to or cursing other drivers for not paying attention, “other” responses included:

Mentally brainstorm on tackling outstanding items on my desk on my way to work. Brainstorm on home tasks and to do lists on my way home.

Make calls for the volunteer work I do (fostering dogs for adoption, so call potential adopters, references, etc.)

PRAY!

Listen to the sound of silence. 🙂

embroider, knit

Work on another language using Rosetta Stone on a netbook

pick up the house, empty the dishwasher, etc.

Watch out for White-tailed deer! It is a beautiful drive anywhere in and around Duluth MN, on the shores of Lake Superior, but no one likes to hit a suicidal deer:)

two days a week i drop my dog at day care

Little else to do when driving 11 miles in almost an hour.

Busy working moms like me get little time to ourselves... I'm thankful every day for the peace and quiet on my bus ride.

I have a 20 minute walk in a major city, and stopped using my headphones as a safety measure. My walk is when I try to solve work problems, and dream of retirement!

Since I telecommute, I spend that extra time walking the dogs in the morning and planning the rest of my day. It allows me to start the day with a relaxed attitude and good game plan

I take a ferry to work. On the way I practice on a language skills app, duolingo.

My commute is 19 seconds (I work from home). I grab my cup of tea in the kitchen and head upstairs to my office. My commute could be shorter if I didn't have to worry about spilling my tea.

Practice my spanish listening to CNN en espanñol

Listen to Audible - I'm taking Great Courses on various world wars this month.

Semi Meditate, pay attention to breath

In verbatim comments, respondents mostly expanded on what they like to do on their commutes. There is no Editor’s Choice this week.

A big thanks to all who participated in our survey!

Verbatim 

Listen to National Public Radio broadcast on my local Minnesota Public Radio station.

Listening to NPR, and swearing under my breath at all the other drivers.

On the days I drive it, it's listening to music or -- rarely -- calling people. In a former assignment, I used the time on the train to go through all five levels of Rosetta Stone's German languages. Und jetzt, ich spreche ein bißchen Deutsch!

Usually talking on the phone or just listening to music to settle my nerves.

Shaking my head and judging other drivers.

When I walk to work, I look around and enjoy nature, the sounds, the smells and the view. When I arrive at the office I feel peaceful and the warm/fuzzy part of me comes out, at least for a few minutes. When I drive to work, I have time for only 1 or 2 songs so I crank my music up and listen to songs like Pretty Woman, California Dreaming, Anything by the Eagles and TSO. When I get to work I have a skip in my stride and music playing in my head. I feel like I can accomplish anything to include being warm and fuzzy.

Driving. Takes about 5 minutes from home.

I use the time to call my dad (hands free Bluetooth) or my sister (and others). They know I'm on my way to work or home, so there is a "timed" end to the conversation, and keeps the rest of my evening free!

I solve all kinds of problems, home and office, during my commute! 🙂

I listen to a Boston sports radio podcast.

Verbatim (cont.) 

Preparing for any morning meeting or any planned event in the evening

I have a hands free headset to make my calls more safely.

My long commute is my only quiet, alone time, so it's not a complete waste. But, when the weather is bad, or there's a traffic issue, it's very stressful.

The best part of my commute is listening to my book on CD!

Having a 60 mile commute in metro NY/NJ each way gives me lots of opportunities to work on my defensive driving skills and perfect my profanities! When not dodging crazy drivers, I try to catch up with friends and family that I don't have time to see because of my commute 🙂

Love taking the bus. It gives me time to transition (no stress from driving) so I'm ready for my personal life to begin fresh when I get home.

I focus only on driving and watching out for all the distracted drivers doing the things on this list. Just yesterday I watched a woman drive right through a red traffic light at a busy intersection, crossing 4 lanes of oncoming traffic as she was in a conversation with her passenger. Life is too short to cause an accident or kill someone because you choose not to pay attention.

I survive an hour driving to work and back each day by listening to books on CD. Sometimes I have to roll the windows up---you know when the rated R parts are playing!!!

I bike to work, and except for the occasional glance at the beautiful downtown skyline or interesting passerby, my attention is 100% focused on the road. For my safety, I hope that's the case for everyone else!

NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.

Deals and People November 13, 2015

Retirement Industry People Moves

TD Ameritrade’s CEO to retire; a strategic alliance for PEI and Proteus; new hires at Delaware Investments.
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Fred Tomczyk, president and chief executive officer of TD Ameritrade, said he will retire next September at the end of the firm’s fiscal year.

Tomczyk started his career with TD Ameritrade as a member of the board of directors following the company’s acquisition of TD Waterhouse USA in 2006. He joined the company as chief operating officer in 2007 and became chief executive in 2008. His decision to retire will bring to a close a noteworthy chapter at the firm. Taking the helm on the eve of the financial crisis, Tomczyk’s legacy includes growth in total client assets from $278 billion in 2008 to nearly $700 billion today and consistent best-in-class employee engagement rates of more than 85%.

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The board has named Tim Hockey, group head of Canadian banking and wealth management at TD Bank Group, currently president and chief executive officer of TD Canada Trust, as president of TD Ameritrade. His appointment becomes effective in January; he will also join the board of directors.

He will succeed Tomczyk as CEO in September, after Tomczyk retires.

As president of TD Ameritrade, Hockey will initially be responsible for the company’s core client channels: retail, institutional and trading, assuming responsibilities for technology, operations and other corporate functions (finance, human resources, legal and risk) in the coming months.

Hockey holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario and sits on the Advisory Board of the Richard Ivey School of Business. He is an executive member of the Canadian Bankers Association and previously served as chairman.

NEXT: Portfolio Evaluations Inc. enters a strategic alliance with Proteus

Portfolio Evaluations Inc. (PEI) has entered into a strategic alliance with Proteus, an institutional investment consulting firm in Canada.

PEI will ensure Proteus’ Canadian clients that have U.S. operations receive complete fiduciary protection, guidance for Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) concerns and investment advice. Proteus will provide PEI’s U.S.-based clients that have Canadian operations similar consulting expertise. The two organizations will leverage the skills in their markets to deliver a more complete client experience and increase the scope of deliverables.

PEI, based in Warren, New Jersey, is a privately held consulting firm providing institutional investment and retirement plan consulting services.

Based in Toronto, Proteus provides pension plan governance and investment consulting services to corporate plan sponsors, not-for-profit organizations, trusteed plans, public plans, foundations and endowments.

NEXT: Delaware Investments adds industry veterans in marketing and asset liability

Neil Siegel has joined Delaware Investments as chief marketing and product officer, a newly created position. Siegel provides strategic oversight of the firm’s marketing, product management and development, and platform sales, including the defined contribution investment-only (DCIO) channel. He reports to Shawn Lytle, president of Delaware Investments.

Siegel, who has more than 22 years of experience in financial services, was previously at Neuberger Berman as partner and managing director, chief marketing officer. Before Neuberger Berman, Siegel held various leadership positions at Morgan Stanley, including head of institutional and intermediary marketing for Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

Lytle cites Siegel for his successful execution of global marketing programs and substantial experience in developing relevant products.

Christopher Hanlon has joined Delaware Investments as senior vice president of insurance strategy and asset liability management. He brings substantial insurance industry expertise and reports to Roger Early, head of fixed income for Delaware Investments. Previously, Hanlon was chief risk officer and enterprise head of credit risk management and control at The Hartford Investment Management Company, where over 26 years he held various leadership positions in asset liability management, defined contribution, mutual fund, and general account portfolio management.

Eric Kleppe has joined Delaware Investments as senior vice president of institutional client services, a new role. He is responsible for relationship management and client servicing for institutional accounts and reports to John Finnegan, head of institutional client services. Kleppe, who has 24 years of experience in client service as well as equity research, was previously head of relationship management and operations at Diamond Hill Capital Management. Previous roles include managing director of the institutional client relationship team at Turner Investment Partners, manager of sub-adviser search at The Vanguard Group and equity analyst at Wellington Management Company.

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