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BULLS & BEARS: Today’s trust company isn’t your grandfather’s

Over the last few months, I’ve gotten to know an expert in the trust business by the name of Charlie Mosbrucker. He is a former trust officer and lawyer who spent more than 22 years working in various trust departments. Over the last decade or so, the trust business has evolved and, as he says, “Today’s trust company is not your grandfather’s trust company.” When I think of a trust company, my image is that of a chubby white-haired guy…

IBJ, Channel 59 strike news partnership:

WXIN-TV Channel 59 has become the provider of general news and weather for IBJ Daily, the free news e-mail sent to more than 25,000 subscribers each weekday. The arrangement is part of a new newsgathering partnership between IBJ and the local Fox affiliate. “We are looking forward to an ongoing relationship with Fox 59. In our discussions, we were impressed by management of the organization and their commitment to news,” IBJ Publisher Chris Katterjohn said. “One of the reasons we…

VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Despite the doomsayers, manufacturing still matters

From a manufacturing perspective, the United States in the 21st century is a curious place. In 1950s, science promised us the day when high-technology advances would perfrom a whole range of mundane work, thus releasing humanity to the pursuit of more noble intellectual and fulfilling activities. A half-century later, much of that promise-at least from the technology side-has been fulfilled. Yet, curiously, when the natural evolution of the free market affects U.S. manufacturing, all manner of handwringing and doom-saying emerge….

INVESTING: Modern portfolio theory may spawn mediocre returns

A tenet of modern portfolio theory is the call to diversify. Over the long haul, equities have gone up twothirds of the time. That means losses have occurred onethird of the time-and they’ve sometimes been severe. Hypothetically, a greater mix of asset classes should protect against the downside and perhaps even provide a portfolio with gains even when equities are down. But diversify into what? Thirty years ago, when modern portfolio theory was just gaining ground, investors had few choices….

VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: U.S. companies should evaluate Chinese tax changes

Over the past three decades or so, foreign investment has been fueling China’s economic growth. Companies from around the world have flocked to meet the needs of the largest population in the world: 1.3 billion citizens and counting. Shifts in China’s political climate have made this Asian country ripe for commerce, and foreign companies-especially in the United States-have rushed in. Many U.S. manufacturers have been lured to China by tax holidays and reduced tax rates on income generated from their…

Commentary: How can city become more elder-friendly?

Hubert Humphrey once noted that “the moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” Our population continues to age. The number of seniors in Indianapolis is on the threshold of doubling-from 95,500 in 2000 to 187,500 in 2040. Therefore, it is incumbent on us…

A&E: Strange ‘Sisters,’ Liberace and more

This week: an author’s art show, Vegas night with the ISO, and new life for a beloved theater. Audrey Niffenegger is a well-established printmaker, artist and best-selling author (you might have read her outstanding-so far, at least, I’m only halfway through-bestselling debut novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”). So I’m guessing that the last thing she would want her work compared to would be Beavis and Butthead. Sorry. If Beavis and Butthead had a trio of goth cousins, they might look…

PROFILE: KARLA SNEEGAS: Clearing the murky air ITPC director leads charge toward smoke-free Indiana

PROFILE KARLA SNEEGAS Clearing the murky air ITPC director leads charge toward smoke-free Indiana Karla Sneegas is primed for battle. With the fervor of an ancient Crusader, this pint-sized warrior is fighting a “just war” to reduce Indiana’s addiction to tobacco as executive director of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency. At 4 feet, 11 inches, Sneegas is well-prepared for all foes. She’s armed with knowledge learned as a public health professional and as former director of South Carolina’s…

Ex-Marsh exec says ousted president asked him to inflate profit

By now, David Marsh might be regretting he ever decided to take on former employer Marsh Supermarkets Inc. in court. Since
he filed his lawsuit last fall charging the company his grandfather founded had shortchanged him on severance, the company
has stormed back with a blizzard of allegations.

IU life sciences startup attracts former Lilly exec: INphoton attempts to commercialize high-tech cellular imaging techniques

It doesn’t have a headquarters or any full-time employees yet. But local life sciences startup INphoton LLC has attracted something equally important: an experienced manager. This month, INphoton hired Steven Plump, Eli Lilly and Co.’s former chief marketing officer, as its CEO. Plump, who retired from Lilly in 2006 after a 30-year career there, hopes to commercialize the high-tech research imaging techniques that INphoton’s founders discovered in Indiana University laboratories. In the process, INphoton could cut pharmaceutical companies’ cost of…

Long-term care a long-term problem for Conseco: Losses mount in spite of huge insurance market

Conseco sells that coverage, called long-term-care insurance. But right now, it wishes it didn’t. The Carmel-based company has been losing millions of dollars a month on long-term-care policies, as the costs of providing care have outstripped the premiums collected. Conseco also is facing lawsuits and an investigation by a congressional committee into whether it wrongly denied customers’ claims under its long-term-care policies. The troubles have kept Conseco’s stock price depressed, furthering speculation that the company might be acquired. “It’s certainly…

Yurt biz owners think it’s hip to be round: McCordsville firm counts on growing popularity for circular buildings with odd name

It was a terrible storm. Emerging from his tattered tent at a Renaissance re-enactment camp more than 20 years ago, Ken Lawrence surveyed the decimated landscape, with only three oddlooking round structures surviving the 60-plus-mile-per-hour winds. Intrigued by what kind of structure withstood such a violent blow through this tent town, Lawrence poked his head inside the Mongolian-style yurt, a round tent-like structure with a uniquely engineered roof. “I was amazed they were still standing,” Lawrence said. “Utterly amazed.” Immediately,…

Pacers put no limits on Morris

The fact that Pacers Sports and Entertainment has tapped Jim Morris as special adviser shows how daunting the franchise’s
challenges have become, marketing experts say. They say the team’s problems on and off the court have shrunk its fan base
and weakened support among business and government leaders.

SPORTS: Our Pacers could use all the help they can get

Morris has no point guard skills I’m aware of and, ultimately, it will be up to the new head coach, O’Brien, to improve the on-court product in a way that’s more palatable to the Pacers’ eroding fan base. But as a point person in engaging the community-in particular the corporate community-there are few, if any, people in this city who have both the contacts and the respect of which Morris can boast. Even after five years away from Indianapolis trying…

2008 Verizon season likely as venue lures no buyer

Many people expected the 2007 season to be the swan song for Verizon Wireless Music Center after venue owner Live Nation put
the the popular amphitheater on the block in December. But no acceptable offers have been received, and several local brokers
say the unofficial asking price of more than $40 million is outrageous.

Local music festivals struggle for footing: Is there any such thing as a consistent money-maker?

The humidity and mercury are rising as a slew of summer music festivals tune up. There’s bluegrass in Brown County, jazz in Military Park. But all the music events-even those with years of history-struggle to break even. Blame uncertain weather, large price tags and fickle fans. “As a general rule, only very large pop music festivals make money,” said Christopher Hunt, a professor at Indiana University’s arts administration program. “Smaller festivals of every kind-jazz, pop, classical-almost always lose a good…

EYE ON THE PIE: Saving shouldn’t put you in jail

Here is a test for you. The state government sends you a check for $2.5 million. What do you do with the money? According to the Associated Press, Sabrina Walker received such a check from the state of Minnesota. She then “bought a $500,000 certificate of deposit, funded two retirement accounts, [and] bought a $500,000 Treasury bond.” Prosecutors claim she also bought $5,500 in jewelry, and spent $3,817 at Best Buy and $2,000 on limousine services. This prudent woman is…

Oak Street Mortgage slides into bankruptcy

Carmel-based Oak Street Mortgage, which not long ago was a high-flier poised to go public, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this morning in federal court. Oak Street in December sold most of its assets to Kansas City, Mo.-based Novastar Financial Inc. amid a meltdown of the sub-prime mortgage market. Subprime lenders like Oak Street make […]

Conner Prairie attendance rising

Attendance at Conner Prairie’s first two events of the summer has shot up, boding well for total attendance numbers in 2007-the museum’s second year of independence from Earlham College. More than 8,000 guests showed up for Civil War Days, a two-day reenactment event, in late May, a 166-percent increase over the previous year, when rainy […]

Countrymark predicts high summer gas prices

Not that this will come as much of a surprise to cynical motorists, but gasoline prices are likely to stay high this summer, according to oil refining firm Countrymark Cooperative LLP. Yes, it’s the usual reasons-refinery problems, geopolitical tensions, OPEC production restrains and summer travel demand. And, yes, the hurricane season could disrupt production. “The […]